The use of the ICF in speech-language pathology research: Towards a research agenda

The International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) facilitates a wide range of research in speech-language pathology. In addition to framing the development of assessment tools and evaluating interventions, the ICF can also be used to evaluate concepts such as third party disability or environmental factors that prevent or facilitate communication accessibility. In this paper, a model proposed by Stucki and Grimby is used to describe research on a continuum from basic to professional, and from cell to society. We translate this model to speech-language pathology by using examples from our programme of research in the Communication Disability Centre. The model also allows the identification of broad gaps in speech-language pathology research to date. The paper concludes with recommendations for a research agenda for the ICF in speech-language pathology. In particular, it is argued that unless speech-language pathology researchers fully understand the constructs of the ICF as applied to communication disability, valid measures for professional practice research cannot be developed.