Virtual vs. In-Person Speech Therapy
Virtual speech therapy has been on the rise since the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. Rather than driving to weekly sessions at a speech-therapy clinic, many families are continuing to log on for coaching from their homes. While virtual appointments were seen as a necessity during lockdowns, lots of parents discovered that digital therapy had surprising benefits. Learn why your family may benefit from the unique format of virtual services below.
Flexibility of scheduling
Between the hustle and bustle of family life, there is precious little downtime for scheduling speech therapy sessions. Most traditional clinics offer in-person sessions from 9-5, often interfering work, daycare or nap time. On the other hand, virtual speech therapy allows flexible scheduling, often with availability in the early morning or evenings. Whatever your schedule looks like, the flexibility of virtual speech therapy allows you the freedom to plan speech therapy around your schedule and not the other way around. No need to load your kids into their carseats and get stuck in rush hour traffic. Simply sign on from your laptop or tablet and your virtual speech therapy session can begin.
“By the time my son was dressed and we’d drive to the clinic, he was so cranky and tired that our session would feel like a waste. Starting virtual therapy meant I could schedule our session or practice time around his happiest time. A child’s prime time is not always the same as a speech therapist’s available time.”
- Mom of a 3yr old
More time to practice
Virtual speech therapy is grounded in parent coaching, meaning that a speech therapist will guide you through strategies you can use to help your child improve their communication. This is an extremely effective model for speech therapy, as you have the opportunity to use these strategies throughout your daily routine—giving your child more practice than 60 minutes a week spent in speech therapy! Just like learning any new skill, you have to practice outside of your weekly lesson to see progress. Imagine having your teacher with you at home all day long - this is the power of a parent coaching model!
Better carryover of skills
Rather than learning these communication skills at school or in a clinic setting, your child has the opportunity to practice in their natural environment. While in-person therapy often relies on new and exciting toys to captivate your child’s attention, you’re left wondering how to practice at home. During virtual sessions, you learn how to use toys you already have to promote your child’s language. This takes the guesswork out of waiting to see when your child will start using their new skills outside of therapy sessions and at home.
A routine that works for you
Many obstacles can prevent your child from receiving consistent in-person therapy: lack of transportation, inclement weather, cold and flu season. However, no matter if a runny nose or snowstorm catches you off guard, you can still sign on for your virtual session from your living room!
Get started today
As a parent, you play a vital role in helping your child improve their communication skills. Learn how to foster your child’s language growth by working one on one with a speech therapist from the comfort of your own home!
Reference:
Cole, B., Pickard, K., & Stredler-Brown, A. (2019)., Report on the use of telehealth in early intervention in colorado: Strengths and challenges with telehealth as a service delivery method. International Journal of Telerehabilitation, 11(1), 33-40.