What is Virtual Therapy?

Virtual therapy, also known as “teletherapy”, is a great alternative to in-person service delivery that allows clients to access speech-language services at a distance via live video-conferencing. Virtual therapy has been proven an effective form of intervention and allows clients to continue progressing towards their goals in cases where in-person visits are not possible or desired.

Effectiveness of Virtual Therapy

Virtual therapy is fun and interactive! There are many online apps that have been successfully used in sessions via screen sharing features to continuously engage clients as they learn. In addition, virtual sessions often require parents to be present when working with younger clients, which maximizes family coaching and involvement, further enhancing client progress.

The research has shown that virtual therapy is a viable and effective method for the delivery of speech-language services for both children and adults. Virtual therapy has proven effective in various applications, including the assessment and intervention of difficulties related to:

  • Articulation/Phonology
  • Motor Speech
  • Early Language
  • School-Age Language
  • Stuttering/Dysfluency
  • Literacy/Reading
  • Social Communication
  • Voice
  • Accent Modification
  • Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD)
  • Parent/Family Coaching

Is Virtual Therapy Appropriate for Me?

You are probably wondering whether virtual therapy is an appropriate and feasible therapy option for you or your child. Please keep in mind that virtual visits may not be the best option for everyone and that there are factors to be considered, such as age, attention level, hearing and visual abilities, technical abilities, equipment, environment, and specific client goals.

With younger children, parents are advised to be present and actively involved in the sessions to assist with use of the computer and to facilitate engagement and interaction, as needed. Not only does parent involvement improve the quality of the sessions for younger clients, but it also allows them opportunities to apply taught strategies in their home environment under the supervision of the treating clinician.

However, therapists will continue to assess whether virtual visits are an appropriate means of service delivery to you or your child based on the various factors mentioned above.