The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly impacted clinical practices across various fields, including speech-language pathology. The research article "Voice Therapy for Older Adults During the COVID-19 Pandemic in Brazil" provides valuable insights into how practitioners adapted to new challenges and opportunities. This blog will highlight key findings from the study and offer actionable steps for practitioners to enhance their skills and improve outcomes for older adults.
Key Findings from the Research
The study involved a cross-sectional survey of 155 Brazilian speech-language-hearing therapists who provided voice therapy to older adults during the pandemic. The main findings are as follows:
- Therapy Formats: Both in-person and teletherapy formats were used, with teletherapy becoming more prevalent due to social distancing measures.
- Challenges: In-person therapy faced difficulties such as mask-wearing, which hindered therapeutic exercises. Teletherapy had challenges in voice assessment due to the lack of proper equipment and environmental noise.
- Patient Adherence: Despite the challenges, patient adherence and the achievement of therapeutic goals were generally positive.
Actionable Steps for Practitioners
Based on the research findings, here are some recommendations for practitioners to enhance their voice therapy practices:
- Embrace Teletherapy: The pandemic has shown that teletherapy can be a viable and effective option. Invest in high-quality microphones and cameras to improve the accuracy of voice assessments.
- Adapt Therapeutic Strategies: Modify exercises to account for the limitations of teletherapy. For instance, use visual aids and clear instructions to help patients perform exercises correctly.
- Ensure Patient Adherence: Regularly check in with patients to ensure they are following the therapy plan. Use telehealth platforms that allow for easy monitoring and feedback.
- Focus on Safety: For in-person sessions, ensure strict adherence to biosafety measures such as mask-wearing, hand hygiene, and equipment disinfection.
Encouraging Further Research
While this study provides valuable insights, it also highlights the need for further research. Future studies should explore the long-term effectiveness of teletherapy and develop standardized protocols for remote voice assessments. Practitioners are encouraged to contribute to this growing body of knowledge by conducting their own research and sharing their findings.
To read the original research paper, please follow this link: Voice Therapy for Older Adults During the COVID-19 Pandemic in Brazil.
