Patients seen for therapy, such as those seen by speech-language pathologists, typically present with unique conditions that require a highly individualized professional approach. Oftentimes patients present with needs that may fall within the realm of other highly-skilled professionals. In order to provide patients with a more comprehensive service we must account for and help to address their other needs, especially those needs that may be directly impacting their overall functioning or performance in the areas targeted by our intervention. The importance of seeking appropriate intervention from other professionals cannot be overstated. So, the question becomes “How do we know if the patient has other clinically relevant unmet needs?” In the simplest terms, we can find the answer to this question by engaging the patient, family, and/or caregiver(s) in a detailed interview.
This sounds like an easy thing to do but this is often not the case, the questions we need to ask may not be readily apparent. In addition, there may be some resistance to other support or denial that other needs do exist. In other cases, patients may initially present with no easily discernable need for another’s services; however, over time, it may be come increasingly apparent that additional evaluation or intervention from another professional is highly indicated. In any case, once a potential need is identified, either through a detailed interview, observation, questionnaire, or the like, it is critical for the clinician to to engage the patient, family, or caregiver in an open-minded, meaningful discussion to help determine if the newly identified areas of concern fall within the speech-language pathologist’s scope of practice, knowledge, and experience. Furthermore, it is important to determine whether the patient, family, or caregiver is willing to pursue the additional services.
Once a need is identified and the patient is in accordance with the suggested plan the next logical step involves seeking the appropriate assistance for the patient. At that point, referrals to other professionals, sometimes even other speech-language pathologists, may be indicated. Once the patient’s other pertinent needs are identified and addressed, the patient’s benefit from therapy may flourish. In other cases, those treating the patient may find that a completely different approach is needed altogether. In any case, the ultimate goal of finding a more comprehensive, individually-tailored approach will have been identified. Being a good detective and acknowledging that we cannot individually address all of the patient’s pertinent needs ensures that the patient is always put first.
If you or someone you know needs the services of a licensed and certified speech-language pathologist, please be sure to discuss your concerns with a physician, a speech-language pathologist, or another qualified provider. You can also find a provider through the ASHA ProFind service or visit us at www.bilingualspeech.org for more information. NOTE: This article is intended only as a general source of information, i.e, it is not intended to replace information given to you by a qualified health professional that is familiar with your particular circumstances. Lastly, if you have an urgent medical need, please seek immediate medical attention.