TeleCHAT

TeleCHAT is a comprehensive high-dose aphasia therapy program delivered straight to a person’s home via telerehabilitation/over the internet. TeleCHAT has been translated from the in-person CHAT program developed by The University of Queensland. The in-person CHAT program is currently being delivered at the Surgical, Treatment and Rehabilitation Service (STARS), Herston, Brisbane as part of the clinical speech pathology service.

TeleCHAT is currently being researched to determine the usability, feasibility, and acceptability of delivering the therapy program into a person’s home via telerehabilitation. Clinical and cost outcomes are also being evaluated. TeleCHAT uses videoconferencing software to enable people to participate in this comprehensive and high-dose therapy from home.

TeleCHAT components align with the CHAT program.

People with aphasia and their partners or significant others are invited to participate in the TeleCHAT research program which is being conducted from the Queensland Aphasia Research Centre (QARC) at STARS

The TeleCHAT research program includes:

• Formal comprehensive assessment. Currently this assessment needs to be done in-person at a person’s home/location by a research speech pathologist.  
• Goal setting done in-person at the person’s home/location.
• Training in how to access TeleCHAT using videoconferencing is provided in-person at the person’s home.
• Patient and family education about stroke and aphasia via telerehabilitation
• 50 hours of language therapy, within 8 weeks, tailored to individual therapy goals via telerehabilitation
• Individual therapy sessions, computer-based therapy sessions and group therapy sessions via telerehabilitation

Eligibility to participate

To be considered for this research, people need to meet the following criteria:

• Aged 18 years of age or older at time of consent.
• Confirmed stroke as per a medical diagnosis.
• Presence of aphasia as identified by their (current or previous) treating speech language pathologist using formal speech pathology assessment.
• At least 1 month post-stroke (at the time of assessment)
• Have access at home to basic technology – including internet connection, videoconferencing compatible devices and equipment (e.g. computer, laptop or tablet).

Currently, people may be excluded from this research based on:

• Absence of functional English skills in those of non-English speaking background.
• Significant co-morbidities that would prevent participation in aphasia rehabilitation as determined by the treating speech language pathologist, and/or in consultation with the treating multidisciplinary team if appropriate. This may include severe cognitive impairments and/or poor manual dexterity.

Find out more information:

Invitation to participate in the TeleCHAT research program.

People with aphasia - a participant information form and consent form for the TeleCHAT research program can be found here.

Partners or support people of people with aphasia - a participant information and consent form for the TeleCHAT research program can be found here.