What should an SLPS L P do after a 3-year-old child fails a hearing screening but understands instructions clearly?

The most appropriate action for a speech-language pathologist (SLP) after a 3-year-old child fails a hearing screening while still demonstrating clear understanding of instructions is to complete the speech-language evaluation and refer for an audiologic evaluation.

Completing the speech-language evaluation allows the SLP to gather additional information regarding the child's communication abilities and any potential speech or language issues that may be present. This is crucial because even though the child has failed the hearing screening, their ability to understand instructions indicates that there may still be subsequent areas of strength or areas that require further assessment in terms of speech-language development.

In addition to this evaluation, referring the child for an audiologic evaluation is essential to determine the nature and extent of any hearing issues. Hearing is fundamental to effective communication, and understanding the child's auditory capabilities is critical in guiding future interventions and recommendations.

Other approaches, such as discontinuing the evaluation or diagnosing solely based on parent interviews, would not provide a comprehensive assessment or consider the implications of the failed hearing screening. It's important to ensure thorough evaluation and accurate diagnosis, which is best achieved by observing the child's communication skills fully and seeking further audiological insights.