ASHA Early Detection Poll Results (March/April 2013)
Introduction
A Web-based survey invitation was fielded to a random sample of 3,884 ASHA-certified audiologists and 3,927 ASHA-certified speech-language pathologists (SLPs) on March 19. The survey population was limited to those individuals who indicated that they were employed on a full- or part-time basis as a clinical service provider in the United States. Follow-up reminders were e-mailed to non-respondents on March 26 and April 3. The survey closed at midnight on April 5. The purpose of the survey was to gather professional opinions to help inform a new ASHA public awareness campaign. A total of 1,289 responses were received resulting in an overall response rate of 16.6% (less 54 opt out requests or bounced back messages) (n=585 or 15.2% for audiologists, less 34 opt out requests or bounced back messages, and 704 or 18.0% for SLPs, less 20 opt out requests or bounced back messages).
Data for "all respondents" has been weighted according to the proportion of audiologists and SLPs in the survey population (i.e., n=96,490 of which 8.7% are audiologists and 91.3% are SLPs).
1. Please indicate your primary employment facility. (Check one.)
| Primary Employment Facility | Audiologists Only (n=585) | SLPs Only (n=701) | All Respondents |
|---|---|---|---|
| School | 16.4% | 55.2% | 53.1% (681) |
| College/university | 3.4% | 0.6% | 0.8% (11) |
| Hospital | 28.2% | 9.7% | 11.6% (149) |
| Residential health care facility (skilled nursing facility, etc.) | 1.2% | 6.0% | 5.7% (73) |
| Nonresidential health care facility (private practice, speech and hearing clinic, physician's office, etc.) | 42.9% | 12.8% | 16.9% (216) |
| Not employed (retired, seeking work, etc.) | 1.2% | 2.9% | 2.7% (35) |
| Other | 6.7% | 12.8% | 9.3% (119) |
[Note: Individuals who selected "not employed" in Question 1 automatically skipped to the end of the survey.]
2. With which of the following age groups do you work? (Check all that apply.)
| Age Group | Audiologists Only (n=568) | SLPs Only (n=658) | All Respondents |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0 to 6 months | 55.1% | 9.9% | 13.1% (168) |
| 7 months to 2 years | 67.1% | 25.5% | 27.4% (354) |
| 3 to 5 years | 79.4% | 61.2% | 59.0% (760) |
| 6 to 11 years | 80.3% | 59.3% | 57.3% (739) |
| 12 to 17 years | 79.4% | 36.6% | 37.9% (489) |
| 18 to 64 years | 68.3% | 19.8% | 22.6% (291) |
| 65 to 74 years | 64.6% | 17.2% | 20.1% (259) |
| 75 years and up | 62.5% | 17.0% | 19.8% (255) |
3. Are your patients aware of the importance of early detection of speech and hearing issues when you first see them?
| Response | Audiologists Only (n=576) | SLPs Only (n=675) | All Respondents |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yes | 15.3% | 13.9% | 14.0% (174) |
| Somewhat | 61.3% | 51.3% | 52.1% (646) |
| No | 15.6% | 27.4% | 26.4% (327) |
| Do not know | 7.8% | 7.4% | 7.4% (92) |
4. On average, how long do symptoms of hearing loss go undetected in children?
| Response | Audiologists Only (n=564) | SLPs Only (n=668) | All Respondents |
|---|---|---|---|
| Less than 6 months | 24.8% | 8.8% | 10.2% (125) |
| 6 months to 1 year | 39.4% | 33.4% | 33.9% (415) |
| 1 to 2 years | 17.2% | 19.6% | 19.4% (238) |
| More than 2 years | 7.8% | 7.8% | 7.8% (95) |
| Never detected | 0% | 0.4% | 0.4% (5) |
| Do not know | 10.8% | 29.9% | 28.3% (346) |
5. On average, how long do symptoms of speech delay go undetected in children?
| Response | Audiologists Only (n=555) | SLPs Only (n=663) | All Respondents |
|---|---|---|---|
| Less than 6 months | 5.4% | 3.2% | 3.4% (41) |
| 6 months to 1 year | 23.8% | 26.2% | 26.0% (316) |
| 1 to 2 years | 37.3% | 41.6% | 41.3% (501) |
| More than 2 years | 18.4% | 19.8% | 19.6% (239) |
| Never detected | 0% | 0% | 0% (0) |
| Do not know | 15.1% | 9.2% | 9.7% (118) |
6. On average, how long will parents wait before taking action when first observing symptoms of hearing loss in their children?
| Response | Audiologists Only (n=551) | SLPs Only (n=654) | All Respondents |
|---|---|---|---|
| Less than 6 months | 32.8% | 24.8% | 25.5% (305) |
| 6 months to 1 year | 41.4% | 30.1% | 31.1% (373) |
| 1 to 2 years | 14.3% | 12.5% | 12.7% (152) |
| More than 2 years | 3.6% | 3.5% | 3.5% (42) |
| Never take action | 0% | 0.8% | 0.7% (8) |
| Do not know | 7.8% | 28.3% | 26.5% (318) |
7. On average, how long will parents wait before taking action when first observing symptoms of speech delay in their children?
| Response | Audiologists Only (n=550) | SLPs Only (n=655) | All Respondents |
|---|---|---|---|
| Less than 6 months | 10.0% | 12.2% | 12.0% (144) |
| 6 months to 1 year | 41.1% | 42.4% | 42.3% (508) |
| 1 to 2 years | 24.5% | 26.6% | 26.4% (317) |
| More than 2 years | 7.8% | 9.8% | 9.6% (115) |
| Never take action | 0% | 0.3% | 0.3% (3) |
| Do not know | 16.5% | 8.7% | 9.4% (113) |
8. Are parents of your school-age patients aware that untreated speech and language development problems impede socialization and academic performance?
| Response | Audiologists Only (n=545) | SLPs Only (n=652) | All Respondents |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yes | 45.0% | 44.8% | 44.8% (535) |
| No | 41.7% | 33.1% | 33.9% (405) |
| Not applicable; do not work with school-age patients | 13.4% | 22.1% | 21.3% (255) |
9. In you professional experience, are parents of young children aware of the early warning signs of speech disorders?
| Response | Audiologists Only (n=544) | SLPs Only (n=650) | All Respondents |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yes | 19.5% | 25.7% | 25.2% (300) |
| No | 61.9% | 64.0% | 63.8% (760) |
| Do not know | 18.6% | 10.3% | 11.0% (131) |
10. How informed are parents of autistic children about the benefits of treatment to improve everyday communication for their children?
| Response | Audiologists Only (n=541) | SLPs Only (n=652) | All Respondents |
|---|---|---|---|
| Very | 7.4% | 22.9% | 21.5% (257) |
| Somewhat | 32.3% | 45.6% | 44.4% (530) |
| Not enough | 30.9% | 22.2% | 23.0% (274) |
| Do not know | 29.4% | 9.4% | 11.1% (132) |
11. Are parents aware that by treating symptoms of communication disorders early, treatment is often less expensive and takes less time?
| Response | Audiologists Only (n=540) | SLPs Only (n=651) | All Respondents |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yes | 9.6% | 19.2% | 18.4% (219) |
| No | 50.6% | 52.5% | 52.4% (624) |
| Do not know | 39.8% | 28.3% | 29.3% (349) |
12. Do parents of young children realize that when early detection doesn't occur, treatment of their children's communication disorders takes longer and is more expensive?
| Response | Audiologists Only (n=538) | SLPs Only (n=646) | All Respondents |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yes | 10.6% | 12.1% | 11.9% (141) |
| No | 53.5% | 57.7% | 57.4% (679) |
| Do not know | 35.9% | 30.2% | 30.7% (363) |
13. How challenging is it to get information to parents about a school-age child with a potential speech or hearing disorder?
| Response | Audiologists Only (n=532) | SLPs Only (n=646) | All Respondents |
|---|---|---|---|
| Very | 7.7% | 5.4% | 5.6% (66) |
| Somewhat | 53.8% | 51.2% | 51.5% (608) |
| Not at all | 17.7% | 21.8% | 21.5% (254) |
| Do not know | 20.9% | 21.5% | 21.5% (254) |
14. When alerted to a speech or hearing problem, do parents typically take the next step to get their children treatment?
| Response | Audiologists Only (n=527) | SLPs Only (n=644) | All Respondents |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yes | 40.4% | 41.6% | 41.5% (489) |
| Sometimes | 50.5% | 50.8% | 50.8% (598) |
| Rarely | 2.1% | 1.2% | 1.3% (15) |
| No | 0% | 0% | 0% (0) |
| Do not know | 7.0% | 6.4% | 6.4% (76) |
15. Do patients know that early detection is often comparatively simple and inexpensive?
| Response | Audiologists Only (n=525) | SLPs Only (n=640) | All Respondents |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yes | 10.1% | 11.4% | 11.3% (132) |
| No | 49.0% | 52.2% | 51.9% (608) |
| Do not know | 41.0% | 36.4% | 36.8% (431) |
16. In your opinion, what is the leading barrier to early detection of communication disorders? (Check one.)
| Response | Audiologists Only (n=518) | SLPs Only (n=640) | All Respondents |
|---|---|---|---|
| Caregiver/patient inaction | 21.6% | 14.4% | 15.0% (175) |
| Cultural hurdles | 8.7% | 9.8% | 9.8% (114) |
| Financial constraints | 11.8% | 11.6% | 11.5% (135) |
| Insufficient insurance coverage | 8.5% | 7.7% | 7.7% (90) |
| Lack of awareness | 41.5% | 45.5% | 45.2% (528) |
| Other | 7.9% | 11.1% | 10.9% (127) |
17. Are your patients aware that misuse of personal audio technology may cause hearing loss?
| Response | Audiologists Only (n=522) | SLPs Only (n=640) | All Respondents |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yes | 55.9% | 17.5% | 20.8% (243) |
| No | 28.7% | 45.9% | 44.5% (520) |
| Do not know | 15.3% | 36.6% | 34.8% (407) |
18. Do your patients view untreated hearing loss among older people as an acceptable part of aging?
| Response | Audiologists Only (n=521) | SLPs Only (n=639) | All Respondents |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yes | 69.1% | 50.4% | 52.0% (607) |
| No | 11.5% | 5.3% | 5.8% (68) |
| Do not know | 19.4% | 44.3% | 42.2% (493) |
19. Who has the greatest impact on whether an elderly patient seeks treatment for hearing loss? (Check one.)
| Response | Audiologists Only (n=520) | SLPs Only (n=640) | All Respondents |
|---|---|---|---|
| Adult children | 31.5% | 28.6% | 28.8% (337) |
| Friends | 4.2% | 4.2% | 4.2% (49) |
| Physicians | 13.1% | 13.4% | 13.4% (157) |
| Spouse | 39.4% | 19.4% | 21.0% (246) |
| Others | 1.3% | 0.6% | 0.7% (8) |
| Do not know | 10.4% | 33.8% | 31.8% (372) |
20. In the past year have you seen more patients for issues related to traumatic brain injury than:
| Response | Audiologists Only (n>498) | SLPs Only (n>601) | All Respondents |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 year ago? | |||
| Yes | 12.2% | 13.9% | 13.8% (159) |
| No | 37.9% | 27.2% | 28.1% (324) |
| NA; do not serve this population | 49.9% | 58.9% | 58.1% (671) |
| 3 years ago? | |||
| Yes | 14.4% | 13.2% | 13.3% (148) |
| No | 35.3% | 27.1% | 27.8% (308) |
| NA; do not serve this population | 50.3% | 59.7% | 58.9% (652) |
| 5 years ago? | |||
| Yes | 15.5% | 13.3% | 13.5% (148) |
| No | 33.3% | 25.6% | 26.3% (289) |
| NA; do not serve this population | 51.2% | 61.1% | 60.2% (662) |
21. Do parents of young patients who have suffered concussions report that their children's academic performance is suffering?
| Response | Audiologists Only (n=512) | SLPs Only (n=637) | All Respondents |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yes | 14.3% | 17.0% | 16.7% (195) |
| No | 24.2% | 20.3% | 20.6% (239) |
| NA; do not serve this population | 61.5% | 62.8% | 62.7% (729) |
22. What is the source of the injury? (Check all that apply.)
| Response | Audiologists Only (n=74) | SLPs Only (n=109) | All Respondents |
|---|---|---|---|
| Football | 47.3% | 30.3% | 4.8% (62) |
| Other youth sports | 56.8% | 46.8% | 7.2% (93) |
| Military service | 12.2% | 3.7% | 0.7% (8) |
| Auto accidents | 56.8% | 48.6% | 7.5% (97) |
| Gun violence | 6.8% | 6.4% | 1.0% (13 |
| Other | 27.0% | 36.7% | 5.5% (71) |
