scope of practice and code of ethics

Scope of Practice

Official policy (by ASHA) defining the practice within the SLP profession

Guiding Principles

Cultural and linguistic diversity

Evidence based practice

The 7 Scopes of Practice

1. Statement of purpose

2. Framework for research

3. Framework for clinical practice

4. Qualification of SLPs

5. Professional roles/activities

6. Clinical services

7. Practice settings

1) Statement of Purpose defines(5)

A. Areas of professional practice for SLPs

B. Educate others about professional services offered by SLPs as qualified providers

C. Supports SLPs in provision high quality, EB services

D. Support SLPs conduct research

E. Provide guidance for educational programs/ professional development for SLPs

2) Framework for research

3) framework for clinical practice

Improve communication and overall quality of life following ASHA’s guiding principles

Cultural/linguistic considerations

EBP for clinical decision making

4) Professional and qualification: Audiologists

• measure hearing ability and identify, assess, manage, and prevent disorders of hearing and balance.

• Includes auditory processing disorders

• May dispense hearing aids and other amplification devices

• Independent professional who practice without prescription from another healthcare provider

4) Professional and qualification: SLPs

• Identify, assess, treat, and prevent expressive and receptive communication disorders in all modalities both receptively and expressively

• Provide services for swallowing disorders

• May work with individuals who elect to receive services

• Independent professionals who practice without a prescription from another healthcare provider

• Speech-language pathology assistants: Can administer tests and therapy under an S LP's direction but cannot diagnose a disorder or provide intervention independently

5) Professional roles/ activities

• Speech sound production (articulation, apraxia of speech, dysarthria etc.)

• Resonance (hypernasality, hyponasality, etc.)

• Voice (phonation quality, pitch, loudness, respiration etc.)

• Fluency (stuttering, cluttering, neurogenic stuttering)

• Language (phonology, morphology, syntax, semantics, pragmatics, literacy)

• Cognition (attention, memory, problem solving, etc.)

• Feeding/swallowing (oral, pharyngeal, laryngeal, esophageal functions etc.)

6) clinical services

• Prevention

• Screening

• Assessment/evaluation

• Consultation

• Diagnosis

• Treatment/ intervention/ management

• Counseling

• Collaboration

• Documentation

• Referral

7) Practice Settings

• Public/private schools/early intervention centers

• Health care settings

• Private practice

• University/university clinic

• Home health

• Supported/competitive employment settings

• Community/state/federal agencies

• Correctional institutions

• Research facilities

• Corporate/industrial settings

What is the Code of Ethics?

Framework and focused guide to provide professionals support of day to day decisions making related professional conduct that are essential to preserve the highest standards of integrity and ethical principles in SLP

Rules of Ethics

Specific statements of minimally acceptable professional conduct or of prohibitions

Principle of Ethics I

"Individuals shall honor their responsibility to hold paramount the welfare of persons they serve professionally or who are participants in research and scholarly activities, and they shall treat animals involved in research in humane manner."

Principle of Ethics II

“ Individuals shall honor their responsibility to achieve and maintain the highest level of professional competence and performance."

Principle of Ethics III

“ Individuals shall honor their responsibility to the public when advocating for the unmet communication and swallowing needs of the public and shall provide accurate information involving any aspect of the professions. "

Principle of Ethics IV

"Individuals shall uphold the dignity and autonomy of the professions, maintain collaborative and harmonious interprofessional and intraprofessional relationships, and accept the professions' self-imposed standards.”