Dementia is our “biggest expanding caseload”: Core learning for student speech and language therapists

Dementia is a relatively recent addition to the speech and language therapist’s clinical role. Given the increase in prevalence of dementia, a review of current student speech and language therapy training on this topic is essential to ensure the profession can meet the needs of this expanding population. This study therefore aimed to explore the experiences and views of lecturers teaching pre-registration student speech and language therapists across UK universities to understand:

What support and training are currently being provided for pre-registration student speech and language therapists on the topic of dementia, and what are the experiences of the lecturers in delivering this training?

What do lecturers think should be taught to improve confidence and competence in student speech and language therapists to enable them to work with people with dementia?

This study used an explanatory sequential mixed-methods study, employing a survey which consequently informed two focus groups. In total 18 participants from 16 universities participated in the study. Reflexive thematic analysis identified six main themes in the focus group data; 1. Dementia is a vast and therefore complex topic, 2. There are biases about dementia within and outside the profession, 3. Students bias towards dementia can be shifted through exposure, 4. Teaching could be enhanced by threading dementia through the curriculum, 5. There are several tensions in teaching on dementia: Possibilities versus clinical realities now and in the future, and 6. Dementia teaching must focus on person centeredness.

The results emphasise the need for a paradigm shift in the teaching of student speech and language therapists. Underpinned by the principles of person centered care five core components for teaching dementia student speech and language therapists were synthesized comprising 1. Challenge stereotypes around dementia, 2. Focus on speech, language and communication across dementias, 3. Teach them to build a relationship with people affected by dementia, 4. Teach goal setting for a progressive trajectory, 5. Prepare them to advocate for gold standard. Future research should work with people with dementia to further refine the core components for teaching student speech and language therapists.