SLPA Roles and Responsibilities 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: An SLPA is working with a child who suddenly begins choking during a therapy session. What is the SLPA's most appropriate first action?
- Perform the Heimlich maneuver immediately
- Follow facility emergency protocol and alert the supervising SLP (Correct answer)
- Continue the session and monitor the child
- Call the child's parents before taking any action
Correct answer: Follow facility emergency protocol and alert the supervising SLP
SLPAs must follow facility emergency protocols and immediately involve the supervising SLP in any medical emergency.
Question 2: Which of the following tasks is within the SLPA's scope of practice during group therapy?
- Independently modifying each client's treatment goals mid-session
- Implementing the SLP-designed treatment plan for all group members (Correct answer)
- Diagnosing new communication deficits observed in group members
- Discontinuing treatment for a member who is not progressing
Correct answer: Implementing the SLP-designed treatment plan for all group members
SLPAs may implement SLP-designed treatment plans during group sessions but cannot independently modify goals or make diagnostic decisions.
Question 3: A parent asks the SLPA to explain why their child was diagnosed with childhood apraxia of speech. How should the SLPA respond?
- Explain the diagnosis in detail using clinical terminology
- Refer the parent to the supervising SLP for diagnostic explanations (Correct answer)
- Provide a simplified explanation to avoid confusing the parent
- Tell the parent to research the diagnosis online
Correct answer: Refer the parent to the supervising SLP for diagnostic explanations
Explaining diagnoses is outside the SLPA's scope; the supervising SLP is responsible for diagnostic counseling.
Question 4: Under ASHA guidelines, what is the minimum direct supervision requirement for an SLPA working with clients?
- 5% of weekly client contact time
- 10% of weekly client contact time
- 20% of weekly client contact time (Correct answer)
- 50% of weekly client contact time
Correct answer: 20% of weekly client contact time
ASHA requires that supervising SLPs provide at least 20% direct supervision of an SLPA's weekly client contact time.
Question 5: An SLPA notices a client is showing signs of hearing loss that were not previously documented. What should the SLPA do?
- Conduct a brief hearing screening immediately
- Document the observations and report them to the supervising SLP (Correct answer)
- Adjust the client's treatment plan to accommodate the potential hearing loss
- Inform the client's family and recommend an audiologist
Correct answer: Document the observations and report them to the supervising SLP
SLPAs must report clinical observations to the supervising SLP, who will determine appropriate next steps.
Question 6: Which statement best describes the SLPA's role in documentation?
- SLPAs may independently write and sign progress notes that become part of the official record
- SLPAs document session data and notes, which are reviewed and co-signed by the supervising SLP (Correct answer)
- SLPAs are not permitted to document any session information
- SLPAs may document findings but are not required to share them with the SLP
Correct answer: SLPAs document session data and notes, which are reviewed and co-signed by the supervising SLP
SLPAs document session information, but those records require review and co-signature by the supervising SLP to be legally valid.
Question 7: A school-based SLPA is asked by a teacher to lead a full IEP meeting in place of the absent supervising SLP. The SLPA should:
- Lead the meeting and report the outcomes to the SLP afterward
- Attend the meeting in an observational role only
- Decline and arrange for the IEP meeting to be rescheduled or the SLP to participate remotely (Correct answer)
- Co-lead the meeting with the special education teacher
Correct answer: Decline and arrange for the IEP meeting to be rescheduled or the SLP to participate remotely
SLPAs cannot represent the SLP in official IEP meetings; the meeting should be rescheduled or the SLP should participate remotely.
SLPA Roles and Responsibilities 2
An SLPA is working with a child who suddenly begins choking during a therapy session.
What is the SLPA's most appropriate first action?