The missing link in child abuse and neglect reporting: Speech-language pathologists

Abstract

Previous research has noted that there are a variety of barriers and hesitations associated with being a mandated reporter for suspected child abuse or neglect across healthcare professionals and what role interdisciplinary team members have on reporting behaviors. However, the literature has minimally included speech-language pathologists, specifically those working in a medical setting, in this discussion. This study examined the reporting behaviors of speech-language pathologists working in a medical setting on an interdisciplinary team by specifically looking at individual perceptions and experiences with reporting. In a qualitative, phenomenological research study, 10 speech-language pathologists were interviewed. Participants reported that being on an interdisciplinary team is an overall positive experience, however it does not largely contribute to the decision to report suspected child abuse or neglect; rather it was noted that individual experiences are what truly drive reporting behaviors and habits. Barriers associated with reporting included: fear of retaliation, considering possible alternatives to reporting, having an unsupportive administration, a lack of education on familial dynamics and socioeconomic factors when working with families, the presence of an unspoken hierarchy, a lack of knowledge on reporting, and the time associated with making a report. Building on these findings it is evident that there is a lack of education provided for speech-language pathologists on the reporting of suspected child abuse and neglect and that more stringent policies and procedures need to be put in place for reporting. Finally, this study concludes with a discussion of the implications and contributions of this work for speech-language pathology practice and education.