A Pilot Investigation of Speech Sound Disorder Intervention Delivered by Telehealth to School-Age Children
By Grogan-Johnson, Susan; Gabel, Rodney M.; Taylor, Jacquelyn; Rowan, Lynne E.; Alvares, Robin; Schenker, Jason; International Journal of Telerehabilitation, Vol. 3, No. 1, pp. 31-42Publication Date: Spring 2011
Pilot study examined whether sound disorder intervention using computer based materials with elementary school students is comparable for services delivered via telehealth versus by a side-by-side speech-language pathologist (SLP). Participants were 13 students in kindergarten through sixth grade with speech sound disorders in a rural Ohio school district. Ages ranged between 6 and 11 years, and 11 participants were male. Speech therapy using computer based speech sound intervention materials was provided either by live interactive videoconferencing or conventional side-by-side intervention. Software used for both therapy conditions was TinyEYE Speech Therapy Software, providing online drill activities, games such as Go Fish, and visual reinforcement activities such as adding petals to a flower that can be individualized by the SLP. Progress was measured using pre- and post-intervention scores on the Goldman Fristoe Test of Articulation-2. Students in both service delivery models made significant improvements in speech sound production, with students in the telehealth condition demonstrating greater mastery of their Individual Education Plan (IEP) goals. Based on study results, the authors conclude that live interactive videoconferencing appears to be a viable method for delivering intervention for speech and sound disorders to children in a rural public school setting.
Published by: University Library System, University of Pittsburgh (Website:http://www.library.pitt.edu/)
RERC on Telerehabilitation (Web Site: http://www.rerctr.pitt.edu/index.html )
Link to text: http://telerehab.pitt.edu/ojs/index.php/Telerehab/article/view/6064
