Views of Speech-Language Pathologists on Telepractice for Children Who Use Augmentative and Alternative...

Area of Science:

• Speech-Language Pathology
• Assistive Technology
• Telehealth

Background:

• Telepractice adoption surged during the COVID-19 pandemic in disability services.
• Aided augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) involves tools like speech-generating devices.
• Children aged 3-21 are a key demographic for AAC services.

Purpose of the Study:

• To survey speech-language pathologists' (SLPs) views on telepractice for children using aided AAC.
• To identify factors influencing SLPs' perceptions of AAC telepractice.
• To understand the impact of recent training on SLP attitudes toward telepractice.

Main Methods:

• A national web-based survey was distributed to 361 speech-language pathologists (SLPs).
• The survey focused on SLPs' experiences and opinions regarding telepractice for children (3-21 years) using aided AAC.
• Data analysis explored associations between training, perspectives, and service delivery factors.

Main Results:

• SLPs' views on telepractice for aided AAC users were varied.
• SLPs with recent AAC telepractice training reported more positive views.
• Foundational perspectives, child/family factors, and resource availability influenced telepractice utility.

Conclusions:

• Recent training significantly enhances SLPs' positive views on AAC telepractice.
• Telepractice is perceived as beneficial for specific aided AAC users under certain conditions.
• Further research should explore optimal implementation strategies for AAC telepractice.