Rachel Barton, Speech and Language Therapist, 2nd November 2024
The Transformative Power of Generative AI
As a speech and language therapist (SLT), I'm witnessing first-hand how artificial intelligence is revolutionising healthcare. Generative AI tools like ChatGPT have become invaluable in my daily practice, offering possibilities that continually astound me.
For the past six months, I have been training SLTs to use generative AI within their work. Therapists regularly tell me how much this is changing their practice. Administrative tasks are streamlined, giving therapists more time with service users. Therapy resources are more personalised, increasing client engagement. Research is more accessible and interactive than ever before.
The Need for Guidelines
With these opportunities come important responsibilities. While this innovation is exciting, it's crucial that we establish clear guidelines to ensure AI enhances rather than compromises our professional standards.
While professional organisations such as the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) and the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists (RCSLT) have AI on their agendas, it understandably takes time to develop ratified guidelines. In the meantime, SLTs are beginning to use generative AI in their practice and would benefit from some interim guidance to follow.
With this in mind, I have developed a pledge for responsible generative AI use in speech and language therapy that individual SLTs can adopt.
Introducing the Pledge
The 'Pledge for Responsible Generative AI Use in SLT' provides a comprehensive framework organised around three key pillars and ten commitments:
Professional Standards and Compliance (commitments 1-4)
At the foundation of responsible AI use lies a commitment to maintaining rigorous professional standards and regulatory compliance. This encompasses protecting client privacy by never entering identifiable data into public AI systems (such as ChatGPT), ensuring all AI tools that use client data meet GDPR requirements, and maintaining transparent communication about AI use with clients. By establishing clear protocols and obtaining informed consent, we create a framework that allows us to innovate while upholding our professional obligations and maintaining trust.
Clinical Standards and Practice (commitments 5-8)
The heart of our profession lies in human connection and clinical expertise. This pillar emphasises using AI as a supportive tool rather than a replacement for professional judgement. It focuses on maintaining human-led care where AI enhances rather than diminishes the therapeutic relationship. We commit to tailoring AI-generated materials to individual needs, promoting inclusivity, and actively addressing potential biases in AI outputs. This ensures that technological advancement serves to strengthen, not substitute, the personal aspects of our practice.
Professional Development and Advocacy (commitments 9-10)
As AI technology evolves, so must our understanding and capabilities. This commitment focuses on continuous learning, sharing best practices, and advocating for ethical AI development in speech and language therapy. It includes collaborating with AI developers, contributing to policy discussions, and promoting environmentally sustainable AI practices. By actively engaging in the development and implementation of AI in our field, we help shape a future that aligns with our professional values and client needs.
Taking Action: The Ten Core Commitments
Within these three pillars there are ten core commitments which reflect best practices (summarised in the infographic below).
Getting Started
Implementation doesn't mean overhauling your practice overnight. Start small:
Review current practice - identify areas for alignment with the pledge
Develop clear protocols - establish when and how you'll use AI tools
Update documentation - incorporate AI use into consent forms, privacy notices and service agreements
Engage with colleagues - discuss best practices, sharing AI successes and challenges
From Principles to Practice: A Decision-Making Framework
To bridge the gap between principles and everyday practice, I've developed a practical decision-making flowchart. This tool guides you through key questions about AI use in clinical tasks - from data protection considerations to skill maintenance. By following this structured approach, you can quickly determine whether AI is appropriate for specific tasks and what precautions you might need to take. It's designed to be a practical companion to the pledge, helping you make confident, ethical decisions about AI use in your daily work.
Shaping the Future
The pledge isn't just a set of guidelines - it's a commitment to shaping how our profession evolves in the AI era. The future of speech and language therapy hinges on how we choose to integrate AI tools today. By adopting these principles now, we can ensure that innovation aligns with our professional values and ethical standards, leading to more efficient services, enhanced therapeutic practices, and sustainable workloads - while maintaining the human connection at the centre of our profession.
Get Involved
If you want to commit to responsible generative AI use in your practice, here's how:
Download the pledge documents below:
Review and sign the pledge
Create an implementation action plan
Share this initiative with colleagues and/or on social media
Deepen your understanding through workshops and further learning
Contribute to evolving best practices by sharing your experiences
You can also listen to this AI-generated podcast, made using Google's NotebookLM, which reviews the documents.
For questions or to learn more about implementing the pledge in your practice, contact: rachelbartonslt@gmail.com
Continue the Conversation:
I'd love to hear about your experiences using AI in SLT. Connect with me via:
AI Acknowledgement
In the spirit of this blog's topic, I utilised AI tools including OpenAI's ChatGPT and DALL-E and Anthropic's Claude in creating this content for idea generation, editing, researching, and image generation. I also used Whimsical for flowchart development and Canva for infographic design. Google's NotebookLM was used to generate the podcast. All AI-generated content was thoroughly reviewed, edited, and verified by me to ensure accuracy and alignment with my professional expertise.
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