Perception of speech and language pathologists towards augmentative and alternative communication in Pakistan.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To determine the level of understanding and use of augmentative and alternative communication devices in Pakistani speech pathologists.. METHODS: The cross-sectional survey was conducted from January to June 2015 in six major cities of Pakistan Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Lahore, Karachi, Quetta and Peshawar. It comprised speech and language pathologists who were asked to fill a questionnaire that consisted of10 questions. Data was analysed using SPSS17. Result: Overall calculated mean and standard error of mean from the respondents who agreed and strongly agreed regarding understanding, opinion-assessment and treatment about augmentative and alternative communication was153±36.373 and 12.124 respectively. RESULTS: Of the 132 subjects, 68(51.5%) were in the education group and 64(48.5%) in the control group. Postintervention, 11(16.2%) women in the education group and 37(57.8%)in the control group developed severe preeclampsia. Subsequently, 44(64.7%) in the education group had no preeclampsia. The corresponding number in the control group was 15(23.4%). CONCLUSIONS: Speech pathologists had understanding of assessing and working with individuals using augmentative and alternative communication.