Research priorities

Research priorities for dysphagia

The methods and findings of our Dysphagia PSP have been published. You can read the report here, and explore the priorities here: 

• Dysphagia: Top 10 adult research priorities (PDF)
• Dysphagia: Top 10 paediatric research priorities (PDF)
• Dysphagia: Top 10 general/non age group specific priorities (PDF)
• Long list of dysphagia research priorities (PDF)
• Setting collaborative research priorities in dysphagia poster (PDF)

Since the priorities were published, there have been two main campaigns to document what research has been conducted in relation to them: 

• Projects carried out in the first year since publication and associated infographics  
• Projects carried out in the second year since publication and associated infographics  

The Top 10 priorities have also been explicitly cited in the scope of two National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) commissioned calls on the use of thickened fluids. We are currently working with the INGEST (dIscontinuing or continuiNG thickEned fluidS Trial) research team to explore the impact of discontinuing thickened fluids in adults with oro-pharyngeal dysphagia. Get involved  or keep up to date with the project.

Research priorities for developmental language disorder (DLD)

Phase I of our DLD PSP identified a number of broad priority areas. In 2025, we completed Phase II of this project, which focused on identifying specific, up-to-date research questions in DLD, in response to feedback from research funders who requested more targeted questions for consideration at funding panels. 

You can read the report to explore the Top 10 research questions and learn how you can support the next steps, whether by sharing the priorities, conducting or supporting research, or applying new evidence in practice: 

• DLD Research Priority Setting Partnership – Phase II Report
• Top 10 questions for research on DLD – easy read
• Top 10 priority questions list (portrait) | Top 10 priority questions list (landscape)
• The Top 20 questions summary

Phase II was carried out in partnership with Moor House Research & Training Institute, University College London, Afasic, and the University of Lancashire. Researchers from a number of other universities also contributed. 

The project was co-produced with people with lived experience of DLD and a range of health, education, and social care professionals as equal partners. As such, the results represent the shared priorities of the wider DLD community. This is reflected in the Top 10 questions, which include priorities related to education, the diagnostic process, interventions and outcomes, employment and social care, and social and emotional well-being. 

These priorities must now be used to guide the research agenda and help shape future services that better reflect the needs and preferences of people with DLD. This marks the start of a wider movement, one that depends on collaboration across the DLD community to improve outcomes across all stages of life. 

The following documents are also available from Phase I of the priority setting partnership: 

• DLD Research Priority Setting Partnership – Phase I Report
• The results of partnership, presented in The Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry (2022) 
• The methods used in Phase I, published in the JoVE journal as a paper  (2020) and as a video (2023) 
• Long list of developmental language disorder research priorities  identified in Phase I 

If you are interested in applying to, or collaborating on, a new National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR)-funded project into SLT-led interventions for school-aged children with developmental language disorder, then please do reach out to our Head of Research & Outcomes, Amit.

Research priorities for learning disabilities

In Phase I of our Learning Disabilities PSP, members were asked to identify their uncertainties about any aspect of speech and language therapy relevant to supporting people with learning disabilities. A literature review found that many of these uncertainties were not addressed by high-level, quality research. 

95 research areas (reflective of the uncertainties) were ranked by adults with learning disabilities, their families and carers, speech and language therapists and other health care professionals. The highest-ranking areas became the Top 10 Research Priorities for Learning Disabilities.

The Top 10 were re-visited as part of Phase II of the project, which focussed on maximising the appeal and suitability of the priorities to key national and international research funding institutions, by developing specific research questions. 

You can find out more about both phases of the project by downloading the following resources:

• Full details of Phase I and Phase II are included in our Learning Disabilities Research Priority Setting Partnership Report. An easy read document (PDF) and video version of the report are also available, and also the long list of research priorities.
• The methods and results of the project have been published in the Tizard Learning Disability Review (2022). View the supplementary material for this review.
• Speech and Language Therapists have reflected on the impact of the research priorities on clinical practice in a Commentary Paper, also published in the Tizard Learning Disability Review.
• RCSLT members have led projects and contributed to campaigns to highlight research progress in the priority areas.
• The Top 10 priorities have also been explicitly cited in the scope of several National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) commissioned calls, under its Health and Social Care Delivery Research (HSDR) and Health Technology Assessment (HTA) funding programme.

If you are interested in supporting our influencing work in this space, and/or are planning on carrying out research in any of the prioritised areas, please reach out to the RCSLT Research team via info@rcslt.org, or tag us in a comment on LinkedIn. 

What do the research priorities mean for me?

There are lots of ways you can use the priorities to support your work.

If you are a speech and language therapist: 

• Share the priorities with your networks, including patients/service users and their families – ask them what they think
• Use the priorities to inform a journal club meeting
• Discuss the priorities at a team meeting, Clinical Excellence Network (CEN) event
• Review an article in relation to a priority area for the ‘in the journals’ column in Bulletin 
• Carry out a clinical audit or quality improvement project related to a priority area. 

If you are a researcher conducting research in the field of speech and language therapy:

• Let us know about any existing/potential work you know is happening in relation to a priority area
• Consider applying to the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) rolling funding call for research priorities identified by James Lind Alliance PSPs
• Let us know if you are considering applying for a funding call, and would like to talk to the RCSLT Research team about a potential collaboration.  
• Use a priority area to inform your student dissertation project or to develop your research proposal/National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) fellowship application
• Tell us about relevant funding bodies, stakeholders and funding opportunities, particularly local ones. 

How can the RCSLT Research team support me? 

The RCSLT Research team are happy to support your activities in relation to any of the research priorities. We can provide advice about your project, a letter of support and/or relevant resources to support your activity. We can also help you to share information on the research/activities that you are carrying out.  

Visit the following webpages for more information on:  

• How the RCSLT supports research  
• How to request a letter of support 
• How to request representation on a funding bid, panel or advisory board 
• How to request that your research is shared by the RCSLT 

You can also get in touch by: 

• Starting a conversation on LinkedIn and tagging @RCSLTResearch
• Emailing info@rcslt.org 

Next steps

• The working group met in 2020 to discuss next steps for the RCSLT PSP workstream and decided that autism and aphasia clinical areas were no longer priority areas, as Autistica and the Stroke Association have already begun their own PSPs in this area. 
• The RCSLT Research team continue to actively promote the priorities emerging from both internal and external PSPs to influence the speech and language therapy research agenda.  
• We are currently working with the INGEST (dIscontinuing or continuiNG thickEned fluidS Trial) research team to explore the impact of discontinuing thickened fluids in adults with oro-pharyngeal dysphagia. Get involved or keep up to date with the project.  
• We are delighted to share that the NIHR has launched three new major funding calls into stammering, developmental language disorder and non-progressive motor disorders. If you are interested in applying for, or collaborating on, one or more of these calls, do let our Head of Research & Outcomes, Amit, know: 
  • Interventions for school-aged children with a developmental stammer 
  • SLT-led interventions for children and young people with developmental language disorder  
  • Interventions for children and young people with non-progressive motor disorders affecting their speech