Assessing acquired language disorders in adults via the internet

Theodoros, Deborah, Hill, Anne, Russell,Trevor, Ward, Elizabeth and Wootton, Richard (2008) Assessing acquired language disorders in adults via the internet. Telemedicine and e-Health, 14 6: 552-559.


Author Theodoros, Deborah
Hill, Anne
Russell,Trevor
Ward, Elizabeth
Wootton, Richard
Title Assessing acquired language disorders in adults via the internet
Journal name Telemedicine and e-Health  (ERA 2012 Listed)    (ERA 2010 Rank C)   Check publisher's open access policy
Publication date 2008-08-26
Sub-type Article
DOI 10.1089/tmj.2007.0091
Volume number 14
Issue number 6
ISSN 1530-5627; 1556-3669
Start page 552
End page 559
Total pages 8
Editor Ronald Merrill
Charles Doam
Place of publication New Rochelle, N.Y., U. S. A.
Publisher Mary-Ann Leibert
Collection year 2009
Language eng
Subject 920201 Allied Health Therapies (excl. Mental Health Services)
110321 Rehabilitation and Therapy (excl. Physiotherapy)
C1
0805 Distributed Computing
Formatted abstract This study evaluated the validity and reliability of assessing aphasia using standard language assessments via an Internet-based videoconferencing system at a bandwidth of 128 Kbps. Thirty-two patients with aphasia from stroke or TBI were assessed by face-to-face or online-led environments. Participants report high satisfaction overall and this study demonstrates an effective tool for rehabilitation for persons with aphasia. Aphasia, a language disturbance, frequently occurs following acquired brain impairment in adults. Because management of aphasia is often long-term, provision of ongoing and equitable access to treatment creates a significant challenge to speech-language pathologists (SLPs). This study aimed to determine the validity and reliability of assessing aphasia using standardized language assessments via an Internet-based videoconferencing system using a bandwidth of 128 kbits/sec. Thirty-two participants with aphasia due to stroke or traumatic brain injury were assessed simultaneously in either a face-to-face or online-led environment by two SLPs. Short forms of the Boston Diagnostic Aphasia Examination (BDAE-3) and the Boston Naming Test (BNT, 2nd edition) were administered. An eight-item participant satisfaction questionnaire was completed by 15 participants assigned to the online-led assessment. Results failed to identify any significant differences between the 24 subtest scores of the BDAE-3 and the BNT scores obtained in the online and face-to-face test environments (p > 0.01). Weighted kappa statistics indicated moderate to very good agreement (0.59-1.00) between the two assessors for the 24 subtests and eight rating scales of the BDAE-3, the BNT, and for aphasia diagnosis. Good to very good inter- and intra-rater reliability for the online assessment was found across the majority of assessment tasks. Participants reported high overall satisfaction, comfort level, and audio and visual quality in the online environment. This study supports the validity and reliability of delivering standardized assessments of aphasia online and provides a basis for ongoing development of telerehabilitation as an alternate mode of service delivery to persons with aphasia.
© Mary Ann Liebert, Inc.
Keyword Telerehabilitation
Speech
Aphasia
Standard language assessments
Videoconferencing
Assessment
Rehabilitation
Q-Index Code C1
Q-Index Status Confirmed Code

 
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Created: Tue, 31 Mar 2009, 17:13:50 EST by Kathleen Reinhardt on behalf of School of Health & Rehabilitation Sciences