What is it about?

This study investigated university students' knowledge of and attitudes toward the professions of communication sciences and disorders (CSD), with a goal to determine if there were any differences between responses received from minority students compared with responses from White/Caucasian students. The survey collected information about experiences and exposure university students have to these professions and professionals before and during their undergraduate years, along with possible reasons male students and students from diverse backgrounds are less likely to enroll in CSD programs

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Why is it important?

Findings indicate that Non-White students and males are being exposed less to CSD professions (thus know less) than their White and female counterparts, and it appears their overall interest in these professions are lacking for the non-White and male students within this study.

Perspectives

It was interesting (and unsettling) to find out that many of these students had not heard of CSD professions, had not been exposed to anyone in the professions, or even had much interest in becoming an audiologist or speech-language pathologist. More needs to be done to attract males and diverse students into university programs and the professions.

Cynthia Richburg
Wichita State University

Read the Original

This page is a summary of: Underrepresentation of Students From Diverse Backgrounds Entering Communication Sciences and Disorders Programs: An Investigation Into the University Student Perspective, American Journal of Speech-Language Pathology, March 2022, American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA),
DOI: 10.1044/2021_ajslp-21-00010.
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