TL;DR
Cochrane Reviews represent the gold standard in evidence synthesis, providing clinicians with reliable data to inform practice. The 2017 protocol by Law and colleagues signals a critical examination of speech and language therapy interventions for children with primary communication disorders. This forthcoming evidence will strengthen our clinical decision-making, allowing speech pathologists to optimise intervention selection and ultimately improve outcomes for the children and families we support.
Why Do Evidence-Based Interventions Matter for Children with Communication Disorders?
For children with primary speech and language disorders, accessing timely and effective interventions can be life-changing. As speech pathologists, we continually navigate a complex landscape of therapeutic approaches, seeking those that will best serve our young clients. The protocol for a Cochrane Review by Law, Dennis, and Charlton (2017) represents a significant milestone in our field’s commitment to evidence-based practice. This systematic review aims to determine the effectiveness of speech and language therapy interventions for children with primary speech and/or language disorders, with a particular focus on comparisons between active interventions and controls.
While the completed review is still forthcoming, this protocol signals an important step toward synthesising high-quality evidence to inform clinical practice. In Australia, where approximately 1 in 5 children start school with a speech or language difficulty, the implications of such reviews are far-reaching for clinicians, families, and educational systems alike. This article examines the significance of this protocol, the anticipated impact of its findings, and the practical applications for speech pathology practice in Australia.
What Makes Cochrane Reviews So Valuable to Speech Pathology Practice?
Cochrane Reviews are internationally recognised as the highest standard in evidence synthesis. They employ rigorous methodologies to systematically search, appraise, and synthesise all relevant studies addressing a specific research question. For speech pathologists, these reviews provide critical guidance in clinical decision-making, helping us distinguish between interventions with strong empirical support and those with limited evidence.
The protocol by Law and colleagues (2017) outlines a comprehensive review focusing specifically on speech and language therapy interventions for children with primary communication disorders. This specificity is particularly valuable, as it will allow clinicians to draw conclusions directly relevant to paediatric speech pathology practice. By comparing active interventions against controls, the review will help identify which therapeutic approaches demonstrate measurable benefits for children with primary speech and/or language disorders.
In the Australian context, where telehealth services are increasingly utilised to overcome geographical barriers to care, evidence-based intervention selection becomes even more critical. The findings from this review will support clinicians in making informed decisions about which interventions to implement via telehealth platforms, ensuring that children receive effective therapy regardless of their location.
How Might This Evidence Impact Clinical Decision-Making for Paediatric Speech Pathologists?
The anticipated findings from this systematic review will provide speech pathologists with a stronger foundation for clinical reasoning. When completed, the review will likely offer insights into:
- Which interventions demonstrate the strongest evidence for specific speech and language disorders
- The optimal intensity and duration of therapy sessions
- The relative effectiveness of different service delivery models (e.g., direct vs indirect, individual vs group)
- The role of parent/carer involvement in intervention success
For clinicians at Speech Clinic and similar practices across Australia, this information will be invaluable in developing individualised intervention plans. The emphasis on comparisons between active interventions and controls will help speech pathologists distinguish between approaches that genuinely benefit children and those that may not offer significant advantages over natural development or general support.
Additionally, this evidence will strengthen our ability to advocate for children and families within multidisciplinary teams and when seeking funding for services. In the context of the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) and other funding frameworks, robust evidence for intervention effectiveness is increasingly important for securing appropriate resources for children with communication needs.
What Are the Potential Implications for Parent and Carer Involvement in Therapy?
One particularly valuable aspect of systematic reviews like the one proposed by Law and colleagues is their potential to highlight the role of parents and carers in successful intervention. Many contemporary speech and language therapy approaches incorporate significant parent/carer involvement, recognising the importance of embedding communication strategies in everyday interactions.
The findings from this review may provide clearer guidance on how parents and carers can most effectively support their child’s communication development. This has profound implications for telehealth service delivery, where parent/carer coaching often forms a central component of the intervention approach. As a practice specialising in telehealth services, Speech Clinic recognises the critical importance of empowering families with evidence-based strategies they can implement in their daily routines.
Additionally, evidence from systematic reviews helps speech pathologists communicate more clearly with families about intervention options, expected outcomes, and timeframes. This transparency strengthens the therapeutic alliance and helps set realistic expectations for progress, both of which are essential components of successful intervention.
How Can We Bridge the Gap Between Research Evidence and Clinical Practice?
While systematic reviews provide valuable syntheses of existing evidence, translating these findings into daily clinical practice remains a challenge. The protocol by Law and colleagues represents an important step in this process, but additional strategies are needed to ensure that speech pathologists can effectively implement evidence-based interventions.
Professional development opportunities that focus specifically on translating research into practice are essential. These might include workshops that provide practical guidance on implementing interventions with strong empirical support, as well as communities of practice where clinicians can share experiences and problem-solve challenges in applying evidence-based approaches.
Additionally, clinical resources such as decision-making frameworks, assessment protocols, and intervention guides that draw directly from systematic review findings can help speech pathologists integrate evidence into their daily work. As more specific evidence becomes available through reviews like the one proposed by Law and colleagues, these resources can be refined to reflect the most current understanding of effective intervention approaches.
For practices like Speech Clinic that specialise in telehealth service delivery, evidence from systematic reviews also informs the development of digital resources and therapy materials that can be used effectively in remote sessions. This ensures that children receiving therapy via telehealth benefit from the same evidence-based approaches as those attending in-person sessions.
Advancing Evidence-Based Practice in Paediatric Speech Pathology
The protocol by Law, Dennis, and Charlton (2017) represents an important contribution to the field of paediatric speech pathology. By systematically examining the effectiveness of interventions for children with primary speech and/or language disorders, this review will provide valuable guidance for clinicians, families, and policymakers.
As speech pathologists, we have a professional responsibility to continuously refine our practice based on the best available evidence. Systematic reviews like this one support us in fulfilling this responsibility, helping us make informed decisions about which interventions to implement and how to adapt our approach to meet individual needs.
For families of children with communication disorders, this commitment to evidence-based practice offers reassurance that the therapy their child receives is founded on rigorous research. It also provides hope that as our understanding of effective interventions continues to evolve, outcomes for children with speech and language disorders will improve accordingly.
If you or your child need support or have questions, please contact us at Speech Clinic.
What is a primary speech or language disorder?
A primary speech or language disorder refers to difficulties with communication that cannot be attributed to other conditions such as hearing impairment, intellectual disability, or autism spectrum disorder. These disorders specifically affect a child’s ability to understand and/or use language, or to produce speech sounds correctly, despite otherwise typical development in other areas.
How do speech pathologists determine which intervention approach to use?
Speech pathologists select intervention approaches based on multiple factors, including the specific nature of the communication difficulty, the child’s age and developmental stage, family priorities, and the available evidence for intervention effectiveness. Systematic reviews like the one proposed by Law and colleagues provide valuable guidance in this decision-making process, helping clinicians identify approaches with strong empirical support.
Can speech therapy be effectively delivered via telehealth?
Yes, research increasingly supports the effectiveness of telehealth delivery for many speech and language interventions. For families in regional or remote areas of Australia, or those with scheduling constraints, telehealth offers accessible, evidence-based therapy without compromising quality. The findings from systematic reviews help inform which interventions are most suitable for telehealth delivery and how they might need to be adapted for this format.
How important is parent/carer involvement in speech and language therapy?
Parent and carer involvement is typically crucial to the success of speech and language interventions. Research consistently shows that embedding communication strategies in everyday interactions significantly enhances therapy outcomes. The systematic review by Law and colleagues may provide further insights into optimal approaches for parent/carer coaching and involvement, particularly relevant in telehealth contexts where direct therapist-child interaction may be limited.
What makes Cochrane Reviews particularly valuable for clinical practice?
Cochrane Reviews are distinguished by their rigorous methodology, comprehensive search strategies, and strict criteria for study inclusion. These reviews minimise bias through transparent processes and detailed quality assessment of included studies. For speech pathologists, Cochrane Reviews provide a trustworthy synthesis of available evidence, allowing for confident clinical decision-making based on the most robust research findings available.
