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Lookup NU author(s): Professor Cristina McKean
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© 2026 The Speech Pathology Association of Australia Limited. Purpose: Discharge decisions pose a challenge in speech-language pathology practice. Although professional guidance exists, there is little research on what factors influence discharge decisions in practice. This study aimed to explore the discharge decisions of speech-language pathologists in the context of children with Developmental Language Disorder, in particular to identify influential factors. Method: This is a qualitative knowledge–elicitation study using individual interviews and a focus group to explore the knowledge of 19 Croatian speech-language pathologists with more than two years experience of working with children with Developmental Language Disorder. Result: Speech-language pathologists described a complex process that was influenced by four overarching case-related factors: A child reaching a plateau, the child’s achievements, support, and motivation. Much of this knowledge was challenging for clinicians to define and measure. Speech-language pathologists also reported the influence of resource pressures. Conclusion: The process described by speech-language pathologists broadly follows published professional guidance. Clinicians descriptions of the interpretation of those factors to child, family, and situational contexts showed the individualisation and weighing up of the relative importance of factors. These detailed judgements were challenging. Therefore, support and monitoring particularly for novice speech-language pathologists is recommended. Discussion between clinicians will also support the emergence of consensus and build confidence in discharge decision-making. Further explication of the influential factors and development of ways to measure and evaluate levels of support and children’s functional performance is needed.
Author(s): Kelic M, McKean C, Dokoza KP, Roulstone S
Publication type: Article
Publication status: Published
Journal: International Journal of Speech-Language Pathology
Year: 2026
Pages: Epub ahead of print
Online publication date: 17/03/2026
Acceptance date: 24/02/2026
ISSN (print): 1754-9507
ISSN (electronic): 1754-9515
Publisher: Taylor and Francis Ltd
URL: https://doi.org/10.1080/17549507.2026.2638301
DOI: 10.1080/17549507.2026.2638301
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