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Creswell, J. W. (2009). Research design: Qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods approaches (3rd ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage. Davalos, M. E., French, M. T., Burdick, A. E., & Simmons, S. C. (2009). Economic evaluation of telemedicine: Review of the literature and research guidelines for benefit-costs analysis. Telemedicine and e-Health , 15 (10), 933–948. Department of Health and Aging (DHA). (2011). The ehealth readiness of Australia’s allied health sector (Publications Approval Number: D0512). Retrieved from http://www.health.gov.au/internet/publications/ publishing.nsf/Content/ehealth-readiness-allied-toc~app- 3~Speech+pathologists Dunkley, C., Pattie, L., Wilson, L., & McAllister, L. (2010). A comparison of rural speech-language pathologists’ and residents’ access to and attitudes towards the use of technology for speech-language pathology service delivery. International Journal of Speech-Language Pathology , 12 (4), 333–343. Hill, A., & Theodoros, D. (2002). Research into telehealth applications in speech-language pathology. Journal of Telemedicine and Telecare , 8 (4), 187–196. Hill, A. J., Theodoros, D. G., Russell, T. G., Cahill, L. M., Ward, E. C., & Clark, K. M. (2006). An internet-based telerehabilitation system for the assessment of motor speech disorders: A pilot study. American Journal of Speech-Language Pathology , 15 (1), 45–56. Hill, A. J., Theodoros, D., Russell, T., & Ward, E. (2009a). The redesign and re-evaluation of an internet-based telerehabilitation system for the assessment of dysarthria in adults. Telemedicine and e-HEALTH , 15 (9), 840–850. Hill, A. J., Theodoros, D., Russell, T., & Ward, E. (2009b). Using telerehabilitation to assess apraxia of speech in adults. International Journal of Language and Communication Disorders , 44 (5), 731–747. Hill, A. J., Theodoros, D. G., Russell, T. G., Ward, E. C., & Wootton, R. (2008). The effects of aphasia severity on the ability to assess language disorders via telerehabilitation. Aphasiology , 23 (5), 627-642. Lewis, C., Packman, A., Onslow, M., Simpson, J. M., & Jones, M. (2008). A phase II trial of telehealth delivery of the lidcombe program of early stuttering intervention. American Journal of Speech-Language Pathology , 17 (2), 139–149. Mashima, P. A., & Doarn, C. R. (2008). Overview of telehealth activities in speech-language pathology. Telemedicine and e-HEALTH , 14 (10), 1101–1117. doi:10.1089/tmj.2008.0080 McCue, M., Fairman, A., & Pramuka, M. (2010). Enhancing quality of life through telerehabilitation. Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Clinics of North America , 21 (1), 195–205. Reynolds, A. L., Vick, J. L., & Haak, N. J. (2009). Telehealth applications in speech-language pathology: a modified narrative review. Journal of Telemedicine and Telecare , 15 (6), 310–316. Speech Pathologists Board of Queensland. (2010). Annual report 2009–10 . Retrieved from http://www. speechpathboard.qld.gov.au/publications.htm Speech Pathology Australia (SPA). (2005). Productivity commission health workforce study: Speech Pathology Australia response . Retrieved from http://www.pc.gov. au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0009/10215/sub053.pdf

and adult clients were reported to access SLP services via telehealth with clinicians delivering a diverse range of direct therapy. However, the results of the survey appear to show a deviation from the emergent evidence base for telehealth in SLP, with the majority of respondents using telehealth to provide clinical treatment services to paediatric populations despite a paucity of evidence in the literature. Clinicians reported high levels of confidence and satisfaction in the services they delivered via telehealth. Respondents identified a range of benefits to using telehealth in clinical practice and expressed a strong desire to expand their telehealth services. However, significant barriers to this expansion were identified especially in relation to technology, telecommunication infrastructure, and resources. Clinicians suggested a number of facilitators for the further development of telehealth in SLP and these comments require careful consideration by the institutions responsible for the education of SLPs and the provision of SLP services to all client populations. With the Australian government showing interest in telehealth, now is the time for education and training into the telehealth delivery of SLP services so that our profession is ready to respond to new technologies, new telecommunication infrastructure, and client demands for alternative service delivery options. Telehealth will be part of the future for SLP in Australia and should be embraced to facilitate the increased access to services that clients with communication and swallowing problems require. Acknowledgments We thank the participants. We also acknowledge Speech Pathology Australia, the heads of department at all universities with SLP courses across Australia, and the heads of SLP departments in Queensland Health and Education Queensland for helping distribute the survey. References American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. (2002). Survey report on telepractice use among audiologists and speech-language pathologists . Retrieved from http://www. asha.org/uploadedFiles/practice/telepractice/ SurveyofTelepractice.pdf American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. (2005). Speech-language pathologists providing clinical services via telepractice: Position statement . Retrieved from www.asha.org/policy Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS). (2008). Year book Australia 2008 (No. 90 ABS Catalogue No. 1301.0). Retrieved from http://www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/abs@.nsf/ mf/1301.0 Bashshur, R. L. (1995). Telemedicine effects: Cost, quality, and access. Journal of Medical Systems , 19 (2), 81–91. Carey, B., O’Brian, S., Onslow, M., Block, S., Jones, M., & Packman, A. (2010). Randomized controlled non- inferiority trial of a telehealth treatment for chronic stuttering: The camperdown program. International Journal of Language and Communication Disorders , 45 (1), 108–120. Constantinescu, G. A., Theodoros, D. G., Russell, T. G., Ward, E. C., Wilson, S. J., & Wootton, R. (2011). Treating disorders speech and voice in Parkinson’s disease online: A randomised controlled non-inferiority trial. International Journal of Language and Communication Disorders , 46 (1), 1–16.

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JCPSLP Volume 14, Number 3 2012

Journal of Clinical Practice in Speech-Language Pathology

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