Silent voices: Meeting the communication needs of older African Americans

Despite avowed professional outreach to underserved populations, older Afri can Americans continue to be among those persons least likely to receive ne eded speech-language interventions. Reduced service provision to this popul ation is paradoxical because of the increased risk of communication-impairi ng medical conditions and subsequent disability in African Americans. Disso nance between mainstream and traditional African American culture may expla in the persistent under-use of speech-language pathology services by many o lder African Americans. Heightened cultural competence, professional advoca cy, and health education constitute foundational approaches to more effecti ve outreach to underserved culturally and linguistically diverse older adul t populations.