Diagnostic Disclosure of Pediatric Communication Disorders: The Parent Perspective

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to examine the experiences of parents during and after receiving news of their child's communication disorder diagnosis from a speech-language pathologist (SLP). METHOD: A descriptive phenomenological approach was used in this preliminary study to explore eight parents' lived experiences of receiving news of their child's communication disorder diagnosis. Codes were generated from in-depth interviews, organized into themes, and confirmed using peer debriefing. RESULTS: The following themes emerged from the data analysis: (a) parents wanted more information from the SLP during the diagnostic process; (b) parents encountered difficult thoughts and emotions related to their child's communication impairment; (c) parents emphasized the importance of establishing a personal connection with the SLP, beginning at the time of diagnosis; (d) SLPs' words influenced how parents felt about the diagnosis; (e) parents valued an early diagnosis; and (f) parents expended considerable time and effort during the diagnostic process. CONCLUSIONS: This study provided valuable insight into parents' needs and preferences regarding disclosure of a communication disorder diagnosis in pediatric clinical practice. For parents, diagnostic disclosure was a critical clinical interaction with emotional, informational, and relational consequences. By intentionally attending to caregiver emotions, prioritizing the clarity and accessibility of information, and fostering collaborative relationships at the time of diagnosis, SLPs can better support caregiver adjustment and engagement in services.