Welcome
You are being invited to take part in a research study about speech and language therapy (SLT) for children with speech sound disorder (SSD). SSD is an umbrella term for a child’s difficulty acquiring the sounds of their ambient language. It encompasses one or more difficulties that a child has with perception, articulation, phonological representations and/or prosody.

Participation in this study is voluntary. Before you decide if you want to take part, it is important for you to understand why the research is being done and what taking part involves. Please take time to read the following information carefully and discuss it with others if you wish. Please ask us if there is anything that is not clear or if you would like more information
Background and purpose of the study
SSD affects approximately 3.6% of Irish children and is associated with reduced participation in everyday communication, literacy difficulties and a higher risk of antisocial behaviour in adolescence. A wide range of formal and informal assessment tools and procedures are currently used to diagnose SSD in children. SLT intervention is provided to children with SSD in Ireland via a range of care pathways, typically defined by resource constraints, rather than robust evidence. These care pathways vary in terms of timing of intervention (pre-school, school age), frequency and duration of sessions, and involvement of parents or education staff. Methods for collecting data on outcomes also vary making it difficult to determine which care pathways lead to better outcomes. This diversity in service provision and lack of uniformity in the collection of important data makes it difficult to carry out research in a clinical setting for this population of children.
MISLToe_SSD is a UK-based study that aims to create a diagnostic protocol and Core Outcome Set (COS) (i.e., an agreed set of outcomes to be measured and reported) for children with SSD. The study also aims to collect data about SSD interventions- their labels and descriptions. The aim of this current survey is to establish your views as speech and language therapists (SLTs) in the Republic of Ireland about MISLToe_SSD’s diagnostic protocol and COS, as well as your current SSD intervention practices to see if MISLToe_SSD’s research can be applied in the Irish context.

Ethical approval for the study has been obtained from the Research Ethics Committee for the School of Linguistic, Speech and Communication Sciences at Trinity College Dublin.
Why have I been chosen to participate?
You are being invited to participate in this study because you are a qualified SLT and have experience working with children with SSD.
Do I have to take part?
It is up to you to decide whether or not to take part. If you do decide to take part you will be asked to indicate that you give consent to participate (by ticking the box below).
What will happen to me if I take part?
If you choose to take part, you will be asked to complete a survey that takes approximately 15-20 minutes. The survey will ask your opinions on SSD diagnosis, interventions and core outcomes.
What are the benefits of taking part?
Taking part in this research will help this study to achieve its aim of improving the efficiency and effectiveness of SLT services for children with SSD and their families. Your participation in this research can be recorded as a Continuing Professional Development (CPD) activity.
What are the possible disadvantages and risks of taking part?
We have taken all measures to minimise any risk to you. All information will be treated confidentially. Sitting for long periods of time at a screen can be tiring. You are advised to give yourself regular breaks away from the screen.
Will my participation in this study be kept confidential?
The survey will not ask for your personal information and can be completed anonymously.
What will happen if I decide not to take part in the study?
You can withdraw from the study at any time before submitting your survey by closing the survey. Once you have submitted the survey, it will not be possible to withdraw your responses because the survey is anonymous and we will not be able to identify which responses are yours.
What will happen to the results of this research?
Findings of this study will inform a follow-on study to collect qualitative data using a World Café methodology that will take place in Trinity College Dublin in January 2027. A further follow-up online focus group on SSD intervention practices will also take place in 2027. The information from this study may be published in scientific papers. If this is the case, your identity will remain confidential and no one will know that you took part in the study.
Who is organising and funding this study?
This study is led by Dr Amy Connery, Trinity College Dublin and a team of co-investigators from University College Cork (Dr Ciara O’Toole) and Bristol Speech and Language Therapy Unit (BSLTRU) who are experienced researchers and qualified SLTs. The Irish part of the study was funded by the Health Research Board and the Trinity College Dublin Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences Events Fund, awarded to Dr Connery.
What do I do if I have any further questions?
If you have any questions or concerns regarding your participation in the study please contact Dr Amy Connery (connerya@tcd.ie) for further information.

Question Title

By ticking this box, I confirm that I have read and understood the information provided and consent to participate in this study. (Required.)

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