Diagnosis In Speech-Language Pathology (2000). Edited by J. Bruce Tomblin, Hughlett L. Morris, & D.C. Spriestersbach. Singular Publishing Group, Inc., 401 West A St., Suite 325, San Diego, CA 92101-7904. 510 pages, $59.95. Reviewed by Toni B. Morehouse, Lincoln, NE.
This soft-cover textbook has a reader-friendly style appropriate for beginning students in a university communication disorders program or practicing clinicians looking for additional resources for assessment and diagnosis.
The first section of the book provides diagnostic perspectives and multicultural issues in assessment. In the second section, seven chapters deal with taking a clinical history and conducting an exit conference, as well as basic assessments for the oral-mechanism and language, speech, stuttering, and voice disorders. The final section presents assessment and diagnosis issues with special populations (e.g., head and neck cancer, swallowing, curriculum-based assessment). Because each of the chapters has different authors, the reader gains familiarity with an assortment of philosophies and procedures relating to assessment and diagnosis.
The aim of this book is to provide readers with a rudimentary look at the diagnostic process. The editors suggest that a client's clinical history, coupled with an inclusive description of behavior that has been compared to the normal population, leads to a diagnosis that can be applied in a treatment setting. Using authors from different specialty areas within the profession, the book provides perspectives on a wide spectrum of disorders and communication parameters in various settings. In particular, the chapter on multicultural issues as they relate to the diagnostic process meets a growing need in the field.
In terms of user friendliness, the book provides excellent organization of information through use of well-placed, helpful headings that guide the reader. Questions and comments on each page, with more than adequate room for notes in the margins, stimulate thinking about the content. Visual organizers, which are plentiful, provide support via charts, graphs, tables, photographs, forms, drawings, lists, procedures, continuums, checklists, and flow charts. At the conclusion of many chapters, the authors provide not only their references, but also a list of recommended readings. However, references for some chapters (i.e. Chapter 18) were generally quite dated and the reader may benefit from additional, current information.
In summary, this text accomplishes the purpose of providing an affordable, reader-friendly, interesting, and informative resource for beginning students in speech-language pathology. Additionally, practicing clinicians could certainly use this book as a reference for recommended readings and an additional resource for clinical information. Overall, I would give this book an "A."