Effective Communication in Disability-Competent Care References

1. Stransky M.L., Jensen K.M., Morris M.A. Adults with communication disabilities experience poorer health and healthcare outcomes compared to persons without communication disabilities. J Gen Intern Med. 2018;33(12):2147-2155. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11606-018-4625-1
2. National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders. Quick statistics about voice, speech, language. Updated July 28, 2025. Accessed July 31, 2026. https://www.nidcd.nih.gov/health/statistics/quick-statistics-voice-speech-language
3. American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. Speech, language, swallowing, and hearing information and resources. n.d. Accessed July 31, 2026. https://www.asha.org/public/
4. Morris M.A., Sarmiento C., Eberle K., et al. Documentation of disability status and accommodation needs in the electronic health record: a qualitative study of health care organizations' current practices. Jt Comm J Qual Patient Saf. 2024;50(2):86–96. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcjq.2023.10.006
5. Morris M.A. Striving toward equity in health care for people with communication disabilities. J Speech Lang Hear Res. 2022;65(10):3623-3632. https://doi.org/10.1044/2022_JSLHR-22-00057
6. Stransky M.L., Morris M.A. Adults with communication disabilities face health care obstacles: adults with communication disabilities struggle to access quality health care—significantly more than typical peers. How can we get them needed health information and services? The ASHA Leader. 2019;24(3):46–55. https://doi.org/10.1044/ leader.FTR1.24032019.46
7. Hickey E., Man B., Helm K.V., Lockhart S., Duffecy J., Morris M.A. Preferred communication strategies for people with communication disabilities in health care encounters: a qualitative study. J Gen Intern Med. 2023:1–8. https://doi.org/10.1007/ s11606-023-08526-4
8. Oshita J.Y., Schliep M.E., Douglas N.F., Savard L.B., Feuerstein J.L., MacLean C.D., Morris M.A. A scoping review of the evidence on disability accommodations targeting equitable communication access in health care. Am J Speech Lang Pathol. 2025:1–35. https://doi.org/10.1044/2024_AJSLP-24-00234
9. McKee M., James T.G., Helm K.V.T., Marzolf B., Chung D.H., Williams J., Zazove P. Reframing our health care system for patients with hearing loss. J Speech Lang Hear Res. 2022;65(10):3633–3645. https://doi.org/10.1044/2022_JSLHR-22-00052
10. Agaronnik N., Campbell E.G., Ressalam J., Iezzoni L.I. Communicating with patients with disability: perspectives of practicing physicians. J Gen Intern Med. 2019;34:1139–1145. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11606-019-04911-0
11. Agaronnik N.D., Saberi S.A., Stein M.A., Tolchin D.W. Why disability must be included in medical school diversification efforts. AMA J Ethics. 2021;23(12):E981–E986. https://doi.org/10.1001/amajethics.2021.981
12. Havercamp S.M., Barnhart W.R., Robinson A.C., Whalen Smith C.N. What should we teach about disability? National consensus on disability competencies for health care education. Disabil Health J. 2021;14(2):100989. https://doi.org/10.1016/ j.dhjo.2020.100989
13. Lee D., Pollack S.W., Mroz T., Frogner B.K., Skillman S.M. Disability competency training in medical education. Med Educ Online. 2023;28(1):2207773. https://doi.org/10.1080/10872981.2023.2207773
14. Marzolf B.A., Plegue M.A., Okanlami O., Meyer D., Harper D.M. Are medical students adequately trained to care for persons with disabilities? 2022;6:34. https://doi.org/10.22454/PRiMER.2022.878147
15. Smeltz L.R., Havercamp S.M., Meeks L.M. Aspiring to disability consciousness in health professions training. AMA J Ethics. 2024;26(1):E54–E61. https://doi.org/10.1001/amajethics.2024.54
16. ADA.gov. ADA requirements: effective communication. Published February 28, 2020. Accessed July 31, 2026. https://www.ada.gov/resources/effective-communication/
17. Williams A.L. Interprofessional advocacy for health care equity. The ASHA Leader. 2021;26(11):8. https://doi.org/10.1044/leader.FTP.26112021.8
18. Hurtig R.R., Alper R.M., Berkowitz B. The cost of not addressing the communication barriers faced by hospitalized patients. Perspect ASHA Spec Interest Groups. 2018;3(12):99–112. https://doi.org/10.1044/persp3.SIG12.99
19. Karmas R., Kneebone K., Murphy F. Communication for safe care: enhancing healthcare access for people with communication disabilities. J Clin Pract Speech Lang Pathol. 2022;24(3):114–117. https://doi.org/10.1080/22087168.2022.12370369
20. American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. Communication access: Better health starts with effective communication. Updated April 29, 2026. Accessed July 31, 2026. https://www.asha.org/communication-access
21. American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. Scope of practice in audiology. Published 2018. Accessed July 31, 2026. www.asha.org/policy/.
22. American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. Scope of practice in speech-language pathology. Published 2016. Accessed July 31, 2026. www.asha.org/policy/.

Audiology and SLP Scopes of Practice [PDF]

Infographic about what audiologists and SLPs do in prevention, assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of hearing, balance, communication, cognition, and swallowing problems.

Referral Guidelines

Tools to facilitate more timely and appropriate referrals for adult and pediatric speech-language pathology services across the health care continuum.