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Enhancing Teletherapy for Speech Pathology in Rural Schools: Key Insights for Practitioners

Enhancing Teletherapy for Speech Pathology in Rural Schools: Key Insights for Practitioners

In the quest to deliver high-quality speech pathology services to children in rural areas, teletherapy has emerged as a promising solution. A recent study titled Multiple Stakeholder Perspectives on Teletherapy Delivery of Speech Pathology Services in Rural Schools: A Preliminary, Qualitative Investigation offers invaluable insights into the feasibility and acceptability of teletherapy programs. Here, we explore the key findings and provide actionable steps for practitioners to enhance their teletherapy delivery.

Key Findings from the Study

The study involved semi-structured interviews with school principals, therapy facilitators, and parents. Despite some technological challenges, the overall response to teletherapy was positive. Here are the main themes identified:

Actionable Steps for Practitioners

Based on these findings, practitioners can take several steps to improve their teletherapy services:

  1. Enhance Technological Reliability: Regularly troubleshoot and update technology to ensure smooth sessions. Training for therapy facilitators can also increase their confidence in managing tech issues.
  2. Promote Engagement: Utilize interactive and child-friendly software to keep children engaged. Incorporate elements that align with their interests to build rapport.
  3. Leverage School Infrastructure: Work closely with schools to identify suitable spaces for teletherapy. This can help in minimizing disruptions and ensuring a conducive environment for therapy.
  4. Foster Strong Partnerships: Clearly define roles and responsibilities among all stakeholders. Regularly update teachers and parents on therapy goals and progress to keep everyone aligned.
  5. Support Capacity Building: Provide professional development opportunities for school staff to better support children with communication difficulties. This can include training sessions and resource materials.

Encouraging Further Research

While this study provides a solid foundation, more research is needed to generalize these findings to other regions and teletherapy programs. Practitioners are encouraged to participate in and contribute to ongoing research efforts to refine teletherapy models further.

To read the original research paper, please follow this link: Multiple Stakeholder Perspectives on Teletherapy Delivery of Speech Pathology Services in Rural Schools: A Preliminary, Qualitative Investigation.


Citation: Lincoln, M., Hines, M., Fairweather, C., Ramsden, R., & Martinovich, J. (2014). Multiple stakeholder perspectives on teletherapy delivery of speech pathology services in rural schools: A preliminary, qualitative investigation. International Journal of Telerehabilitation, 6(2), 65-74. https://doi.org/10.5195/IJT.2014.6155
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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in online therapy apply today!

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