Is Virtual Speech Therapy As Effective As An In-person Appointment?
Virtual therapy is as effective as in-person therapy for many clients and can even be more effective than in-person therapy for some clients.
In the current world of COVID-19 measures, our virtual platform allows clients to engage with their therapist unobstructed by a mask or other PPE. In addition to this, the ability to use visual supports throughout virtual sessions is incredibly helpful to clients with language delays who have stronger visual learning skills. Our virtual parent training and consultation sessions allow parents and caregivers to confidently practice and use strategies to support their children and loved ones 24 hours a day at home, allowing for faster progress in many cases. Research consistently shows that frequency of intervention is the key to success.
Even if the person with a communication delay is unable to participate directly in sessions, there is a virtual therapy style that will work for any family.
What Will I Need To Take Part In A Virtual Speech Therapy Session?
Our team will help you get set up with all of the information to get started. We use Google Meet for our virtual therapy sessions, so all that is needed is a web browser and an email account. Ideally, clients will use a laptop or desktop to participate in their sessions, but we can hold a session using just a phone if that's all you have access to.
What Are The Most Common Issues That Speech Therapy Aims To Correct?
This depends on the individual client. We work with adults who have communication difficulties caused by stroke, brain injury, accidents, or cognitive decline, people looking to reduce their accent when speaking a second language or adults who have persisting speech or language difficulties from childhood, such as a lisp or stutter.
The children we work with have language delays due to autism spectrum disorders, developmental delays, speech sound production difficulties, late talking, articulation challenges, motor speech delays, stuttering, etc. We also support children who face challenges in their early literacy skills (learning to read) or social communication skills, which can include making and maintaining friendships, developing play skills, participating in the classroom and peer groups, and more. Our diverse team of professionals has the experience to address almost any speech, language or communication need.
What Happens In Speech Therapy For Adults?
Our sessions start with an assessment to determine each client's areas of strength and identify challenges. From there, we establish a customized treatment plan in conjunction with the client and anyone else they choose to have participate in their treatment.
Using this treatment plan, we work toward the client's goals to improve their communication skills. Types of therapy activities can include planning and practicing daily tasks such as creating grocery lists or writing emails, word-finding activities, practicing real-life communication skills such as phone calls and conversations, and more.
For adults working on an accent, we practice using new speech sounds in sentences and conversation and help our clients prepare for real-life scenarios such as presentations and important meetings.
What Happens In Speech Therapy For Children?
Sessions for children also start with an assessment to determine each child's areas of strength and challenge. From there we establish a personalized treatment plan in conjunction with the child and/or their family.
Using this treatment plan, we work together toward helping the child improve their communication skills. Types of activities include playing virtual games, interacting directly with the clinician, using interactive platforms to target specific speech or language skills, helping the family use routines, items or favourite toys in their home for their sessions, teaching articulation or speech-sound production skills, and more.
For children who are not yet engaging virtually, sessions can include parent training or consultation. This is where the clinician explains, demonstrates, and walks the parent through the use of strategies to support their child's communication skills. These strategies are customized for their child and family routine, and clinicians can also practice performing these routines together with the parent.
What Are Some Basic Speech Therapy Exercises?
Exercises can include practicing practical activities introduced in sessions, word drills for articulation, play-based home practice, and much more. The exercise depends on each individual client's area of challenge and is customized to the client's needs. We always provide home practice to help clients, parents and caregivers be a proactive part of the therapy process and to allow for faster progress.
Questions
If you would like any further information about virtual speech therapy services in Ontario, please give us a call or send us an email. Our team looks forward to answering your questions!