Exploring tele-speech therapy: A scoping review of interventions, applications, benefits, and challenges

Background: Speech disorders can significantly impact communication, social interaction, and overall quality of life, affecting individuals of all ages. Telespeech therapy has emerged as an innovative solution, leveraging technology to provide accessible and effective speech interventions remotely. This approach offers flexibility and convenience, addressing barriers such as geographical limitations and scheduling conflicts. This review aims to explore key interventions, applications, benefits, and challenges of telespeech therapy to enhance understanding of its potential in improving speech and language outcomes. Methods: The scoping review was carried out in alignment with the PRISMA-ScR (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses Extension for Scoping Reviews) guidelines. Three electronic databases PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science were searched. Two authors independently screened and selected the studies. Results: Of the 2,587 papers, 52 articles were included in our review. Telespeech was most commonly used for treating aphasia (n =17), stuttering (n = 8), and Parkinson's disease (n = 6). The primary interventions included videoconferencing (63 %), web-based platforms (24 %), and mobile applications (13 %), with most services delivered synchronously (63 %) and some asynchronously (37 %). The most common applications were "rehabilitation and treatment" (59 %) and "performance assessment of patients"(35 %). A total of 264 tele-speech benefits and challenges were identified and later consolidated into 40 items (26 benefits, 14 challenges). Key benefits included "reliable access to healthcare services and addressing disparities" (n = 26), "cost savings" (n = 23), and "improving patient outcomes and quality of care" (n = 21). Major challenges were "low-speed internet" (n = 13), "lack of technology skills" (n = 11), and "limited access to technology" (n = 8). Conclusion: Telespeech therapy can be effectively integrated into routine practice, especially in underserved or remote areas. It offers a flexible, cost-effective solution for rehabilitation and performance assessment, improving patient outcomes and addressing healthcare gaps. Continued technological advancements and targeted training can further enhance its benefits and effectiveness.