HIV and communication.

UNLABELLED: The human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) continues to plague many countries across the globe, including the United States, Africa, China and India. Children and adults have been infected with HIV, and both populations can present with communication disorders that coexist with the presence of the virus. The purpose of this paper is to present an overview of HIV and a discussion of the types of conditions that impact communication in both pediatric and adult populations. Persons living with HIV may present with disorders in the areas of language, phonology, voice and swallowing. Given the advances in pharmacological management of HIV, speech-language pathologists need to be knowledgeable of how medications can impact communication and swallowing. Also, since HIV crosses the blood-brain barrier and impacts all aspects of an infected person's life, speech-language and hearing professionals need to be members of the interdisciplinary teams that assess and manage patients living with HIV. Specific information regarding communication disorders in the pediatric population and research issues that warrant continued investigation will be addressed.

LEARNING OUTCOMES: The reader will become aware of the ways in which a speech-language pathologist or audiologist may become involved with a patient infected with HIV or AIDS. The reader will learn the specific manners in which HIV and AIDS may affect the speech, language, hearing, and swallowing of pediatric and adult patients, as well as the appropriate intervention philosophies.