COLLECTING OUTCOMES DATA IN SCHOOLS - NEEDS AND CHALLENGES

The definition of treatment outcomes, its interpretive limitations, an d the need for this type of information are discussed. The activities of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association's (ASHA's) Task Fo rce on Treatment Outcomes and Cost-Effectiveness and the development o f the National Outcomes Measurement System for Speech-Language Patholo gy and Audiology (NOMS) are reviewed, with an emphasis on the NOMS: K- 12 (Education) component. How outcomes data can be used and the challe nges its collection presents in school settings are also discussed.