Treatment Planning, Intervention, and Evidence-Based Practice
This domain tests goal writing, intervention selection, dosage, data collection, and the integration of evidence with client values.
Core rules
- Evidence-based practice combines best available research, clinical expertise, and client/family values and preferences.
- Goals should be functional, measurable, and tied to baseline. Specify behavior, context, cue level, accuracy criterion, and review date.
- Intervention intensity includes dose, dose frequency, and total duration. Plan for generalization and maintenance from the start.
- Use progress data to continue, modify, or discharge. Document barriers such as attendance, health, and environmental support.
Worked example
A school-age child with phonological disorder stops fricatives. Baseline: 20% accuracy for /s/ in initial words with a model. A measurable goal is: “During structured play, the child will produce /s/ in initial words in 8/10 trials with fading cues for three consecutive sessions.” The plan uses contrastive practice, distributed home practice, and weekly probes. If progress stalls after a defined block, modify cues or targets rather than repeating the same plan.
Traps that cost marks
- Writing goals such as “improve speech” without a measurable criterion.
- Choosing activities by habit rather than evidence and client values.
- Ignoring generalization and maintenance.
- Continuing treatment without data or review.