Examining the Technical Issues in Teletherapy for Children with Developmental Delays

Abstract

Abstract. Medical digitization has advanced in developing countries, improving work efficiency. Teletherapy has emerged from this advancement. Nevertheless, teletherapy has encountered obstacles, such as software and hardware issues. Problems arose from technological factors such as slow connectivity, inadequate hardware specs, and poor audiovisual. This study aims to examine the technical issues related to teletherapy for children with developmental delays. By implementing descriptive statistical approaches with 43 participants, we found that patients struggled to be involved in teletherapy, resulting in the need for special guidance in the process. Therapists felt their clients' places were extremely crowded, and the low video quality of their devices hampered their ability to conduct optimal observations. Patients had a higher level of satisfaction and interest than therapists, meaning the patients would likely continue to be involved in the future. We also came up with another finding indicating that confidentiality has not become a major concern since building an intimate therapeutic relationship and learning to operate technology are still top priorities. Henceforth, implementing teletherapy would need a solid strategy in the future. Keywords: Children, digitization, technical issues, teletherapy, therapists