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Diagnostic Disclosure of Pediatric Communication Disorders: The Parent Perspective.

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Title: Diagnostic Disclosure of Pediatric Communication Disorders: The Parent Perspective.
Authors: Warner, Katherine A.1 warnerk@lasalle.edu, Spencer, Linda J.2, Evans-Rogers, Debbie1, Sweeney, Jane K.1
Source: American Journal of Speech-Language Pathology. Jul2026, Vol. 35 Issue 4, p1627-1643. 17p.
Subject Terms: *Parent attitudes, *Emotions, *Psychological adaptation, *Communicative disorders, *Caregivers, *Research methodology, *Disclosure, *Information-seeking behavior, *Children, Patients' families, Medical personnel, Statistical sampling, Interviewing, Sound recordings, Thematic analysis, Parents of children with disabilities, Phenomenology, Psychology of parents, Early diagnosis, Psychosocial factors, Time
Geographic Terms: United States
Abstract: Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine the experiences of parents during and after receiving news of their child's communication disorder diagnosis from a speech-language pathologist (SLP). Method: A descriptive phenomenological approach was used in this preliminary study to explore eight parents' lived experiences of receiving news of their child's communication disorder diagnosis. Codes were generated from in-depth interviews, organized into themes, and confirmed using peer debriefing. Results: The following themes emerged from the data analysis: (a) parents wanted more information from the SLP during the diagnostic process; (b) parents encountered difficult thoughts and emotions related to their child's communication impairment; (c) parents emphasized the importance of establishing a personal connection with the SLP, beginning at the time of diagnosis; (d) SLPs' words influenced how parents felt about the diagnosis; (e) parents valued an early diagnosis; and (f) parents expended considerable time and effort during the diagnostic process. Conclusions: This study provided valuable insight into parents' needs and preferences regarding disclosure of a communication disorder diagnosis in pediatric clinical practice. For parents, diagnostic disclosure was a critical clinical interaction with emotional, informational, and relational consequences. By intentionally attending to caregiver emotions, prioritizing the clarity and accessibility of information, and fostering collaborative relationships at the time of diagnosis, SLPs can better support caregiver adjustment and engagement in services. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Copyright of American Journal of Speech-Language Pathology is the property of American Speech-Language-Hearing Association and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
Database: Education Research Complete
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  Data: Diagnostic Disclosure of Pediatric Communication Disorders: The Parent Perspective.
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Warner%2C+Katherine+A%2E%22">Warner, Katherine A.</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo><i> warnerk@lasalle.edu</i><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Spencer%2C+Linda+J%2E%22">Spencer, Linda J.</searchLink><relatesTo>2</relatesTo><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Evans-Rogers%2C+Debbie%22">Evans-Rogers, Debbie</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Sweeney%2C+Jane+K%2E%22">Sweeney, Jane K.</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo>
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="JN" term="%22American+Journal+of+Speech-Language+Pathology%22">American Journal of Speech-Language Pathology</searchLink>. Jul2026, Vol. 35 Issue 4, p1627-1643. 17p.
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  Data: *<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Parent+attitudes%22">Parent attitudes</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Emotions%22">Emotions</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Psychological+adaptation%22">Psychological adaptation</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Communicative+disorders%22">Communicative disorders</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Caregivers%22">Caregivers</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Research+methodology%22">Research methodology</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Disclosure%22">Disclosure</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Information-seeking+behavior%22">Information-seeking behavior</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Children%22">Children</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Patients'+families%22">Patients' families</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Medical+personnel%22">Medical personnel</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Statistical+sampling%22">Statistical sampling</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Interviewing%22">Interviewing</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Sound+recordings%22">Sound recordings</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Thematic+analysis%22">Thematic analysis</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Parents+of+children+with+disabilities%22">Parents of children with disabilities</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Phenomenology%22">Phenomenology</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Psychology+of+parents%22">Psychology of parents</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Early+diagnosis%22">Early diagnosis</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Psychosocial+factors%22">Psychosocial factors</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Time%22">Time</searchLink>
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22United+States%22">United States</searchLink>
– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract
  Group: Ab
  Data: Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine the experiences of parents during and after receiving news of their child's communication disorder diagnosis from a speech-language pathologist (SLP). Method: A descriptive phenomenological approach was used in this preliminary study to explore eight parents' lived experiences of receiving news of their child's communication disorder diagnosis. Codes were generated from in-depth interviews, organized into themes, and confirmed using peer debriefing. Results: The following themes emerged from the data analysis: (a) parents wanted more information from the SLP during the diagnostic process; (b) parents encountered difficult thoughts and emotions related to their child's communication impairment; (c) parents emphasized the importance of establishing a personal connection with the SLP, beginning at the time of diagnosis; (d) SLPs' words influenced how parents felt about the diagnosis; (e) parents valued an early diagnosis; and (f) parents expended considerable time and effort during the diagnostic process. Conclusions: This study provided valuable insight into parents' needs and preferences regarding disclosure of a communication disorder diagnosis in pediatric clinical practice. For parents, diagnostic disclosure was a critical clinical interaction with emotional, informational, and relational consequences. By intentionally attending to caregiver emotions, prioritizing the clarity and accessibility of information, and fostering collaborative relationships at the time of diagnosis, SLPs can better support caregiver adjustment and engagement in services. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
– Name: AbstractSuppliedCopyright
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  Data: <i>Copyright of American Journal of Speech-Language Pathology is the property of American Speech-Language-Hearing Association and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract.</i> (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
PLink https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=ehh&AN=195279692
RecordInfo BibRecord:
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    Identifiers:
      – Type: doi
        Value: 10.1044/2026_AJSLP-25-00365
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      – Code: eng
        Text: English
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        PageCount: 17
        StartPage: 1627
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Parent attitudes
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Emotions
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Psychological adaptation
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Communicative disorders
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Caregivers
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Research methodology
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Disclosure
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Information-seeking behavior
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Children
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      – SubjectFull: Patients' families
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      – SubjectFull: Medical personnel
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      – SubjectFull: Statistical sampling
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      – SubjectFull: Interviewing
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      – SubjectFull: Sound recordings
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Thematic analysis
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      – SubjectFull: Parents of children with disabilities
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      – SubjectFull: Phenomenology
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      – SubjectFull: Psychology of parents
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      – SubjectFull: Early diagnosis
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      – SubjectFull: Psychosocial factors
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Time
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: United States
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    Titles:
      – TitleFull: Diagnostic Disclosure of Pediatric Communication Disorders: The Parent Perspective.
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            NameFull: Warner, Katherine A.
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            NameFull: Spencer, Linda J.
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              Text: Jul2026
              Type: published
              Y: 2026
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