New book challenges speech and language therapy teaching and practice

A new book questioning some of the assumptions underpinning the work of speech and language therapists – and their education and training – has been launched.

Speech and Language Therapy and Professional Identity: challenging received wisdom is co-authored by Jane Stokes, Senior Lecturer in Speech and Language with the Faculty of Education & Health, University of Greenwich, and Marian McCormick, Senior Lecturer at Canterbury Christ Church University.

The launch event at the Medway Campus included a live performance of What The Jackdaw Saw, a book by best-selling children’s author Julia Donaldson, in a version co-written with teenagers from the Greenwich-based Life and Deaf charity.

Jane says: “There are long-standing practices in the teaching and training of therapists and their work which this book aims to scrutinise.

“For example, when working with people who have had a stroke, the spiritual aspects of speech and language are often neglected by therapists. Some approaches to speech and language therapy, such as the traditional six-week block of input and support, have become standard practice but actually have little supporting evidence to back them up.

“We also need a better understanding of why we have so few men studying and working in the field. Currently 95 per cent of speech and language therapists in the country are women.

“Our book uses case studies and examples from students and professional therapists. We raise questions about the education and practice of speech and language therapy. We do not have the answers but we all need to keep questioning our practice and how it is taught.”

Guests at the launch included the outgoing chair of the Health Care Professions Council, Anna van der Gaag, alongside students from the University of Greenwich and Canterbury Christ Church Canterbury University, and people with communication difficulties who have been involved in recent arts projects organised by the authors.

Jane adds: “Some of the most powerful learning for our students involves working with art, music, photography and poetry – our partners with communication difficulties teach us all so much.”