We have just received the feedback regarding our NSW Health presentation Allied Health Telehealth Virtual Education program on 3 August 2021. 67 sites attended the session "Multilingual children: Speech milestones and assessment advice" https://speakingmylanguages.blogspot.com/2021/08/nsw-health-allied-health-telehealth.html
Feedback was received from 44 participants. Respondents were based across fifteen NSW Local Health Districts (LHD), specialty networks and organisations
Jen Nicol the Allied Health Educator for the Children's Healthcare Network wrote: "Participants greatly appreciated you sharing your knowledge and experience regarding this topic."
Here is their feedback in the summary sent by Jen Nicol:
The majority of participants who provided feedback strongly agreed or agreed that the session was well presented (n=42) and an effective learning opportunity (n=42).
Most respondents strongly agreed or agreed that the session content was pitched at the right level (n=37) and provided new information or a refresher relevant to their individual clinical practice (n=42).
Respondents were asked to provide examples of how the information presented would impact on their clinical practice. Responses related the following main themes:
- Review and implement recommended assessments for use with multilingual children e.g. Intelligibility in Context Scale
- Utilise recommended resources to inform discussions with parents, support work with multilingual families, and share with colleagues from other professions
- Apply knowledge regarding communication acquisition norms for multilingual children
- Apply knowledge regarding cultural considerations in assessment of children from different backgrounds
- Review further research literature regarding working with multilingual children and families
- Share own multilingual background with speech pathology peers.
These themes are highlighted in the following comments:
- Provided me with clear guidelines around what to expect in terms of speech sound production for children learning more than one language; and clear guidelines around encouraging children to continue learning their first language even when they are having difficulty with learning English.
- How to assess and manage multilingual children presenting with speech sound difficulties, where to find resources, being encouraged to share my own knowledge about my second language with peers in the SLP profession!
Participants were asked to identify the best part of this session.
- Responses related the following main themes:
- Knowledgeable and engaging presenter
- Sharing of resources and links
- Practical information and resources relevant to clinical practice
- Clear and concise explanation of current Australian and international research
Update, revision and validation of current knowledge and practice.
These themes are highlighted in the following comments:
- Sharynne was a very engaging speaker, managed time very well and got through all the content, I felt it was summarised very succinctly and effectively, great resources shared.
- Information regarding multilingual intelligibility and that all children are 90-100% intelligible by 4-5 years.
- Great evidence to have for other health professionals who suggest it is just caused by multiple languages.
The Allied Health Educators would like to thank the presenter for their work on Multilingual children: Speech milestones and assessment advice, and for sharing their experience and knowledge with allied health professionals across NSW.
