Client Perspectives of Telerehabilitation in Stuttering during the Covid-19 Pandemic: A Survey at a Tertiary Rehabilitation Center in Kerala

Background: Studies on telerehabilitation in India have primarily addressed the clinicians’ perspective. Therefore, this study aimed to understand the perspectives of clients—specifically adults who stutter—regarding telerehabilitation during the COVID-19 pandemic. Method A mixed-methods survey, com...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Preethy Susan Reni, Vrinda R, Rejitha Kumari L, Suja Kunnath
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Shiraz University of Medical Sciences 2025-06-01
Series:Journal of Rehabilitation Sciences and Research
Subjects:
Online Access:https://jrsr.sums.ac.ir/article_50088_b3ab5381e14ff3b274ef27a35096e702.pdf
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1849744598809706496
author Preethy Susan Reni
Vrinda R
Rejitha Kumari L
Suja Kunnath
author_facet Preethy Susan Reni
Vrinda R
Rejitha Kumari L
Suja Kunnath
author_sort Preethy Susan Reni
collection DOAJ
description Background: Studies on telerehabilitation in India have primarily addressed the clinicians’ perspective. Therefore, this study aimed to understand the perspectives of clients—specifically adults who stutter—regarding telerehabilitation during the COVID-19 pandemic. Method A mixed-methods survey, combining interviews and self-report questionnaires, explored client perspectives on telerehabilitation for adults who stutter during the pandemic. Twelve adults who stutter aged 18 to 40 attending telerehabilitation sessions at a tertiary rehabilitation center participated in the study. Results All participants expressed comfort in discussing their problems and anxieties with the clinician during teletherapy sessions. Additionally, 91.7% (n = 11) reported feeling confident in managing the online platform. Of the participants, 66.7% (n = 8) rated the sessions as excellent, while 33.3% (n = 4) rated them as good. Preferences regarding session modes were evenly split, with 50% favoring teletherapy and the other 50% preferring a hybrid approach. The majority of participants considered avoiding travel during the pandemic to be a significant advantage of telerehabilitation. However, internet connectivity issues were identified as a major disadvantage. Conclusion The findings of this study highlight both the advantages and challenges of telerehabilitation for adults who stutter. Participants reported that telerehabilitation helped improve their speech fluency and proved a viable and effective approach for addressing stuttering during the COVID-19 pandemic.
format Article
id doaj-art-84de9e10a6624e7bbce77c7b001ed44c
institution DOAJ
issn 2345-6167
2345-6159
language English
publishDate 2025-06-01
publisher Shiraz University of Medical Sciences
record_format Article
series Journal of Rehabilitation Sciences and Research
spelling doaj-art-84de9e10a6624e7bbce77c7b001ed44c2025-08-20T03:13:22ZengShiraz University of Medical SciencesJournal of Rehabilitation Sciences and Research2345-61672345-61592025-06-01122596510.30476/jrsr.2024.94501.127550088Client Perspectives of Telerehabilitation in Stuttering during the Covid-19 Pandemic: A Survey at a Tertiary Rehabilitation Center in KeralaPreethy Susan Reni0Vrinda R1Rejitha Kumari L2Suja Kunnath3Department of Audiology and speech Language Pathology, National Institute of Speech and Hearing, Trivandrum, Kerala, IndiaDepartment of Neurodevelopmental Sciences National Institute of Speech and Hearing, Trivandrum, Kerala, IndiaDepartment of Social work National Institute of Speech and Hearing, Trivandrum, Kerala, IndiaNational Institute of Speech and Hearing, Trivandrum, Kerala, IndiaBackground: Studies on telerehabilitation in India have primarily addressed the clinicians’ perspective. Therefore, this study aimed to understand the perspectives of clients—specifically adults who stutter—regarding telerehabilitation during the COVID-19 pandemic. Method A mixed-methods survey, combining interviews and self-report questionnaires, explored client perspectives on telerehabilitation for adults who stutter during the pandemic. Twelve adults who stutter aged 18 to 40 attending telerehabilitation sessions at a tertiary rehabilitation center participated in the study. Results All participants expressed comfort in discussing their problems and anxieties with the clinician during teletherapy sessions. Additionally, 91.7% (n = 11) reported feeling confident in managing the online platform. Of the participants, 66.7% (n = 8) rated the sessions as excellent, while 33.3% (n = 4) rated them as good. Preferences regarding session modes were evenly split, with 50% favoring teletherapy and the other 50% preferring a hybrid approach. The majority of participants considered avoiding travel during the pandemic to be a significant advantage of telerehabilitation. However, internet connectivity issues were identified as a major disadvantage. Conclusion The findings of this study highlight both the advantages and challenges of telerehabilitation for adults who stutter. Participants reported that telerehabilitation helped improve their speech fluency and proved a viable and effective approach for addressing stuttering during the COVID-19 pandemic.https://jrsr.sums.ac.ir/article_50088_b3ab5381e14ff3b274ef27a35096e702.pdfadults who stutterclient perspectivecovid-19stutteringtelerehabilitation
spellingShingle Preethy Susan Reni
Vrinda R
Rejitha Kumari L
Suja Kunnath
Client Perspectives of Telerehabilitation in Stuttering during the Covid-19 Pandemic: A Survey at a Tertiary Rehabilitation Center in Kerala
Journal of Rehabilitation Sciences and Research
adults who stutter
client perspective
covid-19
stuttering
telerehabilitation
title Client Perspectives of Telerehabilitation in Stuttering during the Covid-19 Pandemic: A Survey at a Tertiary Rehabilitation Center in Kerala
title_full Client Perspectives of Telerehabilitation in Stuttering during the Covid-19 Pandemic: A Survey at a Tertiary Rehabilitation Center in Kerala
title_fullStr Client Perspectives of Telerehabilitation in Stuttering during the Covid-19 Pandemic: A Survey at a Tertiary Rehabilitation Center in Kerala
title_full_unstemmed Client Perspectives of Telerehabilitation in Stuttering during the Covid-19 Pandemic: A Survey at a Tertiary Rehabilitation Center in Kerala
title_short Client Perspectives of Telerehabilitation in Stuttering during the Covid-19 Pandemic: A Survey at a Tertiary Rehabilitation Center in Kerala
title_sort client perspectives of telerehabilitation in stuttering during the covid 19 pandemic a survey at a tertiary rehabilitation center in kerala
topic adults who stutter
client perspective
covid-19
stuttering
telerehabilitation
url https://jrsr.sums.ac.ir/article_50088_b3ab5381e14ff3b274ef27a35096e702.pdf
work_keys_str_mv AT preethysusanreni clientperspectivesoftelerehabilitationinstutteringduringthecovid19pandemicasurveyatatertiaryrehabilitationcenterinkerala
AT vrindar clientperspectivesoftelerehabilitationinstutteringduringthecovid19pandemicasurveyatatertiaryrehabilitationcenterinkerala
AT rejithakumaril clientperspectivesoftelerehabilitationinstutteringduringthecovid19pandemicasurveyatatertiaryrehabilitationcenterinkerala
AT sujakunnath clientperspectivesoftelerehabilitationinstutteringduringthecovid19pandemicasurveyatatertiaryrehabilitationcenterinkerala