Document Type : Original Articles
Authors
1 Department of Audiology and speech Language Pathology, National Institute of Speech and Hearing, Trivandrum, Kerala, India
2 Department of Neurodevelopmental Sciences National Institute of Speech and Hearing, Trivandrum, Kerala, India
3 Department of Social work National Institute of Speech and Hearing, Trivandrum, Kerala, India
4 National Institute of Speech and Hearing, Trivandrum, Kerala, India
Abstract
Background
The reported studies from India on telerehabilitation had addressed the matter from the clinicians’ point of view. Hence this study aimed to understand the client perspectives of telerehabilitation in adults who stutter during the pandemic Covid-19.
Method
A mixed survey method of an interview and a self-report questionnaire was used to understand the client perspectives of telerehabilitation in adults who stutter during the Covid-19 pandemic. Twelve adults who stutter in the age range of 18 to 40 years who were attending telerehabilitation at the home institute participated in the study.
Results
All the participants were comfortable in discussing their problems and anxieties with the clinician during tele-therapy sessions and 91.7% (n=11) of the participants reported that they could handle the online platform well. Among the participants, 66.7% (n=8) of them rated the sessions as excellent, 33.3% (n=4) rated the sessions as good. Half of the participants preferred tele sessions while the other 50% of them preferred hybrid mode. Avoiding travel during pandemic was considered as an advantage by majority of the participants. Internet connectivity issues was the major disadvantage identified.
Conclusion
The results of the study helped to identify the advantages of telerehabilitation and also the possible challenges faced by adults who stutter during the treatment duration. The participants believed that the telerehabilitation for stuttering could help them to improve their fluency of speech and hence it was reported to be a viable way for individuals with stuttering.
tering, adults who stutter, telerehabilitation, Covid-19
Keywords
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