What to Expect: Telehealth Speech Therapy
If you have been struggling to find a local Speech Pathologist, or you simply want more flexibility in when and how you engage with Speech Pathology, telehealth speech therapy might be a good fit for you. In this article, we’ll take you through what to expect from telehealth speech therapy, including what the process typically looks like from initial assessment to therapy, to help you decide if it is right for you.
What is Telehealth Speech Therapy
Telehealth speech therapy, sometimes also called online speech therapy, simply involves accessing services from a Speech Pathologist over the internet. These days you can receive support from many healthcare professionals from the comfort of your own home, and Speech Pathologists are one of them! In most cases, all you need to engage in telehealth speech therapy appointments is access to a reliable internet connection and a device with good camera and audio quality – like a laptop or iPad.
During telehealth speech therapy, your clinician will complete assessments and conduct speech therapy just like they would if you were there in person. Not much changes beyond how some of the resources for therapy can be accessed (e.g. using digital materials over hard copies).
The Benefits of Telehealth Speech Therapy
Telehealth speech therapy is incredibly beneficial for many individuals. Here are some of the ways you or a loved one may benefit from engaging in telehealth speech therapy:
- Having access to speech therapy at a convenient time
- Reduction in costs associated with home-visit appointments or travelling to a clinic space
- In some cases, being able to access speech therapy sooner than if you were waiting for clinician availability for in-person appointments
- More flexibility about how often you engage in therapy (it can make it easier to manage multiple appointments)
Is Telehealth Speech Therapy Effective?
Telehealth speech therapy has been shown to be effective for many people living with a variety of symptoms that speech therapy can address. As an evidence-based profession, clinicians would not be offering telehealth options if they weren’t shown to help people to see improvements in their various conditions!
A recent systematic review from 2024 found that telehealth speech therapy was effective for individuals seeking support for:
- Parkinson’s Disease
- Voice Disorders
- Dysphagia
- Aphasia
These are all conditions that can be addressed with evidence-based speech therapy – and are all best targeted with consistent access to therapy services. Something worth noting is that, especially in cases where an acute brain injury (like a stroke) has impacted communication and swallowing, getting access to timely speech therapy is critical to support best possible long-term outcomes and therapy gains.
If getting to a clinic location for speech therapy or arranging home visit speech therapy has become a challenge, telehealth speech therapy may just be the answer you’ve been looking for.
What to Expect from Telehealth Speech Therapy
If it is your first time seeing a Speech Pathologist, and you’re wondering what is involved in telehealth speech therapy, here’s a brief overview.
Your first telehealth speech therapy appointment will typically involve your clinician talking to you about your presenting challenges – you’ll share what has made you seek speech pathology services, and discuss any concerns raised by other medical professionals who may have provided guidance or referral.
From there, your clinician will determine what assessments would be most suitable to gather information and inform a diagnosis and/or to help measure your progress from your starting point.
Is Telehealth Speech Therapy Right for You?
If you are still wondering if speech therapy delivered online is right for you, reach out to the friendly team at Speak and Swallow today. Our experienced Speech Pathologists based in North Brisbane offer quality telehealth speech therapy for a range of conditions.
Contact us today to find out if telehealth speech therapy would be suitable for you, and find a time to arrange your first appointment.