Many parents have probably become familiar with terms like “virtual school” and “telehealth” or “telemedicine” during the last few months. I’d like to take a few minutes to talk about what to consider when making decisions whether to enroll your child in teletherapy services, and specifically, virtual speech therapy services.
Teletherapy is a relatively new way for speech-language pathologists (SLPs) to deliver services. It is delivered through video conferencing software, during which children, parents, and SLPs can see, hear, and interact with each other fully. While teletherapy is new, research done in recent years has shown that it can be as effective as services that SLPs deliver in person (Snodgrass et al 2017; Baharav & Reiser, 2010). SLPs can use teletherapy to address any communication need, with some modifications.
One of the exciting aspects of teletherapy is that your child can do it from home! Many parents have talked about how convenient this is for them, and it is a good opportunity to work on communication skills in a situation the child is familiar with, and comfortable in. This is also a great time and place for you to observe your child’s therapy session, ask questions, and learn helpful ways to work with your child at home!
Sometimes children, especially young children, have difficulty paying attention to providers on a screen and engaging during therapy sessions. We also don’t expect them to sit still for very long in front of a screen! Young children often need gross motor breaks and may not be able to sit through a whole session. That’s okay! In these situations, teletherapy can still work to help meet your child’s communication needs. Studies have found (Snodgrass et al, 2017; Baharav & Reiser, 2010) parents can collaborate with SLPs via telehealth to learn strategies to use with their children to support and grow their speech and language skills. SLPs can work with you to teach you strategies, and then give you feedback as you practice using them with your child!
Participating in teletherapy with your child does come with some requirements.
Here is a checklist to think about when considering teletherapy:
A quiet place in the home for you and your child to participate in teletherapy, preferably where you can sit the device you and your child will use so that you can see the screen in a comfortable position, and the SLP can see the child’s whole face.
A time of day when you can sit and be involved in your child’s teletherapy session. This is so you can watch, learn, and ask questions, but also in case there are technical difficulties!
A computer, tablet, or smartphone with a camera, speakers, and microphone built in or attached.
An internet connection fast enough to reliably watch videos, whether this is a home connection or a data network on a smartphone.
While not a requirement, having an email or way to receive documents such as homework sheets and/or tips from the SLP could be very helpful.
Teletherapy services are an exciting, convenient way for children to receive effective speech therapy services. They can be modified as necessary in a variety of ways to meet the needs of your child. Hopefully this post has provided you with information that will be helpful when considering whether teletherapy services could be a good option for you and your family!
Contact us today to learn more about our services, whether you’re interested in teletherapy, in-person services, or have questions about which would be best for your child.
Logan Payton, MS, CFY-SLP
References
Baharav, E., & Reiser, C. (2010). Using telepractice in parent training in early autism. Telemedicne and eHealth 16(6), 727-731. DOI: 10.1089/tmj.2010.0029
Snodgrass, M. R., Chung, M. Y., Biller, M. F., Appel, K. E., Meadan, H., Halle, J. W. (2017). Telepractice in speech-language therapy: The use of online technologies for parent training and coaching. Communication Disorders Quarterly, 38(4), 242-254. DOI: 10.1177/1525740116680424
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