As a practitioner committed to creating the best outcomes for children, understanding the effectiveness of different service delivery methods is crucial. A recent study titled Comparing In-Person and Telepractice Service Delivery for Spoken Language Production and Comprehension Using the National Outcomes Measurement System provides valuable insights that can help you make informed decisions in your practice.
Study Overview
This study, published in the International Journal of Telerehabilitation, compared the outcomes of in-person and telepractice service delivery for children in elementary school settings. The research focused on two Functional Communication Measures (FCMs): spoken language production and spoken language comprehension. The data was drawn from the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) National Outcomes Measurement System (NOMS) and a private e-learning provider.
Key Findings
The study found minimal significant differences in the median change scores between traditional and telepractice interventions. Here are the key takeaways:
- Both in-person and telepractice methods showed positive outcomes in treating children with impairments in spoken language production and comprehension.
- Telepractice was found to be equally effective as in-person therapy for these FCM categories, with some minor variations depending on the severity subgroup.
- The results suggest that telepractice can be a viable alternative to traditional in-person services, especially in underserved or geographically isolated areas.
Implications for Practice
Given the comparable effectiveness of telepractice, practitioners can consider the following steps to integrate telepractice into their service delivery:
- Expand Access: Utilize telepractice to reach children in remote or underserved areas, ensuring that all children have access to quality speech-language pathology services.
- Data-Driven Decisions: Use standardized outcome measures like NOMS to track and compare the effectiveness of telepractice and in-person services in your practice.
- Training and Adoption: Invest in training for telepractice to ensure that both practitioners and clients are comfortable and effective in this mode of service delivery.
Encouraging Further Research
While this study provides strong evidence supporting the effectiveness of telepractice, ongoing research is essential. Practitioners are encouraged to contribute to the growing body of evidence by participating in studies and sharing their outcomes. This collective effort will help refine telepractice methods and ensure the best possible outcomes for children.
To read the original research paper, please follow this link: Comparing In-Person and Telepractice Service Delivery for Spoken Language Production and Comprehension Using the National Outcomes Measurement System.
