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by Carol Frattali
The Academy of Neurologic Communication Disorders and Sciences (ANCDS), a professional organization that offers specialty certification in neurologic communication disorders, established its Practice Guidelines Coordinating Committee and five respective Writing Committees in 2001. The purpose of this committee of committees is to develop evidence-based practice guidelines in five content areas (i.e., dysarthria, aphasia, acquired apraxia of speech, cognitive-communication disorders related to traumatic brain injury, and cognitive-communication disorders related to dementia).
The work process involves a series of systematic steps, including a comprehensive review of the professional literature, grading levels of evidence using pre-set and accepted criteria, developing flow charts and decision trees to assist in evidence-supported decision-making during the clinical process, and creating tables of evidence used to support the development of the guidelines.
In 2003, a sixth Writing Committee was added to develop a practice guideline in childhood apraxia of speech. In addition, as evidence continues to accrue in cognitive-communication disorders related to right-hemisphere brain damage (RHBD), particularly in the areas of visuospatial neglect, a writing committee for RHBD is likely to be added in the foreseeable future. The practice guidelines project is driven by a core clinical philosophy that quality of care is best supported by scientific evidence of treatment efficacy.
The committee has made considerable progress in the development of evidence-based practice guidelines, with several guidelines currently published and available. The work of the committee definitely will extend beyond the five-year mark with the establishment of additional writing committees; goals for publication, promotion, and dissemination of guidelines among practitioners; development of consumer-oriented documents; and the need for periodic review and update of each guideline as additional evidence becomes available.
The sidebar on page 14 contains the current list of publications written by various members of the ANCDS Committee. Interested readers are encouraged to visit the ANCDS Web site for up-to-date information about the guidelines, tables of evidence, and the guidelines development process.
Carol Frattali is chair of the Practice Guidelines Committee.
In addition to Frattali, members of the Practice Guidelines Committee: Nancy Helm-Estabrooks (ANCDS president); Penelope Myers (archivist); Lee-Ann Golper, Richard Katz, Robert T. Wertz (past presidents), Kathryn Bayles (chair, dementia writing committee), Pelagie Beeson (chair, aphasia writing committee), Mary R.T. Kennedy (chair, TBI writing committee), Donald Robin (chair, childhood apraxia of speech writing committee), Julie Wambaugh (chair, acquired apraxia of speech writing committee), Kathryn Yorkston (chair, dysarthria writing committee).
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