Causality and Speech, Language and Hearing Sciences: epidemiological approach

ABSTRACT

Purpose

To review the Speech-Language Pathology literature studies from the epidemiology and causality perspective.

Research strategies

A national and international literature survey was carried out with searches from PubMed, SciELO and gray literature bases, conducted according to the instructions of the Cochrane Collaboration and published until January 9^th, 2019. The review guiding question asks if Speech-Language Pathology uses methods in their evidence to infer causality.

Selection criteria

All studies that presented a causal epidemiological approach in speech therapy were included, as well as excluded those that did not present an appropriate methodological approach for cause and effect analysis.

Data analysis

Two authors of this study independently reviewed all citations. A priori determined form was used to extract the following data: author, year of publication, country of origin, theoretical conception, application or not of the study and central discussion addressed in the article.

Results

From the search performed 3842 articles were found. However, none of them investigated their outcomes from the causality point of view, not allowing cause and effect inference.

Conclusion

There is a shortage of studies that evidence causality in Speech-Language Pathology, which may alter the effectiveness and reliable handling of diagnosis and speech-language therapy, since it is still based on association and not on cause and effect based on studies designed to that.

Keywords
Causality; Epidemiology; Speech-Language Pathology; Public Health; Systematic Review