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Indoor Air Pollution: A Call to Action for Speech-Language Pathologists

Indoor Air Pollution: A Call to Action for Speech-Language Pathologists

Introduction

As a speech-language pathologist, your primary focus is on fostering communication skills and enhancing the quality of life for children. However, a less obvious yet significant factor influencing your work is the environment in which therapy occurs. Recent findings from the American Thoracic Society highlight the impact of indoor air pollution on health, particularly in children. This blog will explore how these findings can inform your practice and encourage further research.

Understanding the Impact of Indoor Air Pollution

The workshop report by the American Thoracic Society underscores that indoor air pollution is a substantial contributor to outdoor air quality issues. The report identifies sources such as wood burning, natural gas, and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) as significant contributors to indoor pollution. These pollutants can adversely affect respiratory health, which is closely linked to speech and language development in children.

Implications for Speech-Language Pathologists

Children with respiratory issues may experience delays in speech and language development. As a practitioner, understanding the environmental factors that may exacerbate these issues is crucial. Here are some actionable steps you can take:

Encouraging Further Research

While the workshop report provides a comprehensive overview of indoor air pollution, there is still much to learn about its specific impacts on speech and language development. Speech-language pathologists can contribute to this body of knowledge by:

Conclusion

Indoor air pollution is a pressing issue that extends beyond respiratory health, impacting areas such as speech and language development. By understanding and addressing these environmental factors, speech-language pathologists can enhance their practice and improve outcomes for children. To delve deeper into the research, please follow this link: Indoor Air Sources of Outdoor Air Pollution: Health Consequences, Policy, and Recommendations: An Official American Thoracic Society Workshop Report.


Citation: Nassikas, N. J., McCormack, M. C., Ewart, G., Balmes, J. R., Bond, T. C., Brigham, E., Cromar, K., Goldstein, A. H., Hicks, A., Hopke, P. K., Meyer, B., Nazaroff, W. W., Paulin, L. M., Rice, M. B., Thurston, G. D., Turpin, B. J., Vance, M. E., Weschler, C. J., Zhang, J., & Kipen, H. M. (2023). Indoor Air Sources of Outdoor Air Pollution: Health Consequences, Policy, and Recommendations: An Official American Thoracic Society Workshop Report. Annals of the American Thoracic Society. https://doi.org/10.1513/AnnalsATS.202312-1067ST
Marnee Brick, President, TinyEYE Therapy Services

Author's Note: Marnee Brick, TinyEYE President, and her team collaborate to create our blogs. They share their insights and expertise in the field of Speech-Language Pathology, Online Therapy Services and Academic Research.

Connect with Marnee on LinkedIn to stay updated on the latest in Speech-Language Pathology and Online Therapy Services.

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