Academic and clinical training in cleft palate for speech-language pathologists.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to obtain information about academic and clinical training of speech-language pathology students in cleft palate (CP).


METHODS
Representatives of 232 accredited graduate programs in speech-language pathology were invited via e-mail to complete a web-based 32-item questionnaire. Questions focused on the type and nature of courses offered related to CP, availability of clinical practica, and number of hours of clinical experience by students. An item-by-item analysis was conducted and descriptive statistics obtained.


RESULTS
A total of 127 (54.7%) of the programs responded. Sixty-seven percent offered coursework exclusively devoted to CP, and for 53% of these it was a required course. For the programs that did not offer an exclusive course on CP, 35% indicated that CP was covered in other courses such as articulation, voice, or anatomy and physiology. Fifty-four percent of the programs offered clinical practica in CP. For these, a median of five students of a median graduate speech-language pathology class of 43 were enrolled in practica involving CP (range = 0-21), and students spent a median of 2 hours in practica involving CP (range = 0-100).


CONCLUSIONS
Cleft palate is a complex disorder to which many students have limited exposure and for which more graduate training is unlikely since the 1993 American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) certification changes. As a result, there is a need to look towards alternative methods to enhance the educational and clinical experiences of students and practitioners in cleft palate.
Vallino
Linda D
LD
Craniofacial Outcomes Research Laboratory, Center for Pediatric Auditory and Speech Sciences, Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children, Wilmington, DE 19899, USA. vallino@asel.udel.edu
Lass
Norman J
NJ
Bunnell
H Timothy
HT
Pannbacker
Mary
M
D016235:American Speech-Language-Hearing Association; D002972:Cleft Palate; D002983:Clinical Competence; D003479:Curriculum; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D013066:Speech-Language Pathology / Q000193:education*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014481:United States