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MULTICULTURALISM AND DYSPHAGIA

education – simply being a father or male does not exclude the need for this education (Fletcher, 2008). As the demand for father-inclusive practice increases, competencies for speech pathologists working with fathers will develop. To date, the need for these competencies has been neglected (Fletcher, 2008). The introduction of specific father-inclusive practice during tertiary education would provide future speech pathologists with the academic knowledge and clinical skills to adequately include fathers in speech pathology intervention. Conclusion It is clear from the literature that an interdisciplinary team (Arvedson & Brodsky, 2002; Bell & Sheckman Alper, 2007; Joanna Briggs Institute, 2000; Lefton-Greif & Loughlin, 1996; Mathisen, 2008, 2003; Morgan & Reilly, 2006; Newman, 2000; Puntis, 2008), working in a family-centred model is best practice in managing the dysphagia of a child (see also Mathisen, 2008). An increase in community attitudes about the inclusion of fathers has been recommended across many education and health care professions (Fletcher, 2008). Currently, there are no documented or specific father-inclusive models of intervention in paediatric dysphagia practice. Therefore speech pathologists are encouraged to establish such models to engage fathers. Doing so will have significant benefits not only for the child but also for the mother, the siblings, the extended family and of course, the father (Bronte-Tinkew et al., 2008; Misri et al., 2000; Oliver, Schmied & Gailey 2001). References Arvedson, J. C., & Brodsky, L. (2002). Pediatric swallowing and feeding . San Diego, CA: Singular Publishing Group. Auslander, G. K., Netzer, D., & Arad, I. (2003). Parental anxiety following discharge from hospital of their very low birth weight infants. Family Relations , 52 (1), 12–21. Bell, H. R., & Sheckman Alper, B. (2007). Assessment and intervention for dysphagia in infants and children: beyond the neonatal intensive care unit. Seminars in Speech and Language , 28 (3), 213–222. Broadhurst, K. (2003). Engaging parents and carers with family support services: What can be learned from research on help seeking. Child and Family Social Work , 8 , 341–350. Bronte-Tinkew, J., Carrano, J., Horrowitz, A., & Kinukawa, A. (2008). Involvement among resident fathers and links to infant cognitive outcomes. Journal of Family Issues , 29 (9), 1211–1244. Coleman, W. L., Garfield, C., & Committee on Pyschosocial Aspects of Child andFamily Health (2004). Fathers and pediatricians: Enhancing men’s roles in the care and development of their children. Pediatrics , 113 , 1406–1411. Fägerskiöld, A.(2006). Support of fathers of infants by the child health nurse. Scandinavian Journal of Caring Sciences , 20 , 79–85. Feeley, N., Gottlieb, L., & Zelkowitz, P. (2007). Mothers and fathers of very low birthweight infants: similarities and differences in the first year after birth. Journal of Obstetric, Gynecologic and Neonatal Nursing , 36 (6), 558–567. Fegran, L., Helseth, S., & Fagermoen, M. S. (2008). A com­ parision of mother’s and father’s experiences in the attach­ ment process in a neonatal intensive care unit. Journal of Clinical Nursing , 17 , 810–816. Fletcher, R. (2008). Father-inclusive practice and associated professional competencies. Australian Family Relationships Clearinghouse Briefing, No. 9. Retrieved 22 October 2008, from http://www.aifs.gov.au/afrc/pubs/briefing/briefing9.html Fletcher, R., Matthey, S., & Marley, C.G. (2006). Addressing depression and anxiety among new fathers. Medical Journal of Australia , 185 (8), 461-463. Fletcher, R., Vimpani, G., Russell, G., & Keatinge, D.(2008). The evaluation of tailored and web-based information for new fathers. Child: Care, Health and Development , 34 (4), 439 – 446. Hallberg, A .C., Kristiansson, R., Beckman, A., Petersson, K., Råstam, L., & Håkansson, A. (2007). Fathers and their children’s health: a telephone interview study. ACTA Paediatrica , 96 , 1083–1087.

Heesacker, M., Wester, S. R., Vogel, D. L., Wentzel., Mejia-Millan, C. M., & Goodholm, C. R. J. (1999). Gender-based emotional stereotyping. Journal of Counselling Psychology , 46 , 483–495. Joanna Briggs Institute. (2000). Identification and manage­ ment of dysphagia in children with neurological impairment. Best practice: Evidence based practice information sheets for health professionals , 4 , 1–6. Lefton-Greif, M. A., & Loughlin, G. M. (1996). Specialized studies in pediatric dysphagia. Seminars in Speech and Language , 17 (4), 311–330. Mason, S. J., Harris, G., & Blissett, J. (2005). Tube feeding in infancy: Implications for the development of normal eating and drinking skills. Dysphagia , 20 , 46–61. Mathisen, B. (2003). Re-inventing the delivery of paediatric dysphagia services. ACQuiring Knowledge in Speech, Language and Hearing , 5 (2), 79–82. Mathisen, B. A. (2008). Working with families of children with dysphagia: An interdisciplinary approach. In N. Watts Pappas & S. McLeod (Eds.), Working with families in speech-language pathology, pp. 245–278. San Diego, CA: Plural Publishing. Mathisen, B., Worrall, L., O’Callaghan, M., Wall, C., & Shepherd, R. W. (2000). Feeding problems and dysphagia in six-month-old extremely low birth weight infants. Advances in Speech-Language Pathology , 2 (1), 9–17. Misri, S., Kostaras, X., Fox, D., & Kostaras, D. (2000). The impact of partner support in the treatment of postpartum depression. Canadian Journal of Psychiatry , 45 , 554–558. Morgan, A. T., & Reilly, S. (2006). Introduction: Clinical signs, aetiologies and characteristics of paediatric dysphagia. In J. Cichero & B. Murdoch (Eds.), Dysphagia: Foundation, theory and practice, pp. 391–465. London: John Wiley & Sons Ltd. Newman, L. A. (2000). Optimal care patterns in pediatric patients with dysphagia. Seminars in Speech and Language , 21 (4), 281–291. O’Brien, C., & Rich, K. (2002). Evaluation of the men and family relations ininative: Final and supplementary report . Canberra: Department of Family and Community Services. Oliver, J., Schmied, V.& Gailey, P. (2001). Meeting the needs of men in preparation for parenthood programs . Paper presented at the 7th National Conference of the National Association of Childhood Educators, Gold Coast, April. Porter, S., & Mabbutt, J. (2005). Fathering the effects can last a lifetime: Supporting men in the biggest challenge of all – fatherhood. Journal of the Child and Family Health Nurses Association (NSW) Inc. , June, pp. 14–15. Puntis, J. W. L. (2008). Specialist feeding clinics. Archives of Disease in Childhood , 93 , 164–167. Ramchandani, P., Stein, A., Evans, J., O’Connor, T.G., & the ALSPAC Study Team. (2005). Paternal depression in the postnatal period and the child development: A prospective population study. Obstetrical and Gynecological Survey , 60 (12), 789–790. Selley, W. G., Parrott, L. C., Lethbridge, P. C., Flack, F. C., Ellis, R. E., Johnston, K. J., Foumeny, M. A., & Tripp, J. H. (2001). Objective measures of dysphagia complexity in children related to suckle feeding histories, gestational ages and classification of their cerebral palsy. Dysphagia , 16 , 200–207. Erin Palmowski is currently completing her studies at the University of Newcastle and will graduate in June 2009. She has a keen interest in paediatric dysphagia and the impact it may have on the family. Dr Bernice Mathisen is the Speech Pathology Program Convenor at The University of Newcastle and former director of its Interdisciplinary Dysphagia Clinic (IDC). She has 35 years experience in Australia and in the United Kingdom (University College, London) with a broad spectrum of research, teaching and clinical service roles. Correspondence to: Erin Palmowski

erin.p87@gmail.com Bernice Mathisen bernice.mathisen@newcastle.edu.au

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