Credit: James Cook University
Researchers from James Cook University in Queensland, Australia are conducting a research project to look at the attidues and experiences of speech-language pathologists regarding the use of Melodic Intonation Therapy with children who have speech and language disorders.
They have created a survey to look into these attitudes and experiences and are seeking participation from S-LPs internationally.
Credit: Employment and Social Development Canada / Statistics Canada
National AccessAbility Week (NAAW) took place May 30-June 5, 2021. This year’s theme was “Disability Inclusion 2021: Leaving no one behind.”
To mark National AccessAbility Week, Statistics Canada in collaboration with Employment and Social Development Canada, is pleased to unveil the new Accessibility Data Hub.
This new portal provides users with a single point of access for a wide range of data and information related to accessibility.
Users can quickly and easily browse various key subtopics – including built environment, design and delivery of programs and services, employment information, communication technology and transportation – and access Statistics Canada’s latest data tables, analytical articles and infographics. The Hub also enables users to find external governmental data, as well as information about laws related to accessibility, and will be updated as new data becomes available.
Credit: Global Morning News Saskatoon
On May 18, 2021, the Chair of SAC’s Board of Directors, Jennifer Cameron-Turley, was interviewed on Global Morning News Saskatoon to promote Speech & Hearing Month and shine a light on the important roles of speech-language pathologists, audiologists and communication health assistants.
In the interview, Jennifer discuss some of this year’s Speech & Hearing Month initiatives as well as some of the ways speech-language pathology and audiology services are essential to helping people manage and/or overcome communication challenges or disorders.
* Please note that the Living with Aphasia Interview Series has been moved to June to promote Stroke Awareness Month.
Credit: Canadian Longitudinal Study of Aging
In 2021, the Government of Canada announced an investment of $9.6M for the infrastructure needed to renew and extend the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging (CLSA). The over-arching goal of the CLSA is to generate knowledge that promotes the health and well-being of older adults and informs the development of programs and policies for Canada’s aging population. Just over 50,000 Canadians, who were between 45 and 85 years of age at the time of recruitment, are being followed for 20 years, with data collected from each individual every three years until 2033 or their death.
Using data from the CLSA participants, researchers examined associations between self-reported hearing and vision abilities, as well as various social factors such as social network size, availability of social support, social participation and loneliness. They also examined the prevalence of hearing and vision loss in older Canadians, as well as an analysis showing how demographic and social factors help to explain discrepancies between self-reported hearing ability and hearing measured using pure-tone audiometry.
Past, present and future research using CLSA data will enable us to answer a wide range of population and public health questions concerning the causes and consequences of age-related changes in hearing loss in older Canadians.
Learn more about the CLSA on SAC’s Communiqué Blog.
As part of SAC’s 2021 Audiology Event Webinar Series, two SAC members discussed what their 70 years (combined!) of clinical practice has taught them about working with older adults with hearing and cognitive difficulties.
This webcast provides an overview of the challenges faced by clinical audiologists when working with older clients who may also be experiencing cognitive changes due to aging or age-related neurological conditions like dementia and how cognitive screening may help to inform best practice for assessment and management of older adults with cognitive loss.
“More than two-thirds of people who have had a stroke experience communication and/or swallowing difficulties. Communication and swallowing difficulties often occur together, are usually most severe immediately after the stroke and often improve over time. Recovery can continue for many years and is most successful when rehabilitation is started as soon as possible after the stroke.
S-LPs are experts in communication and swallowing difficulties and are core members of the stroke rehabilitation team…”
Learn more about communication and swallowing difficulties following a stroke on the Speech & Hearing Month website.
“In March 2021, the World Health Organization launched the first-ever World Report on Hearing, which outlines a public health approach to making (ear and) hearing care accessible for all.
Launched as part of the 2021 World Hearing Day campaign on March 3, the report demonstrates the growing need for hearing care globally and explains why this should be a public health priority. The report was developed as a means of defining the direction of global ear and hearing care and providing a strong basis for country action…”
Learn more about the World Report on Hearing on the Speech & Hearing Month website.
Credit: Brock University
The Applied Linguistics Department at Brock University is hosting an online Applied Linguistics Speaker Series. On Wednesday, June 2, 2021 at 1 p.m., the series will feature a public lecture on Aphasia Friendly Canada Business Campaign.
The Aphasia Friendly Canada Business Campaign is a non-profit organization founded the speaker of this lecture, Dr. Lori Buchanan. Their goal is to eliminate the societal roadblocks that contribute to the loneliness and isolation that many people with communication disorders face. In this presentation, Dr. Buchanan will tell you the story about how they started this campaign, what they are currently doing and what they ultimately hope to achieve.
Register for the Applied Linguistics Speaker Series now!
Credit: The National Collaborating Centre for Infectious Diseases (NCCID) and the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC)
This moderated and live webinar includes a presentation and discussion on the Recommendations of the National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI) on Extended Dose Intervals and Effectiveness of COVID-19 Vaccines, with live Q&A to inform health care and vaccine providers. This webinar is hosted by the National Collaborating Centre for Infectious Diseases (NCCID), in collaboration with the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC).
Presentation highlights:
English Session:
Wednesday, May 5, 2021
1:00 pm – 2:00 pm EDT
Moderator: April Killikelly, PhD, PHAC
Participants: Dr. Robyn Harrison, NACI; Dr. Jesse Papenburg, NACI; Dr. Bryna Warshawsky, PHAC; Austin Nam, PhD, PHAC; and Beate Sander, PhD, NACI
Register: Click here
French Session:
Friday, May 7, 2021
1:00pm – 2:00 pm EDT
Moderator: Lindsay Colas, PHAC
Participants: Dr. Jesse Papenburg, NACI; Dr. Robyn Harrison, NACI; Dr. Philippe De Wals, NACI
Register : Click here
Please note, due to time limitations, not all questions can be answered.
The same presentation will be delivered in English and in French.
The webinars will be recorded and available on the NCCID website immediately following each event.
For any registration difficulties, please contact NCCID: nccid@umanitoba.ca
Credit: Biz X Magazine
On May 3, 2021, Speech-Language & Audiology Canada (SAC) and Speech & Hearing Month were featured in Biz X Magazine as the cover story of their latest issue.
The feature article discusses the challenges faced by people with communication and hearing difficulties, as well as the role of speech-language pathologists and audiologists in helping people manage and/or overcome them.
The article quotes SAC’s Director of Audiology, Lynda Gibbons and Director of Speech-Language Pathology and Communication Health Assistants, Meredith Wright. It also features quotations from a several clinics in the Windsor-Essex area.
“Speech-language pathologists (S-LPs) are essential members of education teams.
S-LPs have a variety of roles within the school setting. This includes collaborating with teachers in the classroom as well as working with speech-language pathology assistants to provide individualized and group services to students of all ages. As members of interprofessional teams, they also contribute to educational goal setting, planning and curriculum accessibility. S-LPs play a critical role in supporting academic success, as well as the social and emotional well-being of students…”
Learn more about S-LPs in schools on the Speech & Hearing Month website.
SAC has developed an infographic on S-LPs in schools for Speech & Hearing Month 2021.
