Addressing disparities in speech-language pathology and laryngology services with telehealth.
Anaïs Rameau, Steven R Cox, Scott H Sussman, Eseosa Odigie
PMID 37321106WHAT IT FOUND
Telehealth can help some people access voice care, but it does not solve the underlying barriers.
Patients without good internet, those with complex physical needs, or those who need a physical examination still require in-person services. A mix of video and face-to-face visits is likely necessary.
What this paper is
This is a narrative review and clinical perspective on using telehealth for voice care. It summarizes existing literature and describes the authors' own clinic experience but reports no original patient outcomes, trial results, or new evidence. There are no findings here to change your clinical practice.
The easy way to misread this
Do not assume telehealth is a viable replacement for in-person voice evaluation for all patients. The paper explicitly states that telehealth cannot replace the need for laryngoscopy to diagnose voice disorders accurately, and it notes that disparities in access often persist for those without adequate technology or insurance.