Lightning Oral Presentation Australian and New Zealand Stroke Organisation Conference 2026

Delivering aphasia therapy via telerehabilitation in a clinical health setting: An evaluation of usability         (139177)

Hannah Wedley 1 2 , Jade Dignam 1 2 , Kirstine Shrubsole 1 2 , Genevieve Vuong 1 2 3 , David Copland 1 2 , Annie Hill 2 4
  1. Surgical Treatment and Rehabilitation Service (STARS) Education and Research Alliance, The University of Queensland and Metro North Health, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
  2. Queensland Aphasia Research Centre, School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
  3. Faculty of Health, Southern Cross University , Bilinga, QLD, Australia
  4. Centre of Research Excellence in Aphasia Rehabilitation and Recovery, La Trobe University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia

Background/Aims: 

There is evidence that a range of aphasia therapies can be delivered via telerehabilitation in the research context[1], however, health services have policies around the use of specific telerehabilitation systems. This study aimed to evaluate the usability of Microsoft Teams® to deliver impairment and activity/participation-based therapy in a clinical health setting.

Methods:

A phase 1, multi-site usability study.

Using the systematic process described by Vuong[2], commonly delivered evidence-based impairment and activity/participation aphasia therapies were adapted for telerehabilitation delivery via Microsoft Teams®.

Five adults (3F, 2M; mean age 54.4years, SD=8.2; mean time post onset 7.2months, SD=4.1) with post-stroke aphasia were recruited from three metropolitan outpatient and community rehabilitation services. Health service speech pathologists received training via online modules and a practical workshop.

Usability was measured using dose, technology error logs, and a 31-question patient satisfaction survey (5-point Likert scale). Quantitative data were analysed using descriptive statistics.

Results:

Sixteen evidence-based aphasia therapies (11 impairment, 5 activity/participation) were delivered. Participants received a mean of 13.5hours of telerehabilitation (SD=9.4; range 4.5-25 hours), with minimal disruption from technology issues (mean 0.85h, SD=0.52, range 0.35–1.67h). Most frequent issues included difficulties joining Microsoft Teams® and software issues.

Participants reported high satisfaction using the telerehabilitation system and would recommend therapy to others (mean 4.8, SD=0.45, range 4-5).

Conclusion:

Microsoft Teams® was found to be usable for delivery of 16 impairment and activity/participation-based aphasia therapies in clinical health settings. Usability was enhanced by appropriate clinician training and training resources have been adapted to address most frequent technology issues.

  1. Cetinkaya, Berzan, Katherine Twomey, Bria Bullard, Sabrina EL Kouaissi, and Paul Conroy. 2023. “Telerehabilitation of Aphasia: A Systematic Review of the Literature.” Aphasiology 38 (7): 1271–1302. doi:10.1080/02687038.2023.2274621.
  2. Vuong, G., Burns, C. L., Dignam, J., Copland, D. A., Wedley, H., & Hill, A. J. (2025). Configuration of a telerehabilitation system to deliver a comprehensive aphasia therapy program via telerehabilitation (TeleCHAT): A human-centred design approach. Aphasiology, 39(1), 93–124. https://doi.org/10.1080/02687038.2024.2314328