title: Mild traumatic brain injury (MTBI): assessment and treatment procedures used by speech-language pathologists (SLPs).
abstract: The purposes of this study were to identify how individuals with MTBI are assessed, to determine the referral process to and from speech-language pathologists (SLPs), to describe the frequency, structure, and nature of treatment, to identify how individuals with MTBI and their families are educated about the injury and counselled, and to assess current follow-up procedures. One-hundred and forty-three hospital and rehabilitation centre based SLPs from North Carolina and Illinois responded to a survey developed to address these areas of interest. Findings indicated current diagnostic tools used by SLPs lack the sensitivity to detect the subtle cognitive communication deficits associated with MTBI, referral and follow-up procedures are not sufficiently implemented in facilities to meet the growing needs of individuals with MTBI, and SLPs would benefit from increased training regarding the management of individuals with MTBI including educating and counselling patients and their families.
authors.affiliation: Department of speech and Hearing Science, University of Illinois at Urbana--Champaign, Champaign, IL 61820, USA. macollns@uiuc.edu
authors.forename: Melissa C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Duff
authors.forename: Adele
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Proctor
authors.forename: Katarina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Haley
mesh_terms: D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy*; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D003376:Counseling; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D006801:Humans; D007806:Language Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D012017:Referral and Consultation; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013066:Speech-Language Pathology; D015599:Trauma Severity Indices