Potential of telephonic and television technology for appraising and diagnosing neurogenic communication disorders in remote settings

Abstract

Telephonic and television technology was employed in a simulation study to determine its potential for providing appraisal and diagnosis of patients who suffer neurogenic communication disorders and reside in remote settings. Traditional, face-to-face appraisal and diagnosis was compared with appraisal and diagnosis by closed circuit television and computer-controlled video laserdisc over the telephone. Significant agreement in diagnosis among the three appraisal conditions and essentially the same performance on appraisal measures in all conditions suggests either closed circuit television or computer-controlled video laserdisc over the telephone could be substituted for traditional, face-to-face appraisal and diagnosis to reach patients who reside where traditional services do not exist.