Dataset Information

Internet delivery of intensive speech and language therapy for children with cerebral palsy: a pilot randomised controlled trial.

ABSTRACT:

Objectives

To test the feasibility of recruitment, retention, outcome measures and internet delivery of dysarthria therapy for young people with cerebral palsy in a randomised controlled trial.

Design

Mixed methods. Single blind pilot randomised controlled trial, with control offered Skype therapy at end of study. Qualitative study of the acceptability of therapy delivery via Skype.

Setting

Nine speech and language therapy departments in northern England recruited participants to the study. Skype therapy was provided in a university setting.

Participants

Twenty-two children (14 M, 8 F) with dysarthria and cerebral palsy (mean age 8.8 years (SD 3.2)) agreed to take part. Participants were randomised to dysarthria therapy via Skype (n=11) or treatment as usual (n=11).

Interventions

Children received either usual speech therapy from their local therapist for 6?weeks or dysarthria therapy via Skype from a research therapist. Usual therapy sessions varied in frequency, duration and content. Skype dysarthria therapy focused on breath control and phonation to produce clear speech at a steady rate, and comprised three 40?min sessions per week for 6?weeks.

Primary and secondary outcome measures

Feasibility and acceptability of the trial design, intervention and outcome measures.

Results

Departments recruited two to three participants. All participants agreed to random allocation. None withdrew from the study. Recordings of children's speech were made at all time points and rated by listeners. Families allocated to Skype dysarthria therapy judged internet delivery of the therapy to be acceptable. All families reported that the study design was acceptable. Treatment integrity checks suggested that the phrases practised in one therapy exercise should be reduced in length.

Conclusions

A delayed treatment design, in which dysarthria therapy is offered at the end of the study to families allocated to treatment as usual, is acceptable. A randomised controlled trial of internet delivered dysarthria therapy is feasible.

SUBMITTER: Pennington L

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6359732 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Publications

Internet delivery of intensive speech and language therapy for children with cerebral palsy: a pilot randomised controlled trial.

Pennington Lindsay L Stamp Elaine E Smith Johanna J Kelly Helen H Parker Naomi N Stockwell Katy K Aluko Patricia P Othman Mohammad M Brittain Katie K Vale Luke L

BMJ open 20190130 1

<h4>Objectives</h4>To test the feasibility of recruitment, retention, outcome measures and internet delivery of dysarthria therapy for young people with cerebral palsy in a randomised controlled trial.<h4>Design</h4>Mixed methods. Single blind pilot randomised controlled trial, with control offered Skype therapy at end of study. Qualitative study of the acceptability of therapy delivery via Skype.<h4>Setting</h4>Nine speech and language therapy departments in northern England recruited participa ...[more]

PMID: 30705241

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Dataset Information

Internet delivery of intensive speech and language therapy for children with cerebral palsy: a pilot randomised controlled trial.

Objectives

Design

Setting

Participants

Interventions

Primary and secondary outcome measures

Results

Conclusions

Publications

Internet delivery of intensive speech and language therapy for children with cerebral palsy: a pilot randomised controlled trial.

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