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100 _aYashaswini Rangaswamy
245 0 _a Tele Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology in India - A Short Report
260 _c2018
270 _aAll India Institute of Speech and Hearing, Manasa Gangothri, Mysore
300 _a1-8
490 _vVolume 6 Issue 1
520 _aBackground: The discipline of Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology is half-a-century old in India. Speech language pathologists and audiologists (SLPs and AUDs) have identified the need to ‘reach-the-unreached’ in India by using a telehealth model for rehabilitation of persons with communication disorders. The aim of this paper is to present a panoramic view of telepractice in India right from its emergence to its current state, drawing support from a review of published work by SLPs and AUDs in India. Methods: A questionnaire was developed to elicit responses on barriers for telepractice and similarities and differences in face-to-face and telepractice of speech-language pathology service delivery. Using survey research design, 17 speech-language pathologists practicing in India were purposively selected for the study. Results: 15 questionnaires were completed. Most respondents (53.3% - 86.6%) reported technical issues as barriers for telepractice. Face-to-face and telepractice of speech language pathology service delivery was reported to be different in terms of instructions for caregivers, documentation, face validity, acceptance and responsibility on caregivers. Many participants felt that more sensitivity and caution, special ICT skills for clinician and caregiver/client, exclusive software, dedicated professionals to trouble shoot technical issues are additional requirements for telepractice. Concerns about client confidentiality were expressed and lack of direct feedback and environmental distractions at client end were reported as challenges in telepractice delivery. Conclusions: The study demonstrates that service delivery through telemodel is mostly positively embraced in India, despite the challenges.
653 _aTelepractice, telerehabilitation, telemedicine, speech language pathology, audiology
700 _aPrema K.S. Rao
773 _aJournal of the International Society for Telemedicine and eHealth
856 _uhttps://doi.org/10.29086/JISfTeH.6.e19
942 _cFJAS
_yFJAS
999 _c18055
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