Approximately 46 million people, or 14 percent of the American population, have been diagnosed with a communication disorder, according to the School Programs in Speech-Lanuage Pathology. A speech therapist can help people of all ages overcome speech problems and communication difficulties. Speech therapy can now be offered virtually to anyone, regardless of their location. Here’s why it’s such an important new telehealth tool.
Conditions Treated with Speech Therapy
Speech therapy can address many communication difficulties, including difficulty:
– articulating sounds and putting sounds together to form words
– understanding the language we read or hear and choosing the words we use to express our thoughts
– reading and writing
– following rules of social engagement, such as taking turns to speak and knowing how close to stand to the person you are conversing with
– controlling the sound and/or pitch of our voice
– stuttering, using filler words or phrases, or pausing excessively during conversation
– remembering, paying attention, or using problem-solving, organizational, and other cognitive skills
Speech therapy can improve the communication of patients with autism; dementia and Alzheimer’s disease; Parkinson’s disease; cognitive communication disorder; stroke and aphasia rehabilitation; head and neck cancer; traumatic brain injury; hearing loss; and voice disorders, among other. Speech therapy can also benefit individuals interested in modifying their voices to align with their gender identity.
Benefits of Virtual Speech Therapy
For many of these groups of people, leaving the safety and security of their familiar environment can be stressful, and transportation is dependent on caregivers. Now virtual speech therapy services can be accessed via telehealth, allowing people to improve their communication skills in the comfort of their own living rooms. Regularly scheduled virtual speech therapy sessions provide patients with a consistent routine that helps them improve their communication without the anxiety of traveling to appointments, waiting in public waiting rooms, and meeting a therapist in an unfamiliar environment. It also minimizes everyone’s risk of exposure to diseases, including COVID-19 and other contagions.
Virtual therapy sessions allow patients to access help sooner. Rather than waiting for an available appointment at a nearby speech therapist’s consulting rooms, travel time is no longer a factor, and the selection of the therapist is no longer dependent on distance. At-home appointments are easier for patients to attend without taking time off work, studies, or other activities. Virtual speech therapy has the added benefit of being able to pair patients with a speech therapist who has received the necessary training to treat their specific age group or communication challenge. With focused speech therapy, a patient is more likely to see a quicker improvement in their skills.
Some virtual speech therapy programs offer hybrid sessions that include live one-to-one sessions with a therapist and access to an online portal in which patients can complete practice sessions or other homework assigned by their therapist during the live session. These online “homework” sessions can help patients improve more quickly than attending the live sessions alone.
Virtual Speech Therapy for Different Age Groups
While the age of the patient is not usually the primary consideration when providing speech therapy virtually, it does to some degree influence the treatment plan or approach a speech therapy might use to help the patient. The goal is to improve the patient’s ability to comprehend and express their thoughts and feelings in a manner that is age-appropriate.
Virtual speech therapy removes barriers that can limit access to speech therapy, especially for patients who were older and children who have transport limitations, or who may have anxiety issues when traveling to a specialist’s offices for a session. Being able to receive the care they need in a comfortable and familiar environment is more conducive to attendance and is likely to result in a faster improvement in speech and communication.
Home-based therapy is particularly useful for children under the age of 4, who may be shy or feel intimidated when working with a stranger. In these cases, speech therapists can work with the child and caregivers until the patient is old enough to be more comfortable working with a therapist directly. Older kids tend to be more tech-savvy and may view virtual speech therapy as a fun computer activity. Virtual speech therapy fills a gap in the education system by addressing speech and communication problems faced by kids who have Autism or speech problems such as articulation and stuttering.
For children, early intervention is key to improving speech and communication, skills, and ultimately academic performance, for life. Improving the communication skills of older adults can help them manage age-related health conditions and adapt to physical and mental changes while optimizing the communication and cognitive skills they are able to maintain. Improved communication skills can help the elderly avoid social isolation, loneliness, depression, and anxiety.
Struggling to communicate effectively can be an isolating and frustrating experience regardless of your age, but particularly so for children and older adults. Virtual speech therapy can help improve their communication skills, boosting self-confidence; allowing patients to articulate their thoughts, desires, and emotions; resulting in less frustration, improved interpersonal relationships, and a more rewarding life.