Clear Masks Do Not Prevent Gains During Dynamic Temporal and Tactile Cueing Treatment: An Explanatory Sequential Mixed Methods Pilot Study.

Saved in:

Bibliographic Details
Title:	Clear Masks Do Not Prevent Gains During Dynamic Temporal and Tactile Cueing Treatment: An Explanatory Sequential Mixed Methods Pilot Study.
Authors:	Iuzzini-Seigel, Jenya¹ jenya.iuzzini-seigel@marquette.edu, Murray, Elizabeth^2,3, Velleman, Shelley L.⁴, Bricker-Katz, Geraldine³, Thomas, Donna³
Source:	American Journal of Speech-Language Pathology. Sep2024, Vol. 33 Issue 5, p2438-2460. 23p.
Subject Terms:	Communicative competence, Caregivers, Pre-tests & post-tests, Speech evaluation, Research methodology, Comparative studies, Psychological tests, Speech therapy, Prompts (Psychology), Touch, Pilot projects, Interviewing, Statistical sampling, Treatment effectiveness, Randomized controlled trials, Descriptive statistics, Medical masks, Speech apraxia
Abstract:	Purpose: This study aimed to determine the outcomes and impact of Dynamic Temporal and Tactile Cueing (DTTC) treatment when clear vinyl masks were worn. DTTC is one of the few evidence-based treatments for children with childhood apraxia of speech (CAS). Given that DTTC relies on visual, auditory, and tactile cues, it was unknown if treatment gains would be demonstrated when masks were worn and how masking would impact the therapy experience for clinicians and caregivers. Method: A sequential mixed methods design was used to study the efficacy of DTTC treatment in children with CAS when clear masks were worn. The quantitative phase used a multiple-baseline across-participants design. Four children (each 4 years of age) participated in the treatment protocol in which 24 sessions of DTTC were provided over 8 weeks while clear vinyl face masks were worn by participants and clinicians. Whole word accuracy on treated items and generalization to easy and hard untreated items were assessed during baseline, treatment, and follow-up. Semistructured interviews were conducted with clinicians and caregivers following treatment to explore the experience of masks being worn during treatment. Qualitative data were analyzed using descriptive thematic analysis. Results: Three children completed the treatment protocol. Visual and statistical analyses revealed that two participants demonstrated significant treatment effects, with one also demonstrating generalization. The remaining participant demonstrated marginal treatment gains. Qualitative findings revealed two main themes: "mask wearing was inconvenient but did not prevent therapy gains" and "in-person therapy with face masks was preferable to teletherapy." Conclusions: Masks did not prohibit treatment gains during DTTC therapy, with treatment effects of varying degrees shown for the three participants who completed the protocol. Together, quantitative and qualitative results indicate that mask wearing was, for most, a minor inconvenience that did not substantially interfere with the efficacy of DTTC treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
	Copyright of American Journal of Speech-Language Pathology is the property of American Speech-Language-Hearing Association and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
Database:	Education Research Complete

Description
Abstract:	Purpose: This study aimed to determine the outcomes and impact of Dynamic Temporal and Tactile Cueing (DTTC) treatment when clear vinyl masks were worn. DTTC is one of the few evidence-based treatments for children with childhood apraxia of speech (CAS). Given that DTTC relies on visual, auditory, and tactile cues, it was unknown if treatment gains would be demonstrated when masks were worn and how masking would impact the therapy experience for clinicians and caregivers. Method: A sequential mixed methods design was used to study the efficacy of DTTC treatment in children with CAS when clear masks were worn. The quantitative phase used a multiple-baseline across-participants design. Four children (each 4 years of age) participated in the treatment protocol in which 24 sessions of DTTC were provided over 8 weeks while clear vinyl face masks were worn by participants and clinicians. Whole word accuracy on treated items and generalization to easy and hard untreated items were assessed during baseline, treatment, and follow-up. Semistructured interviews were conducted with clinicians and caregivers following treatment to explore the experience of masks being worn during treatment. Qualitative data were analyzed using descriptive thematic analysis. Results: Three children completed the treatment protocol. Visual and statistical analyses revealed that two participants demonstrated significant treatment effects, with one also demonstrating generalization. The remaining participant demonstrated marginal treatment gains. Qualitative findings revealed two main themes: "mask wearing was inconvenient but did not prevent therapy gains" and "in-person therapy with face masks was preferable to teletherapy." Conclusions: Masks did not prohibit treatment gains during DTTC therapy, with treatment effects of varying degrees shown for the three participants who completed the protocol. Together, quantitative and qualitative results indicate that mask wearing was, for most, a minor inconvenience that did not substantially interfere with the efficacy of DTTC treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
ISSN:	10580360
DOI:	10.1044/2024_AJSLP-23-00473