INTRODUCTION: Preventive activities in communication disorders treated by speech-hearing therapists of the Universidad del Valle in Cali Colombia, between January and April, 1995, are described. METHODOLOGY: Forty-five professionals to whom a self administered questionnaire with 13 questions was applied, were included in the study. RESULTS: For 67% the program of graduation is basic as source of their preventive knowledge. 47% used only one of nine strategic options and 29% report the use of only two of these preventive interventions. For all communication areas, on average nearly 60% of speech-hearing therapists never use preventive actions. CONCLUSION: The alumni of the Universidad del Valle do not exercise the practice of prevention in a sistematic way it has been claimed by the curriculum of the school. Some determinants of social context and demand of professional services are suspected to induce a great reduction in the proportion and frecuency of preventive practice in the professional role.
Speech therapy; Professional practice; Communicative disorders