scholarly journals Telepractice in service delivery: A survey of perspectives and practices of speech and language therapists in Ireland during COVID-19

2022 ◽  
pp. 1-12
Author(s):  
Eilis Farren ◽  
Duana Quigley ◽  
Yvonne Lynch
Keyword(s):  
Service Delivery ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Speech Sound ◽  
Geographical Location ◽  
Speech And Language ◽  
Speech Sound Disorders ◽  
Language Therapy ◽  
Health Crisis ◽  
Complex Needs ◽  
Almost All

BACKGROUND: COVID-19 accelerated telepractice implementation in speech and language therapy (SLT) in Ireland. OBJECTIVE: This study documents the service delivery changes that took place in the SLT profession in Ireland during the public health crisis. METHODS: An online survey of speech and language therapists (SLTs) in Ireland was conducted from June-September 2020 to investigate their perceptions of telepractice. Data were analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics and frequency distribution. RESULTS: 173 SLT responses were analysed. Over half of the participants worked in urban locations. Respondents’ years of experience varied from less than four years to over 20 years. Slightly over half the participants reported using telepractice, with 85% starting to use telepractice in the six months prior to the survey. Telepractice uptake was not influenced by participants’ professional experience or geographical location (p >  0.05). Almost all participants who used telepractice were trained informally (92%,). Telepractice was most commonly used with school-aged children with developmental language and speech sound disorders. Respondents perceived that telepractice was not suitable for all individuals who need SLT, including those with complex needs. Clinicians reported that telepractice facilitated access to therapy for clients and opportunities to see clients in their own environments. Technology barriers were the biggest hurdle to telepractice use. CONCLUSIONS: Uptake of telepractice by the SLT profession in Ireland was widespread during COVID-19, highlighting the profession’s flexibility and innovation. Respondents indicated they are likely to continue to use telepractice as a complementary service delivery model post-COVID due to the distinct benefits for clinicians and clients.

scholarly journals The BioVisualSpeech Corpus of Words with Sibilants for Speech Therapy Games Development

Information ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (10) ◽  
pp. 470
Author(s):  
Sofia Cavaco ◽  
Isabel Guimarães ◽  
Mariana Ascensão ◽  
Alberto Abad ◽  
Ivo Anjos ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Speech Production ◽  
Speech Therapy ◽  
Speech Sound ◽  
Target Population ◽  
Speech And Language ◽  
Speech Sound Disorders ◽  
Language Therapy ◽  
Speech And Language Therapy ◽  
Computer Tools ◽  
Computer Science Research

In order to develop computer tools for speech therapy that reliably classify speech productions, there is a need for speech production corpora that characterize the target population in terms of age, gender, and native language. Apart from including correct speech productions, in order to characterize the target population, the corpora should also include samples from people with speech sound disorders. In addition, the annotation of the data should include information on the correctness of the speech productions. Following these criteria, we collected a corpus that can be used to develop computer tools for speech and language therapy of Portuguese children with sigmatism. The proposed corpus contains European Portuguese children’s word productions in which the words have sibilant consonants. The corpus has productions from 356 children from 5 to 9 years of age. Some important characteristics of this corpus, that are relevant to speech and language therapy and computer science research, are that (1) the corpus includes data from children with speech sound disorders; and (2) the productions were annotated according to the criteria of speech and language pathologists, and have information about the speech production errors. These are relevant features for the development and assessment of speech processing tools for speech therapy of Portuguese children. In addition, as an illustration on how to use the corpus, we present three speech therapy games that use a convolutional neural network sibilants classifier trained with data from this corpus and a word recognition module trained on additional children data and calibrated and evaluated with the collected corpus.

Facilitating Parental Involvement in Speech Therapy for Children With Speech Sound Disorders: A Survey of Speech-Language Pathologists' Practices, Perspectives, and Strategies

2020 ◽  
Vol 29 (4) ◽  
pp. 1987-1996
Author(s):  
Sherine R. Tambyraja
Keyword(s):  
Parental Involvement ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Speech Therapy ◽  
Speech Sound ◽  
Speech Sound Disorders ◽  
Speech Sound Disorder ◽  
Speech Language Pathologists ◽  
School Based ◽  
Homework Completion

Purpose This study investigated the extent to which speech-language pathologists (SLPs) facilitate parents' completion of homework activities for children with speech sound disorder (SSD). In addition, this study explored factors related to more consistent communication about homework completion and strategies considered particularly effective for supporting this element of parental involvement. Method Licensed SLPs serving at least one child with SSD were invited to participate in an online survey. Questions relevant to this study gathered information regarding (a) frequency of communication about homework distribution and follow-up, (b) demographic and workplace characteristics, and (c) an open-ended question about the specific strategies used to support parental involvement and completion of homework activities. Results Descriptive results indicated considerable variability with respect to how frequently SLPs engaged in communication about homework completion, but that school-based SLPs were significantly less likely to engage in this type of follow-up. Strategies considered effective, however, were similar across therapy contexts. Conclusion These results suggest potentially important differences between school-based services and therapy in other contexts with respect to this particular aspect of service provision for children with SSD.

A Survey of the Usage of Nonspeech Oral Motor Exercises by Speech and Language Therapists in the Republic of Ireland

2014 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-40
Author(s):  
Alice Lee ◽  
Niamh Moore
Keyword(s):  
Speech Sound ◽  
Speech And Language ◽  
Speech Sound Disorders ◽  
Childhood Apraxia Of Speech ◽  
Online Questionnaire ◽  
Warm Up ◽  
Republic Of Ireland ◽  
Oral Motor ◽  
The Republic ◽  
Oral Motor Exercises

Objective: To collect information on the usage of nonspeech oral motor exercises (NSOMEs) by speech and language therapists (SLTs) for treating speech sound disorders (SSDs) in children in the Republic of Ireland. Method: SLTs who had worked with children with SSDs were invited to complete an online questionnaire adapted from a previous survey conducted in the US by Lof and Watson (2008). Main results:: 22/39 (56%) of the respondents reported using NSOMEs. Information from a colleague about the usefulness of NSOMEs, continuing education, and literature influenced the respondents the most to use NSOMEs. Most respondents used NSOMEs as a “warm up”, mainly with children with childhood apraxia of speech, dysarthria, and Down Syndrome. Conclusion: NSOMEs are used by over half of the respondents despite the lack of evidence that supports this treatment approach. Continuous effort to encourage the application of evidence-based practice in clinics is warranted.

scholarly journals An Exploratory Study of Speech and Language Therapy Intervention for Children Born With Cleft Palate ± Lip

2020 ◽  
pp. 105566562095473
Author(s):  
Caroline Williams ◽  
Sam Harding ◽  
Yvonne Wren
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
United Kingdom ◽  
Service Delivery ◽  
Cleft Palate ◽  
Speech And Language ◽  
Language Therapy ◽  
Speech And Language Therapy ◽  
Service Delivery Models ◽  
The United Kingdom ◽  
Delivery Models

Introduction: Children born with a cleft palate ± lip are at risk of developing speech and language difficulties, which may require intervention from a speech and language therapist (SLT). To date, there is no strong evidence to support one approach to intervention over another, neither is it clear which approaches or methods of provision are commonly used. Objectives: To describe the range of speech and language therapy interventions being used with children born with cleft palate in the United Kingdom up to 5 years of age. To explore the different ways, interventions are being delivered. Design: A prospective study to conduct 9 semi-structured focus groups. Iterative content analysis was completed. Setting: Regional Cleft Lip and Palate Centers in the United Kingdom. Participants: Sixty-two speech and language therapy professionals from specialist cleft teams and community services. Results: Four main codes were identified: “intervention approaches,” “service delivery models,” “decision-making and rationale,” and “patient-centered care.” Participants frequently discussed how they adopt an eclectic style when delivering intervention, the importance of an individualized approach for each child and service delivery constraints, such as a lack of resources. Conclusion: Insight into the multitude of intervention approaches used by SLTs, aspects which influence their decision-making and the variability of service delivery models were gained. Uncertainty regarding which intervention approaches and methods for delivery are most effective provides rationale for future research, to improve the effectiveness of speech and language intervention for children with cleft palate ± lip.

The Association of Intervention Receipt With Speech-Language Profiles and Social-Demographic Variables

2000 ◽  
Vol 9 (4) ◽  
pp. 345-357 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xuyang Zhang ◽  
J. Bruce Tomblin
Keyword(s):  
Service Delivery ◽  
Sound Production ◽  
Expressive Language ◽  
Speech Sound ◽  
Oral Communication ◽  
Receptive Language ◽  
Demographic Variables ◽  
Demographic Characteristics ◽  
Speech And Language ◽  
Language Impaired

This study explored the effects of oral communication and demographic characteristics on intervention receipt. Oral communication characteristics included speech-sound production and receptive and expressive language status. Demographic characteristics included race, sex, residential strata, and neighborhood income level. With regard to speech-sound production and language, 1,929 kindergartners were divided into four speech-language subgroups: speech impaired only, language impaired only, speech and language impaired, and normal in both speech and language. In terms of expressive and receptive language modalities, the group of children was divided into four expressive-receptive subgroups: expressive impaired only, receptive impaired only, expressive and receptive impaired, and normal in both expressive and receptive language. Associations of speech versus language and expressive language versus receptive language with intervention receipt were examined in both categorical and continuous manners. Results showed that speech had a stronger effect on intervention receipt than language, but that this difference could not be explained by the effect of speech on social and academic functions compared to that of language. Expressive language had a stronger effect on intervention receipt than receptive language (when treated as continuous variables). This also could not be explained by the effect of these variables on social and academic function. These results suggest that the current referral and service delivery system depends on communication characteristics that are expressive and, thus, most readily observable. This referral and service delivery approach, however, fails to identify children that have the greatest social and academic risks. Methods of reversing this trend were discussed. Among all demographic variables examined, only sex is related to intervention receipt, that is, boys were more likely to have received intervention.

Speech and Language Skills of Parents of Children With Speech Sound Disorders

2007 ◽  
Vol 16 (2) ◽  
pp. 108-118 ◽  
Author(s):  
Barbara A. Lewis ◽  
Lisa A. Freebairn ◽  
Amy J. Hansen ◽  
Lara Miscimarra ◽  
Sudha K. Iyengar ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Language Skills ◽  
Speech Sound ◽  
Speech And Language ◽  
Speech Sound Disorders

Target Selection Practices of Speech and Language Therapists Working with Children with Speech Sound Disorders in Ireland

2017 ◽  
Vol 23 (1) ◽  
pp. 43-77
Author(s):  
Ciara Baldwin ◽  
Fiona Gibbon
Keyword(s):  
Current Practice ◽  
Research Evidence ◽  
Target Selection ◽  
Speech Sound ◽  
Continuing Professional Development ◽  
Speech And Language ◽  
Speech Sound Disorders ◽  
The Republic ◽  
Selection Of ◽  
Selection Practices

Objective: To investigate speech and language therapists’ current practice in the selection of intervention targets for children with speech sound disorders. Method: Questionnaires were used to elicit information from 88 speech and language therapists working in the Republic of Ireland about their selection of intervention targets in the treatment of speech sound disorders. Main results: The majority (73%) of therapists placed a high priority on selecting stimulable sounds as intervention targets. Around half (52%) placed a high priority on earlier developing sounds with a minority prioritizing later developing sounds (10%) and non-stimulable sounds (14%). Speech and language therapists’ years of experience did not have a significant impact on their selection practices. However, the amount of continuing professional development a speech and language therapist had in the area of speech sound disorders did have a significant effect on target selection. Conclusion: The speech and language therapists in this study used clinical experience and traditional practices, such as stimulability, to select intervention targets in the treatment of speech sound disorders. However, there is research evidence to show that the selection of non-traditional intervention targets, such as non-stimulable and later developing sounds, can result in more system-wide generalisation. Speech and language therapists may benefit from increasing their knowledge about current theories and intervention research relevant to target selection.

scholarly journals General population perceptions of risk in the Covid-19 pandemic: A Romanian case study

2021 ◽  
Vol 29 (2) ◽  
pp. 113-124
Author(s):  
Liliana Popescu ◽  
Cristiana Vîlcea
Keyword(s):  
Perceived Risk ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Educational Status ◽  
Health Crisis ◽  
Economic Changes ◽  
Perceptions Of Risk ◽  
Active Involvement ◽  
Hygiene Practices ◽  
Preventative Measures ◽  
Almost All

Abstract The COVID-19 pandemic has created complex socio-political situations, as the health crisis was paralleled by the reshaping of lifestyle patterns and induced severe economic changes. By means of an online survey, this study aims to investigate the population perceptions of risk in Romania: it examines important psychological and social factors related to risk perception and behaviours, as well as attitudes toward quarantine and physical distancing. By means of statistical analysis, the data were analysed and a GIS environment was used to visualise data distributions. Our findings indicate that if the perceived risk associated to the epidemic is high, people will change their normal behaviours, adopt preventative measures, adhere to strict hygiene practices and are willing to self-isolate for the benefit of their peers, which they tend to see as running a greater risk than themselves. Women and people with higher educational status tend to be more worried about the current situation, but regarding the severity, almost all men believe they would risk a severe state if infected. In conclusion, the perception of high risk associated with COVID-19 can lead not only to positive behavioural changes (mainly physical distancing and improved hygiene), but also to a rapid mobilisation and active involvement of communities, which are vital for stopping transmission of the virus.

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