Teletherapy and Multi-Tiered System of Support: Synergies and Challenges for School-Based Speech-Language...

Area of Science:

• Speech-language pathology
• Educational psychology
• Telehealth

Background:

• The integration of teletherapy into school-based speech-language services is increasing.
• Multi-Tiered System of Support (MTSS) frameworks are essential for providing tiered interventions.
• Understanding the impact of service delivery modality on MTSS implementation is vital.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the intersection of teletherapy and MTSS in school-based speech-language pathology.
• To identify challenges and facilitators of MTSS implementation specific to teletherapy.

Main Methods:

• Qualitative study involving 10 interviews with five speech-language pathologists (SLPs).
• Participants had experience in both in-person and teletherapy roles.
• Data focused on facilitators and barriers to MTSS in teletherapy during the 2023-2024 school year.

Main Results:

• Common MTSS challenges (e.g., role misunderstandings) exist in both teletherapy and in-person settings.
• Teletherapy offered unique facilitators (e.g., focused conversations) and barriers (e.g., lack of visibility).
• Technology and on-site facilitation presented both advantages and disadvantages for MTSS implementation.

Conclusions:

• Teletherapy offers distinct opportunities and challenges for school-based SLPs engaging with MTSS.
• Insights are crucial for optimizing teletherapy practices within MTSS frameworks.
• This study provides foundational knowledge for teletherapists in prevention-oriented roles.