For Children Who Struggle with Communication Difficulties, Virtual Therapy Delivers Results By: Avivit Ben-Aharon, M.S.Ed., M.A. CCC SLP, Founder and Clinical Director, Great Speech
By the first grade, roughly 5% of children have been diagnosed with a communication disorder including stuttering, speech sound disorders and language disorders. Speech disorders are a barrier to children’s academic and social development, not to mention their happiness. We know this is a big concern for parents.
The good news is that there is a convenient solution with virtual speech therapy. Most kids are already familiar with digital devices and can easily take advantage of virtual speech therapy. Some 44% of children under the age of 11 already use a desktop or laptop computer, while 67% use a tablet computer and 60% use a smartphone.
It’s no surprise, therefore, that children not only readily adapt to virtual speech therapy but may even prefer it. Parents of children with autism often report that they prefer interacting with a speech therapist over a digital device, such as a computer, rather than attending a session in person. This idea was recently reinforced with a paper about the use of online services by patients diagnosed with autism during the pandemic.
Parents also benefit from virtual speech therapy as they can be more involved and engaged with their child’s therapy. The benefit of no travel time reduces inconveniences such as needing to take time off from work, weather events, traffic delays, and exposure to contagious diseases.
Virtual Speech Therapy Strategies for Children
A virtual speech therapist matched specifically to your child’s needs will rely on several treatment options. These include:
- Language activities: The therapist will talk and play using digital activities and materials, pronunciation and repetition exercises.
- Articulation activities: Often using interactive activities, the speech therapist will focus on pronunciation and reviewing sounds specific to the child’s needs. The speech therapist will also use activities to correct articulation errors and incorporate activities that promote practice of target sounds.
- Exercises: Several tongue, lip and jaw exercises help children with their speech. With virtual therapy, asynchronous practice tools can also be accessed online.
Online speech therapy for kids is a convenient and effective treatment solution for those who have difficulties with communication. Consistent therapeutic intervention can improve communication and positively impact both social and academic behaviors. Children who benefit from speech therapy include those who have difficulty producing certain sounds (e.g., says “tat” for “cat” or” wain” for “rain”), trouble understanding what is said or difficulty expressing wants or needs, trouble socializing with peers, stuttering or lisping, and/or difficulty being understood by others.
Great Speech therapists specialize in re-mediating speech disorders using innovative, fun, and interactive therapeutic activities via online speech therapy with a proven track of success.Schedule an introductory call to discuss how a licensed speech and language pathologist can help you achieve your goals.
Thank you,
Glenda, Charlie and David Cates
