How Many SLPs are REALLY Using iPads?
Just as I am a member of the American Speech Language and
Hearing Association (ASHA), I am also a member of the Pennsylvania Speech-Language-Hearing Association (PSHA). PSHA has proven to be a wonderful resource
for me over the past few years.
A few weeks ago, PSHA sent out the final results
of a recent survey they conducted asking speech-language pathologists about
their use of iPads for speech therapy and within the workplace. I found the
results very interesting and wanted to share some of the highlights.
Of
the 139 people that participated in the survey, 136 of them were speech
therapists (two of the participants were audiologists and one person did not
answer the question). Eighty-two (59 percent) of the 139 participants described
their workplace as a "school." Other workplaces included a hospital, outpatient
clinic, rehab/nursing home, university, "other," and "retired." When asked "Do You Currently Use an iPad with Your
Caseload?" 86 participants (62.3 percent) responded "yes," while the
remaining 52 (37.7 percent) responded "no."
So, based on this survey alone, more than
half of us are currently using an iPad in therapy!
These next two sections I also found
interesting. When asked, "What do you use the device for?" the participants said
they used the iPad in the following ways: data collection (33); alternative
and augmentative communication (58); therapy materials (80); photos (51); video
clips (27); training and
in-service (15); email
and other communication (43).
For me, this really demonstrates the
diverse usefulness of the device for our field. The iPad allows and empowers us
to perform many different tasks that are all necessary for and beneficial to
our work.
Another
section that I found particularly interesting was the information gleaned from
the question, "Who purchased your
device?" 40
percent said that they purchased it themselves, while 50 percent said
that their employer purchased the device. (Ten percent chose "other.") Although
we obviously do not know what "other" entails, I actually fall into that
category, as I currently do not own the iPad I am using, nor does my employer.
I "borrowed" it from our county lending library and am dreading the day that I
have to return it! This section also tells me that there may be many places of
employment that are either unable to financially make the investment or they
simply have chosen not to.
Please
share your reactions and thoughts to these questions and join me next week as I
delve deeper into other sections of the survey!
A Special Thanks to PSHA for being willing to share their findings and for creating a link to make access to the survey!
The survey can be
viewed here in its entirety!