Description
As we’ve noted elsewhere, travelling even short distances to the clinic can be hard for some families. Speech pathology by webcam is convenient and the evidence-base supporting its use is growing, especially in areas of practice like stuttering (e.g. Bridgman, 2014).
But webcam-based tele-health has its disadvantages, too. Compared to face-to-face therapy:
-
- families are more likely to cancel appointments at short notice;
- you don’t have as much control over preparations, resources or whether the parent and client are prepared for your call;
- parents and clients are more likely to get up and leave the room during therapy; and
- siblings are more likely to wander in and interrupt (e.g. Bridgman et al., 2015).
These Webcam Guidelines are designed to help you explain to clients what you need from them to deliver effective speech therapy via webcam/tele-health to their child.
Principal source: Bridgman, K., Block, S., & O’Brian, S. (2015). Webcam delivery of the Lidcombe Program: Insights from a clinical trial. Journal of Clinical Practice in Speech-Language Pathology, 17(3), 125-129.
