This research presentation draws upon the principles of person- and family-centred care, evidence-based practice and the rights of children and people with disabilities. These principles emphasise the contribution of client preferences in decision-making processes. Currently, little is known about the preferences of school-aged children with speech and/or language difficulties for speech pathology services and perceptions of good outcomes.

The objectives of this study were to explore the perspectives of school-aged children with speech and/or language difficulties and their parents around their experiences of speech pathology and their preferred outcomes.

School-aged children with speech and/or language difficulties and their parents were recruited in dyads. There were five children and parent dyads who completed questionnaires with open-ended questions to explore their experiences and perspectives of communication difficulty and speech pathology services as well as preferred outcomes and supports. An inductive thematic analysis approach was used to analyse their responses.

Themes around independence, self-perception and participation arose from the data, reflecting these as areas impacted by communication difficulties, supported by speech pathology services and/or desired as goals of intervention. The results add new perspectives to the research around current and preferred experiences of speech pathology and successful outcomes, capturing and acknowledging the voice of children and their families who access services.

This study highlights the importance of listening to and consulting school-aged children and families in planning person-centred speech pathology services to ensure that the targeted goals align with the expected and/or preferred outcomes. Further implications for practice and future research will also be discussed.

At the conclusion of my presentation attendees will take away
1. The importance of listening to and consulting with school-aged children with speech and/or language difficulties and their parents.
2. School aged children with speech and/or language difficulties are willing and able to talk about their experiences of speech pathology.
3. Children, parents and speech pathologists may have different values when it comes to their communication and different perspectives regarding successful outcomes.