A Multidisciplinary Delphi Consensus Study of Communicative Participation in Young Children With Language Disorders

Abstract

Purpose Our aim was to develop consensus on the definition and operationalization of communicative participation (CP) in 2- to 8-year-old children with language disorders (LDs). A clear definition and operationalization can facilitate the discussion about children's communication problems in daily life between parents and professionals. Method In an online Delphi study, anonymized thoughts and opinions were collected on the definition and operationalization of CP in young children with LD. The 47 Delphi panel members were Dutch parents, young adults with LDs, teachers and assistants, speech-language pathologists, clinical linguists, and clinical researchers. Thematic content analysis was used to develop a concept definition and items operationalizing CP. The Delphi panel rated the suitability of concept definitions using a 7-point Likert scale. Concept definitions were revised with feedback from the Delphi panel until consensus was achieved. The Delphi panel rated items on how well they operationalize CP, using the same Likert scale. Results The majority (79%) of the Delphi panel indicated that the essence of CP was captured by the definition: “CP is understanding and being understood in a social context, by applying verbal and non-verbal communication skills.” In addition, 33 behavioral items were developed. Conclusion This study resulted in strong consensus on the definition of CP between Dutch parents and professionals. Items were developed that can inform speech-language pathologists on the type of questions to ask a child's parents or teacher when discussing CP. Further research is needed on how the items can best be used in clinical practice.

Using co‐design to develop a tool for shared goal‐setting with parents in speech and language therapy

“…The content of the tool was developed prior to this co-design project, in a Delphi Study with parents, young adults with a language disorder, SLTs, teachers and teaching assistants, child psychologists, clinical linguists and clinical researchers (n = 47) (Singer et al, 2020). This Delphi panel developed 36 items indicating communicative participation of 2-8-year-old children with language disorders.…”

“…The structure of the content of the tool was explored with a card-sorting task (Wood & Wood, 2008). The objective was to learn how SLT-practitioners organize and categorize the content of the tool, the 36 items on communicative participation previously developed in the Delphi Study by Singer et al (2020), for use in the next design steps so that the tool could be structured in a way meaningful for SLTs. The eight SLT-practitioners were randomly divided into three groups.…”

Discontinuation of specialist educational provision for children with DLD in the Netherlands: performance and predictors

“…It may also be that these children function well without specialist provision, despite their lower test scores. For example, knowledge of language structures and rules, measured by such tests, may not automatically capture a child's communicative participation outcomes (Singer, Klatte, Welbie, Cnossen, & Gerrits, 2020). We were not able to include outcomes of communicative participation in the current study, while this may have played an important role in the decision process regarding provision.…”

Soutenir les habiletés pragmatiques chez les enfants ayant un trouble développemental du langage : fondements théoriques pour la pratique clinique

“…Dans ces modèles, la participation sociale d'une personne et les impacts fonctionnels d'une maladie ou d'une atteinte sont jugés en fonction de facteurs personnels et environnementaux. L'objectif de la prise en charge orthophonique est d'améliorer la participation à la communication, c'est-à-dire pouvoir "comprendre et être compris dans un contexte social, en utilisant des compétences de communication verbale et non verbale" (Singer et al 2020(Singer et al : 1801. Une approche basée sur les besoins permet de planifier des interventions qui viendront soutenir la participation de la personne dans ses activités quotidiennes et sa capacité à remplir ses rôles sociaux.…”