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Tele-Rehabilitation Therapy vs. Face-to-Face Therapy for Aphasic Patients

Authors:
Nofia Fridler
Keren Rosen
Maya Menahemi-Falkov
Orly Herzberg
Anita Lev
Dafna Kaplan
Yoram Feldman
Dafna Grosberg
Minka Hildesheimer
Mordechai Shani

Keywords: Tele-rehabilitation, Aphasia therapy

Abstract:
Though the application of telecommunication technology for rehabilitation of aphasic patients has been proposed as an appropriate mode for the delivery of speech and language services in general and for aphasic patients in particular, systematic research into the delivery of therapy via telerehabilitation (TR) is limited. The present study attempts to fill this gap by comparing the effects of TR to the effects of a conventional face-to-face (FtF) therapy. Eight patients with aphasia participated in a within-subject case study design (ABAC/ACAB). Patients received a 14-session block of TR at their homes via a custom-made Internet server, as well as a 14-session block of conventional FtF treatment in the clinic. Each patient was evaluated four times, before and after each of the two series of therapy. Patients also completed self-reported satisfaction questionnaires regarding the two treatment modes. All participants benefited from therapy, regardless of therapy mode. There was no significant difference in the effect of therapy on most measures in the formal assessment, as well as on the satisfaction measures. When a significant difference was found between the two treatment modes, TR was found to be more beneficial. Our results provide evidence that TR is not only feasible and suitable for the treatment of aphasic patients but that it may also be as effective as FtF therapy. Despite the promising results of the present study, future research is required in order to investigate the effect of TR in populations with more diverse speech and language disorders.

Pages: 18 to 23

Copyright: Copyright (c) IARIA, 2012

Publication date: January 30, 2012

Published in: conference

ISSN: 2308-4359

ISBN: 978-1-61208-179-3

Location: Valencia, Spain

Dates: from January 30, 2012 to February 4, 2012