Communication and behavior: Collaboration between speech-language pathologists and behavioral psychologists

Abstract

Communication challenges after TBI are often associated with weak self-regulation of behavior. This article presents an intervention framework within which speech-language pathologists and behavioral psychologists occupy a similar scope of practice in relation to challenging behaviors that are a component of the individual's communication system. We argue for an approach that not only sees challenging behaviors from a communication perspective but addresses these problems in a way that is positive, integrated, functional, collaborative, and environmental. The framework is illustrated by case examples of the authors' collaborative intervention approaches.