Parents' Perspectives on Tele-AAC Support for Families with a New Speech Generating Device: Results from an Australian Pilot Study

2014 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
pp. 52-60 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kate Anderson ◽  
Susan Balandin ◽  
Roger J. Stancliffe ◽  
Claire Layfield

Telepractice is rapidly gaining popularity as a cost-effective and convenient alternative to in-person services for a range of speech-language pathology (SLP) applications. To date, there has been little research investigating the use of telepractice to support families with a new speech generating device (SGD). This paper reports on the outcomes of a novel online training and support program, trialed with 4 underserviced Australian families of children with a new SGD. The program consisted of 6 video-narrated lessons on SGD use, along with an online supervision and practice component conducted via videoconference. Semi-structured interviews were undertaken with parents following their completion of the program. Parents noted the telepractice support model offered a range of benefits, including convenient service access and flexible learning options. Challenges included technology limitations and increased pressure on parents to coordinate home practice. Overall, parents reported that the telepractice program was a positive experience for them and their children. Findings indicated that telepractice is a promising mode of service delivery for those learning to use a new SGD. Further research in this area is warranted.

Author(s):  
Natalie K Bradford ◽  
Liam J Caffery ◽  
Monica Taylor ◽  
Judith Meiklejohn ◽  
Anthony Smith C C Smith ◽  
...  

Introduction: Access to speech-language pathology services for children in rural and remote communities is often limited. Telehealth is increasingly used to provide these services to schools, demonstrating high satisfaction with both service providers and recipients, but the requirements for successful program implementation are as yet unclear. We aimed to explore the implementation requirements for a telehealth speech-language pathology service for children from the perspective of a rural school. Methods: A qualitative approach, supplemented by program activity data, was used to understand the experiences and perceptions of the benefits, limitations, enablers and barriers of a telehealth speech-language pathology program delivered to a school servicing approximately 400 children in a small rural town in the state of Queensland, Australia. Thematic analysis was conducted of transcripts of individual semi-structured interviews with nine school teaching staff and field notes of informal discussions regarding 85 speech-language pathology telehealth sessions (n = 9 children) during program establishment and implementation. Results: The speech-language pathology telehealth service was acceptable to teaching staff at the rural school, who cited improved access, the suitability of the technology for child engagement, and perceived effectiveness. Implementation issues were highlighted as critical to program success and scalability, particularly staff workload, technological issues, communication processes, and sustainability. Conclusion: School-based speech-language pathology services delivered via telehealth were perceived as a suitable way of increasing access for children by rural school staff. Future implementations of telehealth speech-language pathology programs should prospectively consider workload implications and develop strategies to communicate with and involve school staff.      


2021 ◽  
pp. 152574012110171
Author(s):  
Miechelle McKelvey ◽  
Kristy S. E. Weissling ◽  
Shelley K. Lund ◽  
Wendy Quach ◽  
Aimee Dietz

This phenomenological qualitative study explored how eight speech-language pathology specialists in augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) (who self-identified as adult-focused) would approach the AAC assessment process when presented with a case study of an adult with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). The general research questions were (a) What areas are assessed by AAC specialists evaluating individuals with ALS and (b) How do specialists evaluate the areas identified. In all, four themes emerged: (a) Area of Assessment, (b) Method of Assessment, (c) Patient Education, and (d) Decision Criteria. These results support authoritative models of AAC assessment. AAC assessment is a complex task and understanding the behaviors of specialists, as outlined in this article, may be a first step in assisting general practice SLPs to complete AAC assessments for individuals with ALS with greater confidence and comfort.


2009 ◽  
Vol 19 (3) ◽  
pp. 114-119 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christina Madix ◽  
Judith Oxley

Abstract The ability to integrate academic and clinical knowledge to achieve a metacognitive level of performance is paramount to being a strong clinician in the field of speech-language pathology. The support and encouragement provided by supervisors strengthens the students' abilities to develop and integrate their knowledge and strategy use in the clinical setting. This article examines the development of metacognitive thinking skills of two first-year graduate students enrolled in a graduate-level speech-language pathology program during their first semester of clinical practicum. A pilot study utilizing a qualitative approach of semi-structured interviews and video-taped therapy sessions was conducted to illustrate how differently graduate clinicians can mature in their clinical program.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Laurie Slovarp ◽  
Marie Jette ◽  
Amanda Gillespie ◽  
Jane Reynolds ◽  
Julie Barkmeier-Kraemer

Abstract Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the typical symptoms and medical management characteristics of adult patients with refractory chronic cough (RCC) who are referred to speech-language pathology (SLP) for behavioral cough suppression therapy (BCST) in order to estimate cost-effectiveness and efficiency of current practice patterns for this population.Methods: One hundred fifty-nine (159) patients with RCC referred for BCST were surveyed. Patients completed an initial survey at BCST onset related to symptom pattern and prior treatment, including the Leicester Cough Questionnaire (LCQ). Every 4-6 weeks patients completed follow-up surveys to assess their response to BCST.Results: Mean age was 58 years (83% women). The majority of participants reported their cough began two or more years prior to BCST. Approximately half reported seeing four or more physicians (49%) and being prescribed four or more medications (55%) prior to BCST. Medications targeting post-nasal drip (71%), reflux (70%), asthma (56%), and allergies (56%) were most commonly prescribed. BCST resulted in a clinically significant improvement in 113 (70.1%) participants. The mean change in LCQ for those who improved with BCST was 6.61. Over half (58%) reported they were quite satisfied to completely satisfied with their treatment response. The average time from enrollment to study completion was 64 days. Conclusion: The results of this study suggest early intervention with BCST may be a more cost-effective and efficient option for patients with RCC.


Lung ◽  
2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Laurie J. Slovarp ◽  
Marie E. Jetté ◽  
Amanda I. Gillespie ◽  
Jane E. Reynolds ◽  
Julie M. Barkmeier-Kraemer

Abstract Purpose The purpose of this study was to investigate the typical symptoms and medical management characteristics of adult patients with refractory chronic cough (RCC) who are referred to speech-language pathology (SLP) for behavioral cough suppression therapy (BCST) in order to estimate cost-effectiveness and efficiency of current practice patterns for this population. Methods One hundred sixty-four (164) patients with RCC referred for BCST were surveyed. Patients completed an initial survey at BCST onset related to symptom pattern and prior treatment, including the Leicester Cough Questionnaire (LCQ). Every four to six weeks patients completed follow-up surveys to assess their response to BCST. Results Mean age was 58 years (83.5% women). The majority of patients reported their cough began two or more years prior to BCST. Approximately half (49%) reported seeing four or more physicians (including primary care physicians) and being prescribed four or more medications (57%) prior to BCST. Medications targeting post-nasal drip (72%), reflux (70%), asthma (56%), and allergies (56%) were most commonly prescribed. BCST resulted in a clinically significant improvement in 70.1% of participants. The mean change in LCQ for those who improved with BCST was 6.61. Over half (58%) reported they were quite satisfied to completely satisfied with their treatment response. The average time from enrollment to study completion was 64 days. Conclusion The results of this study suggest early intervention with BCST may be a cost-effective and efficient option for patients with RCC.


Author(s):  
James F. Mancuso

IBM PC compatible computers are widely used in microscopy for applications ranging from control to image acquisition and analysis. The choice of IBM-PC based systems over competing computer platforms can be based on technical merit alone or on a number of factors relating to economics, availability of peripherals, management dictum, or simple personal preference.IBM-PC got a strong “head start” by first dominating clerical, document processing and financial applications. The use of these computers spilled into the laboratory where the DOS based IBM-PC replaced mini-computers. Compared to minicomputer, the PC provided a more for cost-effective platform for applications in numerical analysis, engineering and design, instrument control, image acquisition and image processing. In addition, the sitewide use of a common PC platform could reduce the cost of training and support services relative to cases where many different computer platforms were used. This could be especially true for the microscopists who must use computers in both the laboratory and the office.


1989 ◽  
Vol 20 (3) ◽  
pp. 296-304 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ann Johnson Glaser ◽  
Carole Donnelly

The clinical dimensions of the supervisory process have at times been neglected. In this article, we explain the various stages of Goldhammer's clinical supervision model and then describe specific procedures for supervisors in the public schools to use with student teachers. This easily applied methodology lends clarity to the task and helps the student assimilate concrete data which may have previously been relegated to subjective impressions of the supervisor.


1995 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
pp. 31-36 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joanne E. Roberts ◽  
Elizabeth Crais ◽  
Thomas Layton ◽  
Linda Watson ◽  
Debbie Reinhartsen

This article describes an early intervention program designed for speech-language pathologists enrolled in a master's-level program. The program provided students with courses and clinical experiences that prepared them to work with birth to 5-year-old children and their families in a family-centered, interdisciplinary, and ecologically valid manner. The effectiveness of the program was documented by pre- and post-training measures and supported the feasibility of instituting an early childhood specialization within a traditional graduate program in speech-language pathology.


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