Title | Investigating the utility of teletherapy in individuals with primary progressive aphasia. |
Publication Type | Journal Article |
Year of Publication | 2019 |
Authors | Dial HR, Hinshelwood HA, Grasso SM, H Hubbard I, Gorno-Tempini M-L, Henry ML |
Journal | Clin Interv Aging |
Volume | 14 |
Pagination | 453-471 |
Date Published | 2019 |
ISSN | 1178-1998 |
Keywords | Aged, Aphasia, Primary Progressive, Feasibility Studies, Female, Health Services Accessibility, Humans, Language, Male, Middle Aged, Speech Therapy, Telemedicine, Treatment Outcome |
Abstract | Introduction: Primary progressive aphasia (PPA) is a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by progressive deterioration of speech and language. A growing body of research supports the utility of speech and language intervention in individuals with PPA, although access to these services remains limited. One potential means of increasing treatment accessibility is the delivery of treatment via telemedicine. Evidence supports the use of teletherapy in stroke-induced aphasia, but research examining the application of teletherapy in PPA is limited. In the current study, a non-randomized group comparison design was used to evaluate the feasibility and utility of treatment delivered via teletherapy relative to treatment administered in person for individuals with PPA. Methods: Two treatment protocols were administered as part of a larger study investigating treatment for speech and language deficits in PPA. Participants with semantic (n=10) and logopenic (n=11) PPA received lexical retrieval treatment and individuals with nonfluent/agrammatic PPA (n=10) received video-implemented script training for aphasia designed to promote speech production and fluency. Treatment was administered via teletherapy for approximately half of the participants receiving each intervention. Treatment outcomes and performance on standardized tests were assessed at pre-treatment and post-treatment, as well as 3, 6, and 12 months post-treatment. Results: Overall, both treatment approaches resulted in significant gains for primary outcome measures. Critically, comparison of in-person and teletherapy groups revealed comparable outcomes. Generalization to untrained targets and tasks and maintenance of treatment-induced gains were also comparable for traditional vs teletherapy participants. Conclusion: Overall, treatment outcomes were largely equivalent for individuals receiving treatment via teletherapy vs traditional, in-person delivery. Results support the application of teletherapy for administering restitutive interventions to individuals with mild-to-moderate PPA. Potential implications for using teletherapy in the treatment of cognitive-linguistic and motoric impairments in other disorders and suggestions for administering treatment via telemedicine are discussed. |
DOI | 10.2147/CIA.S178878 |
Alternate Journal | Clin Interv Aging |
PubMed ID | 30880927 |
PubMed Central ID | PMC6394239 |
Grant List | P50 AG023501 / AG / NIA NIH HHS / United States R03 DC013403 / DC / NIDCD NIH HHS / United States U01 AG052943 / AG / NIA NIH HHS / United States R01 DC016291 / DC / NIDCD NIH HHS / United States R01 NS100440 / NS / NINDS NIH HHS / United States R56 NS050915 / NS / NINDS NIH HHS / United States R01 NS050915 / NS / NINDS NIH HHS / United States K24 DC015544 / DC / NIDCD NIH HHS / United States |