Roles and Responsibilities
Professional competence across professions and settings requires that audiologists and speech-language pathologists (SLPs) practice in a manner that considers the impact of cultural variables and language exposure and acquisition on their clients/patients. ASHA-certified practitioners have met rigorous academic and professional standards, including knowledge of cultural variables and how they may influence communication. See ASHA's Scopes of Practice in Audiology (ASHA, 2004b) and Speech Language Pathology (ASHA, 2007). Clinicians are responsible for providing competent services, including cultural responsiveness to clients during all clinical interaction. Responsiveness to the cultural and linguistic differences that affect identification, assessment, treatment, and management includes
completing self-assessment to consider the influence of one's own biases and beliefs and the potential impact on service delivery;
identifying and acknowledging limitations in education, training, and knowledge and seeking additional resources and education to develop cultural competence via continuing education, networking with community members, etc.;
seeking funding for and engaging in ongoing professional development of cultural competence throughout one's career;
demonstrating respect for an individual's race, ethnicity, gender, gender identity/gender expression, age, religion, nation origin, sexual orientation, and/or ability;
integrating clients' traditions, customs, values, and beliefs in service delivery;
identifying the impact of assimilation and acculturation on communication patterns during identification, assessment, treatment, and management of a communication disorder/difference;
assessing/treating each client as an individual and responding to his/her unique needs, as opposed to anticipating cultural variables based on assumptions;
identifying appropriate intervention and assessment strategies and materials that do not violate the client's unique values and/or create a chasm between the clinician and client and his/her community;
using culturally appropriate communication with clients, caregivers, and family so that information presented during counseling is provided in a health literate format consistent with clients' cultural values;
referring to/consulting with other service providers with appropriate cultural and linguistic proficiency, including using a cultural informant or broker;
upholding ethical responsibilities during the provision of clinically appropriate services.
Clinicians also have a responsibility to advocate on behalf of consumers, families, and communities at risk for or with communication disorders and differences or swallowing and balance disorders. Advocacy specific to cultural competence includes
collaborating with professionals across disciplines and with local and national organizations to gain knowledge of, develop, and disseminate educational, health, and medical information pertinent to particular communities;
gaining knowledge and education of high risk factors (e.g., hypertension, heart disease, diabetes, fetal alcohol syndrome) in particular communities and the incidence and prevalence of these risk factors that can result in greater likelihood for communication/swallowing/balance disorders;
providing education regarding prevention strategies for communication/swallowing/balance disorders in particular communities;
providing appropriate and culturally relevant consumer information and marketing materials/tools for outreach, service provision, and education, with consideration of the health literacy, values, and preferences of communities taken into consideration;
identifying and educating communities regarding the impact of state and federal legislation on service delivery.