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Addressing impacts of communication and swallowing disabilities on sexuality and intimacy: Practices of speech-language pathologists.

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Title: Addressing impacts of communication and swallowing disabilities on sexuality and intimacy: Practices of speech-language pathologists.
Authors: Day, Francis B.1 (AUTHOR) francis.day@dal.ca, Hickey, Ellen M.1 (AUTHOR)
Source: Canadian Journal of Human Sexuality. Dec2025, Vol. 34 Issue 3, p510-521. 12p.
Subject Terms: *Treatment of communicative disorders, *Cross-sectional method, *Gender role, *Qualitative research, *Professional practice, *Human sexuality, *Descriptive statistics, *Quantitative research, *Speech-language pathology, *Dating (Social customs), *Thematic analysis, *Physician practice patterns, *Research methodology, *Communication, *Data analysis software, *Deglutition, *Deglutition disorders, *Intimacy (Psychology), *People with disabilities, *Sexual health
Geographic Terms: Canada
Abstract: Communication and swallowing are important in sexuality and intimacy. People experiencing disabilities related to communication or swallowing (e.g., individuals with aphasia, dementia, voice disorders, swallowing disorders, as well as Augmentative-Alternative Communication users) face challenges with sexuality and intimacy. Speech-language pathologists (SLPs) are health professionals who can address the impacts of communication and swallowing disabilities on sexuality and intimacy. This study aims to investigate if and how SLPs in Canada are currently addressing these issues in practice. A survey with a mix of 26 closed- and 4 open-ended questions was distributed to 1,149 SLPs. Of the respondents who met the inclusion criteria, 56 completed the survey. The survey results show that nearly two thirds of SLPs in Canada who responded are addressing aspects of sexuality and intimacy to some extent, most commonly impacts on gender roles and dating. However, most SLPs wait for the patient/client to initiate a discussion about this area, and most do not have a specific strategy to do so. These findings are largely consistent with research findings in other health care fields (e.g., nursing, physiotherapy, occupational therapy). Future research should address the limitations of this study and investigate the impacts on clients' health and quality of life when SLPs address sexuality and intimacy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Database: Academic Search Index
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  Data: Addressing impacts of communication and swallowing disabilities on sexuality and intimacy: Practices of speech-language pathologists.
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Day%2C+Francis+B%2E%22">Day, Francis B.</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<i> francis.day@dal.ca</i><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Hickey%2C+Ellen+M%2E%22">Hickey, Ellen M.</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="JN" term="%22Canadian+Journal+of+Human+Sexuality%22">Canadian Journal of Human Sexuality</searchLink>. Dec2025, Vol. 34 Issue 3, p510-521. 12p.
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Canada%22">Canada</searchLink>
– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract
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  Data: Communication and swallowing are important in sexuality and intimacy. People experiencing disabilities related to communication or swallowing (e.g., individuals with aphasia, dementia, voice disorders, swallowing disorders, as well as Augmentative-Alternative Communication users) face challenges with sexuality and intimacy. Speech-language pathologists (SLPs) are health professionals who can address the impacts of communication and swallowing disabilities on sexuality and intimacy. This study aims to investigate if and how SLPs in Canada are currently addressing these issues in practice. A survey with a mix of 26 closed- and 4 open-ended questions was distributed to 1,149 SLPs. Of the respondents who met the inclusion criteria, 56 completed the survey. The survey results show that nearly two thirds of SLPs in Canada who responded are addressing aspects of sexuality and intimacy to some extent, most commonly impacts on gender roles and dating. However, most SLPs wait for the patient/client to initiate a discussion about this area, and most do not have a specific strategy to do so. These findings are largely consistent with research findings in other health care fields (e.g., nursing, physiotherapy, occupational therapy). Future research should address the limitations of this study and investigate the impacts on clients' health and quality of life when SLPs address sexuality and intimacy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
PLink https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=asx&AN=190389437
RecordInfo BibRecord:
  BibEntity:
    Identifiers:
      – Type: doi
        Value: 10.3138/cjhs-2025-0023
    Languages:
      – Code: eng
        Text: English
    PhysicalDescription:
      Pagination:
        PageCount: 12
        StartPage: 510
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Canada
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Treatment of communicative disorders
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Cross-sectional method
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Gender role
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Qualitative research
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Professional practice
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Human sexuality
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Descriptive statistics
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Quantitative research
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Speech-language pathology
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Dating (Social customs)
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Thematic analysis
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Physician practice patterns
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Research methodology
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Communication
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Data analysis software
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Deglutition
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Deglutition disorders
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Intimacy (Psychology)
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: People with disabilities
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Sexual health
        Type: general
    Titles:
      – TitleFull: Addressing impacts of communication and swallowing disabilities on sexuality and intimacy: Practices of speech-language pathologists.
        Type: main
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          Name:
            NameFull: Day, Francis B.
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            NameFull: Hickey, Ellen M.
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            – D: 01
              M: 12
              Text: Dec2025
              Type: published
              Y: 2025
          Identifiers:
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              Value: 11884517
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              Value: 34
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            – TitleFull: Canadian Journal of Human Sexuality
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