Confidentiality
What is the key requirement for sharing a client’s therapy information with a teacher or colleague?
Obtain written consent from the client or their legal guardian
Can an SLP provide therapy to their neighbor’s child?
This creates a dual relationship and should be avoided to maintain professional boundaries.
What are the three components of evidence-based practice?
Research evidence, clinical expertise, and client preferences.
What does client-centered care mean?
Tailoring therapy to meet the unique needs, goals, and preferences of the client.
During a meeting, a parent accuses you of not prioritizing their child’s therapy. How do you handle this?
Remain calm, listen to their concerns, and explain your therapy plan and rationale while maintaining professionalism.
Can an SLP discuss a client’s case during a training workshop if the client’s name and identifying details are removed?
Yes, but only if all identifying information is anonymized.
A client invites you to their birthday party. What should you do?
Politely decline to maintain professional boundaries.
A parent insists on using facilitated communication despite the lack of supporting evidence. How should you respond?
Educate the parent about evidence-based practices and discuss alternative, effective approaches.
A school administrator refuses to provide necessary AAC training for a student’s teacher. How do you advocate for the client?
Advocate for the student by providing resources and stressing the importance of teacher involvement for effective AAC use.
A colleague suggests skipping therapy documentation to save time during a busy day. What is your ethical obligation?
Politely decline and explain that accurate documentation is a professional and legal requirement.
A parent requests detailed progress reports about their child, but they are divorced, and you only have the custody agreement of one parent. What should you do?
Confirm legal custody arrangements before sharing any information.
A client adds you as a friend on social media. How should you handle this?
Don't add the client as a friend. Politely explain that communication should remain within professional channels, such as work email.
You are unfamiliar with a therapy technique requested by a client. What should you do?
Research the technique, consult current evidence, and consider referring the client if it is outside your expertise.
A client’s insurance denies coverage for necessary therapy services. How should you proceed?
Assist the family in appealing the decision by providing supporting documentation and explaining the importance of therapy.
A school principal pressures you to evaluate a student you feel unqualified to assess. What should you do?
Explain your scope of competence and suggest referring the case to a qualified professional.
A colleague asks about a client’s recent session to help with scheduling. What is your response?
Decline to share unless the colleague is directly involved in the client’s care and has consent to access the information.
What should you do if a client offers you a gift during the holidays?
Accept it only if it does not compromise your professional relationship.
How often should you update your knowledge of evidence-based practices in your field?
Continuously, through professional development, research, and ASHA guidelines.
A family declines an AAC device due to concerns about stigma. How do you address this?
Educate the family about the benefits of AAC and share success stories to reduce stigma concerns.
A parent asks you to diagnose a condition for their child, which is outside your professional scope. How should you respond?
Explain that diagnosis is beyond your scope and recommend seeking a licensed professional in the appropriate field.
During a teletherapy session, a sibling unexpectedly joins the video call. What is your ethical responsibility?
Politely pause the session, explain confidentiality requirements, and ensure the sibling leaves unless consent was given for them to participate.
A caregiver consistently asks for favors outside the scope of therapy (e.g., babysitting advice). What is the ethical response?
Set clear boundaries and redirect the caregiver to appropriate resources for their non-therapy needs.
A colleague continues to use outdated therapy techniques. How do you address this?
Engage in a respectful conversation and share updated evidence-based resources to encourage best practices.
A nonverbal client is placed in a classroom that doesn’t support their AAC needs. How do you advocate for change?
Collaborate with the school team to develop an inclusive plan and provide training for staff on AAC integration.
You suspect a colleague is falsifying progress reports for a client. What is the ethical course of action?
Report the issue to a supervisor or relevant authority while maintaining confidentiality, as required by ASHA's Code of Ethics.