title: Epilogue: some final thoughts on EBP.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  In this afterward, I will offer some final thoughts on this clinical forum by considering a central question of EBP--how experimental validation is defined--to illustrate the difficulty involved in implementing EBP.
  
  
  METHODS
  The comments draw on critical reviews I have received on my article in this forum and conversations I have had with professional colleagues about EBP.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Like most scientific constructs, EBP is open to different interpretations. At their worst, these differences have the potential to polarize clinical practice. The hope, however, as Kent and Fey have expressed, is that articles and commentaries such as these will serve as the basis for discussion and even argument among clinicians and researchers as we attempt to define a philosophy and implementation of EBP suited to our profession.
authors.affiliation: Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders, 300 Ferguson, UNCG, Greensboro, NC 27402, USA. agkamhi@uncg.edu
authors.forename: Alan G
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Kamhi
mesh_terms: D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D007806:Language Disorders / Q000628:therapy*; D013064:Speech Disorders / Q000628:therapy*; D013066:Speech-Language Pathology / Q000379:methods*