+ Are online sessions as effective as face-to-face therapy?

Online sessions are face-to-face, just on a screen! Virtual therapy is just as engaging as in-person therapy -- your child will get to participate in interactive listening, speaking, writing, and reading activities as well as educational games.

Research has shown that this format is often just as effective as in-person therapy. Some people even find it works better and is easier to schedule.

I use a live, secure, virtual meeting platform along with interactive materials to provide an interactive experience.

Just as in a typical home or school visit, an adult is required to be available at all times for technical troubleshooting and updates at the end of the session.

+ Are online speech-language therapy and reading therapy a good fit for my family?

Teletherapy can work for all ages.

For young children or less independent children, I provide parent coaching and support for home activities in addition to my other methods of treatment.

After about 3rd grade, children are often able to more independently participate in teletherapy.

Adults find this to be a very easy way to add therapy into their busy schedules.

If after a trial, teletherapy is not the best fit, we’ll discuss solutions that might work better for you.

+ Should I be worried about adding screen time to my child’s day?

Great question! All screen time is not equal when it comes to its impact on children. The key is to use it deliberately and thoughtfully.

The recommendations you may have seen are based on the risks of too much passive screen time. (See this article on screen time recommendations for children.) This is the amount of time on a screen, with no live interactions. For example, kids playing an app or watching TV by themselves is considered passive screen time. When kids get too much passive screen time, they miss out on the chance to build important language and social skills that can only be learned by interacting with others.

Active screen time means that the child is using a screen while also interacting with another child or adult. For example, being on a video chat with grandparents is considered beneficial because it builds meaningful relationships and requires active participation just like in-person interactions.

Technology using face-to-face interactions such as telehealth platforms can help children develop speech, language, social, and reading skills, just like in-person therapy.

+ What do I need in order to do teletherapy?

A working computer (preferably a desktop or laptop) with a strong internet connection, preferably with a wired connection. In order to reduce glitches and slow connections, it’s best to schedule sessions when other family members aren’t using streaming services.

A camera and microphone, either in your computer or attached externally. Some families prefer a headset in order to help with sound quality and attention.

A quiet place with no distractions for the entire session.

For younger children, a parent should plan to stay in the room during the entire session to help with participation, to problem solve tech issues, and to learn therapy strategies. For some older students, parents can just be available in the home for the entire session.

If we run into a technology problem on my end and lose time during your session, I will always make up that time to you, either that day or at a later time.