Speech and language therapists take an evidence-based approach to practice, and are a research-active profession
Speech and language therapists are supported to access and understand the latest and best evidence about ways of working with people with speech, language, communication and swallowing difficulties. Six times a year our journal, the International Journal of Language and Communication Disorders publishes the latest research undertaken in these areas. Research evidence is taken into consideration by a therapist, alongside a patient’s/client’s, or family member’s preferences for their care and appraised in light of a therapist’s clinical expertise to deliver meaningful and effective speech and language therapy- this is the basis of evidence-based practice (or ‘EBP’).
We are carrying out a research priority setting project to identify the top most important areas that require further research in speech and language therapy as agreed upon by a range of stakeholders including people with speech, language, communication and swallowing difficulties. You can view our research priorities for dysphagia and learning disabilities, and see what is happening next for developmental language disorders, aphasia and autism streams of work.
Many speech and language therapists may choose to undertake research as part of their career, for example by studying for a Masters or PhD, or may use their clinical work to investigate research questions by collecting data on patient/client outcomes following a particular intervention.
For more information about research and speech and language therapy, please contact us.
