The advancement of telehealth technologies has opened new avenues for delivering speech-language pathology (SLP) services, particularly for children in remote areas. A systematic review titled "The Efficacy of Telehealth-Delivered Speech and Language Intervention for Primary School-Age Children" by Wales, Skinner, and Hayman (2017) sheds light on the effectiveness of these interventions. This blog will summarize the key findings and discuss how practitioners can utilize these insights to enhance their practice.
Key Findings
The systematic review analyzed seven studies to determine if telehealth-delivered SLP interventions are as effective as traditional in-person services. The primary outcomes of interest included:
- Goldman Fristoe Test of Articulation – second edition (GFTA-2)
- Functional Communication Measures (FCMs)
- Goal Achievement
- Informal Probes
- Pre- and Post-Intervention Production Levels
- Quarterly Progress Reports
Overall, the results were promising. Both telehealth and in-person participants showed significant and similar improvements in five of the six outcome measures. The review highlighted the potential of telehealth to deliver effective SLP services, particularly for children in rural and underserved areas.
Practical Implications
For practitioners, these findings offer several actionable insights:
- Adopt Telehealth Technologies: Integrate telehealth platforms into your practice to extend your reach, especially to children in remote areas. Ensure you have reliable videoconferencing tools and internet connectivity.
- Focus on Speech Sound Interventions: The review found that speech sound interventions are particularly well-suited for telehealth. Consider prioritizing these types of services when using telehealth.
- Measure Outcomes Consistently: Utilize standardized assessments like the GFTA-2 to track progress. Consistent outcome measures can help validate the effectiveness of telehealth interventions.
- Engage Parents and Caregivers: Telehealth can be particularly effective when parents and caregivers are actively involved. Encourage their participation to enhance the intervention's impact.
Encouraging Further Research
While the review presents promising evidence, it also highlights the need for more rigorous studies. Practitioners are encouraged to contribute to this growing body of research by:
- Conducting Controlled Studies: Engage in or support randomized controlled trials to provide more robust evidence of telehealth's efficacy.
- Exploring Diverse Populations: Extend research to include various age groups and special populations to understand telehealth's broader applicability.
- Sharing Findings: Publish your results to contribute to the collective knowledge base and help refine telehealth practices.
In conclusion, telehealth offers a promising alternative to traditional SLP services, particularly for children in remote areas. By adopting telehealth technologies, focusing on speech sound interventions, measuring outcomes consistently, and engaging parents, practitioners can enhance their practice and contribute to the growing evidence base. For a more detailed understanding, The Efficacy of Telehealth-Delivered Speech and Language Intervention for Primary School-Age Children: A Systematic Review.
