{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,23]],"date-time":"2026-09-23T10:58:26Z","timestamp":1790161106674,"version":"4.1.0"},"reference-count":37,"publisher":"AOSIS","issue":"1","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2025,1,31]],"date-time":"2025-01-31T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1738281600000},"content-version":"unspecified","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":[],"abstract":"<jats:p>Background: Tele-intervention gained popularity, during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, prompting healthcare providers to adapt to remote service delivery. Research about stuttering treatment via tele-intervention in South Africa is limited. Speech-language therapists (SLTs) require further insights to deliver a well-supported approach for treatment of stuttering using tele-intervention, despite limitations such as technological disruptions, including loadshedding, that impact service reliability.\n\nObjectives: The study aims to explore clients\u2019 experiences with tele-intervention for stuttering therapy, and to provide recommendations to improve service delivery.\n\nMethod: Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 11 persons who stutter (PWS) recruited through purposive sampling. Written informed consent was obtained from all participants with experience in both tele-intervention and in-person treatment. Inductive thematic analysis supplemented by descriptive statistics was used to identify patterns and trends.\n\nResults: Four main themes emerged: (1) User experiences and factors shaping perceptions of tele-intervention; (2) technical infrastructure: barriers and facilitators; (3) financial and access considerations and (4) in-person treatment experience compared to tele-intervention user experience. Likert scale ratings indicated no considerable difference in preferences between tele-intervention and in-person treatment.\n\nConclusion: Participants\u2019 diverse experiences highlighted tele-intervention\u2019s benefits and challenges for stuttering therapy. While limitations exist, findings inform service enhancement in South Africa, emphasising the importance of users\u2019 perspectives in tele-intervention design.\n\nContribution: Insights from PWS can be used in informing clinical practice, aiding SLTs in meeting the needs of PWS and guiding best practice. Tele-intervention should be integrated into a hybrid intervention model that PWS prefer.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.4102\/sajcd.v72i1.1068","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2025,1,31]],"date-time":"2025-01-31T08:53:55Z","timestamp":1738313635000},"update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.4102\/crossmark-policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":1,"title":["How I experienced tele-intervention: Qualitative insights from persons who stutter"],"prefix":"10.4102","volume":"72","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0009-0004-2830-8936","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Raadhiyah","family":"Hoosain","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"id":[{"id":"https:\/\/ror.org\/00g0p6g84","id-type":"ROR","asserted-by":"publisher"}],"name":"University of Pretoria"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-2930-2259","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Shabnam","family":"Abdoola","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"id":[{"id":"https:\/\/ror.org\/00g0p6g84","id-type":"ROR","asserted-by":"publisher"}],"name":"University of Pretoria"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-9940-8812","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Esedra","family":"Kr\u00fcger","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"id":[{"id":"https:\/\/ror.org\/00g0p6g84","id-type":"ROR","asserted-by":"publisher"}],"name":"University of Pretoria"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-7839-8384","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Bhavani","family":"Pillay","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"id":[{"id":"https:\/\/ror.org\/00g0p6g84","id-type":"ROR","asserted-by":"publisher"}],"name":"University of Pretoria"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"2580","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2025,1,31]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref0","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Abrahams, K., Kathard, H., Harty, M., & Pillay, M. (2019). Inequity and the professionalisation of speech-language pathology. Professions and Professionalism, 9(3), 1\u201316. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.7577\/pp.3285","DOI":"10.7577\/pp.3285"},{"key":"ref1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Aggarwal, K., Patel, R., & Ravi, R. (2020). Uptake of tele-intervention among speech-language therapists following COVID-19 pandemic in India. Speech, Language and Hearing, 24(4), 228\u2013234. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1080\/2050571X.2020.1812034","DOI":"10.1080\/2050571X.2020.1812034"},{"key":"ref2","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Almathami, H.K.Y., Win, K.T., & Vlahu-Gjorgievska, E. (2020). Barriers and facilitators that influence telemedicine-based, real-time, online consultation at patients\u2019 homes: Systematic literature review. 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A descriptive analysis of assessment measures on the effectiveness of a comprehensive stuttering intervention approach: A single case study. South African Journal of Communication Disorders, 67(1), 1\u20139. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.4102\/SAJCD.V67I1.648","DOI":"10.4102\/sajcd.v67i1.648"},{"key":"ref23","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Khoza-Shangase, K., Moroe, N., & Neille, J. (2021). Speech-language pathology and audiology in South Africa: Clinical training and service in the era of COVID-19. International Journal of Telerehabilitation, 13(1), e6376. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.5195\/IJT.2021.6376","DOI":"10.5195\/ijt.2021.6376"},{"key":"ref24","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Lam, J.H.Y., Lee, S.M.K., & Tong, X. (2021). Parents\u2019 and students\u2019 perceptions of tele-intervention services for speech-language therapy during the COVID-19 pandemic: Survey study. 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