Interprofessional collaboration and the use of assistive technology tools in SLP for developmental language disorders

Objective: (1) to present the design methodology and outcomes of a professional tool intended to both improve the overall effectiveness of language disorder treatments and stimulate child engagement through individually customized mobile apps; (2) to promote the use of tablets and SLP apps; (3) to describe a good practice of inter-professional collaboration with an external academic body (Department of Information Engineering, University of Padua). Methods: The app-tool was created to assist young patients with the construction of clauses. Its interactive and auditory-visual feedback construction was designed to help children in the expansion of arguments and stress of morphology. The app was tested with a sample group of pre-school children with SLD and secondary anguage disorders. The experimental phase included an initial assessment, a questionnaire for the SLPs, followed by a treatment period and a final evaluation. Results: The app-tool increased the motivation and attention of children during SLP therapy. Accuracy of the answers was improved. The interprofessional collaboration played a significant role in the step-by-step development of the SLP tools. Conclusions: The use of mobile apps may signi cantly improve the effectiveness of SLP treatments provided that: 1. SLP designs the therapy plan for each patient as a result of clinical assessment; 2. the app is used to achieve the rehabilitation outcomes. The interprofessional collaboration provides a higher level of customization and specificity.