Review of Telehealth Stuttering Management

Abstract

Objective: Telehealth is the use of communication technology to provide health care services by means other than typical in-clinic attendance models. Telehealth is increasingly used for the management of speech, language and communication disorders. The aim of this article is to review telehealth applications to stuttering management. Methods: We conducted a search of peer-reviewed literature for the past 20 years using the Institute for Scientific Information Web of Science database, PubMed: The Bibliographic Database and a search for articles by hand. Results: Outcomes for telehealth stuttering treatment were generally positive, but there may be a compromise of treatment efficiency with telehealth treatment of young children. Our search found no studies dealing with stuttering assessment procedures using telehealth models. No economic analyses of this delivery model have been reported. Conclusion: This review highlights the need for continued research about telehealth for stuttering management. Evidence from research is needed to inform the efficacy of assessment procedures using telehealth methods as well as guide the development of improved treatment procedures. Clinical and technical guidelines are urgently needed to ensure that the evolving and continued use of telehealth to manage stuttering does not compromise the standards of care afforded with standard in-clinic models.

Telehealth services evaluation: a combination of SERVQUAL model and importance-performance analysis

“…In addition, telehealth provides an opportunity to improve routine care and clinical outcomes for early detection and rapid action to reduce health deterioration and maintain functioning and independence (Gellis et al 2014). Moreover, telehealth with the use of available technology to provide healthcare services rather than the traditional in-clinic attendance model has been recognized as a potential valuable contribution to global health by the World Health Organization (Lowe et al 2013).…”

“…The term ''tele'' implies the use of telecommunication (Lowe et al 2013). Thus, telehealth can be defined as the use of equipment or mobile devices such as smart phones to monitor a person's health at home by monitoring vital signs such as blood pressure, blood oxygen levels, or weight.…”

“…Thus, telehealth can be defined as the use of equipment or mobile devices such as smart phones to monitor a person's health at home by monitoring vital signs such as blood pressure, blood oxygen levels, or weight. When the physiological data have been measured in a daily basis, data can then be transmitted directly to clinical staff for monitoring purposes (Lowe et al 2013;Brewster et al 2014;Krupinski and Weinstein 2014). With telehealth services, individuals can receive professional services and support over a geographical distance (Boisvert and Hall 2014).…”

An Online Telepractice Model for the Prevention of Voice Disorders in Vocally Healthy Student Teachers Evaluated by a Smartphone Application

“…Asynchronous methods (i.e., store and access later) have been used as a supplement and as a way to validate what was observed through videoconferencing (Halpern et al, 2005; Hill et al, 2006; Perlman & Witthawaskui, 2002; Trail et al, 2005). Research has demonstrated that synchronous telepractice methods produce similar clinical outcomes when compared with in-person speech-language pathology services for neurogenic communication disorders, fluency disorders, voice disorders, dysphagia, and childhood speech and language disorders (Hill & Theodoros, 2002; Lowe, O’Brian, & Onslow, 2013; Mashima & Brown, 2011; Mashima & Doarn, 2008; Swanepoel & Hall, 2011; Theodoros, 2008). In addition to positive clinical outcomes that mirror those of in-person services, client and clinician satisfaction have been remarkably positive across the majority of studies (Brennan, 2006; Brennan, Georgeadis, & Baron, 2002; Georgeadis, Brennan, Barker, & Baron, 2004; Kully, 2002; Mashima et al, 2003), a finding consistent with other areas of telehealth research (Cardoso & Steinberg, 2010).…”

Speech and language screening for children with medical complexity: A comparison of telepractice and in-person methods

“…A number of papers have confirmed the efficacy of fluency management via telepractice (211,(221)(222)(223)(224)(225)(226), and previous surveys by ASHA (176) and Tucker (175) found that 46% and 29% of SLPs (respectively) have provided fluency services via telepractice. Most respondents had used custom-built hardware-based equipment, presumably because most large tertiary hospitals have access to this technology.…”