The COVID-19 pandemic has reshaped many aspects of our lives, including how we deliver aural rehabilitation services. Telepractice, once a supplementary method, has become a primary means of delivering early intervention for children with hearing impairments. This shift offers both challenges and opportunities for practitioners. In this blog, we'll explore the findings from the research article "Aural Rehabilitation via Telepractice During COVID-19: A Global Perspective on Evolving Early Intervention Practices" and discuss how you can implement these insights to improve your telepractice skills.
Key Findings from the Research
The study, conducted by Claridge and Kroll (2021), documented the global adoption of telepractice during the pandemic. Here are some key takeaways:
- The proportion of practitioners providing telepractice increased from 47.6% to 91.7% during the pandemic.
- Specialized lesson kits were trialed by 74.3% of participants and positively impacted parent coaching, clinician experience, and access to resources.
- Confidence in delivering telepractice increased significantly with experience and the use of ready-made resources.
Practical Tips for Practitioners
Based on the research findings, here are some practical tips to enhance your telepractice skills:
1. Leverage Specialized Resources
Utilize ready-made lesson kits and digital resources to streamline your sessions. These kits often include detailed lesson plans, activity instructions, and parent coaching tips.
2. Focus on Parent Coaching
Parent coaching is crucial in telepractice. Engage parents actively during sessions and provide them with strategies to support their child's progress at home.
3. Build Confidence Through Experience
Confidence in telepractice grows with experience. Start with a few sessions and gradually increase your telepractice workload. Utilize peer support and professional development opportunities to enhance your skills.
4. Address Connectivity Issues
Ensure that both you and the families you work with have reliable internet connections. Troubleshoot common connectivity issues and have backup plans in place.
5. Evaluate and Adapt
Regularly evaluate the effectiveness of your telepractice sessions. Gather feedback from families and adapt your strategies to meet their needs better.
Encouraging Further Research
The study highlighted the importance of ongoing research to refine telepractice methods and resources. Practitioners are encouraged to participate in research studies and share their experiences to contribute to the collective knowledge base.
To read the original research paper, please follow this link: Aural Rehabilitation via Telepractice During COVID-19: A Global Perspective on Evolving Early Intervention Practices
