The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly altered the landscape of healthcare delivery, and speech-language therapy is no exception. The research article titled Speech-Language Therapy Through Telepractice During COVID-19 and Its Way Forward: A Scoping Review offers valuable insights into the efficacy and future potential of telepractice in this field. This blog aims to help practitioners improve their skills by implementing the outcomes of this research or encouraging them to delve further into this emerging modality.
Why Telepractice?
Telepractice, defined as the delivery of clinical and rehabilitation services via information and communication technology, has proven to be a game-changer during the pandemic. According to the study, telepractice provides:
- Easy access to care
- Increased comfort and convenience
- Reduced costs
- Higher confidentiality
Patients have expressed a high level of satisfaction with telepractice, often preferring it over traditional face-to-face sessions due to its flexibility and ease of access.
Key Findings
The study analyzed 32 articles and found that telepractice is as effective as in-person sessions for preventing, assessing, diagnosing, and managing various speech and language disorders. Here are some notable points:
- Women found telepractice particularly beneficial as it allowed them to manage household chores while attending sessions.
- Telepractice is effective in providing speech-language therapy for both children and adults.
- Patients reported a sedating and relaxing impact from telepractice sessions, indicating a high level of comfort.
Challenges and Solutions
Despite its advantages, telepractice is not without challenges. These include:
- Lack of equipment and proper skills among SLPs
- Inadequate internet access in some areas
- Reimbursement policies
To mitigate these issues, several steps can be taken:
- Distributing lesson kits like "MED-EL KITS" to improve practitioner confidence
- Encouraging government policies to ensure equivalent reimbursement for telepractice services
- Promoting digital literacy among older adults
Practical Tips for Telepractice
For successful telepractice sessions, consider the following tips:
- Check internet connectivity before starting the session
- Select a quiet room with adequate lighting
- Use an external microphone for better communication
- Speak clearly and use simple sentences
- Maintain appropriate posture in front of the camera
Future Directions
Telepractice has shown immense potential and is likely to remain a key component of speech-language therapy even post-pandemic. Organizations like ASHA, AOTA, and ATA are advocating for policies to sustain telepractice services. However, more research is needed to address the ethical and environmental aspects of telepractice.
To read the original research paper, please follow this link: Speech-Language Therapy Through Telepractice During COVID-19 and Its Way Forward: A Scoping Review.
