Tele-therapy / Online Speech Therapy

The demand for speech therapy is increasingly met through teletherapy, or online speech therapy.

Engaging with a licensed speech-language pathologist from the comfort of your own home, according to your own schedule, offers unparalleled convenience and flexibility compared to traditional practice-based settings. Moreover, it empowers parents to play a more active role in monitoring their child’s progress, a level of involvement that might be challenging if therapy sessions occur solely at school or in a clinic.

What does the research say?

A wealth of research has extensively explored the effectiveness and outcomes of teletherapy for speech-language disorders, consistently demonstrating its efficacy when implemented correctly.

The short answer is: Done properly, online speech therapy is effective.

One notable study supporting these conclusions was conducted in 2011 by researchers from Kent State University. This study compared the progress and satisfaction levels of school students undergoing speech-language therapy in both traditional and teletherapy settings.

The study comprised two groups of students: the first group received conventional therapy for four months followed by teletherapy for four months, while the second group followed the reverse sequence. Throughout the study, researchers meticulously monitored the students, assessing various outcome measures including progress rates and overall satisfaction with both delivery methods.

The results were unequivocal: Student progress reports indicated that the children made similar progress during the study irrespective of the treatment method employed.

Parent Concerns:

A prevalent concern among parents is the possibility of their child struggling to engage in online activities. This concern is often valid, particularly in the context of online learning within schools, where activities may not be individually tailored for each child, and the online learning environment is persistent throughout the day.

In contrast, your child's teletherapy session, ranging from 30 minutes to an hour based on your clinician’s recommendation, offers a distinctly different experience.

Here, all activities are meticulously customized to meet your child's specific needs and interests. Moreover, the support and scaffolding provided during these sessions offer real-time feedback to the child, ensuring sustained attention and engagement throughout.