Artificial Intelligence Adoption and Related Considerations: Survey of Practicing School-Based Speech-Language Pathologists in Ohio

Purpose: Artificial intelligence (AI) is advancing rapidly with new tools and capabilities emerging quickly. Speech-language pathologists (SLPs) utilize AI in clinical practice, but it is unclear how SLPs use AI tools and the factors that SLPs consider in their decision making. This study presents a survey of school-based SLPs to (a) document the extent and nature of AI use; (b) assess the perceived quality and general opinions of AI; (c) identify ethical, legal, and institutional factors influencing their decisions; and (d) identify the types of AI training currently used and the training SLPs report wanting to receive. Method: Two hundred fourteen school-based SLPs across Ohio completed a survey about the types of AI tools they use, the factors influencing their use, general opinions about AI, and specific concerns about the use of AI in the workplace. The sample was predominantly White (91.3%) and female (97.1%). The average age was 45.17 years, with 19.72 years of professional experience. Participants who used AI within the last 6 months were categorized as “AI users” compared to “non-AI users” who had not. Results: School-based SLPs reported using AI often in their practice across a wide range of tasks. SLPs reported concerns about accuracy or reliability, and ethical concerns as reasons for limiting or not using AI tools. Perceptions of AI quality were mixed, with SLPs divided on whether AI could produce outputs similar to an average practitioner. SLPs reported a significant need for guidance and training in AI tools and ethics. Conclusion: The results highlight the need for clear guidance on the use of AI tools, including ethical implications, along with additional training for school-based SLPs. Supplemental Material: https://doi.org/10.23641/asha.34515978