Online Speech Therapy
Aimed to help those – children and adults alike – with speech impediments, language problems, and accent modification, speech therapy has been found to be an effective method for those struggling with vocal expression to speak more clearly. Carefully crafted plans of action are employed by licensed language therapists, who have earned a master's degree in speech-language pathology, to develop and monitor the progress of their patients.
At its core, the goal of a speech therapy program is to improve communication skills and experience. This can range from public speaking and social skills to treating stuttering or lisping, and it is often a combination of both in-person sessions and online language therapy. Depending on the needs of the individual, each treatment plan can be tailored to focus on individual goals.
The field of connected speech pathology with a qualified therapist is highly effective in providing better services and professional communication development for adults. However, there are certain requirements that need to be met to utilize the benefits of speech therapy services for children, adolescents, and adults.
What is speech therapy?
According to the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, speech therapists, otherwise known as Speech-language pathologists (SLPs), “work to prevent, assess, diagnose, and treat speech, language, social communication, cognitive-communication, and swallowing disorders in children and adults.” Certified SLPs must hold at least master’s degrees, complete required clinical experiences, and pass a national certification exam.
Reasons to pursue connected speech language therapy
Connected speech pathology is the study and treatment of people’s ability to speak continuously, as is typically heard in conversation. The reasons people may begin this type of therapy can vary.
Common reasons for this treatment:
- Articulation disorders
- Fluency disorders, such as stuttering
- Voice disorders
- Hearing impairments
- Feeding and swallowing disorders
- Weak oral muscles
- Traumatic injuries
If you are experiencing trauma, support is available. Please see our Get Help Now page for more resources.
According to the Columbia University Medical Center, voice, swallowing, and breathing disorders can lead to other mental health conditions, such as anxiety, which is one reason treating these conditions can be important.
Choosing a virtual service
It was said in "How Online Speech Therapy is Transforming Speech" that taking therapy online is more convenient than doing a session in person. The reason some might prefer online therapy to face-to-face speech therapy is because face-to-face therapy may be more expensive and more restrictive than online sessions in terms of scheduling, especially for working adults.
Using a computer for online speech therapy
The requirements for speech therapy
To try speech therapy, not only is one required to have a computer with an internet connection, but one will also need a webcam and a headset with a microphone.
Though it may be true that some who is looking for online therapy may not be able to afford the necessary equipment, there are other means of finding online therapy services or an online therapist, some of which accept insurance and some that utilize a pay treatment plan format.
Using tools for children at school, hospitals, and clinics
For children of all ages who are students, it is very possible that they can use the necessary equipment at schools, libraries, or other learning establishments and districts to communicate with their therapist in speech therapy. Other possibilities for utilizing affordable online speech therapy could be through hospitals and clinics.
Some of these same facilities can also lend you a headset and microphone if they have some available to check out. Other things that might be needed for online therapy are an email account, good lighting, and a quiet environment, which are free and may be available in all the listed facilities.
Finding online speech therapy with a speech therapist
With the help of a therapist specialized in connected speech pathology, great speech is achievable. And while BetterHelp does not offer online speech therapy services for adults, it does provide other kinds of online therapy services offered by our team of licensed therapists.
Online therapy
The therapists at BetterHelp are highly qualified and experienced with helping people like you who are struggling in their daily life, whether that is due to mental health issues or even due to problems related to communication.
When it comes to speech therapy, the same rules apply when seeking online services for children or adults. It’s important to ensure that your therapist is licensed and that they offer free consultation so you can make sure they are the right fit for your individual needs. With early intervention, speech therapy can be used to improve language skills as well as communication goals. When working with a licensed therapist online, you can have personalized sessions tailored to your own unique needs. And while online speech therapy is effective, some individuals may benefit more from in person treatment with licensed therapists.
Takeaway
Online speech therapy is an effective way to treat any frustrations you may have with speaking. BetterHelp does not offer speech therapy, but they do offer many other kinds of therapy. For example, online cognitive behavioral therapy has been proven to be effective in treating anxiety and depression, two disorders that often have a comorbidity with speech impairments.
Frequently asked questions (FAQs)
Below are some of the most frequently asked questions about the services a speech therapist offers.
Can speech therapy be done virtually?
Yes, speech therapy can be done virtually with an internet connection. It can be offered for children or adults who want to improve some form of communication skills or have more clear speech.
Oftentimes your therapist may require you to use a computer monitor and webcam and a decent set of headphones to offer these types of online communication and language services, since the auditory element of therapy is so crucial. But once you’re set up, you can receive communication help for memory loss related issues, accent modification services, and better abilities. Keep in mind, some virtual therapists operate on a pay system, while others may accept insurance.
How long has tele-practice been around?
Tele-practice was deemed an appropriate treatment of online speech language therapy by the ASLHA around 2010, and since then virtual speech therapy work has become more widely used as a treatment for language disorders, communication disorders, voice therapy, and speech language skills.
Can you do speech treatment for children at home?
Parents can assist their child with speech language, social communication disorders, speech delays, and generally work on better speech from the comfort of their own home. You can create communication goals for children of all ages by helping your child practice pronouncing words or spend more time actively listening to them with patience.
But addressing communication problems with your children may not be as simple as helping them with their communication skills. A treatment plan that involves a session with a licensed speech therapist or speech language pathologist CCC SLP may be necessary for children, especially if your child has any long-time voice disorders, academic challenges, swallowing disfunctions, or communication goals. Professional help can take things from struggling communication abilities to better speech.
Speech language pathology is a highly specialized field, so don’t shy away from feeling like you need additional services from a licensed therapist or connected speech pathology team to help your child. Some online therapists offer a free consultation for their language therapy services for both children and adults of all ages, so inquire about this before signing up for your first therapy session. These services can be used by children and adults living with sound disorders or impairments caused by any condition, including autism spectrum disorder.
Does speech language delay mean autism?
A speech delay or difficulty with speech sound, which usually occurs in young children of all years rather than adults, does not necessarily indicate autism. There is a regular pattern to the stages of child development, including when a child begins to respond verbally to oral or physical communication. But some children may be missing these major communication milestones or seemingly falling behind. In these cases, parents may wonder if speech therapy services would be necessary resources.
While this is often an indication of autism, there are other voice disorders, communication and speech language disorders that could cause a speech delay. If you’re concerned about your children showing signs of speech delay, consider looking into connected speech pathology or speech language pathology, and sort through a team of speech therapists who know how to evaluate your child’s communication skills or offer services to help them with better speech. You can get started today by talking to a speech professional online or in your area.
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