Use Of Telepractice Research Articles

Comparative Effectiveness of In-Person and Virtual Picture-Naming Treatment for Poststroke Anomia

Purpose: In light of COVID-19, telepractice for speech therapy has been increasingly adopted. Telepractice promotes accessibility to therapy services for those in rural environments, lowers the frequency of missed appointments, and reduces the costs of rehabilitation. The efficacy of telepractice has been scarcely explored in the aphasia literature. Preliminary research has demonstrated comparable results of telepractice and in-person therapy for people with aphasia, but the current scope of research is insufficient to guide clinical practice. The present study examined whether the virtual administration of a picture-naming therapy paradigm was as effective as in-person administration. Method: The treatment effects of two similar clinical trials, one completed in-person ( n = 13) and one completed virtually ( n = 13), are compared. Participants were adults with chronic (> 6 months) poststroke aphasia. Both clinical trials administered Cued Picture-Naming Therapy 4 days a week for 2 weeks (eight treatment sessions). Treatment outcomes were analyzed using Tau- U effect sizes and Mann–Whitney U tests. Results: Weighted Tau- U averages showed an advantage of telepractice over in-person treatment in the acquisition effects of trained words, with participants demonstrating a very large effect (0.84, p < .01) following telepractice and a large effect (0.75, p < .01) following in-person treatment. Both telepractice and in-person rehabilitation demonstrated significant treatment effects and were not significantly different from each other per Mann–Whitney U independent-samples t tests. Conclusions: The present study demonstrated that telepractice of a picture-naming paradigm is as effective as in-person treatment administration. This justifies the use of telepractice to overcome accessibility and cost barriers to speech therapy administration and justifies taking patient preference into account. Future research should explore the efficacy of telepractice for treatments that promote greater generalizability to functional communication. Supplemental Material: https://doi.org/10.23641/asha.27641031

Extending Complexity to Word-Final Position via Telepractice: Intervention Effects for English-Speaking Children With Speech Sound Disorder.

Phonologically complex targets (e.g., [pl-]) are understood to facilitate widespread gains following speech sound intervention, and yet, available research largely features word-initial clusters. The present study investigates intervention effects following treatment of complex clusters presented in word-final position. Importantly, this allows for an added layer of complexity via suffixes that mark tense and agreement. Eight English-speaking children with speech sound disorder (SSD; 3;3-6;9 [years;months]) participated in 18 one-on-one intervention sessions. Intervention was completed via telepractice, as were all pre- and post-intervention assessments. Intervention targets were word-final two-element consonant clusters that were unknown to the child prior to intervention. Targets were presented in verbs that were either monomorphemic (i.e., [-ks]; they mix) or bimorphemic (i.e., [-ks]; she pick/3s, marked for third-person singular). All participants demonstrated change across multiple phonological measures. More stringently, six of eight participants demonstrated generalization to untreated sounds and untreated words immediately following intervention, including four of four children with monomorphemic targets. Importantly, positive changes for children with both target types were observed following a relatively short course of intervention (18 sessions over 6 weeks), and mastery of the target cluster was not required for phonological growth to occur. Results align with available work featuring word-initial complex targets and indicate that word-final consonant clusters are feasible, effective targets for English-speaking children with SSD. Findings similarly affirm the use of telepractice to deliver research-based interventions. Speech-language pathologists may thus integrate these findings with their clinical judgment and client perspectives to implement such targets in clinical practice.

Using telepractice for language sampling during COVID-19 pandemic: A scoping review.

Language sampling is a widely used means of language assessment; it is based on the collection and transcription of a child's language production in various communicative contexts. The need for social distancing due to the COVID-19 pandemic impacted language sampling and speech and language therapy services in general. The in-person assessment became extremely challenging leading to the immediate increased use of telepractice in speech and language therapy. This scoping review aimed to identify the use of telepractice for language sampling in speech and language therapy during the COVID-19 pandemic. A scoping review of existing literature was performed to collect evidence on using language sample collection via telepractice. A database search was conducted in PubMed, PsycINFO, Cochrane Library, Mendeley, Electronic, and grey bibliography in 2022. Articles were included if they met the inclusion criteria. The quality of each selected study was assessed using the modified critical appraisal skills program (CASP) checklist. Systematic searches identified 51 studies with six studies in total meeting the inclusion criteria. The results showed that telepractice was a necessary tool during the pandemic of COVID-19 to conduct language sampling in speech and language assessment. Speech and language therapists (SLTs) effectively collected language samples through telepractice during the COVID-19 pandemic. Although, to date, the literature on language sampling via telepractice is limited. The need for SLTs to rely on telepractice for language sampling warrants further investigation.

The Lived Experiences of Speech-language Pathologists Regarding the Use of Telepractice During the COVID-19 Pandemic in Iran

The Lived Experiences of Speech-language Pathologists Regarding the Use of Telepractice During the COVID-19 Pandemic in Iran

Perception of speech therapists and parents on use of telepractice for paediatric speech therapy in Sri Lanka

The use of communication technology to deliver speech therapy (telepractice) was highly considered during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, a few Speech and Language Therapists (SLTs) and parents engaged in telepractice in Sri Lanka. Therefore, it was essential to identify the factors that encouraged and prevented the successful implementation of telepractice. A descriptive cross-sectional study was followed using a sequential mixed-method approach. Thirty SLTs and sixty-two parents who use telepractice services participated in the study. Quantitative data were collected through a self–administered online survey and analysed using descriptive statistics. The telephone interviews were conducted to obtain qualitative data from five SLTs and ten parents, on which thematic analysis was performed. Sixty percent of SLTs and 84% of parents considered telepractice an effective procedure similar to face–to–face therapy. However, SLTs emphasised that telepractice is applicable, subject to the child’s condition and other factors. Participants’ perception of telepractice was mainly based on their experience. Parent involvement in the speech therapy sessions was found to be high because of the implementation of asynchronous and hybrid modes of telepractice. Providing appropriate training in therapy strategies and educating parents on the use of technology may improve speech therapy services through telepractice in Sri Lanka.

Clinical Supervision Postpandemic: Providing a Continuity of Care and Supervision Using Zoom in the University Clinic Setting

Purpose: The COVID-19 pandemic necessitated the shift to telepractice by university clinics. Supervision then occurred through Zoom or other videoconferencing platforms. Although clinics have returned to in-person services, the use of telepractice still continues as a preferred form of service delivery for many clients. However, providing both telepractice and in-person supervision in one university clinic can present many challenges. This article describes how one pro bono university clinic is resolving supervisor observation issues and space limitations by implementing a cohesive, low-cost Zoom observation system that is used with both in-person and telepractice clients. Method: The history of the previous observation system is provided along with the factors that necessitated the shift to the videoconferencing platform. The authors describe the configuration of the clinic rooms, the equipment needed to implement a similar observation system, and recommendations for getting started. This article also discusses the benefits and challenges of using the Zoom observation system for supervision with graduate student clinicians and their clients. Conclusion: The information is relevant to programs seeking to implement an effective low-cost observation system for training graduate students in a university clinic.

Virtual nourishment: Paediatric feeding disorder management with telepractice amidst COVID-19: An allied health perspective

Purpose The rapid adoption of telepractice services by health professionals was necessary to maintain service continuity for children with paediatric feeding disorders during the COVID-19 pandemic, during periods where in-person therapy was restricted. The aim of this study was to explore clinical perspectives and reflections on the use of telepractice for managing paediatric feeding disorders during the pandemic. Method A post-positivist qualitative approach using thematic analysis was adopted. This study seeks to understand participants’ experiences and thoughts from allied health professionals from speech-language pathology, occupational therapy, and dietetics working with paediatric feeding in Western Australia. All participants delivered at least 10 telepractice sessions to children from birth to 12 years with a paediatric feeding disorder. Braun and Clarke’s six-step thematic analysis process was used to analyse the data inductively. Result Eleven allied health professionals representing eight clinical settings in Western Australia, including speech-language pathology, occupational therapy, and dietetics, working with paediatric feeding were recruited. The results revealed four themes: families becoming the catalyst of change, clinician comfort over confidence, insights into authentic mealtimes, and the paradox of choice. Conclusion This study highlighted the need to build clinicians’ confidence and competence, and the provision of service guidelines and training. Although many clinicians had positive experiences with telepractice, most returned to in-person delivery once COVID-19 restrictions were lifted, emphasising the importance of comfort in service delivery selection. We recognise that the findings of this study are constrained by the fact that it was conducted in a single geographical region and utilised a small qualitative sample. While telepractice was successful in managing paediatric feeding disorders, further development and implementation of telepractice guidelines are needed for telepractice to be a viable service delivery option for families and children with feeding disorders.

Designing remote synchronous auditory comprehension assessment for severely impaired individuals with aphasia.

The use of telepractice in aphasia research and therapy is increasing in frequency. Teleassessment in aphasia has been demonstrated to be reliable. However, neuropsychological and clinical language comprehension assessments are not always readily translatable to an online environment and people with severe language comprehension or cognitive impairments have sometimes been considered to be unsuitable for teleassessment. This project aimed to produce a battery of language comprehension teleassessments at the single word, sentence and discourse level suitable for individuals with moderate-severe language comprehension impairments. Assessment development prioritised response consistency and clinical flexibility during testing. Teleassessments were delivered in PowerPoint over Zoom using screen sharing and remote control functions. The assessments were evaluated in 14 people with aphasia and 9 neurotypical control participants. Modifiable assessment templates are available here: https://osf.io/r6wfm/. People with aphasia were able to engage in language comprehension teleassessment with limited carer support. Only one assessment could not be completed for technical reasons. Statistical analysis revealed above chance performance in 141/151 completed assessments. People with aphasia, including people with moderate-severe comprehension impairments, are able to engage with teleassessment. Successful teleassessment can be supported by retaining clinical flexibility and maintaining consistent task demands. What is already known on the subject Teleassessment for aphasia is reliable but assessment of auditory comprehension is difficult to adapt to the online environment. There has been limited evaluation of the ability of people with severe aphasia to engage in auditory comprehension teleassessment. What this paper adds to existing knowledge Auditory comprehension assessment can be adapted for videoconferencing administration while maintaining clinical flexibility to support people with severe aphasia. What are the potential or actual clinical implications of this work? Teleassessment is time and cost effective and can be designed to support inclusion of severely impaired individuals.

Speech-Language Therapy Through Telepractice During COVID-19 and Its Way Forward: A Scoping Review.

The overall burden of voice disorders is vast, and speech-language therapy has been in use for long to prevent, assess, diagnose, and treat different speech and language disorders. Due to the COVID-19 outbreak, these services are not readily accessible because of various precautionary measures that have been laid down by the government to check the blowout of infection; as a solution to this, there has been a rise in telepractice. The purpose of this review article is to study the usefulness of telepractice for speech-language therapy during the COVID-19 pandemic and its way forward. Search was performed in the PubMed database. A total of 102 articles were found, out of which 32 articles were included through a comprehensive inclusion and exclusion criteria. This study analyzes various papers on the use of telepractice during COVID-19 for speech-language therapy. The satisfaction was greater among women as compared to men because women could get the appointment done at home and they could easily manage their household chores. It has been recognized as an "attend anywhere" web-based platform that provides us with the 5 C's, namely, easy-to-access care, increased comfort, increased convenience, reduced cost, and higher confidentiality. Patients look for such sessions in the future, even when the pandemic is over. Telepractice has now been accepted as the new healthcare delivery model with multiple advantages and disadvantages. However, more research needs to be done on the moral and environmental aspects related to its use.

Speech-Language Pathologists’ Perception of Telepractice at the Start of the COVID-19 Pandemic in Jordan

This study explored how speech-language pathologists (SLPs) in Jordan perceived and implemented telepractice at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, from April to June 2020. Eighty-five SLPs who provided telepractice and 57 SLPs, who did not, completed an online survey sharing their perceptions related to the delivery and barriers of telepractice. The results showed a significant increase of telepractice use in response to the pandemic. However, the SLPs identified several barriers to telepractice, including environmental distractions at the client’s end, limited computer knowledge, technological issues, internet connectivity problems, and platform availability. There was general agreement among the SLPs regarding the need for professional training and governmental guidelines to regulate the use of telepractice. The study’s findings demonstrate how SLPs in Jordan adapted to the sudden shift toward telepractice, and identify potential implementation obstacles, which could assist in establishing telepractice as a reliable model for speech-language therapy services in the future.

Facilitators and Barriers to Stuttering Telepractice in Preschool Children: A Qualitative Study

Objective With the advancement of information and communication technology, the use of telepractice has expanded to provide speech, language, and swallowing services. In different countries, studies have been conducted in the field of telepractice of speech, language, and swallowing disorders, including stuttering, and these studies have confirmed the effectiveness of this method of providing treatment and have mentioned some problems. To present this method of treatment more effectively, the challenges of this treatment should be examined. The present study has been conducted to investigate the facilitators and barriers to the telepractice of stuttering in preschool children. Materials & Methods In this qualitative study, individual unstructured interviews have conducted using qualitative content analysis with 11 participants, including therapists with experience in stuttering telepractice in preschool children, therapists who were opposed to this treatment (n=7 people) as well as parents who have had successful telepractice and parents who have had unsuccessful telepractice (n=4). Results Telepractice facilitators included cost reduction, therapist-client communication between sessions, greater parental cooperation and responsibility in telepractice, reduced stress and increased child-therapist collaboration in the natural environment, more time freedom, and time flexibility for the family and therapist. Barriers to telepractice in this group included lower trust in the therapist in telepractice, limited communication cues, spending more energy by the therapist, difficulty in educating parents, and lack of comprehensive protocols in telepractice. Conclusion When these cases are recognized, it is possible to provide higher-quality treatment to people who need these services by reducing barriers and strengthening facilitators. To achieve this goal, it is necessary to conduct studies to develop comprehensive and detailed protocols for providing this method of treatment, taking into account the existing facilitators and obstacles.

Development and implementation of a training package to improve the confidence, skills and knowledge of multi-disciplinary clinicians in the use of telepractice for outpatient services

Introduction: Telepractice is recognised as an effective and efficient medium of service delivery; however, despite this evidence, implementation has been inconsistent. Clinician confidence and perceptions are integral factors to the successful implementation of telepractice in routine care. This study aimed to develop, implement and evaluate a telepractice training package for clinicians in a single hospital service. Methods: Forty-one clinicians from Speech Pathology, Physiotherapy and Chronic Disease departments participated in a training package with a specific focus on staff skills training, access to resources and embedding telepractice models of care into organisational culture. Questionnaires were used to evaluate clinician self-reported skills and confidence at baseline, post-training and 6-months post-training. Thematic analysis of open-ended questions was used to glean a deeper understanding of perceived barriers and facilitators to using telepractice. Results: Participants’ perceived knowledge and confidence significantly increased from baseline to immediately post-training ( p < .001) and increased further to 6-months post-training ( p < .001). Thematic analysis revealed three main enabling themes: (a) perceived benefits to patient care; (b) training and practice; and (c) resources and support; and four main barriers: (a) staff knowledge and training; (b) staff confidence; (c) client factors; and (d) infrastructure and resources. Conclusion: The telepractice training package improved staff skills and confidence which was sustained over time. Facilitating the uptake of telepractice is multidimensional and it is integral to address all relevant factors to ensure its success.

Changes in telepractice use and perspectives among speech and language therapists in Singapore through the COVID-19 pandemic.

Much has been written about the changes in use and perspectives of telepractice among speech and language therapists (SLTs) during the global COVID-19 pandemic. However, no long-term study has been done to examine whether there is a permanent shift in attitudes towards telepractice as the world adjusts to new norms and endemic COVID-19. To compare the speech telepractice use and perspectives of SLTs at two time points of the pandemic: during and after the height of the pandemic. Two online surveys were distributed a year apart among SLTs in Singapore. The first survey was disseminated during an initial lockdown period in 2020 and the second survey was done in 2021 when Singapore was starting to reduce strict quarantine and safe-distancing regulations. These surveys were distributed via communication channels of the local speech therapy association. A total of 115 and 71 responses to the survey were collected in 2020 and 2021, respectively. Responses were captured and analysed using descriptive statistics and statistical analysis while qualitative content analysis was used to derive key themes from open-ended questions. Telepractice use across all age groups and client types peaked at the height of the pandemic. Even as lockdown measures were eased, telepractice utilization was still higher than what it was before the pandemic. Dysphagia management was the only area where SLTs reduced their use of telepractice during the stabilization phase. After more experience with telepractice during the height of the pandemic, SLTs acknowledged the benefit of being able to use a wide range of media through telepractice and were less worried about not having the resources or knowledge to set up telepractice. SLTs also reported increased confidence in providing telepractice, which was reflected in their willingness to continue to provide telepractice even after the pandemic ends. The increase in use of telepractice during this pandemic is likely to be sustained as a majority of respondents believed they would continue to provide this mode of service delivery even after the pandemic ends. However, clinicians will still have to assess for client suitability, as clients with more complex medical or behavioural issues may still require in-person therapy. Additionally, dysphagia management via telepractice will still be limited given that swallow presentations may be more variable. Lastly, although generic resources are helpful for clinicians, the long-term sustainability of telepractice can be boosted by the sharing of resources that are suitable for the local context. What is already known on this subject Current studies have examined telepractice use and perspectives of SLTs before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite the evidence for the efficacy of telepractice, uptake was low due to perceived lack of training and resources. Although more clinicians provided telepractice during the pandemic, many still doubted its efficacy over in-person therapy and most studies concluded that longer term studies are required to ascertain if SLTs will continuing providing telepractice after the pandemic. What this paper adds to existing knowledge This study shows that there is a definitive shift in perspectives in favour of telepractice after the pandemic, as clinicians continued to provide telepractice across most service areas even without lockdown restrictions. The previous challenges of insufficient resources, knowledge and privacy concerns were reduced with more experience in providing telepractice. Although client suitability remained a major barrier, more clinicians saw benefits of easy access to therapy and range of resources used as benefits that they could harness from telepractice. What are the potential or actual clinical implications of this work? A majority of respondents stated that they are more confident in providing telepractice and would want to continue providing this service delivery mode after the pandemic, so more training and resources suitable for the local contexts can be provided by national associations to sustain this. More research and resources can be gathered to make telepractice more efficacious for dysphagia management and clients who may be deemed unsuitable for telepractice.

Parent-Implemented Interventions via Telepractice in Autism Research: A Review of Social Validity Assessments.

Parent-implemented autism interventions are considered empirically validated interventions and the use of telepractice in these interventions is reported as effective. However, little is known about the social validity assessments and outcomes of these interventions. The purpose of this review is to explore the current practices of conducting social validity assessment and reporting its outcomes within parent-implemented telepractice autism interventions. The 11 reviewed studies included caregivers as participants, telepractice intervention focusing on social communication outcomes of young autistic children, and were published in a peer-reviewed journal within the past five years. The researchers in the reviewed articles reported positive outcomes for parent-implemented telepractice autism interventions. Notably, however, information about social validity assessments of the interventions was limited. Researchers are encouraged to evaluate the social validity of interventions using multiple data sources and methods, and report on their findings as they relate to other types of data.

A Survey of Orientation and Mobility Specialist's Use of Telepractice During COVID-19.

Introduction: This survey sought to establish a baseline for the remote delivery of services (telepractice) by orientation and mobility (O&M) specialists nationwide, which became pervasive in 2020 as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Method: An online survey was distributed using professional email lists and then used snowball sampling to obtain a convenience sample. The survey was completed by 66 O&M specialists using telepractice at the time of the survey, the primary criterion for inclusion. Results: Engaging in telepractice was a direct result of the pandemic for 90.77% of the participants. Most professionals' caseloads remained relatively similar to the size they were prior to the pandemic (69.70%), and instruction used a one-on-one model (90.77%). For the most part, professionals were teaching conceptual knowledge rather than actual travel skills using video conferencing software. Most participants indicated they had not received training in telepractice (81.25%). Only 20.00% of participants found telepractice for O&M satisfactory, but 26.16% of participants indicated they would probably continue using telepractice after the pandemic. Most participants (72.13%) were unsure if they were covered by professional liability insurance. Discussion: Most participants were thrust into telepractice and very few received training in telepractice. It is likely that the tools used were tools of convenience. Despite a lack of preparation and lukewarm satisfaction levels, a noteworthy percentage of respondents intend to continue to use telepractice after the end of the pandemic. The liability risks associated with this new model have not been widely assessed. Implications for Practitioners: The most effective tools for O&M telepractice have not yet been identified. Practitioners and researchers can work together to develop and promote promising practices and tools for O&M telepractice. Professional liability should always be investigated before providing services. A tool for professionals to assess risk should be developed.

Psychosocial factors, but not professional practice skills, linked to self-perceived effectiveness of telepractice in school-based speech and language therapists during COVID-19 pandemic.

Face-to-face class suspensions during the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic in 2019 increased telepractice in speech and language therapy. However, little is known about speech and language therapists' (SLTs) perceived effectiveness of telepractice and its antecedents. To examine the use of telepractice and the factors affecting its perceived effectiveness in Hong Kong mainstream schools during COVID-19. Seventy-two school-based Hong Kong SLTs completed a 110-item online survey with six structural components: (1) concerns, (2) adoption, (3) student selection criteria, (4) perceived effectiveness, (5) continuous professional development and (6) attitudes/beliefs. Over 90% of respondents adopted telepractice during the pandemic. Confirmatory factor analysis identified reliable constructs from their component measures. These participants reported great telepractice difficulties (especially in therapy preparation and managing students' attention and/or communication). Mixed-response analysis revealed that psychosocial factors (i.e., students' engagement and SLTs' attitudes towards telepractice) but not professional practice skill factors (i.e., student client selection criteria and SLTs' years of experience in school settings) contributed to SLTs' self-perceived effectiveness of telepractice. Our findings suggest that psychosocial factors play a more important role than professional practice skill factors in the self-perceived effectiveness of telepractice. What is already known on the subject Previous surveys reported that although SLTs were interested in using telepractice before the COVID-19 pandemic, they showed concern about its effectiveness, resulting in a low adoption rate. One critical question naturally arises: What factors may affect the perceived effectiveness of telepractice by SLTs? What this paper adds to existing knowledge This study demonstrates for the first time that despite the high adoption rate of telepractice during the COVID-19 pandemic, school-based SLTs exhibited great difficulties, and the SLTs' self-perceived effectiveness of telepractice was related to psychosocial factors instead of professional practice skill factors. What are the potential or actual clinical implications of this work Professional support is needed to alter the attitudes of SLTs towards telepractice for enhancing their self-perceived effectiveness and positive clinical practice experience.

Professional Training and Therapeutic Resources Needed for the Adoption of Telepractice in the Philippines

With the COVID-19 pandemic necessitating the adoption of telepractice for providing speech and language therapy services, this study investigated the factors affecting the perceptions and the implementation of telepractice for school-age children by speech-language pathologists (SLPs) in the Philippines. Sixty-four SLPs completed a 36-item online survey assessing the adoption of telepractice, implementation concerns, student candidacy, continuous training in telepractice, and the SLPs’ demographics. The SLPs reported that they quickly adopted telepractice in their services for school-age students at the start of the pandemic. Multiple linear regression analyses revealed that SLPs’ perceptions of the effectiveness of telepractice were significantly affected by implementation difficulties while SLPs’ future use of telepractice was significantly predicted by training and resource availability. These results suggest that professional training and other therapeutic resources are needed to alleviate SLPs’ concerns about difficulties in implementing and continuing use of telepractice.

Factors influencing the success of telepractice during the COVID-19 pandemic and preferences for post-pandemic services: An interview study with clinicians and parents.

BackgroundThere has been a significant uptake in the use of telepractice during the coronavirus SARS‐CoV‐2 (COVID‐19) pandemic. This study explored the experiences of speech and language therapists (SLTs), assistants (SLTAs) and parents with telepractice during the COVID‐19 pandemic.Aims(1) To identify factors that influenced success of telepractice; and (2) to describe clinicians’ and parents’ preferences for the future mode of service delivery for preschoolers with communication disorders.Methods & ProceduresThe study was conducted in partnership with one publicly funded programme in Ontario, Canada, that offered services to preschoolers with speech, language and communication needs at no cost. SLTs (N = 13), assistants (N = 3) and parents (N = 13) shared their experiences and perspectives during semi‐structured videoconference interviews.Outcomes & ResultsFactors that influenced the success of telepractice were reported in three categories: the setting (i.e., where and how telepractice was being delivered); the nature of telepractice (i.e., the services that were provided via telepractice); and the individuals (i.e., who was involved in telepractice). These factors were reported to interact with each other. As the needs for each child and family are unique, parents and clinicians reported a preference for a hybrid and flexible service delivery model in the future.Conclusions & ImplicationsThe themes identified in this study can be used by clinicians and managers to consider factors that influence the success of telepractice for children and families.WHAT THIS PAPER ADDSWhat is already known on the subject? Studies conducted before the COVID‐19 pandemic showed that telepractice was an effective and acceptable service approach. However, some clinicians and parents reported wanting to resume in‐person visits. The provision of telepractice services to families with children with communication disorders increased significantly during COVID‐19. What this paper adds to existing knowledge? Parents and clinicians shared factors that influenced the success of telepractice during semi‐structured interviews. Factors were identified in three categories: the setting (i.e., where and how telepractice was being delivered); the nature of telepractice (i.e., the services that were provided via telepractice); and the individuals (i.e., who were involved in telepractice). As each child's and family's needs are unique, parents and clinicians reported a preference for a hybrid and flexible service delivery model in the future. What are the potential or actual clinical implications of this work? SLTs and SLT managers can use the factors identified to discuss with parents and decide whether telepractice may be well suited to the needs of each child and family.

Tele-Audiology in India: Current and Future Trends in Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice Among Audiologists.

Background and ObjectivesThe COVID-19 pandemic has led to widespread use of telepractice in hearing health care services. In this study, we investigated the knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP) of tele-audiology among Indian audiologists. The current study is based on tele-practice guidelines recommended by the Indian Speech and Hearing Association for tele-audiology services in India. Subjects and MethodsAn internet-based KAP questionnaire survey was performed among 108 audiologists. The questionnaire included 33 items categorized under the following domains: demographic information and KAP of tele-audiology. Of the 108 audiologists included in the study, 38 admitted to the practice of tele-audiology previously and during the COVID-19 pandemic (tele-practitioners), and 70 respondents had no experience of tele-audiology (non-telepractitioners). ResultsOverall higher scores were observed with regard to the knowledge domain, and a mixed attitude regarding tele-practice was observed among audiologists. Most respondents acknowledged the advantages of tele-audiology in clinical practice. However, audiologists were hesitant to utilize this technology owing to the challenges associated with tele-practice. ConclusionsDespite adequate awareness and a positive attitude, a gap is observed between available knowledge and its actual application/utilization in tele-audiology. Tele-audiology practice was limited to counseling, hearing impairment treatment, and troubleshooting tips for hearing aids. Evidence-based practices to perform diagnostic test battery in tele-mode, hands-on training to run diagnostic test battery/rehabilitation using a tele-mode approach, and greater understanding of the technical requirements for tele-practice may result in a positive perception and encourage tele-audiology practice among audiologists. Specialized training and regular continuing education programmes are important to promote tele-audiology services in clinical practice.

The Implementation of Telepractice by Malaysian Speech-Language Pathologists During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Objectives: The Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) led speech-language pathologists (SLPs) around the world to shift their service delivery methods from face-to-face service to telepractice. This study explored the implementation of telepractice by Malaysian SLPs and determined whether there was an association between the SLPs’ perceptions of the effectiveness of telepractice and the frequency of the telepractice services provided, as well as between the use of telepractice and prior training received.Methods: Eighty-nine SLPs responded to an 18-question online survey that inquired about demographics, telepractice during the pandemic, perceptions of telepractice and prior training received.Results: Seventy-five percent of SLPs reported providing services via telepractice during the pandemic compared to 19% before the pandemic. Most SLPs who used telepractice stated that services delivered via telepractice were comparable with face-to-face services; no association was found between the frequency of providing services via telepractice and the SLPs’ perceptions of its effectiveness. They had also received some training in telepractice, although no association was found between the type of training received and the provision of telepractice services. SLPs who did not provide services via telepractice reported awareness of telepractice but described a lack of knowledge, support, and training. All SLPs expressed interest to receive more training in telepractice to enable them to provide better services.Conclusion: Malaysian SLPs demonstrated great commitment towards service provision during the pandemic, similar to SLPs in other nations. It is hoped that Malaysian SLPs continue to have positive attitudes toward telepractice with increased familiarity, use, and training. Telepractice services, undoubtedly, are here to stay.