Recent advancements in tele-intervention (TI) have shown promising outcomes for children who are deaf/hard-of-hearing (DHH). The study "Measuring Costs and Outcomes of Tele-Intervention When Serving Families of Children who are Deaf/Hard-of-Hearing" provides compelling evidence that TI can be an effective, cost-efficient alternative to traditional in-person visits. This blog aims to help practitioners implement the findings from this research to improve their service delivery and encourage further exploration into the benefits of TI.
Key Findings from the Study
The study involved 27 families of infants and toddlers with varying degrees of hearing loss, who were randomly assigned to receive services via TI or traditional in-person home visits. The key outcomes measured included child language development, family and provider satisfaction, and the costs associated with each service delivery method.
- Expressive Language Development: Children in the TI group scored significantly higher on expressive language measures compared to the in-person group (p =.03).
- Parent Engagement: The TI group showed higher scores on the Parent Engagement subscale of the Home Visit Rating Scales-Adapted & Extended (HOVRS-A+).
- Cost Efficiency: Cost savings increased with the intensity of service delivery, making TI a financially viable option for frequent interventions.
Implementing TI in Your Practice
To integrate TI effectively, consider the following steps:
- Training: Ensure that both providers and families receive adequate training on the use of telehealth technology. This includes not only the technical aspects but also best practices for virtual interactions.
- Technology: Invest in reliable equipment and ensure sufficient bandwidth (minimum 1.5 Mbps) for both providers and families to avoid connectivity issues.
- Family Engagement: Use TI sessions to coach parents, emphasizing their role in facilitating their child's development. This approach can lead to higher engagement and better outcomes.
- Monitoring and Feedback: Regularly collect feedback from both providers and families to identify challenges and areas for improvement. Use this data to make necessary adjustments to your TI services.
Encouraging Further Research
While the study provides valuable insights, it also highlights the need for further research. Larger sample sizes and longer intervention periods could provide more robust evidence of TI's effectiveness. Additionally, exploring the role of provider training and skill sets in successful TI implementation could offer deeper insights.
Practitioners are encouraged to contribute to this growing body of research by documenting their experiences and outcomes with TI. Sharing this information can help refine best practices and advocate for the broader adoption of TI in early intervention programs.
To read the original research paper, please follow this link: Measuring Costs and Outcomes of Tele-Intervention When Serving Families of Children who are Deaf/Hard-of-Hearing.
