The COVID-19 pandemic significantly disrupted traditional healthcare services, including speech therapy for voice disorders. In response, the French Society of Phoniatrics and Laryngology developed consensus guidelines for tele-rehabilitation in voice disorders, providing a structured approach for practitioners to continue offering essential services remotely. This blog delves into the key outcomes of the study and how practitioners can implement these findings to enhance their tele-rehabilitation practices.
Key Findings from the Consensus Paper
The study, titled Tele-rehabilitation in voice disorders during the pandemic: a consensus paper from the French Society of Phoniatrics and Laryngology, used a modified Delphi method to gather expert opinions and establish guidelines. Here are the main points:
- Setting and Environment: Ensure a stable internet connection (minimum 384 Kbit/s) and a quiet, distraction-free environment for both the therapist and patient.
- Medical and Speech History: Collect comprehensive medical and speech history through secure platforms or personalized tele-interviews.
- Subjective Voice Evaluations: Utilize validated instruments for subjective voice evaluations via videoconference to enhance patient understanding and history.
- Objective Voice Quality Measurements: While in-person assessments are preferred, tele-rehabilitation can utilize consistent recording methods to ensure reliable data.
- Voice Rehabilitation: Combine tele-rehabilitation with in-office sessions based on patient needs and preferences. Asynchronous methods like videos and recordings can supplement live sessions.
Implementing the Guidelines
For practitioners looking to implement these guidelines, consider the following steps:
- Prepare the Environment: Ensure that both you and your patient have a stable internet connection and a quiet, private space for sessions.
- Comprehensive History Collection: Use secure platforms to gather detailed medical and speech history, ensuring all necessary information is documented.
- Utilize Validated Tools: Implement validated subjective and objective assessment tools to maintain the quality of care.
- Blend Methods: Incorporate a mix of tele-rehabilitation and in-person sessions to cater to individual patient needs and enhance treatment outcomes.
- Leverage Asynchronous Tools: Use videos, recordings, and other asynchronous methods to provide additional support and resources to your patients.
Encouraging Further Research
While these guidelines offer a robust framework, the study highlights the need for further controlled research to validate the effectiveness of tele-rehabilitation compared to traditional in-office methods. Practitioners are encouraged to contribute to this growing body of research to refine and enhance tele-rehabilitation practices.
To read the original research paper, please follow this link: Tele-rehabilitation in voice disorders during the pandemic: a consensus paper from the French Society of Phoniatrics and Laryngology.
