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No other choice: Speech-Language Pathologists' attitudes toward using telepractice to administer the Lidcombe Program
Gissella Santayana1, Brenda Carey2, Rosalee C Shenker1
1Montreal Fluency Centre, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
Journal of Fluency Disorders
|October 8, 2021
Summary
Speech-language pathologists found telepractice effective for delivering the Lidcombe Program for stuttering treatment. Most clinicians plan to continue using telepractice alongside in-clinic sessions post-pandemic.
Area of Science:
- Speech-language pathology
- Telehealth
- Pediatric therapy
Background:
- Telepractice emerged as a crucial service delivery model during the COVID-19 pandemic.
- Speech-language pathologists (SLPs) needed to adapt established treatments for online delivery.
- The Lidcombe Program is a widely used treatment for childhood stuttering.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the experiences of SLPs delivering the Lidcombe Program via telepractice.
- To understand the challenges and benefits of telepractice for stuttering treatment in young children.
Main Methods:
- An online survey was administered to 106 SLPs.
- Participants reported on their use of telepractice for the Lidcombe Program during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Main Results:
- Most respondents were experienced clinicians from the US and Canada.
- Prior to COVID-19, 80% provided some online services; 77% saw telepractice as a necessity/opportunity during lockdown.
- 94% intended to continue using telepractice post-lockdown, citing benefits like time efficiency and flexibility, despite challenges with technology and establishing rapport.
Conclusions:
- The Lidcombe Program is readily adaptable to telepractice.
- The majority of surveyed SLPs intend to integrate telepractice into their future clinical practice.
