Online Speech Therapy: Everything You Need to Know

Online speech language therapy provides a way to receive quality services from the comfort and convenience of your home.

Maybe you have a family member who needs speech therapy following a stroke or traumatic brain injury. Among the many doctors and other appointments on your schedule, you’re wondering how you will make the time to take him to these appointments each week. 

Or maybe you have a child who has been working on her sounds in speech therapy at school, but you just don’t feel like she’s making much progress. Although you’re interested in additional therapy for her, you aren’t sure when you can fit it in within an already-busy schedule.

Perhaps you’re a business professional who feels like your accent is preventing you from further advancement in your job. You work an 8-5 schedule and don’t see how you can make it to an office for accent reduction services before the work day ends.

For all of these situations and more, online speech therapy might be the perfect solution.

What is Online Speech Therapy?

Online speech therapy works very similarly to in-person therapy with the exception that services take place using a secure video conferencing platform rather than face-to-face. Using cameras and microphones, speech language pathologists and clients can communicate easily and from the convenience of home. In the initial session(s), the speech-language pathologist (SLP) will conduct an assessment to determine the client’s specific needs. Assessments consist of gathering background information from the client and/or her family; formal evaluations; and informal measures. Using this information the SLP will work to develop a treatment plan appropriate for the client’s needs and her goals.

What is a Speech-Language Pathologist?

A speech-language pathologist (SLP), also known as a “speech therapist,” is someone who specializes in the assessment and treatment of communication disorders. An SLP can work with individuals across the lifespan in a variety of settings including schools, hospitals, clinics, homes, and skilled nursing facilities. (If you’re interested in learning more about SLPs, check out our article “What is a Speech-Language Pathologist?”).

Who is Online Speech Therapy For?

Online speech services can be used to help both children and adults with a variety of communication needs including: 

• Speech impediments
• Stuttering
• Accent modification
• Social language (including individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder)
• Cognitive and memory deficits
• Aphasia
• Dysarthria
• Auditory processing 
• Voice disorders
• Expressive and/or receptive language disorders

Speech vs. Language

Although often used interchangeably, the terms “speech” and “language” are distinct. Speech refers to the sounds that make up words, while language is the way we put words together to express our thoughts. Speech disorders can affect children and adults and could include difficulty with articulation, apraxia, stuttering, and voice. Language disorders can also affect children and adults and can impact written language, spoken language, and comprehension. Learn more about language disorders in children.

Expressive vs. Receptive Language Disorder

Language disorders are categorized as “expressive,” “receptive,” or “expressive-receptive.” Expressive language refers to the output of language — what a person says and/or writes. Receptive language, on the other hand, refers to the way we understand language — how a person comprehends what he listens or reads. Therapy for language disorders could address areas such as morphology (the use of plurals, prefixes, suffixes, etc); phonology (how speech sounds are combined); semantics (the meaning of words); syntax (word order in a sentence); and pragmatics (following the social norms of conversation). Individuals may experience expressive language difficulties, receptive difficulties, or both. 

Does Online Speech Therapy Really Work?

Although these days many services can be accessed easily and effectively online, you may be wondering whether speech therapy is really one of them. The short answer is yes! Research supports the idea that online speech therapy can be just as effective as in-person therapy for a large number of people with communication needs. Of course, each person has his own individual needs and preferences. At Speech Leader we’d love to discuss your individual situation with you to see if online speech therapy would be a good fit for you or a loved one.

Benefits of Online Speech Therapy for Clients and Their Families

The flexibility and convenience of online speech therapy can benefit people of all ages. For school-aged children, teletherapy allows them to receive services without having to be pulled out of the classroom, which has two big advantages. One advantage is that the students are not consistently missing classroom instruction, which could put them at an academic disadvantage. The second is that they can avoid feeling stigmatized for being taken out of their classes when their peers are not; this is especially relevant as children reach middle school. 

Parents who already spend much of their time transporting their children to and from school and extracurricular activities do not have to spend any additional transit time in order for their kids to receive quality speech and language therapy. With online therapy services parents can observe sessions and speak regularly with the therapist about their child’s progress and strategies to use at home. They can also be there to hear instructions given for homework, so they can help ensure carryover throughout the week. 

For individuals living in rural areas, where access to quality speech and language therapists can be limited, teletherapy offers a great solution; by going online, you have access to therapists across the country who are available to work with you and your family.

Adults who may have issues with transportation do not have to worry about finding someone who can drive them to their therapy sessions and can schedule sessions at times that are convenient for them. Caregivers can observe online therapy sessions so they are aware of techniques being used, progress being made, and ways they can continue working on communication skills throughout the week. 

Overall, online speech therapy eliminates the headache and cost associated with commuting and allows both clients and speech therapists to focus on what matters the most–quality speech-language therapy. 

Are There Disadvantages to Online Speech Therapy?

In considering online therapy, you might wonder what disadvantages may exist. One question may be in regards to the security of using an online platform for therapy sessions. At Speech Leader we take client privacy very seriously and do everything we can to ensure confidentiality, starting with the use of a secure, HIPAA-compliant platform for all sessions and documentation. Another concern may be about the potential of technical issues, which could disrupt a therapy session. While glitches of this kind are always possible where technology is involved, such disruptions are rare as long as high speed internet is available. A final concern could be whether online speech therapy is engaging, especially for younger children. As with in-person therapy, keeping clients engaged is an important part of online speech therapy. With easy access to games, videos, and activities, speech therapists can use a variety of materials to lead sessions that are both engaging and effective, even for our wiggly learners! 

Online Speech Therapy is the Answer

Whether you’re a parent looking for quality speech language therapy services for your child without adding commute time; an adult looking for services that don’t conflict with your work schedule; or a caregiver looking for therapy for a family member with mobility issues, online therapy provides a great option for you.