This study aimed to examine in-service and preliminary speech-language pathologists’ perception of words, awareness, anxiety, resistance, and interest in the fourth industrial revolution and how to predict the related changes in the field of speech therapy, and examine the differences between those groups.
In this study, the surveys on 112 speech-language pathologistss and 72 preliminary speech-language pathologistss who were completing a curriculum at the college were analyzed, and questions on perception and prediction were analyzed separately and examined the differences. It was examined whether there were differences according to career and certification level within speech-language pathologists, and whether there were differences depending on whether or not there were practical experiences within preliminary speech-language pathologists. And the difference between speech-language pathologists and preliminary speech-language pathologists was examined.
As a result of the questions on perception, the preliminary speech-language pathologists group showed a significantly higher degree of interest in the application and treatment techniques of language therapy using the latest technology than the speech-language pathologists group. On the other hand, the speech-language pathologists group showed a significantly higher degree of anxiety that it would be difficult to control subjects when using the latest technology than the preliminary speech-language pathologists group. As a result of the questions on prediction, rather than the speech-language pathologists group, the preliminary speech-language pathologists group had a higher percentage to expect that language therapy using virtual reality and augmented reality technology would be expanded in the future.
The results of our study showed that in-service and preliminary speech-language pathologists believe their professional-level services won’t lose their necessity regardless of the development caused by the Fourth Industrial Revolution. speech-language pathologists group showed higher interest and resistance than the preliminary speech-language pathologists'' group. There is a lot of interest because they are working directly in the changing field. However, it seems that resistance to unfamiliar skills has also increased as it is difficult to spare time to learn new skills.