Interaction is at the heart of Activity, Participation and Envrionment domains of the ICF and yet many speech pathologists are not confident in how to analyze interaction. Research around intervention focussed on interaction focusses primarily on aphasia (Simmons-Mackie et al 2014) but interaction is relevant to clients across most domains of practice.

The over-whelming goal for most clients is using their communication skills effectively in interaction with others, so understanding the key features of interaction, and how to analyze these, is an important adjunct to SLP expertise in speech, language, AAC, stuttering domains of practice in particular.

Drawing on theory and empirical research, this panel discussion promises to provide a safe and supportive space where participants can listen to short presentations from panel members engaged in researching interaction in diverse contexts. Each panel member will highlight a particular aspect of interaction and then participants will be invited to ask open questions to whole panel, and/or questions directed at particular panel members.

The overall objective is to emphasise the critical necessity of going beyond the focus on the skills of an individual person with communication difficulties, to a focus on the ways various communication partnerships may impact on effective functional use of communication skills, and to highlight strategies for building confidence in identifying aspects of interaction that be relevant to assessment and intervention.

By participating in this panel discussion, attendees will enhance their understanding of the key features of interaction, and learn simple strategies for building confidence in identifying important features of interaction as relevant to their caseloads. The interactive nature of the panel format encourages active engagement, discussion and collaborative problem-solving. Speech pathologists will leave the workshop with a deeper understanding of how their expertise can expand.

Madeline Cruice, Monica Blom Johansson, Jytte Isaksen & Simon Horton (2018) Reporting interventions in communication partner training: a critical review and narrative synthesis of the literature, Aphasiology, 32:10, 1135-1166, DOI:
10.1080/02687038.2018.1482406

Simmons-Mackie, Nina. (2011). Exploring clinical interaction in speech-language therapy: Narrative, discourse and relationships.

Simmons-Mackie, N. Savage, M., Worrall, L. (2014).
Conversation therapy for aphasia: a qualitative review of the literature. International Journal of Language and Communication Disorders. Sept-Oct 2014. Vol 49, No. 5, pp 511-526.

Wilkinson, R. (2014). Intervening With Conversation Analysis in Speech and Language Therapy: Improving Aphasic Conversation. Research on Language and Social Interaction, 47(3), 219–238. https://doi.org/10.1080/08351813.2014.925659