Effectiveness of telespeech therapy on language abilities in people with aphasia: A pilot study
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Abstract
Background: Aphasia is a condition that happens when certain areas of the brain responsible for language are damaged, causing difficulties in communicating. Treatment involving speech and language interventions is essential for rehabilitating communication abilities. However, due to accessibility and distancing challenges, access to these medical services has been restricted, especially during COVID-19. Telepractice was introduced as an alternative approach to speech and language therapy. However, there currently needs to be more research on its application, specifically within the aphasia population in Thailand.
Objective: This study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of telepractice in aphasia intervention to enhance the general practice standard and to explore satisfaction with using telepractice in speech therapy among aphasia patients and their caregivers.
Materials and methods: Sixteen participants were recruited for this study, comprising eight aphasia patients and eight caregivers. A standardized aphasia test, the Thai Adaptation of the Western Aphasia Battery (TWAB), was used for pre- and post-assessments. Additionally, satisfaction surveys were employed to gauge significant satisfaction levels among participants. A one-month telepractice intervention (12 sessions in total) was conducted between the pre- and post-assessments to determine the effectiveness of telepractice based on its impact on TWAB test scores.
Results: Overall, this study revealed a significant improvement in the Aphasia Quotient (AQ) as measured by the TWAB test (p=0.011). However, only the repetition and naming sub-tests showed significant improvement between pre- and post-assessment (p=0.019 and p=0.011). The satisfaction levels were reported as high to very high.
Conclusion: This study demonstrated the effectiveness of telepractice in aphasia intervention, particularly in improving naming and repetition skills and eliciting a high to very high level of satisfaction among patients and their caregivers.
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Personal views expressed by the contributors in their articles are not necessarily those of the Journal of Associated Medical Sciences, Faculty of Associated Medical Sciences, Chiang Mai University.
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