If you're a speech pathologist working in the community, you already know it feels different to the hospital. But did you know the research actually backs that up? In this episode of Dysphagia Research Bites, Chantelle sits down with Dr Simone Howells from Griffith University to unpack her research on community-based dysphagia practice and why the skills that made you great in the hospital might need a rethink when you step into someone's home.
In this episode we cover:
- Why community-based dysphagia care requires an adapted skillset and mindset
- The three key themes from Simone's research: holistic practice, client autonomy, and carer engagement
- The unique challenges of working without a multidisciplinary team
- How grief, loss, and psychosocial factors show up in community dysphagia practice
- Why new graduates may feel underprepared for community roles — and what universities are doing about it
- The importance of curiosity and conversation over rushing straight to assessment
- Cultural considerations in community dysphagia care
- Where the research gaps are and why community practice deserves more attention
The publication this episode is based on: Howells SR, Cornwell PL, Ward EC, Kuipers P. Dysphagia care for adults in the community setting commands a different approach: perspectives of speech-language therapists. Int J Lang Commun Disord. 2019 Nov;54(6):971-981. doi: 10.1111/1460-6984.12499. Epub 2019 Sep 3. PMID: 31479197.
Where to find the resources mentioned:
- Beyond the Blender cookbook (second edition): www.beyondtheblender.com.au
- Goal-setting handout: https://dysphagia-bites.kit.com/interviewguide
