Beziehungsgestaltung und Kommunikation in der sprachtherapeutischen Videobehandlung Eine qualitative Studie

Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, speech therapy via telepractice became possible in Germany for the first time (Lauer, 2020; G-BA, 2021). The study presented here aimed to investigate the therapeutic relationship and communication in telepractice targeting adult patients with acquired speech and language disorders from the perspective of speech and language therapists. Using a qualitative research approach of grounded theory methodology (GTM), nine episodic interviews were conducted with speech therapists (Flick, 2011). Following the procedure of GTM, the interviews were inductively coded, and a core category was identified, namely "adapting to challenges and changes" (Strauss S Corbin, 1996). The conditions and consequences of this core category demonstrate the importance of therapeutic communication and relationship building in telepractice. These changes and challenges that have occurred within teletherapy require adaptation skills in speech therapists. However, despite existing challenges and changes, relationship and communication building can succeed using newly developed skills and strategies. The results of this study show that prospective speech and language therapists should have in-depth competencies in relationship building and communication in (tele-)speech-therapy. Furthermore, future research should consider the patients' perspective and the special needs of individuals with motor, perceptual and cognitive impairments, as well as those with different speech and language disorders. In addition, other methodological approaches such as participant observation and videography would be beneficial to further knowledge in this area of research.