Speak Out August 2019 Digital Edition

Association news

Congratulations! Research grant outcomes

were no studies that investigated articulation and phonological processes in young children with mild hearing loss prior to school entry. The proposed project draws on data collected as part of the Longitudinal Outcomes of Children with Hearing Impairment (LOCHI) study. We aim to examine the influence of age at hearing device treatment and early enrolment in speech and language intervention on development of speech production of children with MHL at 5 years and to compare this with that of peers with normal hearing. The findings will increase knowledge about the effectiveness of early treatment for improving speech production of children with MHL. Outcomes for the Queensland Registration Board Legacy Grant will be announced following completion of the ratification process.

Congratulations to the 2019 New Researcher Grant and Nadia Verrall Memorial Grant awardees. Nineteen applications for the New Researcher Grant and six for the Nadia Verrall were received. Applications spanned a wide range of areas relevant to the SPA strategic plan. All applicants are to be congratulated on their efforts to contribute to the evidence base. Following the review process, the two successful applicants for the New Researcher Grant were Alison Moorcroft (Qld) and Caroline Baker (Victoria). Artemi Vella is the recipient of the Nadia Verrall Memorial Grant. A brief description of each project is provided below. Alison Moorcroft Development of a decision aid for the introduction of AAC systems to parents of children with complex communication needs Reasons for AAC rejection and abandonment are multifaceted; however, one key contributor reported by parents of children with complex communication needs is speech language pathologists (SLPs) who did not use shared decision-making during the process of AAC introduction. Existing literature suggests that the use of decision aids (tools that provide evidence-based information about each option and scaffold decision-making) may promote family-centredness of the SLP and consequently reduce the likelihood of AAC rejection and abandonment. Therefore, this study aims to develop and pilot test a decision aid for use during the introduction of AAC systems. Caroline Baker Optimising mood and wellbeing with aphasia after stroke: a feasibility study of Prevention Intervention and Support in Mental health (Aphasia PRISM). Most people with aphasia experience negative impacts of depression and/or anxiety after stroke. However, there are many evidence-practice gaps and barriers to psychological care. Implementing an interdisciplinary framework, known as stepped psychological care, has the potential to guide collaborative practice and improve rehabilitation outcomes. This project aims to investigate the feasibility of Aphasia PRevention Intervention and Support in Mental health (Aphasia PRISM), an interdisciplinary intervention in communication support and ‘first line’ (level 1) stepped psychological care. This feasibility pre-post study will test Aphasia PRISM delivered by 5 stroke health professional dyads (n=10). Dyads will include one speech pathologist paired with a nominated other stroke health professional (e.g., psychologist, social worker, occupational therapist). Analysis will consider outcomes for both people with aphasia and health professionals. Artemi Vella Speech production of Australian children with mild hearing loss at 5 years of age: Preparing children for school Children with mild hearing loss (MHL) experience difficulties hearing soft or distant sounds, and especial difficulties when listening in noisy environments. These difficulties have far reaching consequences for communication, academic achievement and social participation. Although previous studies have reported that some school-aged children with MHL exhibited deficits in phonologic short-term memory and academic achievement, there

New Grant Announced Clinician-

Researcher Partnership

Research Grant We are delighted to announce a new research grant, offered for the first time in 2019. The grant, to a value of $30,000, will fund a project which involves a team consisting of clinician(s) and researcher(s) working in partnership to address an area which will add to the evidence-base for communication and swallowing disorders and is embedded in the clinical context. The question(s) addressed may arise from clinical practice or may extend a research study to a clinical context to provide external validity. Priority will be given to research applications that align with the Association’s Strategic Plan. Full details are available at www. speechpathologyaustralia.org.au/Clinician- Grants. Applications will close on October 21. If you have questions, please contact ebp@ speechpathologyaustralia.org.au

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August 2019 www.speechpathologyaustralia.org.au

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