What is Teletherapy? 

Teletherapy is the online delivery of speech and occupational therapy services using high-resolution, live video conferencing. Teletherapy sessions are very similar to traditional speech, occupational therapy, or mental health sessions with one major exception. Instead of sitting in the same room, students and therapists interact via live video conferencing tools.

Is Teletherapy as effective as Onsite Therapy?

There is a myth circulating in therapy circles that teletherapy is of inferior quality to traditional face-to-face therapy. This is patently false for the following reasons:

• As the speech therapists providing services are ASHA (American Speech-Language-Hearing Association) certified, there is no compromise in the quality of the therapist.
• Teletherapy has been used successfully since the late 1990’s for thousands of therapy sessions across the United States. It is and has been considered an effective and appropriate therapeutic delivery mode based on 20 years of research by over 40 academic published studies.
• Additionally, in 2005 ASHA endorsed Teletherapy: “Based on the strong body of peer-reviewed research supporting telepractice, ASHA recognizes telepractice (teletherapy) as a valid means of service delivery for audiologists and speech-language pathologists.”

What are the benefits of Teletherapy?

By utilizing fun and engaging digital technology, teletherapy is exceptionally kid-friendly. Today’s children are comfortable with computers and live game-based activities such as video interactions and digital learning. In this rapidly developing technological world of ours, the digital dimensions of online therapy have become very natural and almost expected. For shy and more reserved children, teletherapy is less intimidating the traditional face-to-face therapy. Teletherapy provides the capacity to remotely log in and observe the session in real time allowing parents or members of the child’s “team” to see his or her progress.

What will be the cost of Teletherapy?

There will be a discounted price for this service, depending on the amount of time therapy was scheduled for. Price will be informed directly to families interested.

For how long can I schedule a session?

• 1 hour
• 45 minutes
• 30 minutes

Where are some resources for Teletherapy?

Families will find educational handouts for children, games, home-activities, and how to use Zoom/Webex in the section labeled Teletherapy Resources for Families. To use Zoom/Webex in the section labeled Teletherapy Resources for Families. Occupational Therapist will find sensory activities, worksheets, and interactive games for Teletherapy in the section called Teletherapy Resources for Occupational Therapists. Speech Pathologists will find SLP specific websites for support, interactive cars and activities for Teletherapy, as well as fun games for kids in the section called Teletherapy Resources for Speech Pathologists.