Practical work the key to speech therapy degree
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Parents involved in Kate Mirabito's research considered their role to be complementary to the speech pathologist's. |
After completing undergraduate studies in English literature and psychology, Kate Mirabito decided to merge her interests and undertake a Masters in Speech and Language Pathology at Macquarie University.
Mirabito commenced her Masters in 2003 after completing a qualifying year where she studied subjects designed to enhance her knowledge.
Emphasis on practical work
The Masters in Speech and Language Pathology is a two-year program which places a strong emphasis on practical work. Students are given the opportunity to work in the public and private system dealing with children experiencing speech difficulties and stuttering as well as older patients who have swallowing problems or require stroke rehabilitation.
During her first year of practical work with the paediatric population, Mirabito began to think about the parent's journey through their child's speech therapy. She was given the opportunity to further her interest when she and her fellow students were offered the chance to complete a small research project.
"We were the first students in the Masters program who were offered research work instead of completing two subjects," explains Mirabito. "We could still attend the lectures if we wanted to, we just didn't have to complete the assignments."
Three students, including Mirabito took up the offer of research
Research component
Mirabito interviewed seven parents whose children attended speech pathology in private practices across Sydney and the Blue Mountains for her study, Parent reactions to speech therapy involvement.
Each parent was interviewed individually for one hour where Mirabito asked: how they perceived their roles and roles of speech pathologist; how their expectations of their involvement related to their actual experiences; were they happy with the way therapy was carried out and their own involvement.
"Overall there was a positive attitude towards speech therapy from the parents, they felt it increased their child's confidence and that they were making an active contribution to their child," says Mirabito.
The parents considered their role to be complementary to the speech pathologist even though most weren't actively involved in their child's session.
"The most interesting thing to come out of my study was the idea of involvement," says Mirabito. "What exactly is involvement? Some parents just felt by observing they were involved. These are issues that could be carried on in future research."
Benefits of further study
"The Masters has been an excellent starting point for me," says Mirabito who currently works as a speech therapist in private practice. "I would definitely recommend this course to others. The best part was the practical focus. As the lecturers have been practicing clinicians there was always a practical focus. The research project also gave me a taste of what it could be like to do higher research, which could be my path in the future."
For further information on the Masters of Speech and Language Pathology visit the Department of Linguistics website at www.ling.mq.edu.au or program coordinator Dr Beth Armstrong at beth.armstrong@mq.edu.au