Does Virtual Speech Therapy Work?

There are lots of things that we thought we had to be in person for: doctor appointments, job interviews, even weddings. Technology has made it possible for us to do these things digitally. Speech therapy is one of those things that can now take place over the screen. In this article we’ll cover the ins and outs of virtual speech therapy and why it’s so effective.

Common questions about virtual speech therapy

How does virtual speech therapy work?

Depending on your child’s age and attention span, your speech-language pathologist may incorporate interactive activities over the screen to engage your child while sharing strategies for you to use at home to improve your child’s language. However, virtual speech therapy is so successful because it uses a parent coaching model.

Rather than the traditional model of speech therapy, where a speech-language pathologist works one-on-one with your child for a set amount of time each week, virtual speech therapy uses parent participation. During virtual speech therapy, you will learn about your child’s development, communication strengths and areas for growth. Your speech-language pathologist will share activities catered to your child’s interests while equipping you with specific prompts and techniques to promote their communication skills.

What if my child doesn’t pay attention to the screen?

Your child does not need to interact with the screen to have a successful speech therapy session. Rather, the purpose of speech therapy is that your child will be able to communicate with you! Your speech-language pathologist will guide you through personalized and engaging activities for you to lead with your child. You’ll learn specific techniques, and some common ones include:

• Modeling verbal routines, like “ready, set…. go”

• Using puzzles to promote language comprehension

• Emphasizing vehicles sounds (e.g., “vroom, beep beep”) to improve sound imitation

Is virtual speech therapy as effective as in-person therapy?

Virtual speech therapy is so effective because it helps you incorporate strategies to help your child’s language grow during daily activities all week long. In some cases, parents who have undergone coaching are even more effective in helping their child talk than the speech-language pathologist alone. In fact, one study shows us that young children with trained parents say more words than children whose parents have not participated in coaching.

How do I know if this therapist is the right fit?

For virtual speech therapy to be successful, you need a speech-language pathologist who can effectively engage with your family and child over the screen. Look for someone who seeks to understand the goals you have for your child, what your family’s daily routine looks like, and who incorporates toys and activities that you already have at home into therapy sessions. After all, when you begin virtual speech therapy, you are looking for someone to coach you on how to help improve your child’s language skills in your home.

Get started today!

See firsthand how you can play an active role in your child’s communication development by enrolling in virtual speech therapy. After skilled coaching, you’ll find plenty of opportunities to promote your child’s communication skills throughout a typical day.

References:

Heidlage, J. K., Cunningham, J. E., Kaiser, A. P., Trivette, C. M., Barton, E. E., Frey, J. R., & Roberts, M. Y. (2020). The effects of parent-implemented language interventions on child linguistic outcomes: A Meta-Analysis. Early Childhood Research Quarterly, 50, 6-23.

Roberts, M., & Kaiser, A. (2011). The Effectiveness of Parent-Implemented Language Intervention: A Meta-Analysis. American Journal of Speech-Language Pathology 20, 180-199.