Abstract

PIP: The existing academic and clinical requirements pertaining to counseling among Educational Standards Board (ESB)-accredited audiology and speech-language pathology training programs were investigated. The attitudes of training directors towards the inclusion of counseling experiences in student preparation also were of interest. A questionnaire was designed to assess the amount and type of counseling experiences offered in ESB-accredited communicative disorders programs. Additional questions sought attitudes of respondents towards various aspects of counseling, courses offered, course content, and needs in this area. The questionnaires were mailed to the directors/chairs of the 134 ESB-accredited audiology and speech-language pathology programs (1983). Questionnaires were returned by 98 respondents. Considerably more emphasis was put on course work and practicum experience with counseling at the graduate level than the undergraduate level. The majority of programs offered a counseling course in either the communication disorders department or in an outside department. 23% of the programs provided no counseling courses. When courses were taught outside the department, the majority of these courses were taught through psychology or counseling; social work and education departments also were named. The majority of the counseling courses were offered on an elective basis. Although 76% of the ESB-accredited programs offered counseling courses, less than half included it as a requirement. 52% of non-departmental courses did not include information specific to counseling persons with communicative disorders. This number may be higher since 28% of the respondents were not familiar with the counseling course content. General topic areas -- parent and family counseling, general principles, and adult adjustment -- were included in almost all courses, but counseling of specific populations with communication disorders was included in far fewer counseling courses. 70% of the respondents felt a counseling course should be offered in a communicative disorders department, but only 40% of the programs offered such a course. 70% of the respondents agreed that a counseling course should be required at the graduate level. Only 12% of the respondents felt most graduate programs in communicative disorders offered sufficient course work and practicum in counseling to adequately prepare students.