Professional Writing in Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology

Fourth Edition

Robert Goldfarb, Yula C. Serpanos

Details: 393 pages, B&W, Softcover, 8.5" x 11"

ISBN13: 978-1-63550-701-0

© 2025 | Available

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With many more exercises, writing samples, and online resources, Professional Writing in Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology, Fourth Edition is an excellent resource for students of communication sciences and disorders. It is often used as a textbook for courses in professional writing, clinical methods, and professional issues. Throughout the text, the authors use anecdotal material, self-help questions, and humor to illustrate that learning to be a better professional writer does not require drudgery.

The authors cover a spectrum of subjects related to professional writing, including, rules of writing (review of grammar, spelling, punctuation, semantics, and sentence structure), evidence-based writing and citing sources, ethics related to professional writing, writing diagnostic and clinical reports, and writing for professional career advancement.

New to the Fourth Edition

  • More exercises throughout the book
  • Incorporates APA 7th edition style
  • Reorganized for a greater flow of information:
    • Combined the chapters on Evidence-Based Writing and Ethics of Professional Writing                   
    • Combined the chapters on Referencing Resources and Internet Resources
    • Book now ends with chapter 8 on professional presentations
  • Expansion of English mechanics underlying syntax
  • Inclusion of the 2023 revised version of the ASHA Code of Ethics
  • Additional online resources for instructors and students

Key Features

  • Exercises in each chapter
  • Numerous samples, including:
    • Institutional Review Board Research Review Form
    • Authorization of Release of Information Form
    • Journal Article Critique
    • Diagnostic Reports and Protocol Worksheets
    • Therapy Goals and Progress Reports
    • Types of Professional Correspondence
    • Presentation Slides
    • Resumes

PluralPlus Online Ancillary Materials

For instructors: Answer key, FAUST assignment grading rubric
For students: Printable forms/documents, Exercises/activities, Sample presentations

Introduction

Chapter 1. Getting Started
Beginnings of Speech-Language Pathology
Beginnings of Audiology

About the Deaf Community and Hearing Impairment

Current Issues
English Mechanics

Parts of Speech
Grammatical Morphemes
Phrase Structure Rules

Exercises
References

Chapter 2. Writing Rules
Errors in Form
Writing Form (Punctuation, Spelling, Grammatical Morphemes)

Punctuation
Spelling
Grammatical Morphemes and Common Confusions

Writing Content and Composition (Semantics, Sentence Structure)
Exercises
References

Chapter 3. Professional Writing

Part I. Evidence-Based Writing
Writing a Professional Paper/Journal Article

A. Title
B. Abstract
C. Introduction
D. Methods
E. Results
F. Discussion and Conclusion
G. References

Template for a Journal Article Critique
In-Class Assignment

Part II. Ethics of Professional Writing
The ASHA Code of Ethics

Principle of Ethics I
Principle of Ethics II
Principle of Ethics III
Principle of Ethics IV

Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA)
Research With Human Participants

The Belmont Report

Human Participants Research Protection Training
Conclusion

Exercises of Part I. Evidence-Based Writing
Exercises of Part II. Ethics of Professional Writing
References
Appendix 3–A. Sample Institutional Review Board Research Review Form

Chapter 4. Referencing Resources
History of the Library
Collections

Books
Scholarly Journals
Audiovisual Materials
Microforms

Services

The Organization of Information: Catalogs and Databases
Conducting a Search
Interlibrary Loans/Reciprocal Library Privileges
Reference Services
Reserve Items
Course Packs

The Internet

Internet Glossary: An Exercise in Futility
Uses and Abuses
Evaluating Internet Sources for Professional Writing
Which Internet Resources Should We Use (And Which Should We Avoid)?
Final Note

Copyright Material 
Plagiarism
Citing and Reporting References 

Writing References in APA Style: Review of Selected APA-Style (2020) Reference List and In-Text Citation Formats

Exercises
References

Chapter 5. The Diagnostic Report
Diagnostic Labeling
Threats to Accurate Diagnosis
Rules for Diagnosis

Rule 1
Rule 2
Rule 3
Rule 4
Rule 5

Writing the Diagnostic Report

The Logic of Report Writing
The Diagnostic Report Format

Guidelines for Writing Diagnostic Reports in Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology

Writing Aspects
Format
Sections of the Diagnostic Report
Report Drafts
Writing the History

Diagnostic Report Format — Speech and Language

Referral Information
Background Information
Assessment Information
Clinical Impressions
Recommendations

Diagnostic Protocol Worksheet — Speech and Language

Referral Information
Background Information
Assessment Information

Sample of Diagnostic Report Writing in Speech-Language Pathology

Speech-Language Evaluation Report — Original
Speech-Language Evaluation Report — Revised Version

Diagnostic Report Format — Audiology

History
Assessment Information
Clinical Impressions
Recommendations

Diagnostic Protocol Worksheet — Audiology

History
Assessment Information

Sample of Diagnostic Report Writing in Audiology

Audiologic Evaluation Report – Original
Audiology Evaluation Report – Edited

Exercises
References

Chapter 6. Clinical Goals, Reports, and Referrals
Informed Consent and Permission

Justification
Informed Consent Form
Permission Form

Writing Clinical Observations
Writing Goals for Therapy
Types of Professional Reports

I. Treatment (Therapy Session) Format Plan in Speech-Language Pathology
II. Progress Report

Guidelines for Writing Progress Reports in Speech-Language Pathology
Progress Report: Writing Style Worksheet
Edited Progress Report in Speech-Language Pathology

III. Audiogram Form Report
IV. Medical Chart Logs/Reports

Professional Correspondence

Professional Referrals/Sending Reports
Sample Authorization of Release of Information Form
Correspondence Via Electronic Media
Letters to Professionals
Cover Letters for Professional Reports
Letters as Reports

Exercises
References

Chapter 7. Writing for Professional Advancement
Writing for Professional Advancement
I. Resumes

Do’s
Don’ts
Letterhead
Education
Certifications/Licenses
Professional Experience
Awards/Honors
Publications
Professional Presentations
Research
Professional Affiliations/Activities
Skills
References
Sample Student Resume Format

II. Cover Letters for Resumes

Resume Cover Letter Format
Sample Resume Cover Letter

III. Portfolios

Sample Portfolio Checklist of Clinical Work in Audiology
Sample Portfolio Checklist of Clinical Work in Speech-Language Pathology

IV. Professional Correspondence Via Electronic Media

Sections of Formal Correspondence
Sample Email Correspondence

Multiple-Choice Tests

The Stem
The Options
Graduate Record Examination (GRE®)
Praxis® Examinations in Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology

Exercises
References

Chapter 8. Writing for Professional Presentations
Oral Presentations
Preparing the Presentation

Developing the Presentation
Outlining the Presentation

Delivering the Oral Presentation

Computer-Generated Slide Presentations
Creating Computer-Generated Slide Presentations
Factors in Effective Presentation Delivery
Tips for Delivering the Presentation

Sample Computer-Generated Slide Presentation
Professional Presentations

I. The Poster Presentation
II. The Platform Presentation
III. The Short Course

Exercises
References

Index

Robert Goldfarb

Robert Goldfarb, PhD, Fellow, ASHA, is Emeritus Professor of Communication Sciences and Disorders at Adelphi University and Emeritus Professor of Speech-Language-Hearing Sciences at Lehman College and The Graduate Center, CUNY. He was a Fulbright Specialist in Applied Linguistics/TEFL in Bogotá, Colombia. He has published in the areas of adult aphasia, the language of dementia, and the language of schizophrenia, and is also co-author of two tests: The Stocker Probe for Fluency and Language (1995) and Time-Altered Word Association Tests (TAWAT, 2013). He authored, co-authored, and edited ten books, and is the recipient of academic and clinical awards as well as highest honors from New York City and New York State professional associations. View his TEDx talk, An Aphasiologist Has a Stroke, at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LLhXxBC9xYk

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Yula C. Serpanos

Yula C. Serpanos, PhD, is a Professor of Audiology in the Communication Sciences and Disorders program at Adelphi University and the Long Island Doctor of Audiology Consortium. She has many years of clinical experience and university teaching at the undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral levels. Dr. Serpanos is a Fellow of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association and received the 2019 Honors of the Association award from the New York State Speech-Language-Hearing Association. Dr. Serpanos has published in the areas of loudness perception, noise induced hearing loss, and audiologic screening.

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Professional Writing in Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology, Fourth Edition comes with access to supplementary student and instructor resources on a PluralPlus companion website.

The companion website is located at: https://www.pluralpublishing.com/publication/pwslpa4e

STUDENTS:

The student resources include exercises and sample presentations.

To access the student resources, you must register on the companion website and log in using the access code located in the front of your textbook.

INSTRUCTORS:

The instructor resources include answer key to the exercises in the book, and a grading rubric for the FAUST assignment. You will also have access to all of the student resources listed above.

To access the instructor resources, you must contact Plural Publishing, Inc. to be verified as an instructor and receive your access code.

            Email: instructormaterials@pluralpublishing.com

            Tel: 866-758-7251 (toll free) or 858-492-1555

*Note for students: If you have purchased this textbook used or have rented it, your access code will not work if it was already redeemed by the original buyer of the book. Plural Publishing does not offer replacement access codes for used or rented textbooks.

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