Exploring the intersection of social work and speech-language pathology in pediatric aerodigestive disorders: a systematic literature review

Children with aerodigestive disorders face complex medical and psychosocial challenges. Social workers (SWKs) and speech-language pathologists (SLPs) bring complementary expertise, yet the extent of their interprofessional collaboration in this context is unclear. This study conducted a systematic review of MEDLINE, Psychology and Behavioral Sciences Collection, Google Scholar, Scopus, and PsycINFO for English-language publications (2004-2024). Articles were included if they referenced both SWKs and SLPs, focused on pediatric populations, and addressed aerodigestive conditions. Four reviewers independently screened and extracted data. Of the 410 records identified, 15 met inclusion criteria. Most publications were descriptive reports, guidelines, or consensus statements recommending involvement of both professions. Only two studies provided direct empirical evidence of existing collaboration. Other studies documented team membership or family satisfaction but did not evaluate collaboration processes or outcomes. Despite broad consensus endorsing SWK-SLP collaboration in pediatric aerodigestive care, empirical evidence is minimal. This gap underscores the need for rigorous research on interprofessional models and their impact on patient and family outcomes.