A survey on the use of digital tools among speech therapists
DYNSEO conducted a survey among speech therapists to understand their needs for cognitive stimulation tools.
Thank you immensely to the speech therapists who responded to this survey. This allows us to build suitable tools.
As a speech therapist, which pathologies do you manage?
We asked the speech therapists to rank the pathologies they manage in order of importance between dyslexia, language disorders, Stroke, and memory disorders such as MCI and Alzheimer's's.
At 55%, it is the language disorders that are most commonly managed.
Even though Stroke is only at 11%, 33% of speech therapists placed it in 2nd or 3rd position.
Here are the details for each pathology regarding management, the cognitive functions to stimulate, and how to do it.
Management of dyslexia
According to our speech therapists, the main cognitive functions to work on in the context of dyslexia are:
- Memory and attention, auditory and visual,
- Executive functions,
- Mental flexibility,
- Planning and anticipation,
- Disorders of evocation and fluency,
- Word memory, phonology,
- spelling lexicon and syntax.
Speech therapists agree that in the context of dyslexia, it is important to stimulate the desire to overcome challenges with joy and good humor.
The software mentioned by speech therapists in the context of dyslexia includes: Attention and Memory from Ortho editions, Mental Management practice from Garanderie, and Dubois-Buyse scales.
Management of language disorders
Management of Stroke
The most common functions to rehabilitate post-Stroke are:
- language,
- reading,
- transcription,
- memory,
- executive functions,
- syntax,
- lexicon,
- pragmatics,
- categorization
- and attention.
In a post-Stroke situation, here are different ideas for rehabilitating cognitive functions:
- Bring back verbal knowledge and skills,
- Represent situations close to lived experiences, specific to the ecological environment,
- Perform systematic exercises as well as practical exercises,
- Stimulate working memory,
- Work on naming, designations, pairings, and inferences,
- Work on organizational tasks by including intruders.
Management of memory disorders
The main cognitive functions to work on in the context of Alzheimer's's disease are:
- Memory,
- Attention,
- Verbal comprehension,
- Executive functions,
- Language,
- Praxes.
From the responses to the survey, it seems possible in the context of Alzheimer's's disease to maintain the patient's cognitive abilities, but it seems difficult to rehabilitate cognitive functions.
Exercises for attention, memorization, and planning should be performed with the patient while ensuring not to infantilize them.
Finally, among the advice we have retained, we mention the importance of maintaining the desire to communicate or compensating for short-term memory deficits by using writing or mental imagery.
What exercises or activities do you recommend to a patient between two speech therapy sessions?
Although the activities recommended by speech therapists are tailored to each patient, according to their skills and disorders, the interviewed speech therapists provided us with very good ideas for cognitive stimulation exercises to do at home:
- The exercises that the patient has already done in session, which they master in order to practice,
- Reading the newspaper, crossword puzzles, learning short poems, writing recipes,
- Word searches, scrabble, board games,
- Sound games.
As a speech therapist, what connection do you maintain with your patients between different sessions?
Most speech therapists do not maintain connections with their patients between sessions. Some provide prevention advice and recommendations; finally, others maintain contact through a few emails.
What do you think of using tablets as a cognitive stimulation tool?
50% of speech therapists believe that using tablets as a cognitive stimulation tool is a very good idea in the office, while opinions are more mixed when it comes to home use.
Do you know any cognitive stimulation software for PC / Tablet?
The software that was mentioned to us includes those from Happyneurons, Gerip, and DYNSEO.
Do you use them?
84% of speech therapists use cognitive stimulation software on PC and tablet.
How often?
20% of the surveyed speech therapists use cognitive stimulation software very often, and 60% sometimes.
What are the strengths of cognitive stimulation software in speech therapy practice?
Here is the list of strengths and advantages of using such software on tablets:
- The mobile tool is lightweight and responsive,
- It is easy to use compared to a PC: the absence of a mouse makes face-to-face interaction possible,
- It has advantages over paper: consideration of time, creation of dynamic exercises,
- The proposed exercises are varied,
- It can be used during home interventions,
- The exercises can be done at home between sessions, as a complement,
- The support is very attractive for some patients,
- Finally, the tool allows for automation of skills through regular training, especially in the context of dyslexia.
What are the weaknesses of using cognitive stimulation software on tablets by speech therapists?
Here are the different weaknesses that were reported to us:
- The existing software does not allow for recording personal data and tracking the evolution of a person on the exercises performed,
- The exercises are not always flexible enough and customizable.
Moreover, some barriers to using tablets must be taken into account, particularly the fact that touch screens can be a constraint, especially in the context of hand re-lateralization during hemiplegia, or the visual fatigue that this may induce.
Would you use software offering memory games at home for your patients, which would allow you to track their attendance and progress online?
50% of speech therapists might use software to track their patients' progress remotely, 10% would.
What price in euros would you be willing to pay for a subscription to such a service (per month)?
The speech therapists surveyed would be willing to pay between 10 and 20 euros for a monthly subscription to remote tracking software.
We hope that the results of this survey have interested you, and we sincerely thank all the speech therapists who responded to our survey!
The importance of continuing education for speech therapists
In a constantly evolving field like speech therapy, continuing education is essential to stay updated with the latest techniques and tools. Here are some reasons why it is crucial to pursue further training:
- Evolution of knowledge: Research in neuroscience and linguistics is advancing rapidly, and it is important to stay informed about new discoveries.
- Improvement of skills: Participating in workshops and seminars allows for the acquisition of new practical skills.
- Professional exchanges: Continuing education fosters exchanges among professionals, allowing for the sharing of experiences and best practices.
- Adaptation to patient needs: Speech therapists can better respond to the varied needs of their patients through training on specific pathologies.
Digital tools in speech therapy: advantages and challenges
Digital tools offer numerous opportunities for speech therapists, but they also come with challenges. Here is an overview of the advantages and obstacles associated with their use:
- Advantages:
- Accessibility: Patients can access exercises and resources online at any time.
- Personalization: Digital tools allow for the creation of programs tailored to the specific needs of each patient.
- Progress tracking: Software allows for precise tracking of patients' skill development.
- Challenges:
- Technological skills: Not all speech therapists are comfortable using new technologies.
- Ethics and confidentiality: Protecting patient data is paramount when using digital tools.
- Dependence on technology: Risk of neglecting human interactions in favor of digital tools.
Trends and innovations in the field of speech therapy
The field of speech therapy is undergoing significant changes due to technological innovation and research. Here are some key trends to watch:
- Teletherapy: Teletherapy allows patients to benefit from remote sessions, making care more accessible.
- Mobile applications: Many applications are being developed to assist with speech rehabilitation, offering fun and interactive exercises.
- Artificial intelligence: AI is beginning to be used to analyze patient progress and adapt exercises based on their needs.
- Virtual reality: Virtual reality tools are being explored for immersive therapies, allowing work on real-life situations in a controlled environment.
Interdisciplinary collaboration in speech therapy
Collaboration between speech therapists and other health professionals is essential for comprehensive patient care. Here are some areas where this collaboration is particularly beneficial:
- Neurology: Speech therapists collaborate with neurologists to treat disorders related to strokes or traumatic brain injuries.
- Pediatrics: Working with pediatricians allows for a better understanding of the needs of children with language and learning disorders.
- Psychology: Collaboration with psychologists helps address the emotional and behavioral aspects of communication disorders.
- Education: Speech therapists can work with teachers to implement appropriate strategies in the school environment.
