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Bridging the Gap: How Telehealth Can Address Disparities in Speech-Language Pathology Services

Bridging the Gap: How Telehealth Can Address Disparities in Speech-Language Pathology Services
The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted significant disparities in healthcare access and utilization, especially in speech-language pathology (SLP) and laryngology services. According to the research article "Addressing disparities in speech-language pathology and laryngology services with telehealth" by Rameau et al. (2023), telehealth can play a crucial role in mitigating these disparities. This blog will explore how practitioners can improve their skills by implementing the outcomes of this research or by engaging in further research.

Understanding Disparities in SLP Services

Disparities in healthcare access are influenced by various factors, including race, ethnicity, geographic location, and socioeconomic status. For instance, individuals from diverse racial and ethnic backgrounds are less likely to attend voice rehabilitation and more likely to delay healthcare due to language barriers, longer wait times, and lack of transportation.

The Role of Telehealth

Telehealth has the potential to address some of these disparities by providing remote access to SLP services. The study highlights several benefits of telehealth:

Practical Implementation

For practitioners looking to implement telehealth, here are some practical steps:

Challenges and Limitations

While telehealth offers numerous advantages, it also has limitations:

Encouraging Further Research

Despite its potential, telehealth is not a one-size-fits-all solution. Continued research is necessary to understand its impact on reducing disparities in SLP services. Practitioners are encouraged to:

Conclusion

Telehealth offers a promising avenue to address disparities in SLP services, but it is not without its challenges. A hybrid approach combining in-person visits and telehealth may be the most effective strategy. Practitioners must continue to adapt and refine their methods to ensure equitable access to care.

To read the original research paper, please follow this link: Addressing disparities in speech-language pathology and laryngology services with telehealth.


Citation: Rameau, A., Cox, S. R., Sussman, S. H., & Odigie, E. (2023). Addressing disparities in speech-language pathology and laryngology services with telehealth. Journal of Communication Disorders, 106349. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcomdis.2023.106349
Marnee Brick, President, TinyEYE Therapy Services

Author's Note: Marnee Brick, TinyEYE President, and her team collaborate to create our blogs. They share their insights and expertise in the field of Speech-Language Pathology, Online Therapy Services and Academic Research.

Connect with Marnee on LinkedIn to stay updated on the latest in Speech-Language Pathology and Online Therapy Services.

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