Impact of Virtual Care on Speech-Language Services.
Elizabeth M Fitzpatrick, Allyson C Grant, Taylor King
PMID 41116233WHAT IT FOUND
Most therapists found virtual care effective for children, but they doubted parents agreed.
Families struggled with internet access and space. Therapists preferred a hybrid model: in-person assessment first, then virtual coaching for treatment.
Key findings
01Therapists rated virtual care as effective but believed parents were much less satisfied with it.
02The main barriers were technical issues in the home and child behaviour, not the therapists' own skills.
03Most therapists supported a hybrid future where assessment is in-person but intervention can be virtual.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for SLPs
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What it does not show
The study did not ask parents directly; all data on parental satisfaction was inferred by therapists. 77.3% of participants were from Ontario, so results may not apply to other regions. The survey occurred during a forced transition to virtual care, so responses may reflect necessity rather than genuine preference. Participants were experienced clinicians (mean 14.6 years), which may not reflect the challenges faced by new graduates.
Declared interests
The authors declared no conflicts of interest.
The easy way to misread this
Do not assume that high therapist satisfaction predicts good family outcomes. The data shows a large disconnect: most therapists felt care was effective, but they believed most parents did not. Relying on clinician ratings alone may miss significant barriers to family engagement.
Summarised by AI from the full paper, without a clinician reviewing it. Check it against the source before it changes what you do. Read it on PubMed →