2. Speech Therapy Through Telepractice
Objective
• To recognize telepractice as a service
delivery model applicable to diagnose and
treat speech-language disorders for the
state of Georgia.
3. American Speech and Language Hearing
Association Position Statement on
Telepractice
The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association is the professional,
scientific, and credentialing association for 145,000 members and affiliates
who are speech-language pathologists, audiologists, and speech, language,
and hearing scientists in the United States and internationally.
• Telepractice is an appropriate model of service delivery.
• Offers the potential to extend clinical services to remote,
rural, and underserved populations, and to culturally and
linguistically diverse populations.
• Telepractice does not remove any existing responsibilities
in delivering services including adherence to the Code of
Ethics, Scope of Practice, state and federal laws.
• Quality of services delivered via telepractice must be
consistent with the quality of services delivered face-to-
face.
5. Supporting Research
Hill, A., Theodoros, D., Russell, T., Cahill, L., Ward, E., Clark, K. (2006).
An Internet-Based Telerehabilitation System for the Assessment of
Motor Speech Disorders: A Pilot Study. American Journal of Speech-
Language Pathology. American Speech-Language-Hearing
Association, Vol. 15, 45-56.
Mashima, P., Birkmire-Peters, D.,Syms, M., Holtel, M., Burgess, L., &
Peters, L. (2003). Telehealth: Voice therapy using telecommunications
technology. American Journal of Speech-Language Pathology, 12,
432-439.
Perlman, A. L., & Witthawaskul, W. (2002). Real-time remote
telefluoroscopic assessment of patients with dysphagia. Dysphagia,
17(2), 162-167.
Waite, M.,Theodoros, D., Russell, T., Cahill, L. (2010). Internet-Based
Telehealth Assessment of Language Using the CELF-4. Language,
Speech, and Hearing Services in Schools. American Speech-
Language-Hearing Association, Vol.41, 445-458.
6. Settings Appropriate for Telepractice
• Educational • Clinics
settings • Health
• Private Practice Departments
• Home Health • Nursing Homes
• Medical Facilities • Universities
7. Clinical and School Based Areas
Appropriate for Telepractice
• Childhood Speech-Language
• Neurogenic
• Voice • Hearing Impaired
• Dysphagia
• Fluency
8. Clinical and School Based Applications
• Screenings • Therapies
• Assessments • Response to
• MBSS Intervention
• Consultations
9. Additional Applications Available
• Caregiver Education/Support
• Participate in Team Meetings
• Professional Consults
• Facilitator Support
10. Candidacy Criteria for Telepractice
• Attention • Manual dexterity (e.g.,
• Auditory comprehension operate a keyboard)
• Literacy • Willingness of patient and
• Hearing ability family/caregiver to utilize
telepractice
• Visual ability
• Cultural/linguistic
• Speech intelligibility considerations (e.g.,
• Behavior interpreter)
• Physical endurance (e.g., • Access and availability of
sitting tolerance) resources (e.g.,facilitator,
• Comfort Level with telecommunication
technology network)
11. Benefits of Telepractice
• Increased access to Speech-Language
Pathologists for students/patients in rural areas
• Increased motivation/responsiveness of student/
patient
• Increased SLP productivity
• Reduced Temporary SLP Openings (i.e.
maternity leave, short term disability)
• Reduced SLP shortages
• Reduced travel time for patients and SLPs
• Reduced financial strain on patients and
educational systems
12. Considerations of Telepractice
• Reduced direct physical contact
• Reduced eye contact between student/patient
and SLP
• Reimbursement of services
• Physical location
• Static location for student/patient
• Sharing of needed materials
13. Additional Considerations
• Modifications
• E-helper’s role
• Noise levels
• Privacy
• Familiarity with technology
• Support of implementation
