title: Speech-language therapy for adolescents with written-language difficulties: the South African context.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate whether privately practising speech-language therapists in South Africa are fulfilling their role of identification, assessment and intervention for adolescents with written-language and reading difficulties. Further needs concerning training with regard to this population group were also determined.
  
  
  METHODS
  A survey study was conducted, using a self-administered questionnaire. Twenty-two currently practising speech-language therapists who are registered members of the South African Speech-Language-Hearing Association (SASLHA) participated in the study.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The respondents indicated that they are aware of their role regarding adolescents with written-language difficulties. However, they feel that South-African speech-language therapists are not fulfilling this role. Existing assessment tools and interventions for written-language difficulties are described as inadequate, and culturally and age inappropriate. Yet, the majority of the respondents feel that they are adequately equipped to work with adolescents with written-language difficulties, based on their own experience, self-study and secondary training. The respondents feel that training regarding effective collaboration with teachers is necessary to establish specific roles, and to promote speech-language therapy for adolescents among teachers.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Further research is needed in developing appropriate assessment and intervention tools as well as improvement of training at an undergraduate level.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Erasmus
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Schutte
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: van der Merwe
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Geertsema
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D016497:Adolescent Health Services; D003625:Data Collection; D006801:Humans; D007805:Language Development Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy*; D011364:Professional Practice; D011932:Reading; D013019:South Africa; D013066:Speech-Language Pathology / Q000379:methods*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014956:Writing