For a patient with communication and swallowing disorders due to AIDS, the speech-language pathologist should:

• A. Provide treatment in consultation with the patient's primary-care physician or medical team
• B. Provide treatment only as prescribed by the patient's physician
• C. Serve only as a consultant to others involved in the patient's care
• D. Provide treatment on a monthly basis

Answer: (A)

In AIDS patients, medical status can change rapidly and requires coordinated care. The speech-language pathologist should provide treatment in consultation with the primary-care physician or medical team to ensure therapy aligns with the current medical plan, infection control needs, and nutritional considerations, and to adjust goals as the condition evolves. This collaboration supports safe swallowing rehabilitation and effective communication therapy by accounting for fatigue, oral-motor status, opportunistic infections, and medication effects. Relying solely on what a physician prescribes or serving only as a consultant or sticking to a rigid monthly schedule wouldn’t provide the necessary adaptability or integrated care needed for this population.