Deconstructing the Three Pillars of Evidence-Based Practice to Facilitate Social Justice Work in Speech Language and Hearing Sciences

Abstract

This chapter reviews the limitations of the evidence-based practice (EBP) framework adopted by American Speech Language Hearing Association for the field of speech, language, and hearing sciences (SLHS) in addressing systemic racism. The authors argue that a shift from a medically-based EBP model to a pluralistic EBP model would better serve the needs of black, indigenous, people of color (BIPOC) with communication impairments in the current sociopolitical landscape. The authors examine the three pillars of EBP through the lens of social justice work. They describe how the current EBP model limits the development of social justice work in SLHS. They describe the need to refine the EBP model by validating the contribution of qualitative research as scientific evidence, reevaluating the basis of clinical expertise in client-clinician cultural mismatch, and address the importance of integrating policy and culture in consideration of client and family preferences. These transformations are critical in light of the under-representation of BIPOC clinicians in the field of SLHS profession.