Bridging the Gap: How to Explain Therapy Goals to Non-SLPs

 

In the fast-paced world of healthcare, collaboration is key. But as a speech-language pathologist (SLP), you may find it challenging to explain therapy goals to non-SLPs who need to partner in care and likely don’t “speak SLP.” Our job is to connect the dots between clinical objectives and functional outcomes in a way that resonate with nurses, caregivers, and other staff. As SLPs it is a time to let your communication skills shine.

This post provides practical tips and examples for explaining therapy goals in a way that fosters understanding, collaboration, and better outcomes for patients.

1. Keep It Simple

When explaining therapy goals, use plain language, relatable analogies, and tie the goals to real-life tasks.

• Avoid Jargon: Instead of “This patient has expressive aphasia,” say, “They have difficulty finding the words they want to say.”
• Use Analogies: Compare therapy to familiar concepts: “This is like a workout for their mind.”
• Be Functional: Link therapy goals to meaningful activities: “We’re focusing on helping Mrs. Jones communicate her needs, like asking for water.”

Examples:

Instead of saying, “We’re targeting compensatory strategies for dysphagia,” say, “We’re teaching Mr. Taylor to use small bites and alternate sips of water so he can eat without choking.”

Instead of saying, "The patient requires vocal rest and a vocal hygiene protocol." say, "Mr. Smith should drink extra water and limit talking to allow for his vocal cords to heal." 

Instead of saying, "TBI's can result in pragmatic changes" say, "Some brain injuries can cause a patient to act differently than they did before their accident." 

2. Focus on the “Why”

Team members need to understand why your therapy goals matter. Explain how these goals impact the patient’s safety, independence, and quality of life.

Swallowing Therapy

• Goal Example: “Improve the patient’s ability to safely swallow a regular diet.”
• Team-Friendly Explanation: “We’re strengthening muscles and teaching safe techniques to prevent choking and aspiration pneumonia.”
• Real-Life Context: “If Mrs. Perez can safely eat a soft diet, she’ll enjoy meals with her family again.”

 

Cognitive-Communication Therapy

• Goal Example: “Improve short-term memory to recall 3 out of 5 daily events with 80% accuracy.”
• Team-Friendly Explanation: “We’re practicing ways to help the patient remember important details, like where they are or what they have planned.”
• Real-Life Context: “This will help Mr. Brown feel less confused and more independent in his daily routine.”

Speech-Language Therapy

• Goal Example: “Increase speech clarity to 90% intelligibility in conversation.”
• Team-Friendly Explanation: “We’re working on clear pronunciation so others can understand them better.”
• Real-Life Context: “This means that when Mrs. Lee asks for her pain medication, staff will know exactly what she’s saying.”

3. Involve the Team in the Process

Collaboration leads to better outcomes. Explain how other team members can reinforce therapy goals during their interactions with the patient.

Tie Goals to Their Role

• Example: “When feeding Mr. Carter, remind him to sit upright and take small bites. That supports our swallowing therapy.”

Ask for Observations

• Example: “Have you noticed when Mrs. Davis struggles to communicate? Those moments can guide our therapy.”

Share Progress

• Example: “Since we started using the communication board, Mr. Brown has been able to tell us when he’s in pain. It’s a big step forward!”

4. Functional Handouts

Sometimes, a visual reminder is the most effective tool. Consider creating:

• Swallow Safety Tips: E.g., “Take small bites, sip water, and avoid lying down after eating.”
• Communication Strategies: E.g., “Speak slowly, use yes/no questions, and give time for responses.”
• Patient-Specific Notes: E.g., “Mrs. Lee uses a communication board to express basic needs like ‘bathroom’ or ‘help.’”

5. Use Stories to Illustrate Success

Sharing relatable examples helps others understand the importance of therapy.

Example:

“Mr. Jones couldn’t call for help when he needed assistance because he struggled to say ‘help.’ We’ve been practicing using a call light and teaching him to say the word slowly. Last week, he pressed the call light and clearly said, ‘help.’ That’s a huge milestone that ensures his safety.”

Takeaway

Your expertise as an SLP is invaluable, but so is your ability to translate it into actionable steps for your interdisciplinary team. By simplifying language, focusing on functionality, and providing practical examples, you can foster understanding and collaboration. Together, we can help patients achieve their therapy goals and improve their lives.