The study involved 20 children with hearing loss, divided into two groups: one receiving telepractice intervention and the other receiving in-person services. Both groups demonstrated significant improvements in phonological awareness skills after a 12-week intervention, with no significant differences between the two groups. This suggests that telepractice is as effective as in-person intervention for this purpose.
Key Takeaways for Practitioners
- Feasibility: Telepractice is a viable option for delivering phonological awareness interventions to children with hearing loss. This is particularly important in areas with a shortage of qualified SLPs.
- Effectiveness: The study found no significant differences in the effectiveness of telepractice compared to in-person intervention, indicating that remote services can be just as beneficial.
- Implementation: Proper setup, including adequate internet connectivity and the use of Hearing Assistive Technology Systems (HATS), is crucial for the success of telepractice sessions.
Encouraging Further Research
While the study provides compelling evidence for the feasibility and effectiveness of telepractice, it also highlights the need for further research. Future studies should focus on:
- Narrowing age ranges to verify findings across different developmental stages.
- Examining specific phonological awareness tasks to determine which are most effectively delivered via telepractice.
- Controlling for the effects of classroom-based phonological awareness instruction to isolate the impact of the telepractice intervention.
To read the original research paper, please follow this link: Feasibility of a Supplemental Phonological Awareness Intervention via Telepractice for Children with Hearing Loss: A Preliminary Study
