A Role for YouTube in Telerehabilitation

YouTube (http://youtube.com) is a free video sharing website that allows users to post and view videos. Although there are definite limitations in the applicability of this website to telerehabilitation, the YouTube technology offers potential uses that should not be overlooked. For example, some types of therapy, such as errorless learning therapy for certain language and cognitive deficits can be provided remotely via YouTube. In addition, the website’s social networking capabilities, via the asynchronous posting of comments and videos in response to posted videos, enables individuals to gain valuable emotional support by communicating with others with similar health and rehabilitation challenges. This article addresses the benefits and limitations of YouTube in the context of telerehabilitation and reports patient feedback on errorless learning therapy for aphasia delivered via videos posted on YouTube.