Category: Children

Is online speech therapy appropriate for a child with autism

Is online speech therapy appropriate for a child with autism?

The short answer is YES, and here’s why! 

Autism Spectrum Disorder is a complex development condition with challenges in social interaction, speech and nonverbal communication, and restricted/repetitive behaviors. There is a wide range of severity among individuals and the effects of ASD vary greatly among families. ASD is by nature a communication disorder that perplexes many people. Communication is the means with which humans connect with one another. It is the basis of the parent-child bonding experience. When this foundation is broken, it can result in lack of functional communication and atypical behaviors which make everyday living challenging for the average family.

There is no doubt that speech and language therapy is essential to the functioning of individuals with ASD. However, many individuals assume that only in person services would benefit individuals with the condition. However, it is important to note that there are many benefits to providing this service online, since teletherapy affords many opportunities that may be restricted with in person therapy.

By considering the following factors, families can ensure a successful outcome with online speech therapy:

Parent Coaching – By engaging in online speech therapy, caregivers of children with ASD have the opportunity to learn how to engage with their children. The SLP can work closely with the family to develop a plan of care in which the family learns strategies and activities to elicit functional communication. The SLP has the benefit of working with the parent in their natural environment of the home. Also, parents are the child’s primary educators from birth and it benefits the child greatly when their parents are reinforcing the same strategies taught to them by their SLP round the clock.

Sensory Input – Many individuals with autism have a difficult time processing the sensory information they get from their environment. By making adjustments to visual, auditory and tactile cues that the child receives in the environment, the child’s attention span and capacity to learn can improve immensely. Simple adjustments such as adjusting the brightness of the lighting or adjusting the volume to a video can go a long way to improving the quality of an online therapy session.

Use Real Objects – It is a misconception that online therapy can only utilize digital materials. Young children in general, especially children with ASD, will benefit greatly from the use of real objects in their environment. This type of concrete learning lends itself to the development of functional communication during routine activities everyday such as mealtimes. Your child’s SLP can teach you strategies on how to use toys, books, and everyday objects in your home for language expansion.

Movement – Another myth about online therapy is that a child needs to sit and attend in front of the computer for the entire duration of the therapy session. This is completely false as that is not developmentally appropriate for most children. Incorporating movements into a language activity such as singing “Row, Row, Row Your Boat” while having the child motion and rock their body back and forth during the therapy sessions can simultaneously improve a child’s attention while improving their capacity to learn language. 

In conclusion, online speech therapy is a vehicle through which families can gain access to a skilled SLP who can work with the unique needs of their child with ASD. By providing online speech therapy services in the home, the family can gain valuable insights about how to reinforce strategies in an effective way which in turn can improve communication exponentially.

How to Use Everyday Objects to Elicit Language

How to Use Everyday Objects to Elicit Language

Young children have curious minds. Instinctually, they explore their environment like little scientists trying to make sense of their world. Any parent can tell you after the excitement of Christmas morning or a birthday party that they will question their purchases of expensive toys. Most children are more fascinated with the wrapping paper and boxes in which the toys are packaged than the actual toys themselves.

What if all the educational toys for your budding explorer could be found in the cabinets and closets of your home already? What if you could keep your toddler entertained for hours with a few simple items from your kitchen and pantry that won’t cost you a dime? And what’s more, what if these same everyday items could help facilitate your child’s speech and language development?

In this article, we will explore common items in your home that will peak your child’s interest and we will share how you can use these objects to support language development. Your job as a parent is to play the narrator as you model words and phrases for your child. In the beginning, your child will be absorbing all of the language they hear until one day, they speak it spontaneously.

Boxes – Boxes of any shape and size fascinate children. You can have them use these boxes to teach simple concepts such as “in” and “out”. You can have them put their favorite items inside the box and play a game of “peek-a-boo” with your child. The concept of location can be reinforced by asking “where” questions. With a simple, repetitive script such as:

“Where’s the bear?” “There’s the bear!”

You can teach your child the concepts of prepositions and answering wh-questions by using boxes. The possibilities are endless. At first, you will want to model the language for them over and over again. Then after a while, you can pause after you ask the question to see if your child responds. Then, before you know it, your child will be responding to the question spontaneously.

Containers – Why does your child head towards the drawers full of plastic storage containers and insist on emptying it? There is great fun for the young scientist to empty the contents of things whether they be drawers, containers or boxes. Storage containers provide a space for children to place their small favorite toys such as a ball, small toy or snacks. These types of containers have lids and are perfect for teaching the concepts of “open” and “close.” You can also place items in the containers and “shake” them for an instant musical toy. If you don’t have plastic storage containers, you can make your own container out of an empty can of formula or oatmeal.

Plastic Water Bottles – Babies and toddlers are always fascinated by the sights and sounds of half empty water bottles. They crinkle and crunch in your hands. You can shake them like a rattle and teach concepts such as “stop” and “go.”

Paintbrushes and Paper – If you purchase colored construction paper and some brushes from the dollar store, you can give your young child hours of mess-free fun. Your child will be fascinated by the painting they do that disappears. While they are painting you can model words for them such as “You are painting.” You can also reinforce the concepts such as “wet and dry” and comment on the different shapes they paint.

Plastic Cups – Children love playing with plastic cups. They love stacking them and nesting them. You can spend some quality time with your young child on the floor as you take turns building a tower of plastic cups and then knocking them down for fun. You can reinforce the concepts of “tall, up, high, and more” as you build your structure. Then you can say, “Uh oh!” and “They all fell down” as you throw them down.

As you can see the possibilities of using everyday objects in your home to elicit language are endless. You can use your imagination to guide you as you teach your young child language with items found in your home. It is important to note that you are the narrator and will be speaking and modeling much more than your child. Focus on having fun and listen to your child’s language emerge!

-Karin H. Koukeyan, MS, CCC-SLP

Serious little Caucasian boy closing his mouth with hands. Illustrative image for childhood trauma, child traumatic experience. Psychological assistance, children rescue. Silent cry for help. Stutter

One Day At a Time: Tips for Helping Your Child Overcome Their Stuttering

As our little ones begin to grow and become more verbal, you may begin to notice them stammer as they speak. While, on many occasions, it is natural for a toddler or preschooler to have issues pronouncing certain words, there are other instances where parents may be rightfully concerned.

If you have noticed that your child has a bit of difficulty speaking and they tend to hesitate or repeat certain syllables, words, or phrases, then this may be a sign of stuttering. Thankfully, however, there is plenty that can be done in order to improve your child’s speech and communication skills.

And your team at SLP-tele is eager to help. Our southern California speech therapists are ready to deliver the quality treatment and care your little one deserves. Plus, we are able to provide convenient online speech therapy services.

If you are a bit concerned that your child is stuttering, then please consider the following information and tips on how to help them improve their speech skills. 

What is stuttering? And how can I recognize it?

It’s natural for children to occasionally repeat syllables or words once or twice. Children may also hesitate a bit before speaking and use filler words such as “uh,” “er,” and “um”. This type of disfluency often affects children who are just beginning to learn to speak and occurs between the ages of one to five years old. Generally, this type of speech patterns will come and go.
Even if these types of behaviors disappear for several weeks, then return, the child may simply be going through a learning stage.
However, children with stuttering issues are likely to repeat sounds more than twice. The tension and struggle to pronounce words also becomes obvious in the child’s facial muscles, especially around the mouth. Also, the pitch of the voice may rise with repetitions, and occasionally the child will experience a “block” which means there is no airflow or voice for several seconds.
A child with a severe stuttering problem stutters more than 10% of their speech or stutters with a lot of effort and tension, and avoids stuttering by changing words or using extra sounds to get a sentence started.

There is hope though. There’s plenty you can do at home to support your child, and with assistance from SLP-tele, your child can greatly improve their communication skills. 

How Parents Can Help Their Children Improve Their Stuttering

1. Pay attention: Try to increase the time that you give your child your undivided attention and really listen to them. Naturally, however, you won’t want to drop everything every time they speak but actually paying attention to what they say can help them to build confidence in their abilities.

2. Don’t ask too many questions all at once: Asking your children questions is natural, expected, and beneficial for many reasons. But try to resist overwhelming your child with multiple questions all at once. Sometimes, it is more helpful to comment on what your child is saying rather than overwhelming them with questions.

3. Take turns talking: Everyone in your family can help by taking turns when having a family conversation. Children find it easier to talk when there are fewer interruptions.

4. Build up their confidence: Some of the hesitation and stammering can come as a result of their insecurity. When your child is concerned about the way they talk, they may not communicate as well as they would like. Positive words can truly go a long way.

5. Spend some alone time together: Spend a few minutes each day when you can give your child your undivided attention. This means no TV, iPad, or phones. This can be a confidence builder for young children when they have your undivided attention and can help them improve their thought processes and communication abilities.

6. Reduce the pace of your conversations: Don’t rush through your conversation when speaking with your child. You’ll also want to pause a little more frequently to give them the opportunity to respond. Your own relaxed speech will be more effective than any advice such as “slow down” or “try it again slowly.”

7. Reduce the demands they feel: As your child develops more advanced speech and language skills, they will experience many demands. Reducing this amount of “demand” speech (forcing them to have a conversation) can decrease the pressures they experience.

With SLP-tele by your side, your child will greatly improve their stuttering and communication skills. And with us right in the middle of summer, now is the perfect time to start working on this issue. Our online speech therapy services are fun, engaging, and sure to improve your child’s speech.

To get started with our online speech therapy services, contact SLP-tele right now at (877) 757-8353 and schedule an appointment.

How to Convince Your Child to Get Invested in Speech Therapy

How to Convince Your Child to Get Invested in Speech Therapy

Let’s be honest, when you bring up the idea of speech therapy for the first time to your child, the odds are that more than likely they might be a bit confused or even a little hurt. A young child might not fully comprehend what the word “therapy” means and may see it as something negative. This negative association with the term “therapy” may lead to a child automatically rejecting the idea of help.

Naturally, if a parent does schedule an appointment with a speech therapist, the child might be uneasy, confused – and if they feel forced into it – uncooperative. But without even recognizing it, after a while your child might begin to find it fun and interesting. This especially true with online speech therapy, which offers children a unique and engaging way to learn while participating in fun, game-based activities.

Here at SLP-tele, we often here, “How do we get our child invested in speech therapy?” That’s a great question that we are more than capable of answering. If you are wondering how to get your child interested in speech therapy, then consider the following information.

Getting a Child Invested in Speech Therapy   

To start, online speech therapy can’t be boring.

The speech therapist delivering the treatment needs to understand this crucial element. If the child doesn’t find online speech therapy fun, chances are they won’t connect with the therapist nor the concepts they are being taught. As a therapist, the key is to really get to know the child. This goes beyond understanding what conditions the child is dealing with but also digging in to learn more about the child’s personality and interests including favorite hobbies, sports team, school subjects, etc.

Quality online speech therapists will somehow incorporate this information and tailor sessions in ways that the child will find interesting. A child is more likely to be invested in a “Captain Marvel” or “Los Angeles Lakers” themed session versus a simple worksheet.

Once the child is more intrigued, there’s a higher likelihood that goals will be reached – and at this point – rewards can be earned. Rewards can vary in size and can prove to be an amazing tool for encouraging your child.

Of course, the real reward is the improvement in your child’s speech and language abilities, which can prove to help them tremendously in school. There’s also the benefit of increased confidence, which can aid in providing your child a better quality of life.

A great way to get your child invested is to create weekly challenges for them in which they properly pronounce certain words or phrases they might’ve had trouble saying before. Naturally, the bigger the challenge the “bigger” the reward, such as increased video game time or the opportunity to stay up a little later on the weekend.  

Additional tactics to get your child invested in speech therapy include:

  • Being physically active during speech therapy sessions and at-home practice allows your little one to activate parts of their brain that will help them better retain the information they are receiving. Additionally, they won’t focus so much on the “therapy” part, thus opening them up to the learning experience.
  • After your child’s online speech therapy sessions, do some fun speech and language crafts. They’ll correlate fun with speech therapy and take to the experience much better.
  • Graph your child’s progress so they can see the improvements they are making. Once they hit milestones, you can celebrate with simple rewards such as ice cream.
  • Keep speech therapy “work” to a minimum to begin with. Longer sessions may burn them out and lower their interest in speech therapy.   

Getting a child invested in speech therapy might be tricky at first, but it’s just a matter of changing their perspective and showing them how beneficial it will be in the long run.

If you believe your child could benefit from online speech therapy services, do not hesitate to contact SLP-tele today at 877-757-8353.

Our experienced and caring team of online speech-language therapists can discuss a personalized plan to help your child unlock their full potential.

Young mother teaches a child with a tablet

At-Home Activities: 8 Fantastic Tips to Help Your Child’s Speech and Language Development

At SLP-tele, we believe in the powerful combination of online speech therapy and parental support. When these two factors come together, your child’s potential becomes limitless.

As a parent, it’s important to understand that your child will benefit much from the encouragement and guidance you provide after a speech therapy session has ended. Luckily, there are plenty of fun and engaging activities that the entire family can enjoy together to help your little one’s speech and language development.

At SLP-tele, not only do we provide online speech therapy services, we also provide parents/guardians with additional at-home practices games and video clips to help their child successfully reach their speech therapy goals.

Below we’ve outlined a number of fantastic tips and activities to get the most out speech therapy.

8 Tips for At Home Speech Therapy Practice

1. The Power of Play

The power and value of play in a child’s speech development can never be overlooked. While they are playing with toys and games, take the time to sit with them and model how the toy is used while using an animated voice to highlight its different parts.

2. The Power of Words

Your daily interactions with your child are absolutely important to their growth. Make sure to talk clearly, appropriately model any words they may be having problems with, and use visual cues to help them in their understanding. Clear, simple, and consistent speech is the way to go. Also, make sure to give them some time to respond.

3. Let Your Child Speak For Themselves

Rather than limiting your child’s opportunity to express their needs, provide them the opportunity to speak for themselves. Instead of asking, “Do you want this or that,” let them use their own words to let you know what they want/need.

4. Active Listening

As a parent, it can be very easy to get caught up in the hoopla of the day and not have a full conversation with your child. Instead, show them that you are being an active listener by asking them questions that relate to the conversation they are having with you. Also, make sure to give them the opportunity to talk about things that interest them.

5. Read, Read, and Read Some More

Reading is an essential element of speech and language development. It’s never too early to start reading to your child. Start off with simple books that repeat words and phrases (rhyming is great for speech development). Even reading the same book over and over can help them exercise their language skills.

As they grow, offer them more “challenging” books that require them to answer simple questions that go beyond just yes and no answers. You can also make the readings as dramatic or whimsical as possible. Make loud dramatic sounds to grab their attention.

6. Fun Time with Flash Cards

There are plenty of free flashcards that you can find online or purchase that can provide children with plenty of practice. Focus on flashcards that have sounds they may have difficulty with. To really draw your child in, consider adding some type of reward for getting a certain amount of sounds/words correct. For instance, sugarfree gum can help to strengthen their jaws without causing cavities.

7. Mirror, Mirror On the Wall

Modeling is an important piece of any speech therapy program and parents can get in on the fun by helping their children learn how to properly pronounciate by using a mirror. Choose a few words that are challenging them and demonstrate by moving your mouth slowly as you say the word to say them. Then, let your child speak in front of a mirror so they can see how to move their mouth to make certain sounds.

Get silly and include plenty of onomatopoeias like buzz, moo, roar, and meow.

8. Sing Along

Children love to sing and allowing them to belt out their favorite (parent approved) hits can encourage them to learn new words, practice active listening and memory, and improve their ability to express themselves verbally.

SLP-tele is here for all your online speech therapy needs. We are ready to help improve your child’s communication skills.

If you believe your child could benefit from online speech therapy services, do not hesitate to contact SLP-tele today at 877-757-8353. Our experienced and caring team of online speech-language therapists can discuss a personalized plan to help your child unlock their full potential.
Common Questions Parents Have About Online Speech Therapy

Helping Parents Understand: Common Questions Parents Have About (Online) Speech Therapy

Online speech therapy takes full advantage of modern technology to make speech therapy services more accessible and effective for patients. However, with any new changes to medical care, we understand that parents may have a bit of uncertainty and plenty of questions. 

At SLP-tele, we want parents – and especially your child – to be fully comfortable when working with our online speech therapists. Below we discuss some of the most common questions parents have about speech therapy and online speech therapy.

Let us put your doubts to ease and show you why SLP-tele can be the speech therapy provider that will change your child’s life.

Common Questions Parents Ask

1. How do I know if my child needs speech therapy?

There are several signs to look out for if you believe your child may be in need of speech therapy services. Some of the most notable behaviors include:
  • Your child does not react to what is happening in their surroundings in a way deemed normal.
  • Your child avoids using a variety of words or sounds.
  • Your child has trouble understanding or answering questions.
  • Your child does not interact with other kids their age or toys the same way others would.
  • Your child is unable to tell adults what they need with words. They use gestures, other sounds, or even tantrums.
  • Your child does not follow instructions well.

If your child is exhibiting any of these signs, it is important to contact a speech language therapist (SLP) who can evaluate your child’s need and determine whether they are experiencing a speech delay or other communication disorder.

2. How will my child be evaluated?

Your child will undergo an official assessment of their language abilities based on two kinds of measures: formal and informal.

Formal measures compare the child’s skills to those of other children their age. These activities include simple tasks like labeling pictures and answering questions.

Informal measures consist of getting to know the child better, this includes interviews with teachers, caregivers, and other people who may know the child well. This will give the speech-language therapist valuable insight into the child’s speech development.

Based on these measurements and observations of the child’s play and interactions, the SLP will be able to effectively diagnose the child’s needs and develop a therapy plan.

3. What is online speech therapy?

Online speech therapy is a modern form of speech therapy delivered through live digital media rather than in-person. At SLP-tele, we are able to provide services through the use of the Internet and a computer or tablet – it’s that simple.

This way, the child can be comfortable in the convenience of their own home or school setting.

4. Is online therapy as effective as its on-site counterpart?

Yes! Online speech therapy is as effective as on-site therapy. Research has shown this to be true and, in fact, some studies have even indicated it is more effective than other methods when serving children who may be dealing with anxiety, sensory sensitivity, or other conditions that can make in-person sessions difficult.

5. How does it work and what will I need?

SLP-tele makes it completely simple, all you need to do is request an appointment with us. The day of the session, all you will need is:

  • A solid Internet connection
  • A computer, laptop, or tablet with video camera capabilities
  • Headphones
  • A quiet, well-lit room or environment

6. What are the benefits of online speech therapy?

In general, online speech therapy makes speech therapy much more accessible to the families and children that truly need the services. This is especially true for individuals living in rural areas who do not have immediate access to speech-language therapy services and who may need to travel substantial distances to receive the care they need.

It is also beneficial – as previously mentioned – for children dealing with other conditions that can make it challenging for them to receive treatment in an office setting.

Online speech therapy also allows children to receive the support they need in the comfort of their own home. It also makes it much easier for parents to get involved in their child’s therapy program.

7. How long will the program take?

How long the therapy process will take depends on a number of factors including the goals that are being pursued, the rate of your child’s progress, their consistency in session attendance, and the family’s willingness to practice after a session is over.

8. Will my insurance cover online speech therapy?

At SLP-tele, we are able to bill some insurance plans for online sessions.

However, it is best that you to check beforehand to see what coverage you can receive. We will gladly supply you with the necessary paperwork to submit to your insurance company or pre-tax savings plan.

Fortunately, for many families, the growth and success of online speech therapy means many insurance companies are willing to cover this service.

9. What are some ways to encourage my child’s language development at home?

Dialogic reading is one of the best options to improve vocabulary and comprehension.

Children love having stories read to them and this form of reading provides them with the opportunity to answer questions and ask them as well. Ask your child comprehension questions about the story as you are reading along and encourage them to interact.

You can even add commentary to the story by sharing some relevant anecdotes with your child. As your child grows, questions can become more abstract and open-ended, causing them to develop their conversational and speech skills.

10. How important is speech/language development to academic success?

Simply put – it is very important. Research shows that children who reach their language and speech milestones earlier in life do better academically.

Yet, this does not mean that a child with a communication disorder cannot be successful or catch-up with their peers. It is very important, however, that any delays are identified early so that speech therapy can be successful.

11. Is it ok if my child is learning two languages at once?

Understandably, many parents may think it would be troublesome to teach their child two languages if the child is already experiencing a speech delay or a disorder – but this should not be a cause for concern.

If you decide you want your child to learn two languages at once, that is a great idea and it works even better if they start at a young age.

It is recommended to have the child spend time with a language model who is a native speaker of the second language, like a babysitter or a teacher. Kids as young as fours months old are capable of differentiating between different languages.

12. Why should I choose SLP-tele?

SLP-tele can help you with all your online speech therapy needs. We are well prepared to help improve your child’s life and communication skills. When you choose SLP-tele, you are choosing:
  • Better outcomes. Online therapy helps children better absorb the lessons and skills being taught to them.
  • Improved compliance and participation. Better scheduling options means families can take advantage of these services.
  • Kids love it. Children love tech and the online world. Online therapy is a more enjoyable experience where they can participate in fun, game-based activities.
  • Parents are happier. Parents love to see the progress being made and all the fun their children are having.
  • Better communication and reporting. The online system allows for quicker and easier communication between patients and therapists.

If you are concerned your child may be suffering from a speech or communication disorder, do not hesitate to contact SLP-tele today at 877-757-8353.

Mom and Child in Home School Setting Playing on the Phone

Four Common Speech and Language Disorders Children May Suffer From

Speech is the primary form of communication by which we are able to share our thoughts and feelings. Any difficulties with speech can cause frustration and hinder personal development.     

Unfortunately, this is the reality for nearly 1 in 12 children, according to the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders. The percentage of the population struggling with speech and language disorders only grows when you consider adults as well.

At SLP-tele, our online speech therapists believe that educating the families we work with is important to developing a successful speech therapy program for their child. For this reason, we would like to share information about the some of the most common speech disorders that can affect children and adults alike. By knowing how these conditions can affect your loved one, you can better support the efforts of their online speech therapist from SLP-tele.

Common Speech and Language Disorders

Stuttering

This common speech disorder affects around 3 million people in America. Repeating sounds and words is one of the most noticeable signs of stuttering. People who struggle with this will also have interrupted speech.

Stuttering can be broken into two specific types: developmental and neurogenic.

  • Developmental – This is typically seen at a young age, and is often the result of children’s speech not developing in an optimal manner. The good news is that it can be successfully adjusted with online speech therapy, with the majority of children able to correct their stuttering disorder.
  • Neurogenic – This condition stems from serious injuries to a person’s brain. Events like concussions and strokes can bring about a problem with stuttering in their aftermath.

Apraxia of Speech (AOS)

Apraxia of Speech (AOS) is characterized primarily by a person being incapable of saying what it is they want to say. The primary causes of AOS are brain damage or some type of damage to the neural pathways in the brain.

A child who has this condition will be able to think of the words that want to say, understand someone else’s, and even be able to write, but will not be able to speak clearly themselves. The extent to which they are affected varies, as some sufferers can still speak well enough to be understood by others, while for others, speech remains incomprehensible.

In Childhood Apraxia of Speech, the development of the neural pathways for speech does not follow a “normal” pattern. This can result in a number of problems in childhood, such as a kid learning how to talk later than those their age and struggling with pronouncing words correctly.

While the condition can be caused by genetic neurological factors in both adults and children, a traumatic brain injury can also be responsible for this disorder manifesting in a person’s speech.

Lisping

Like stuttering, lisping is a speech condition that most people have seen or are acquainted with. The first thought most people likely have when they think of a lisp is someone making a “th” sound in place of an “s” sound.

This is just one of the four types of lisps, however, which are listed below:

  • Interdental – This is the type of lisp most commonly thought of and is characterized by the tongue going between the front teeth, causing the “th” sound in place of s and z sounds.
  • Dentalized – This lisp can be identified by someone having their tongue hit their teeth while making s and z sounds.
  • Palatal – This lisp occurs when the tongue hits the soft palate when making s and z sounds.
  • Lateral – Air escaping out of the sides of the mouth cause this type of lisping.

This condition is something that you are most likely to see in childhood, but it can at times continue as a person becomes an adult. However, the outlook for it is positive.

As a functional speech disorder, lisping is something that can be changed or corrected through work with a Speech Language Pathologist. The therapy would focus primarily on pronunciation and annunciation while including muscle strengthening exercises to help adjust a person’s lisp.

Autism and its Relation to Speech Disorders

Autism Spectrum Disorder, through the efforts of numerous organizations and groups, has found a permanent place in the public consciousness. The awareness of this widespread disorder, affecting 1 in every 100 individuals, is important in light of autism’s connection to speech conditions.

While not every child or adult with autism also struggles with speech, communication issues can arise. Speech therapy is very helpful in overcoming problems with speaking. A qualified speech therapist can work with a child with autism to help them learn words and their meaning, be more comfortable in social situations, and learn important communication cues.

Speech therapy is not just for the child with autism either, family and those closest to them are encouraged to be a part of the sessions as well. This can relax the child, in turn, helping them learn much easier. It also gives parents and other family members the opportunity to learn about their program and how they can be a part of it.

SLP-tele is here for all your online speech therapy needs. We are ready to help improve your child’s life and communication skills.

For as common as speech disorders are, many of us are still surprised when we encounter them in everyday life. These conditions deserve our full attention as the strain they place on your child’s ability to communicate can affect other areas of their life, such as their self-esteem and relationships.

If you are concerned that your child may be suffering from a speech disorder, do not hesitate to contact SLP-tele today at 877-757-8353. Our experienced and caring team of online speech-language therapists can discuss a personalized plan to help your child unlock their full potential.

Five Fantastic Benefits of Online Speech Therapy Families Should Know About

Five Fantastic Benefits of Online Speech Therapy Families Should Know About

Advances in technology have proven to be world-changing, especially in the medical field. Tech-inspired developments have been a boon for medical equipment, medications, and even medical services in general.

One of the medical fields that has benefited greatly from this rapid advancement in tech has been the world of speech therapy. Now, to the benefit of families all over the nation, voice, speech, and language disorders are fully treatable through online speech therapy services.

As a leader in online speech therapy services, SLP-tele is guiding today’s youth with restorative speech therapy sessions in the convenience of their own home. Here are the top five benefits families can expect from online speech therapy services.

1. Online Speech Therapy is Flexible

According to a 2014 survey conducted by Gallup, Americans worked an average of 47 hours per week. That equals up to almost six full work days, which can make scheduling speech therapy appointments extremely difficult.

That’s where the brilliance of online speech therapy comes into play. It isn’t rigid and time-demanding like in-person therapy sessions can be. Now, parents can schedule sessions that fit their and their family’s schedule.

Not only is online speech therapy a great option for parents, schools also find that it gives administrators flexibility in their scheduling as well. Rescheduling an online speech therapy session is much easier versus rescheduling an in-person therapy session.

2. Online Speech Therapy is Cost Effective

In-person speech therapy sessions do not come cheap. Many factors like travel expenses, facility expenses, and other office fees contribute to the final bill a family must deal with.

Choosing web-based speech therapy for your child provides cost-saving benefits as you are billed solely for the services rendered by a qualified speech therapist. Because many specialists work from home, they save on their own expenses, and those savings are passed down to clients like you.

3. Online Speech Therapy Provides Better Outcomes

With a dependable Internet connection, and the help of a skilled speech therapist from SLP-tele, your child will unlock their full potential.

An in-person speech therapy session may be uncomfortable for your child. Working with a specialist face-to-face may add stress to the situation and prevent your child from reaching their full potential. When going with our SLP-tele online services, your child can see and hear the therapist but in the comfort of your home, which often produces enhanced results in comparison to in-person sessions.

Additionally, since online speech therapy grants flexibility, more sessions can be scheduled around a time frame that caters to you and your child. When your child is comfortable, and visiting with the speech therapist more frequently, the outcome will be significantly better.

4. Online Speech Therapy Provides Families More Tools

The online speech therapy services we provide at SLP-tele not only include live sessions but also access to a vast library of therapy activities, tracking tools and progress monitoring assessments, so that you can track your child’s progress.

We also provide access to video recorded sessions that can be viewed at a later time to help you better understand your child’s program and growth.

5. Online Speech Therapy Makes Kids and Parents Happier

Kids love technology and online activities. When coupled with informative computer games and activities, your child can develop stronger outcomes. In short, happier kids lead to improved communication skills, which in turn leads to a happier parent.

Now is the perfect time to give your children the tools they need to succeed. Schedule your online speech therapy sessions with SLP-tele today.

At SLP-tele, our goal is to effectively treat your child for speech, language, swallowing, or social communication disorders through our online speech therapy services.