An Evaluation of Telepractice During the COVID-19 Pandemic for the Treatment of Speech and Language Disorders in Belgium

Authors

  • Ronny Boey University of Antwerp, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Antwerp, Belgium
  • Stefaan Lefevere Study Department VVL, Belgium

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5195/ijt.2022.6411

Keywords:

COVID-19 pandemic, Speech-language pathology, Survey, Telepractice

Abstract

The aim of this article was to evaluate the sudden implementation of telepractice in Belgium during the COVID-19 pandemic. A 38-question survey was completed by 1,222 Dutch-speaking speech-language pathologists (SLPs) from Belgium. Most reported good or very good satisfaction with telepractice and that telepractice can be effectively used with clients of different ages and speech disorders with or without comorbidity. The SLPs reported when telepractice could be used most effectively. They also detailed their difficulties with both technology and client-related issues. Limitations when switching to telepractice included a lack of training and experience, and digital materials.

  

Author Biographies

Ronny Boey, University of Antwerp, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Antwerp, Belgium

Biosketch and publications: https://publicaties.cvst.be

 

Stefaan Lefevere, Study Department VVL, Belgium

Flemish Association for Speech-Language Pathologists. Research Service.

References

ASHA (2022). Telepractice. https://www.asha.org/practice-portal/professional-issues/telepractice/

Boey, R. (2014) Telepraktijk voor logopedie en audiologie (1): kenmerken en evaluatie van gebruik. [Telepractice for speech therapy and audiology (1): Characteristics and evaluation of use.] Logopedie, 27(6), 29-45.

Boey, R. (2015) Telepraktijk voor logopedie en audiologie (2): Diagnostische en therapeutische toepassingen. [Telepractice for speech therapy and audiology (2): Diagnostic and therapeutic applications.] Logopedie, 28(1), 33-59.

Commission of the European Parliament (2022) Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions on telemedicine for the benefit of clients, healthcare systems and society. http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/ALL/?uri= CELEX:52008DC0689

Fong, R., Tsai, C. F., & Yiu, O. Y. (2021). The Implementation of telepractice in speech language pathology in Hong Kong during the COVID-19 pandemic. Telemedicine and e- Health, 27(1), 30-38. https://doi.org/10.1089/tmj.2020.0223

Georges, J., Potter, K., & Belz, N. (2006). Telepractice program for dysphagia: Urban and rural perspectives from Kansas. ASHA Leader, 11, 12. https://doi.org/10.1044/leader

Miles, A., Connor, N.P., Desai, R.V., Jadcherla, S., Allen, J., Brodsky, M., Garand, K.L., Malandraki, G.A., McCulloch, T.M., Moss, M. & Murray, J., (2020). Dysphagia care across the continuum: A multidisciplinary Dysphagia Research Society Taskforce report of service-delivery during the COVID-19 global pandemic. Dysphagia, 36, 170–182. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00455-020-10153-8

NIHDI (2020, March 24) Continuïteit van de zorg door logopedisten: Verstrekkingen en terugbetaling in de context van de COVID-19-crisis. [Continuity of care by speech therapists: Benefits in kind and reimbursement in the context of the COVID-19 crisis.] https://www.riziv.fgov.be/nl/covid19/Paginas/continuiteit-zorg-logopedisten-verstrekkingen-terugbetaling-covid19.aspx

Tenforde, A. S., Borgstrom, H. M., Polich, G., Steere, H., Davis, I. S., Cotton, K., & Silver, J. K. (2020). Outpatient physical, occupational, and speech therapy synchronous telemedicine. A survey study of client satisfaction with virtual visits during the COVID-19 pandemic. American Journal of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, 99(11), 977-981. https://doi.org/10.1097/PHM.0000000000001571

Tohidast, S. A., Mansuri, B., Bagheri, R., & Azimi, H. (2020). Provision of speech-language pathology services for the treatment of speech and language disorders in children during the COVID-19 pandemic: Problems, concerns, and solutions. International Journal of Pediatric Otorhinolaryngology, 138, 110262. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijporl.2020.110262

Vlaamse Vereniging voor Logopedisten (2022, April 2022) Telelogopedie [Telelogopedics]. https://digicenter.vvl.be/nl/corona/tele-logopedie/

Vrinda, R., & Reni, S. P. (2020). Telerehabilitation in the field of speech language pathology during pandemic COVID19 outbreak - An analysis in Kerala. Bioscience Biotechnology Research Communications, 13(4), 1-21. http://dx.doi.org/10.21786/bbrc/13.4/99

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Published

2022-05-25

How to Cite

Boey, R., & Lefevere, S. (2022). An Evaluation of Telepractice During the COVID-19 Pandemic for the Treatment of Speech and Language Disorders in Belgium. International Journal of Telerehabilitation, 14(1). https://doi.org/10.5195/ijt.2022.6411

Issue

Vol. 14 No. 1 (2022)

Section

Country Reports

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