Expert Consensus on the Role of Speech-Language Pathologists in Working With Deaf Children Who Use American Sign Language in the United States: A Classical e-Delphi Study.
Kristen Secora, Brittany Lee, David Smith and 1 others
PMID 40184609WHAT IT FOUND
SLPs working with deaf children who use ASL need to know Deaf culture, language deprivation, and audism.
Experts agreed that fluency in ASL is essential for specialists but not required for generalists, who must instead collaborate with experts and refer out when skills are limited.
Key findings
01Specialist SLPs should be fluent in ASL and have advanced knowledge of Deaf culture and language deprivation, while generalist SLPs are not required to be fluent in ASL but must recognize their own limitations and collaborate with experts.
02All SLPs should prioritize language development over speech production, value ASL and English equally, and understand that sign language acquisition does not hinder spoken language development.
03SLPs must be knowledgeable about the history of harm caused to Deaf people by the profession, combat audism, and avoid using communication systems like Cued Speech or Sim Com as substitutes for full language access.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for SLPs
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What it does not show
The study focused exclusively on deaf children who use signed languages in the United States, so findings may not apply to those using spoken languages or other sign languages. Expert consensus reflects opinions and ideals, not tested clinical outcomes or evidence of efficacy. The panel was predominantly White and female, which may limit the diversity of perspectives on intersectionality within the Deaf community. The remote survey format may have influenced responses, and the lack of group discussion means some nuances were not explored.
Declared interests
The study was supported by a postdoctoral fellowship funded by the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders and a National Science Foundation grant. No commercial conflicts of interest were declared.
The easy way to misread this
Do not interpret this consensus as evidence that specific interventions improve outcomes. These are expert recommendations for professional conduct and qualifications, not tested clinical treatments.