Video on writing for publication from the British Medical Journal

Posted on January 18, 2010 by Avril Nicoll

I was interested to watch this video about writing for the British Medical Journal. Although it focuses on the BMJ's preference for the randomised controlled trial, it includes a lot of useful and sensible advice for anyone in the healthcare field who wonders whether they should write for publication or get involved in research.

We all watch and interpret things through our own lenses, and things I have taken from it include:

  • we are by and large funded by the public, so new knowledge should be publically available
  • negative findings are as useful as positive
  • important research can result from a clinician noticing something in their everyday practice
  • healthcare publications actually have a role in creating the fairer society we want to see.

The British Medical Journal has developed impressive online resources using video and audio, something that I hope will increasingly feature alongside Speech & Language Therapy in Practice articles.

Posted in Books, journals and articles, CPD, Writing for publication | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Speech and language therapists and teachers of the deaf – ‘Communicating clearly together’

Posted on January 15, 2010 by Avril Nicoll

Reader Sue Hamrouge gave me a call to ask if I would alert readers to a forthcoming conference to promote collaborative working between speech and language therapists who work with deaf people, and teachers of the deaf.

The conference is on 13th March in Wandsworth from 9.30-16.15. As the title 'Communicating clearly together' suggests, the programme is weighted towards presentations on joint working, including visits, assessment and target setting.

Although relationships between the two professions have not always been easy, Sue says "there is some excellent work going on now." She explains that initiatives such as the Newborn Hearing Screening Programme and the Early Support programme have brought the whole team of people who work with deaf children and their families closer together. Teams are quality audited every 12 to 18 months for the service they deliver following a diagnosis. This has led to sharing rather than duplication, and the good clinical practice is emerging as people work and develop resources together. Good news indeed for our tiniest clients and their families.

Posted in Conferences, Deafness, Service delivery, Speech and language development, Speech and Language Therapy | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Speechmag blog is Speechwoman’s ‘Site of the Month’

Posted on January 13, 2010 by Avril Nicoll

Speechwoman_tiny What a great start to my day – an e-mail from Caroline Bowen telling me that the speechmag blog has been awarded the Speechwoman 'Site of the Month' award for January 2010!

Along with speechmag, Caroline's renowned website is one of the most enduring speech and language therapy related presences on the internet. Since June 1998, her alter ego Speechwoman has selected "an outstanding speech-language-pathology related website" as her site of the month. The variety of winners is testament to Caroline's super powers in finding and sharing good practice around the globe.

Speechwoman notes that the "immensely readable" Speech & Language Therapy in Practice magazine is supported by the speechmag website, a presence on Facebook and the editor's blog.  Explaining why she has chosen to recognise this blog with the first Speechwoman award for 2010 she says, "As well as being a skilled editor Avril has a lively and engaging writing style, so it comes as no surprise that her blog is interesting, informative and entertaining."  

The blog gets a maximum triple plus 'excellent' rating for quality, usability and design and a double plus for authority, reflecting the Speech & Language Therapy in Practice aim of bridging the gap between academia / research and practice.

Thank you Speechwoman, my blog will wear your logo with pride!

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Wordworks supports early literacy, empowers parents and fosters resilience

Posted on January 6, 2010 by Avril Nicoll

Vrygrond creche dec 07 Cynthia Pelman, who joined Speech & Language Therapy in Practice recently following several years working abroad, says the Wordworks charity in South Africa is "continuing to do wonderful work which I am a bit sad not to be part of any more."

The three main strands of Wordworks are:

  1. Parent project masip supporting early literacy and language development through training volunteers, teaching assistants, library staff and community workers
  2. empowering parents to support learning in the home, especially when they may not have had the benefit of educational opportunities themselves. This is the legacy for many families in South Africa from the apartheid years. (This photo includes a dad who had never held a pen or pencil before.)
  3. addressing the psychosocial needs of children in disadvantaged communities – in other words, "doing hope".

It is interesting to note that the project doesn't just value learning but recognises the strong, consistent, supportive relationships forged with volunteers are key to the success of the literacy program. The use of Hero Books alongside the literacy work aims to foster resilience, with the emphasis on "how they cope with difficulties, what brings them joy and uplifts them, what they do to get the support they need to make the best of their lives". Therapists who wish to run programs for parents and volunteers should have a look at the Wordworks' freely available resources.

Cynthia says that, thanks to previous generosity on the part of donors, the charity has more than enough books, but you can contact her or see the website to find out how to contribute financially. Speech and language therapists may be particularly interested in the suggestions of practical support which could make interesting projects for their clients. (For more information on project work, see Simpson, Denman & Gale's 'Walking with Dobermanns' in the Autumn and Winter 09 issues of Speech & Language Therapy in Practice.)

Posted in Community settings, Overseas, Service delivery, Speech and language development, Speech and Language Therapy, Voluntary organisations | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Speech and language therapy using Skype – research update

Posted on January 6, 2010 by Avril Nicoll

Reader Rebecca Matthews has sent me her annual newsletter, which includes a report on progress with her PhD research into delivering therapy to children over the internet via Skype.

Rebecca was motivated to investigate service delivery by videoconferencing to save fuel and make the most of clinical time and says so far opinions are "positive and encouraging". Now in the third year of her research at UCL, she is looking to identify what makes the provision of speech and language therapy via Skype acceptable to people. She is collecting the views of children and parents as well as analysing the activity in both face-to-face and Skype sessions.

Importantly, Rebecca is also looking at video recordings of both types of sessions to see what differences there may be in speaking and working. She has already noted that, as children have to give her instructions via Skype rather than pointing as they can do in a face-to-face session, they are automatically encouraged to do more talking.

Rebecca's review of the TinyEye videoconferencing system for Speech & Language Therapy in Practice is in our Autumn 08 issue (p.28). In a different field of the profession, Susan Howell has reported positively on a feasibility study into the use of the internet, a webcam and broadband to deliver Lee Silverman Voice Treatment (LSVT) to people with Parkinson's disease.

Posted in Books, journals and articles, Community settings, Parkinson's disease, Service delivery, Speech and language development, Speech and Language Therapy, Web/Tech | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Editor apologies for using wrong version of Pulse / Frontline advert

Posted on December 9, 2009 by Avril Nicoll

Much as I enjoy editing Speech & Language Therapy in Practice and seeing a new issue come out, there is always a horrible moment as I wait to find out what mistakes have made their way into print. A painstaking proofing process is essential as, once the magazine is 'out there', it is very difficult to do anything about it.

While errors are usually fairly minor, such as a typo, a missing word or poor punctuation, very occasionally they have more serious consequences. With the Winter 09 issue my checking process went spectacularly wrong and I ended up using the first draft rather than final version of the advert on the inside front cover. The company is being very gracious about it but as there are a few important differences – in particular the e-mail address at the end – I wanted to make readers aware of it as soon as possible. What follows is the correct version (click on it to see it full size):

Speechmag Pulse FL Advert (2)
 
  

Posted in Professional standards, Speech and Language Therapy, Writing for publication | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Creating creativity – Bible Stories in Cockney Rhyming Slang

Posted on December 8, 2009 by Avril Nicoll

Readers of Keith Park's article 'Extra! Extra! Read all about it!' in the Winter 09 issue will enjoy this video about his work:

Keith tells me that further performances are planned at Canterbury Cathedral (January 20th and April 28th 2010), Westminster Abbey (February 10th 2010), Rochester Cathedral (March 3rd 2010). Anyone is welcome, but should contact Keith first (keithpark1@onetel.com).  

Posted in Autism, Community settings, Learning disability, Speech and Language Therapy | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Holography as phonetics teaching resource

Posted on December 5, 2009 by Avril Nicoll

In the Winter 09 issue of Speech & Language Therapy in Practice, we report on the development of a student teaching resource which could become a useful tool for speech and language therapists.

Pip Cornelius, a lecturer in phonetics and phonology at De Montfort University, has worked with Professor Martin Richardson who specialises in holography to produce the 3D visualisations of different sounds. Here are 3 examples (uploaded to You Tube by kind permission of De Montfort University).

 

 

 

 

 

Posted in Craniofacial, Head & Neck, Phonetics / phonology, Speech and Language Therapy | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

How to run peer-led conversation groups

Posted on November 11, 2009 by Avril Nicoll

The communication disability network Connect will shortly be releasing a new toolkit and training package for speech and language therapists who want to run conversation groups led by people with aphasia.

This is the latest step in the national charity's drive to involve people with aphasia in service development, and recognises the particular skills needed to train leaders with aphasia and keep them motivated. Having learned over the years what gives a new scheme the best chance of sustainability, Connect offers initial support and training in your own setting with a toolkit including a CD ROM with training handouts and a DVD.

The Connect website also has a number of inspiring articles which show how the charity's approach to training is bringing about real change for people with aphasia.

For more information about 'How to run peer-led conversation groups: A guide for group coordinators', e-mail nikkiwimbourne@ukconnect.org.  

Posted in Aphasia, CPD, Speech and Language Therapy, Voluntary organisations | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

CPD courses for speech and language therapists

Posted on October 29, 2009 by Avril Nicoll

The CLaSS unit at University College London has added new titles to its range of continuing professional development courses for speech and language therapists.

Among them is a two level course on supervision with Sam Simpson and Cathy Sparkes of intandem called 'Are You Getting Enough?' This was also the title of a series of four articles the duo wrote about supervision for Speech & Language Therapy in Practice in 2008. As a speech and language therapy and counselling partnership, they are also offering a new two level course to help therapists develop their counselling skills.

Myra Kersner, one of the authors of A Career in Speech and Language Therapy, is running a new course with Ann Parker aimed at speech and language therapy assistants and teaching assistants. This will include "the practical development of interpersonal communication skills with children and adults who have communication difficulties, with parents and carers, and with other colleagues." Another intriguing and topical option is 'Getting the most out of interagency meetings'.

The full programme also covers dysphagia, mutism, dyspraxia, autism, goal setting, voice, storysharing, psycholinguistics and analysis of sign language.

Posted in Autism, CPD, Dysphagia, Professional standards, Speech and Language Therapy, Supervision, Voice | Tagged | Leave a comment