What Happens During an Online Speech Therapy Session
Abby Barnes, M.S., CCC-SLP
The idea of online speech therapy might feel a little foreign. After all, when we think of speech therapy, most of us picture sitting across from a therapist in a clinic or office. But with online therapy, or teletherapy, you still meet face-to-face with a licensed speech-language pathologist. Through the use of video chatting technology, such as Zoom, online speech therapy can feel as if you’re in the same room as your therapist, even if they’re hundreds of miles away!
Most important, research shows online speech therapy is just as effective as in-person treatment for many types of issues.
At Expressable, we treat thousands of clients every day through online speech therapy. Let us explain how virtual speech therapy works and the reasons people choose it.
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Get started nowHow does online speech therapy work?
First, you’ll be matched to a speech-language pathologist. Before the first appointment, you’ll likely be sent a medical history form to fill out so your speech therapist can learn more about the person seeking therapy.
You will receive an online link and log onto your first therapy session via whichever video conferencing platform the company uses. Zoom is a popular choice.
If possible, find a quiet spot in your home for the session. Try to choose a place where you won’t be distracted. When you log into the video chat, your speech therapist will greet you with a friendly face, just as if you were walking through their office door.
It's best to find a quiet spot in your home for the session. Try to choose a place where you won’t be distracted.
Once your therapy program begins, sessions will likely take place once or twice a week. Between sessions, your therapist will likely assign activities you can use to practice your speech at home.
Online speech therapy sessions are often 30 minutes long. The speech therapist will use these 30 minutes to help you or your child progress toward better communication. You may be wondering how this happens. So let’s dive into exactly what a speech therapy session looks like!
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Your first online speech therapy session will be an evaluation of your or your child’s communication abilities. This will give the speech therapist a good picture of current strengths and weaknesses. The evaluation may feel a bit like a test, but remember, the goal is to help your speech therapist know exactly where to start!
The speech therapist will also talk with you about why you’re seeking speech therapy. This is the perfect time to bring up what you’re hoping speech therapy can address, as well as any questions you have.
The speech therapist will show you how to use your child's own toys for speech-related purposes.
Once the evaluation is complete, your speech therapist will create measurable goals to target over the next few months. These will be specific to your or your child’s current needs. The measurable aspect of these goals is important, as it enables your therapist to track and monitor the progress being made.
During sessions, your therapist will choose engaging activities to do that target these goals. For young children, games and hands-on activities work well. During the session, a caregiver should be nearby to help the child and observe the session. The therapist will likely use your child’s own items and toys you already have on hand. They’ll show you how to use them for speech-related purposes.
One benefit of online speech therapy for older children is the ability to use the internet! Speech therapists have access to a variety of games and websites that help make therapy fun. Whether your child loves Battleship or Go Fish, there’s bound to be something that will make therapy more engaging for them.
For adult clients, speech therapy may be a little more straightforward. Speech production tasks, public speaking skills, and conversational skills can be easily addressed by simply speaking one-on-one with your therapist. In this way, there is little difference between in-person and online speech therapy for adults!
Is online speech therapy effective?
Research shows that online speech therapy works just as well as in-person therapy. In online speech therapy, clients get the same one-on-one help from a speech therapist, who can teach them communication techniques and observe their responses.
Best of all, children receiving online speech therapy get to be in their home environment. This allows their speech therapist to see how the child interacts with family members and requests items and toys they're familiar with. It also gives the therapist more time to talk with parents and caregivers who attend sessions alongside their child.
The parent coaching model is often used for online speech therapy and is an excellent tool to get the whole family involved. This helps children make progress in their speech development across all environments, not just during their speech therapy sessions.
Why do so many people prefer online speech therapy?
There are many reasons people prefer virtual speech therapy to in-person. In my experience, once families try it out, they’re hooked! There are many reasons online speech therapy is becoming more popular, both for children and for adults. Here are four:
1 Flexibility for families
Online speech therapy allows parents and caregivers to easily fit therapy into their schedule. That way they can attend sessions and stay up-to-date on their child’s progress. It’s impossible to overstate how important your involvement is in helping your child reach their communication goals.
Your speech therapist isn’t simply your child’s therapist. As mentioned above, they’re also your coach. They can help you learn the techniques and skills used during sessions, so you can use them at home during your child’s everyday life. Research has shown that the more practice happens at home, the more progress children make.
2 The comfort of the home environment
When speech therapy is delivered virtually, it gives your therapist a window into your child’s home environment. They can use your child’s favorite toys and games during therapy. It’s also easier for you to communicate and build a strong relationship with the speech therapist. This isn't always possible when your child receives therapy at school or a clinic.
3 Convenience
Convenience is another huge factor. And convenience means different things to different people.
Some people may not have access to a local speech therapist near their home, or a speech therapist that specializes in their area of need. Teletherapy allows them to get services they otherwise couldn’t easily receive.
Many online speech therapy companies offer flexible scheduling to fit your desired days and times. Plus, no commute time!
Then there’s the time factor. Between work, school, errands, and just everyday life, fitting speech therapy into your schedule may be tricky. Many online speech therapy companies offer flexible scheduling to fit your desired days and times. Plus, there’s no commute time with teletherapy–just the few minutes it takes to walk to a quiet room in your house and log on. How easy is that?
4 Cost and affordability
Many people appreciate the cost of online speech therapy. Especially if you don’t have health insurance, or your insurance doesn’t cover speech therapy, online speech therapy can be an affordable way to get treatment. Online speech therapists don’t have to pay many of the traditional costs of running a clinic, like rent, overhead, and certain administrative costs. These costs can be passed down to clients, which often makes online therapy considerably more affordable.
Not to mention, you’ll still form a strong relationship with your therapist. They may not be in the same room as you, let alone the same state! But speech therapists are able to treat and connect with their clients just as effectively over the computer.
Ready to take the next step?
Whether you’re ready to schedule a session or simply want to ask some questions, there’s no reason to wait. Schedule a free consultation call with one of our specialists to learn more. On your journey to clearer, easier communication, online speech therapy may be the best way to get there. Expressable is here, ready to help!
