A Pilot Study Comparing Teletherapy with the Conventional Face-to-Face Therapy for Speech-Language Disorders

Area of Science:

• Speech-language pathology
• Telehealth
• Rehabilitation services

Background:

• Traditional speech and language therapy faces challenges, exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Telerehabilitation emerged as a crucial alternative for continuous patient care.
• Clinical trial registered under CTRI/2018/04/012,922.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the feasibility and acceptability of telerehabilitation for speech and language disorders.
• To evaluate patient and therapist satisfaction with remote therapy services.

Main Methods:

• A qualitative study involving 20 patients with fluency, voice, swallowing, and neurogenic disorders.
• Telerehabilitation services were delivered via a video calling application after in-person sessions.
• Subjective outcomes were assessed using a structured questionnaire with a Likert scale.

Main Results:

• 16 out of 20 patients preferred teletherapy over in-person sessions post-intervention.
• High overall satisfaction scores were reported, with most rating satisfaction as '4' or '5'.
• Therapists reported satisfaction with outcomes in 17 cases and overall progress in all clients.

Conclusions:

• Telerehabilitation is a reliable method for delivering speech and language services at the community level.
• High satisfaction scores from both clients and providers support the long-term viability of teletherapy.
• Remote delivery of speech and language pathology services is effective and well-received.