2024 Early Hearing Detection & Intervention Conference
March 17-19, 2024 • Denver, CO
3/18/2024 | 10:35 AM - 11:00 AM | Understanding Barriers and Successes to Speech-Language Teletherapy for Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing Children | Capitol 4
Understanding Barriers and Successes to Speech-Language Teletherapy for Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing Children
Background:
Children who are Deaf or Hard-of-Hearing (D/HH) are risk of speech and language delays, which can be mitigated with early intervention. However, access to early intervention is inequitable and subject to disparities among families due to socioeconomic and insurance status, language, and geography. Supplemental speech-language teletherapy may address these disparities; however, the real-life effectiveness of teletherapy in diverse populations is understudied
Methods:
DHH children aged 0-27 months from English and Spanish-speaking families were enrolled in a randomized controlled trial testing the effectiveness of supplemental speech-language teletherapy to address language disparities. Low-income (266% of federal poverty level) children were randomized to receive access to 18 months of supplemental speech-language teletherapy in addition to usual care. We conducted semi-structured virtual interviews with 13 families in their home language. Interviews were professionally transcribed and exploratory open coding performed. Themes were defined and statements organized and coded until thematic saturation was reached.
Results: Families were highly variable in utilization of speech-language teletherapy. Themes that emerged included both successes and barriers: successes included increased family involvement during teletherapy, improved access to medical care by removing transportation barriers, strong bonding with the teletherapist, and more emphasis on parent coaching during teletherapy sessions; barriers included difficulty for children to focus during teletherapy sessions and logistical challenges.
Conclusion: Enrollment in this randomized controlled trial provided a unique opportunity to understand the experiences of a diverse group of families receiving access to supplemental speech-language teletherapy. Overall, access to supplemental speech-language teletherapy has provided families with invaluable resources and support, with specific successes as well as barriers that were identified. This study provides insight into the unique experiences of lower income families that were provided access to supplemental speech-language teletherapy and highlights areas that can be further explored to improve teletherapy and reduce barriers to utilization.
- To understand the potential for speech-language teletherapy to address disparities in DHH children
- To learn successful factors in teletherapy for vulnerable families
- To identify challenges and barriers to teletherapy for vulnerable families
Presentation:
3478265_16351JasmineGass.pdf
Handouts:
Handout is not Available
Transcripts:
CART transcripts are NOT YET available, but will be posted shortly after the conference
Presenters/Authors
Jasmine Gass
(Primary Presenter,Author), Albany Medical College, gassj@amc.edu;
Jasmine Gass is a medical student at Albany Medical College, and was performing a research internship with the UCSF Children's Communication Center when this work was completed. She is pursuing a career in Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, and is particularly interested in understanding how to improve health equity and address disparities for children who are DHH.
ASHA DISCLOSURE:
Financial -
No relevant financial relationship exists.
Nonfinancial -
No relevant nonfinancial relationship exists.
AAA DISCLOSURE:
Financial -
No relevant financial relationship exists.
Nonfinancial -
No relevant nonfinancial relationship exists.
Michelle Wong
(Co-Presenter,Author), UCSF, michelle.wong3@ucsf.edu;
Michelle Wong is a Clinical Research Coordinator for the UCSF Children's Communication Center. A native Peruvian and Spanish-speaker, she serves as a culturally-congruent care navigator for DHH children and their families, to support their multidisciplinary clinical care, educational services, and engagement in research.
ASHA DISCLOSURE:
Financial -
No relevant financial relationship exists.
Nonfinancial -
No relevant nonfinancial relationship exists.
AAA DISCLOSURE:
Financial -
No relevant financial relationship exists.
Nonfinancial -
No relevant nonfinancial relationship exists.
Dylan Chan
(Author), University of California, San Francisco, Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, dylan.chan@ucsf.edu;
Dylan Chan, MD, PhD, FAAP, is Professor and Director of the Children’s Communication Center (CCC) in the Department of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery at the University of California, San Francisco. He received his PhD in Auditory Neuroscience from the Rockefeller University and MD from Weill Medical College of Cornell University. Dr. Chan completed his ONHS residency from Stanford University, followed by a Pediatric Otolaryngology fellowship at Seattle Children’s Hospital. He is the AAP EHDI California Chapter 1 Champion and Regional Network Liaison for the AAP EHDI program in California.
In 2014, Dr. Chan established the UCSF Children’s Communication Center, which is devoted to delivering multidisciplinary care for families of deaf and hard of hearing children, performing community outreach and education, and conducting clinical and translational research projects. By addressing existing shortfalls in care delivery and developing novel interventions, he hopes to significantly impact hearing health in children.
ASHA DISCLOSURE:
Financial -
No relevant financial relationship exists.
Nonfinancial -
No relevant nonfinancial relationship exists.
AAA DISCLOSURE:
Financial -
Financial relationship with N/A.
Nature: Work was funded by the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI).
Nonfinancial -
No relevant nonfinancial relationship exists.