A group of speech and language therapists (SLTs) tell us why they believe the answer is yes. We hear about a survey of SLTs in the UK on their views of this question and find out about attitudes in Germany, Australia and wider.

Interviewees:
Carol Moxam, Senior Lecturer, Newcastle University & Director of The Children’s Speech & Language Clinic
Claire D’Urban-Jackson, Dually qualified SLT with a postgraduate certificate (Level 7) in Language Literacies & Dyslexia, Knowl Hill School
Prof. Pamela Snow, Prof. of Cognitive Psychology, La Trobe University
Sarah-Maria Thumbeck, SLT in a rehabilitation center, research at Uni Erfurt (PhD project on looking at text level reading comprehension in persons with aphasia)

Resources:
• Stephenson, C., Serry, T.A. & Snow, P.C. (2023). Teachers’ perspectives of the role & scope of practice of speech-language pathologists working to support literacy in the early years of school. International Journal of Speech Language Pathology, doi.org/10.1080/17549507.2023.2250934%20, Published online 2023.
• Stephenson, C., Serry, T.A. & Snow, P.C. (2023). Australian speech-language pathologists’ self-rated confidence, knowledge & skill on constructs essential to practising in literacy with children & adolescents. International Journal of Speech Language Pathology, Published online April 28, 2023. doi.org/10.1080/17549507.2023.2202839
• McLean E., Snow, P. & Serry, T. (2021). Dual-qualified teachers and speech-language therapists reflect on preparation and practice in school-based language and literacy. Child Language Teaching and Therapy, 37(3), 249-263. doi.org/10.1177/0265659021995543
• Snow, P.C. (2016). Elizabeth Usher Memorial Lecture: Language is literacy is language. Positioning Speech Language Pathology in education policy, practice, paradigms, & polemics. International Journal of Speech Language Pathology, 18(3), 216-228. DOI: doi.org/10.3109/17549507.2015.1112837.
• pamelasnow.blogspot.com/2019/01/why-d…ologists.html
Literacy for everyday life:
• Rosebrock, C. (2012). Was ist Lesekompetenz, und wie kann sie gefördert werden? [Online-Plattform für Literalität]. Leseforum.ch. www.leseforum.ch/myUploadData/fil…_3_Rosebrock.pdf
• Rosebrock, C., & Nix, D. (2020). Grundlagen der Lesedidaktik und der systematischen schulischen Leseförderung (9., aktualisierte Neuauflage). Schneider Verlag Hohengehren GmbH.
• Snow, C. E. (2002). Reading for understanding: Toward an R&D program in reading comprehension (Science & Technology Policy Institute (Rand Corporation), Hrsg.). Rand.
Aphasia:
• Parr, S. (1995). Everyday reading & writing in aphasia: Role change & the influence of pre-morbid literacy practice. Aphasiology, 9(3), Article 3. doi.org/10.1080/02687039508248197
Reading comprehension for acquired brain injury and/or aphasia:
• Purdy, M., Coppens, P., Madden, E. B., Mozeiko, J., Patterson, J., Wallace, S. E., & Freed, D. (2018). Reading comprehension treatment i

In October's news:
- It's five years since we launched podcasts at RCSLT. We take a look back at what's changed and stayed the same since then.
- RCSLT annual awards.
- Campaign to improve care for people living with Primary Progressive Aphasia: https://www.rcslt.org/news/campaign-to-improve-care-for-people-living-with-primary-progressive-aphasia-ppa-launched/
- DLD Vision turns one: https://www.rcslt.org/news/dld-vision-turns-one/
- AHPs Day 2024: https://www.rcslt.org/news/rcslt-marks-ahps-day-2024/
- Homelessness statement: https://www.rcslt.org/news/new-homelessness-and-speech-language-and-communication-policy-statement-launched/
- A round up of what's happening around the four nations of the UK including:
- Darzi review: www.rcslt.org/news/lord-darzis-n…ommunity-services/
- Phonics in Wales
- RCSLT Connect event coming up in Northern Ireland.
- National Care Service in Scotland.


Please do take a few moments to respond to our podcast survey uk.surveymonkey.com/r/LG5HC3R

This interview was conducted by Victoria Harris, Head of Learning at The Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists and features Derek Munn, Director of Policy and Public Affairs at the RCSLT. It was produced and edited by freelance producer, Jacques Strauss.

How do speech and language therapists collaborate effectively with parents of children with Developmental Language Disorder (DLD)? Firstly, speech and language therapists need to understand, 'What are their needs?' In this podcast we talk with lead researcher Inge Klatte, of the Research Center for Healthy and Sustainable Living, HU University of Applied Sciences Utrecht, and one of the parents involved in this study, Astrid van Gessel, who has two children with DLD and also works at a special needs school.

The paper is:
Collaborative working in speech and language therapy for children with DLD—What are parents’ needs?’

Inge S. Klatte, Manon Bloemen, Annemieke de Groot, Tina C. Mantel, Marjolijn Ketelaar, Ellen Gerrits

First published:
16 September 2023

Useful resources:

The following papers are open access.

Network Collaboration for Communication: Collaboration for Communication Network | Collaboration for Communication Network | Newcastle University (ncl.ac.uk)

Link to the paper ‘Collaborative working in speech and language therapy for children with DLD—What are parents’ needs?’: Collaborative working in speech and language therapy for children with DLD—What are parents’ needs? - Klatte - 2024 - International Journal of Language & Communication Disorders - Wiley Online Library

Link to the systematic review I mention in the podcast: Collaboration: How does it work according to therapists and parents of young children? A systematic review - Klatte - 2024 - Child: Care, Health and Development - Wiley Online Library

Also see RCSLT's Developmental Language Disorder overview: https://www.rcslt.org/speech-and-language-therapy/clinical-information/developmental-language-disorder/


NOTES:
For RCSLT members, access this paper by navigating to the IJLCD website from our A-Z journals list here. Also, if you would like further information on the research terms used in the podcast, or many other aspects of research design, please navigate to the ‘Sage Research Methods’ collection from the Research Methods page of the RCSLT website’.


The interview is conducted by Jacques Strauss, freelance producer, on behalf of The Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists.

Please be aware that the views expressed are those of the guests and not the RCSLT.

In Septembers news:
- Dysphagia dining event www.rcslt.org/news/people-with-d…dining-experience/
- SLT voices - a new section on the website to showcase views from the world of speech and language therapy www.rcslt.org/news/rcslt-launche…lt-voices-section/
- 80th anniversary next year www.rcslt.org/about-us/the-rcslt-at-80/
- Connect England event for members: www.rcslt.org/events/rcslt-connect-england-2024/
- Voices of the future careers event www.rcslt.org/events/voices-of-t…-language-therapy/
- RCSLT student to newly qualified event www.rcslt.org/events/rcslt-stude…learning-day-2024/
- Influencing in Westminster and mentions of speech and language therapy in maiden speeches in Parliament.
- Darzi review www.rcslt.org/news/lord-darzis-n…ommunity-services/
- Evidence given at Covid 19 Inquiry www.rcslt.org/news/evidence-give…-covid-19-inquiry/
- Meeting new Welsh ministers and meetings in Northern Ireland
- Scottish budget and health cuts

Please do take a few moments to respond to our podcast survey uk.surveymonkey.com/r/LG5HC3R

This interview was conducted by Victoria Harris, Head of Learning at The Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists and features Derek Munn, Director of Policy and Public Affairs at the RCSLT and Cara McDonagh, Director of Engagement and Communications.

Release date:

20 September 2024

In August's news:
- Influencing into the new government in Parliament.
- Update on RCSLT's Equality, Diversity and Inclusion work and plans. See also reponse to the riots across the UK: www.rcslt.org/news/rcslt-respons…ots-across-the-uk/
- Launch of Buddy Chat course in Northern Ireland. This is for children to learn to communicate with others who have communication issues - and is facilitated by teachers.
- Changes in Welsh government.

Please do take a few moments to respond to our podcast survey uk.surveymonkey.com/r/LG5HC3R

This interview was conducted by Victoria Harris, Head of Learning at The Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists and features Derek Munn, Director of Policy and Public Affairs at the RCSLT.

In July's news:
- Impact of the results of the General Election and how you can get involved.
- Communication Access free training www.communication-access.co.uk/
- Lee Silvermann Voice Technique media coverage www.rcslt.org/news/new-study-com…e-with-parkinsons/
- King's Speech
- Senedd reports on the implementation of the Additional Learning Needs legislation and curriculum reform and access for disabled children in Wales to education and childcare www.rcslt.org/news/rcslt-respond…ng-senedd-reports/
- Scottish Covid Inquiry

Please do take a few moments to respond to our podcast survey uk.surveymonkey.com/r/LG5HC3R

This interview was conducted by Victoria Harris, Head of Learning at The Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists and features Derek Munn, Director of Policy and Public Affairs at the RCSLT and Peter Just, Head of External Affairs and Influencing.

In June's news:
- The UK General Election
- Get involved in e-action: www.rcslt.org/policy-and-influen…on-2024/#section-4
- Communication Access free training communication-access.co.uk/
- Results of the Voicebox joke telling competition www.rcslt.org/news/east-lothian-…cebox-competition/
- New permanent National Speech, Language and Communication Co-ordinator within Welsh Government www.rcslt.org/news/new-permanent…-welsh-government/

Please do take a few moments to respond to our podcast survey uk.surveymonkey.com/r/LG5HC3R

This interview was conducted by Victoria Harris, Head of Learning at The Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists and features Derek Munn, Director of Policy and Public Affairs at the RCSLT.

Often, when we're working with kids with DLD, we assume that we need to be working on simple sentences or very basic vocabulary, but should we be aiming for more? Can we support children with DLD to learn to use grammar and vocabulary in ways that are functional for their life, such as their everyday communication or their school curriculum?

The paper is:
Teaching little kids big sentences: A randomized controlled trial showing that children with DLD respond to complex syntax intervention embedded within the context of preschool/kindergarten science instruction

Amanda J. Owen Van Horne, Maura Curran, Susan Wagner Cook, Renée Cole, Karla K. McGregor

First published:
02 May 2023

Useful resources:

• We Have to Talk About Something: Why NOT Talk About the Curriculum? A Guide to Embedding Language Interventions in Curricular Content
  
  
• Two papers on tricking yourself into using complement clauses:

Preparing Student Clinicians to Provide Recast Therapy on Complement Clauses: A Training Program
Can vocabulary lessons increase the amount of complex syntax produced by head start teachers? A pilot study

• Recast Therapy for Treating Syntax in Bilingual Children With Developmental Language Disorder: A Feasibility and Early Efficacy Study Examining the Role of Language of Intervention on Outcomes
  Anny Castilla-Earls and Amanda Owen Van Hornes
  
  
• Two earlier papers on embedding instruction in science learning:

• A free grammar guide by Amanda Owen Van Horne and Susan Ebbels:
  https://www.theinformedslp.com/review/the-grammar-guide-you-never-knew-you-always-wanted
  
  
• Shape coding: https://shapecoding.com/