Logopedics, Vol. 7 No. 2, 2017.
Professional paper
https://doi.org/10.31299/log.7.2.4
Involvement of speech and language pathologist in assessment and therapy of feeding and swallowing difficulties
Tomislava Strsoglavac
; Udruga „Korak po korak do zdravlja“, Klanjec
Emica Farago
; Sveučilište u Zagrebu, Edukacijsko-rehabilitacijski fakultet, Odsjek za logopediju
Abstract
The aim of this study was to provide the description of speech and language pathologists’ work in the area of assessment of feeding and swallowing difficulties in Croatia and abroad. Since this is a relatively new field in Croatia, the aim of this study was to obtain data on the characteristics of the assessment of feeding and swallowing difficulties. The sample consisted of 49 speech and language pathologists employed in health care institutions. Respondents were asked to complete a questionnaire on a web page, with the aim of establishing how speech and language pathologists in Croatia perform the assessment of feeding and swallowing difficulties. The obtained data were analyzed on the level of qualitative analysis and percentages.
To get a better insight into the characteristics of assessment of feeding and swallowing difficulties in Croatia, the data were compared with the previously known data from similar studies in other countries. The results show that 73 % of speech and language pathologists working within the health care system in Croatia are working with people who have feeding and swallowing difficulties. Through the analysis of the characteristics of assessment of feeding and swallowing difficulties in Croatia, we can conclude that, despite being a relatively new field, the evaluation is done according to the recommendations of experts in the mentioned area. However, further education in the field of speech and language assessment of feeding and swallowing difficulties is required in order to develop protocols for the evaluation of feeding and swallowing difficulties.
Keywords
feeding and swallowing difficulties; assessment; speech and language pathologist
Hrčak ID:
192545
URI
Publication date:
28.12.2017.
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