Speech Therapy at Home with Telepractice
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Do you remember life before the Internet? When I was a kid, we didn’t even have a computer for quite a long time. When we finally got one, the modem was one of those ancient dial-ups. I could start loading a Web page, run around the block a few times, and it would still be loading by the time I got back. We might curse modern technology for its glitches and for constantly making us buy new upgrades, but the truth of the matter is that it quite often makes our lives easier. When your child is diagnosed with a speech disorder, you can find a qualified speech-language pathologist (SLP) via Google. You can also look up activities for speech therapy at home. You can practice speech therapy techniques with your child using the online Speech Buddies University. The simple, easy-to-use interface of Speech Buddies University may be used at various levels and for various target sounds.
And now, you can even take your child to see his speech therapist without getting into the car. Speech therapy at home with telepractice has been making waves in the speech therapy world lately, with good reason. It’s convenient, it works, and it lets you connect with a qualified SLP no matter where you live. So what, exactly, is telepractice?
What Is Telepractice?
The simplest definition of telepractice is that it is the use of technology to connect the client to the clinician for remote treatment sessions. The technology can be high-tech, expensive videoconferencing hardware and software, but it doesn’t have to be. You could also use a basic webcam and Skype, which is free videoconferencing software.
Another type of speech therapy at home with telepractice is the use of recorded sessions. Your child’s SLP would record practice exercises and email you the video, which your child would watch. The downside to this is that it does not offer interaction; the speech therapist would not be able to view your child’s practice and offer corrections.
What Are the Benefits of Telepractice for Speech Therapy at Home?
Scheduling speech therapy sessions may be a great deal easier for you and the SLP with the use of telepractice. It’s convenient and it doesn’t require slogging through rush hour traffic. If you live in an area with limited access to SLPs, telepractice enables you to connect with an SLP who specializes in your child’s speech disorder, no matter where that SLP lives. Additionally, your child might be more comfortable with speech therapy at home.
Telepractice isn’t just for speech therapy at home, either. Increasingly, schools are exploring the idea of managing caseloads with telepractice technology. Some states are already accepting speech therapy telepractice into Individualized Education Programs (IEPs), which means that it is offered at no cost to the parents.
