View in EDS

Addressing Competence and Educational Gaps among Speech and Language Pathologists in Cleft Palate Care: A Cross-Sectional Study in Flanders

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Title: Addressing Competence and Educational Gaps among Speech and Language Pathologists in Cleft Palate Care: A Cross-Sectional Study in Flanders
Language: English
Authors: Mie Cocquyt (ORCID 0000-0003-0339-479X), Ida Walgraef, Rutger M. Schols (ORCID 0000-0002-3730-2075), Dennis Demedts (ORCID 0000-0002-6667-4855), Anselme Derese, Stefaan Six (ORCID 0000-0003-3584-6818), Johan Bilsen (ORCID 0000-0001-8371-4612)
Source: International Journal of Language & Communication Disorders. 2026 61(2).
Availability: Wiley. Available from: John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 111 River Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030. Tel: 800-835-6770; e-mail: cs-journals@wiley.com; Web site: https://www.wiley.com/en-us
Peer Reviewed: Y
Page Count: 24
Publication Date: 2026
Document Type: Journal Articles
Reports - Research
Education Level: Adult Education
Descriptors: Speech Language Pathology, Allied Health Personnel, Congenital Impairments, Allied Health Occupations Education, Nontraditional Education, Foreign Countries, Training Methods, Work Environment, Competence, Severity (of Disability), Professional Continuing Education, Speech Therapy, Clinical Diagnosis
Geographic Terms: Belgium
DOI: 10.1111/1460-6984.70203
ISSN: 1368-2822
1460-6984
Abstract: Background: The field of speech and language pathology (SLP) expanded to a wide range of specialities, leading to a global trend to decrease the time spent on specific courses on children with cleft palate, with or without cleft lip (CP±L) in SLP education programmes. The lack of CP±L courses has resulted in a global shortage of well-trained SLPs to deliver high-quality services to this population. Therefore, alternative training formats are needed. Aim: This study aimed to assess the training needs of Flemish speech and language pathologists (SLPs) working with children with CP±L by examining: (1) their current employment situation, experience and perceived competence regarding CP±L; (2) their preferences for the content, sources and organisation of continuing education on CP±L and (3) potential incentives and barriers to attend continuing education on CP±L. Methods and Procedures: A self-constructed online survey in QualtricsXM, based on existing literature, was utilised. The study employed a descriptive, quantitative approach, supplemented with open-ended questions to enrich and deepen the quantitative data. Outcomes and Results: The 158 respondents had a mean work experience of 10 years, a median of 7 years and a mode (most frequently occurring value) of 5 years. Of these 158 respondents, 132 (83.5%) were young SLPs with professional experience ranging from 0 to 15 years. Of these, 53.8% (85/158) had previously treated one or more children with CP±L, of whom 71 (83.5%) had a caseload of 0--3 children within the last 5 years. The mean caseload for the 85 SLPs with experience was 4.74 cases, with a median of one child and a mode of one. Of the 85 respondents with experience, 9.4% (8/85) felt highly competent in treating feeding problems, while 58.8% (50/85) felt highly capable in treating speech and language problems. However, 60% (95/158) of the SLPs would refer children with CP±L, especially when having feeding problems or severe speech and language problems, such as compensatory articulation disorders (CADs) or submucosal cleft, as they feel a lack of competence. Two-thirds (63.6%, 96/151) of the respondents who answered this question expressed a desire for continuing education in the assessment and treatment of children with CP±L. Conclusions and Implications: Although many Flemish SLPs perceived themselves as highly competent in treating speech and language problems in children with CP±L, they reported a lack of competence in treating complex or severe cases. They expressed a strong demand for specific, highly practical continuing education on CP±L, taught by experts in the field and with personal guidance. Based on the existing literature, our experience with CP±L and the results of this survey, we developed a continuing education programme on CP±L as an alternative educational format, tailored to the needs of Flemish community SLPs.
Abstractor: As Provided
Entry Date: 2026
Accession Number: EJ1500558
Database: ERIC
FullText Text:
  Availability: 0
Header DbId: eric
DbLabel: ERIC
An: EJ1500558
AccessLevel: 3
PubType: Academic Journal
PubTypeId: academicJournal
PreciseRelevancyScore: 0
IllustrationInfo
Items – Name: Title
  Label: Title
  Group: Ti
  Data: Addressing Competence and Educational Gaps among Speech and Language Pathologists in Cleft Palate Care: A Cross-Sectional Study in Flanders
– Name: Language
  Label: Language
  Group: Lang
  Data: English
– Name: Author
  Label: Authors
  Group: Au
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Mie+Cocquyt%22">Mie Cocquyt</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0339-479X">0000-0003-0339-479X</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Ida+Walgraef%22">Ida Walgraef</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Rutger+M%2E+Schols%22">Rutger M. Schols</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3730-2075">0000-0002-3730-2075</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Dennis+Demedts%22">Dennis Demedts</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6667-4855">0000-0002-6667-4855</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Anselme+Derese%22">Anselme Derese</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Stefaan+Six%22">Stefaan Six</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3584-6818">0000-0003-3584-6818</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Johan+Bilsen%22">Johan Bilsen</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8371-4612">0000-0001-8371-4612</externalLink>)
– Name: TitleSource
  Label: Source
  Group: Src
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="SO" term="%22International+Journal+of+Language+%26+Communication+Disorders%22"><i>International Journal of Language & Communication Disorders</i></searchLink>. 2026 61(2).
– Name: Avail
  Label: Availability
  Group: Avail
  Data: Wiley. Available from: John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 111 River Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030. Tel: 800-835-6770; e-mail: cs-journals@wiley.com; Web site: https://www.wiley.com/en-us
– Name: PeerReviewed
  Label: Peer Reviewed
  Group: SrcInfo
  Data: Y
– Name: Pages
  Label: Page Count
  Group: Src
  Data: 24
– Name: DatePubCY
  Label: Publication Date
  Group: Date
  Data: 2026
– Name: TypeDocument
  Label: Document Type
  Group: TypDoc
  Data: Journal Articles<br />Reports - Research
– Name: Audience
  Label: Education Level
  Group: Audnce
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22Adult+Education%22">Adult Education</searchLink>
– Name: Subject
  Label: Descriptors
  Group: Su
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Speech+Language+Pathology%22">Speech Language Pathology</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Allied+Health+Personnel%22">Allied Health Personnel</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Congenital+Impairments%22">Congenital Impairments</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Allied+Health+Occupations+Education%22">Allied Health Occupations Education</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Nontraditional+Education%22">Nontraditional Education</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Foreign+Countries%22">Foreign Countries</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Training+Methods%22">Training Methods</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Work+Environment%22">Work Environment</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Competence%22">Competence</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Severity+%28of+Disability%29%22">Severity (of Disability)</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Professional+Continuing+Education%22">Professional Continuing Education</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Speech+Therapy%22">Speech Therapy</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Clinical+Diagnosis%22">Clinical Diagnosis</searchLink>
– Name: Subject
  Label: Geographic Terms
  Group: Su
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Belgium%22">Belgium</searchLink>
– Name: DOI
  Label: DOI
  Group: ID
  Data: 10.1111/1460-6984.70203
– Name: ISSN
  Label: ISSN
  Group: ISSN
  Data: 1368-2822<br />1460-6984
– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract
  Group: Ab
  Data: Background: The field of speech and language pathology (SLP) expanded to a wide range of specialities, leading to a global trend to decrease the time spent on specific courses on children with cleft palate, with or without cleft lip (CP±L) in SLP education programmes. The lack of CP±L courses has resulted in a global shortage of well-trained SLPs to deliver high-quality services to this population. Therefore, alternative training formats are needed. Aim: This study aimed to assess the training needs of Flemish speech and language pathologists (SLPs) working with children with CP±L by examining: (1) their current employment situation, experience and perceived competence regarding CP±L; (2) their preferences for the content, sources and organisation of continuing education on CP±L and (3) potential incentives and barriers to attend continuing education on CP±L. Methods and Procedures: A self-constructed online survey in QualtricsXM, based on existing literature, was utilised. The study employed a descriptive, quantitative approach, supplemented with open-ended questions to enrich and deepen the quantitative data. Outcomes and Results: The 158 respondents had a mean work experience of 10 years, a median of 7 years and a mode (most frequently occurring value) of 5 years. Of these 158 respondents, 132 (83.5%) were young SLPs with professional experience ranging from 0 to 15 years. Of these, 53.8% (85/158) had previously treated one or more children with CP±L, of whom 71 (83.5%) had a caseload of 0--3 children within the last 5 years. The mean caseload for the 85 SLPs with experience was 4.74 cases, with a median of one child and a mode of one. Of the 85 respondents with experience, 9.4% (8/85) felt highly competent in treating feeding problems, while 58.8% (50/85) felt highly capable in treating speech and language problems. However, 60% (95/158) of the SLPs would refer children with CP±L, especially when having feeding problems or severe speech and language problems, such as compensatory articulation disorders (CADs) or submucosal cleft, as they feel a lack of competence. Two-thirds (63.6%, 96/151) of the respondents who answered this question expressed a desire for continuing education in the assessment and treatment of children with CP±L. Conclusions and Implications: Although many Flemish SLPs perceived themselves as highly competent in treating speech and language problems in children with CP±L, they reported a lack of competence in treating complex or severe cases. They expressed a strong demand for specific, highly practical continuing education on CP±L, taught by experts in the field and with personal guidance. Based on the existing literature, our experience with CP±L and the results of this survey, we developed a continuing education programme on CP±L as an alternative educational format, tailored to the needs of Flemish community SLPs.
– Name: AbstractInfo
  Label: Abstractor
  Group: Ab
  Data: As Provided
– Name: DateEntry
  Label: Entry Date
  Group: Date
  Data: 2026
– Name: AN
  Label: Accession Number
  Group: ID
  Data: EJ1500558
PLink https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=eric&AN=EJ1500558
RecordInfo BibRecord:
  BibEntity:
    Identifiers:
      – Type: doi
        Value: 10.1111/1460-6984.70203
    Languages:
      – Text: English
    PhysicalDescription:
      Pagination:
        PageCount: 24
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Speech Language Pathology
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Allied Health Personnel
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Congenital Impairments
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Allied Health Occupations Education
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Nontraditional Education
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Foreign Countries
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Training Methods
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Work Environment
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Competence
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Severity (of Disability)
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Professional Continuing Education
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Speech Therapy
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Clinical Diagnosis
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Belgium
        Type: general
    Titles:
      – TitleFull: Addressing Competence and Educational Gaps among Speech and Language Pathologists in Cleft Palate Care: A Cross-Sectional Study in Flanders
        Type: main
  BibRelationships:
    HasContributorRelationships:
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Mie Cocquyt
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Ida Walgraef
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Rutger M. Schols
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Dennis Demedts
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Anselme Derese
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Stefaan Six
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Johan Bilsen
    IsPartOfRelationships:
      – BibEntity:
          Dates:
            – D: 01
              M: 03
              Type: published
              Y: 2026
          Identifiers:
            – Type: issn-print
              Value: 1368-2822
            – Type: issn-electronic
              Value: 1460-6984
          Numbering:
            – Type: volume
              Value: 61
            – Type: issue
              Value: 2
          Titles:
            – TitleFull: International Journal of Language & Communication Disorders
              Type: main
ResultId 1