This review article provides an integrated synthesis of health literacy within communication sciences and disorders (CSD), with emphasis on conceptual frameworks, clinical applications, and educational considerations relevant to speech-language pathology and audiology.
✦ The floor
Discussion
Signed responses from readers of the wire.
Audiologists and SLPs should consider integrating health literacy frameworks into patient communication and clinical education, though this review does not prescribe specific protocol changes.
Embedding health literacy principles into CSD training and practice could improve patient understanding, adherence, and outcomes across audiology and speech-language pathology settings.
- 01Review synthesizes health literacy concepts as applied to communication sciences and disorders.
- 02Addresses both clinical practice implications and educational/training frameworks.
- 03Highlights the dual relevance of health literacy for clinicians (teaching patients) and educators (training students).
- 04No new empirical data; draws on existing conceptual frameworks.
- 05Published in AJSLP, targeting practitioners and educators in CSD.
Health literacy frameworks have meaningful implications for clinical practice and education in communication sciences and disorders.
opinionpartially supported- PMID
- 42970474
- DOI
- 10.1044/2026_AJSLP-26-00045.
- Journal
- American Journal of Speech-Language Pathology
- Publication type
- review
- Evidence level
- 5
- Population
- Clinicians and educators in communication sciences and disorders
- Intervention
- Health literacy conceptual frameworks
Primary outcomes
Conceptual synthesis of health literacy frameworks; Implications for clinical practice and CSD education