Rehabilitation Supported by Immersive Virtual Reality for Adults With Communication Disorders: Semistructured Interviews and Usability Survey Study.

Background: Individuals who have acquired communication disorders often struggle to transfer the skills they learn during therapy sessions to real-life situations. Immersive virtual reality (VR) technology has the potential to create realistic communication environments that can be used both in clinical settings and for practice at home by individuals with communication disorders.

Objective: This research aims to enhance our understanding of the acceptance, usefulness, and usability of a VR application (SIM:Kitchen), designed for communication rehabilitation.

Assessment of communication competence in acquired communication disorders: A systematic scoping review.

Purpose: Individuals with acquired communication disorders (ACDs) experience reduced ability to participate independently in activities of daily life, and maintain interpersonal relationships and psychosocial wellbeing. Communication interventions are designed to optimise communication competence in personally relevant everyday activities. However, the assessment tools speech-language pathologists (SLPs) typically utilise to evaluate communication competence in everyday life are not ideal.

Student Perceptions of Simulation to Enhance Clinical Readiness for Assessment and Management of Adults With Voice Disorders.

Background: Simulation is a safe, supported, and accessible learning method for students to gain skills and experience, especially in difficult to access range of practice areas such as voice.

Objective: The study aimed to explore change in students' perceptions of knowledge, confidence, anxiety, and clinical readiness for assessment and management of an adult with a voice disorder after participation in simulation-based learning activities.

Methods: Participants (N = 113) were students enrolled in a mandatory course dedicated to the voice and voice disorders.

Substrates of speech treatment-induced neuroplasticity in adults and children with motor speech disorders: A systematic scoping review of neuroimaging evidence.

Neuroimaging may provide clinical evidence for speech treatment-induced neuroplasticity. This review aimed to report the current scope of evidence relating to brain changes identified using neuroimaging techniques, following effective speech intervention in adults and children with motor speech disorders (MSD). Studies were retrieved from five electronic databases (PubMed, CINAHL, EMBASE (Medline), SCOPUS, and Web of Science) and a general internet search.

a mixed-method investigation of clinician acceptance, barriers and enablers of virtual reality technology in communication rehabilitation.

Purpose: Acquired communication disorders can result in significant barriers to everyday life activities, and commonly require long-term rehabilitation. This research aimed to investigate usability, acceptance, barriers and enablers to the use of immersive virtual reality (VR) technology for communication rehabilitation from the perspective of speech-language pathologists (SLPs).

Methods: Semi-structured interviews and surveys (system usability and motion sickness) were carried out with 15 SLPs following their participation in communication activities typical of daily life, experienced within an immersive VR kitchen environment.

Simulation can replace part of speech-language pathology placement time: A randomised controlled trial.

Purpose: Simulation is increasingly used within speech-language pathology education. Research has primarily explored students' perceptions of learning in simulation. The aim of this study was to determine if speech-language pathology students achieved a statistically-equivalent level of competency when a mean of 20% of placement time was replaced with simulation compared to placements without a simulation component.

Technology-enabled management of communication and swallowing disorders in Parkinson's disease: a systematic scoping review.

Background: Communication and swallowing disorders are highly prevalent in people with Parkinson's disease (PD). Maintenance of functional communication and swallowing over time is challenging for the person with PD and their families and may lead to social isolation and reduced quality of life if not addressed. Speech and language therapists (SLTs) face the conundrum of providing sustainable and flexible services to meet the changing needs of people with PD.

Speech outcomes in Parkinson's disease after subthalamic nucleus deep brain stimulation: A systematic review.

Deep brain stimulation (DBS) of the subthalamic nucleus (STN) is effective in reducing motor symptoms for many individuals with Parkinson's disease (PD). However, STN DBS does not appear to influence speech in the same way, and may result in a variety of negative outcomes for people with PD (PWP). A high degree of inter-individual variability amongst PWP regarding speech outcomes following STN DBS is evident in many studies.