In this week’s episode, we speak with Dr Emma Kate Thome from Boys Town National Research Hospital in the USA about identifying and managing pseudoscientific practices in speech pathology. Dr Thome shares what pseudoscience is, why it can be appealing to both practitioners and service users, and the real-world risks it poses to evidence-based care.

For access to the STOP scale, contact Dr Thome at: [email protected]

Resources:

Thome, E.K., Finn, P. (2026). Developing and validating the Susceptibility to Pseudoscience Scale. AJSLP 35(1), 317-339. https://doi.org/10.1044/2025_AJSLP-25-00166

Thome, E.K., Finn, P., Hogan, M., Dwyer, C.P. (2025). Cultivating the critical thinking dispositions of undergraduate speech-language pathology students. AJSLP 34(3), 1289-1370. https://doi.org/10.1044/2025_AJSLP-24-00165

SPA resources:

Evidence-based practice in speech pathology in Australia: https://www.speechpathologyaustralia.org.au/resource?resource=407

Speak Up podcast. S6E1: Supervision - Supporting critical-thinking: https://soundcloud.com/speechpathologyaustralia/supervision-supporting-critical-thinking-and-problem-solving-skills-s06e01

Speech Pathology Australia acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of lands, seas and waters throughout Australia, and offers our respect to Elders, across all times and places. The Speak Up podcast recognises the central role of yarning and oral storytelling in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture, how this translates to knowledge translation, and that colonisation has interrupted these practices of Language and knowledge sharing. The Speak Up podcast acknowledges the need for truth-telling and deep listening, the central role that Language plays in connecting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People with Culture, Country, and Community, and the interwoven nature of health, and social and emotional wellbeing. We recognise that the Traditional Owners of the Lands across Australia have been here since time immemorial, and that their sovereignty over this land, was never ceded.

Free access to transcripts for podcast episodes are available via the SPA Learning Hub (https://learninghub.speechpathologyaustralia.org.au/), you will need to sign in or create an account. For more information, please see our Bio or for further enquiries, email [email protected]

Speech Pathology Australia acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of lands, seas and waters throughout Australia, and offers our respect to Elders, across all times and places. The Speak Up podcast recognises the central role of yarning and oral storytelling in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture, how this translates to knowledge translation, and that colonisation has interrupted these practices of Language and knowledge sharing. The Speak Up podcast acknowledges the need for truth-telling and deep listening, the central role that Language plays in connecting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People with Culture, Country, and Community, and the interwoven nature of health, and social and emotional wellbeing. We recognise that the Traditional Owners of the Lands across Australia have been here since time immemorial, and that their sovereignty over this land, was never ceded.

Free access to transcripts for podcast episodes are available via the SPA Learning Hub (https://learninghub.speechpathologyaustralia.org.au/), you will need to sign in or create an account. For more information, please see our Bio or for further enquiries, email [email protected]