Maximising the Impact of Speech and Language Therapy for children with Speech Sound Disorder (The MISLToe-SSD) Study : developing a Core Outcome Set (COS) for routine data collection from UK NHS Speech and Language Therapy Services

Tools

Stringer, Helen and Burr, Sam and Cleland, Joanne and Harding, Sam and Wren, Yvonne (2026) Maximising the Impact of Speech and Language Therapy for children with Speech Sound Disorder (The MISLToe-SSD) Study : developing a Core Outcome Set (COS) for routine data collection from UK NHS Speech and Language Therapy Services. International Journal of Language and Communication Disorders, 61 (1). e70188. ISSN 1368-2822 (https://doi.org/10.1111/1460-6984.70188)

[thumbnail of MISLToe_SSD_COS_AAM] Text. Filename: MISLToe_SSD_COS_AAM.pdf
Accepted Author Manuscript
Restricted to Repository staff only until 1 January 2099.
Download (478kB) | Request a copy
[thumbnail of Stringer-etal-IJLCD-2026-Maximising-the-Impact-of-Speech-and-Language-Therapy-for-children]
Preview
 Text. Filename: Stringer-etal-IJLCD-2026-Maximising-the-Impact-of-Speech-and-Language-Therapy-for-children.pdf
Final Published Version
License: Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 logo
Download (620kB)| Preview

Abstract

Background: Children with speech sound disorder (SSD) are at risk of long-term adverse consequences if appropriate intervention is not provided in a timely way. Although there are interventions of proven efficacy, these are often not implemented with good fidelity in clinical practice. Children with SSD in the United Kingdom are commonly managed in care pathways within NHS and independent speech and language therapy services. It is not known which care pathways are most effective because there is currently no systematic recording or analysis of intervention outcomes for children with SSD. Aims: The objective of the MISLToe-SSD study is to develop an evidence-based protocol for collecting routine data on a large-scale so that UK SSD care pathways can be evaluated for clinical- and cost-effectiveness. The development of the core outcome set (COS) is reported here. Methods and Procedures: Following the Core Outcome Measures in Effectiveness Trials methodology, a modified Delphi process was used to reach a consensus on a COS for SSD interventions. The Delphi process comprised two online survey rounds and one online meeting. Anonymity between panel members was maintained during the online survey rounds. Round one required a consensus of ≥50%, rising to ≥75% in round two. Outcomes and Results: A group of 66 UK speech and language therapists identified as experts in SSD by their peers were recruited through specialist clinical and research networks. A long list of 30 outcome statements was reduced by consensus to a final list of seven outcomes with associated measurement instruments. Increased speech intelligibility was agreed as the primary outcome by 100% of panel members. Six secondary outcomes were identified. Conclusions and Implications: The final COS can be used in future research to evaluate care pathways and intervention effectiveness for children with SSD. Furthermore, it provides a basis for measuring outcomes in future intervention trials for SSD.

ORCID iDs

Stringer, Helen, Burr, Sam, Cleland, Joanne ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0660-1646, Harding, Sam and Wren, Yvonne;
CORE (COnnecting REpositories)