1343L - Reliability of Scoring Telehealth Speech Sound Assessments Administered in Real-World Scenarios

COVID-19 caused a worldwide conversion from in-person therapy to telehealth; however, limited evidence to support the efficacy of remotely delivering standardized tests puts the future of widespread telehealth use at risk. We investigated the reliability of scoring a speech sound assessment (SSA) administered in real-world scenarios. Three licensed speech-language pathologists (SLPs) concurrently scored children’s responses in person, and in two telehealth conditions. Mean standard scores and interrater reliability results were compared among the three conditions. This study supports the provision of a pediatric SSA using consumer-grade equipment, as in-person and telehealth scoring conditions produced similar results. However, SLP participants’ skeptical attitudes toward remote delivery of standardized tests reveal an ongoing barrier to widespread telehealth use.