JCPSLP vol 14 no 3 2012

39 / 56

JCPSLP Volume 14, Number 3 2012 145
communities. In A. Smith & A. Maeder (Eds.), Selected
papers from Global Telehealth 2010 (pp. 104–111).
Netherlands: IOS Press.
Nyström, K., & Öhrling, K. (2006). Parental support:
Mothers’ experience of electronic encounters. Journal of
Telemedicine and Telecare , 12, 194–197.
O’Brian, S., Packman, A., & Onslow, M. (2008).
Telehealth delivery of the Camperdown Program for adults
who stutter. Journal of Speech, Language, and Hearing
Research, 51, 184–195.
Russ, S., Poulakis, Z., Barker, M., Rickards, F., Saunders,
K., & Oberklaid, F. (2003). Epidemiology of congenital
hearing loss in Victoria, Australia. International Journal of
Audiology , 42, 385–390.
Senate Committee. (2002). Employment, workplace
relations, and education references: Education of
students with disabilities . Retrieved from http://aph.
Committees?url=eet_ctte/completed_inquiries/2002-04/
ed_students_withdisabilities/report/index.htm
Sightspeed Business (2004–2009). [computer software].
Berkeley, CA: Sightspeed. Retrieved from www.sightspeed.
com/business.html
Theodoros, D. (2011, June). A new era in speech
pathology practice: Innovations and diversification. Paper
presented at the Speech Pathology Australia National
Conference Diversity & Development, Darwin, Australia.
Retrieved from
Abstract.pdf
Waite, M., Theodoros, D., Russell, T., & Cahill, L. (2010).
Internet-based telehealth assessment of language using
the CELF-4. Language, Speech, and Hearing Services in
Schools, 14, 445–458.
number allowed us to manage any technology problems.
This discussion highlights some key practical and
pedagogical considerations that are required to make the
telepractice model successful and illustrates modifications
that might be made in telepractice sessions on other topics
or within other areas of speech pathology.
Conclusion
Our aim of providing an It Takes Two to Talk program to
parents was to connect rural families and provide a
high-quality parent education program. For families enrolled
in RIDBC Teleschool, this required the use of technology to
deliver parent courses. When speech pathology services
can use technology to offer group sessions to support
communities of people from similar circumstances across
wide distances, then rural and remote families are truly
receiving services comparable to their metropolitan
counterparts. RIDBC Teleschool’s initial investigations in
using telepractice to deliver parent education groups have
been technology-based. Each telepractice method
described was trialled to establish which technologies can
be used to effectively deliver parent education groups.
Future research should investigate the effectiveness of
telepractice parent education groups as compared to those
delivered face to face. This should not only look at parent
satisfaction, but also examine the changes in the
communication skills of the children participating while
using different modes for delivering the parent education
groups.
References
Atkins, V. (2009). Family involvement and counselling in
serving children who possess impaired hearing. In R. Hull
(Ed.), Introduction to aural rehabilitation (pp. 89–106). San
Diego, CA: Plural Publishing.
Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2009) Australian social
trends: 2008. Retrieved from
AUSSTATS/abs@.nsf/Lookup/4102.0Chapter3002008
Baharav, E., & Reiser, C. (2010). Using telepractice in
parent training in early autism. Telemedicine and e-Health,
16, 727–731.
Conklin, C., Pepper, J., Weitzman, E., & McDade, A.
(2007). It Takes Two to Talk: The Hanen program for parents
(5th ed.). Toronto, Canada: Hanen Centre Publication.
Crinc, K., & Stormshak, E. (1997). The effectiveness of
providing social support for families of children at risk. In
M. J. Guralnick (Ed.), The effectiveness of early intervention
(pp. 209–226). Baltimore, MD: Paul H. Brookes Publishing.
McCarthy, M. (2010). Telehealth or tele-education?
Providing intensive, ongoing therapy to remote
Corinne Loomes is a senior speech pathologist who has worked
in the field of disability since 1998. She is currently working with
hearing- and vision-impaired children across Australia with RIDBC
Teleschool. Alice Montgomery is a speech pathologist working at
RIDBC Teleschool. Alice works with children with a hearing
impairment who live in rural and remote Australia. Alice graduated
from City University in London in 2005 and moved to Australia in
2008.
Correspondence to:
Corinne Loomes
RIDBC Teleschool
Private Bag 29, Parramatta, NSW, 2124
phone: +61 (0)2 9872 0254
email: