Baselines

The concept of baseline measurements has implications in both the research and the clinical aspects of the field of Speech–Language pathology. A baseline measurement is one collected before the implementation of a particular treatment condition, allowing for comparison over time or confirming changes made as treatment toward a specific goal is implemented. Often, baseline data are not used to compare individuals with peers or a given population but, rather, to measure individuals against a previous version of themselves. Baseline data can be both numeric and descriptive in nature, but their purpose is to provide a means of comparison over time. This entry outlines the use of baseline measurements in both research and clinical practice.