For more than 20 years the use of Teletherapy practice in USA, has offered very important positive outcomes (Wales et al, 2017) in the field of Speech and Language Therapy (ASHA, 2011).

 

The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA), 2012b) defines Teletherapy as: “the application of telecommunications technology to delivery of professional services at a distance by linking clinician to client, or clinician to clinician, for assessment, intervention, and/or consultation (para.1).”

 

Similarly, the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists in the UK, https://www.rcslt.org/members/delivering-quality-services/telehealth/telehealth-guidance#section-1) has identified and instituted Teletherapy for about ten years know with the aim to:

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1. Deal with issues of location, distance or even immobility

2. Help prioritize due to issues of work load

3. Meet the increased demand of  Speech and Language Therapy services

 

Web-based Teletherapy is defined as the connection of a therapist with a client over the Internet, where they communicate, from their own computer at home or office, with the use of a  camera and direct hardware management Towey, 2012). This kind of service has come to the fore of clinical application to make Teletherapy even more interactive through direct eye contact of a therapist with  a client through the use of a camera, as well as appropriately adapted therapeutic material (Towey, 2012).

 

An integral part of the good practice of providing Speech and Language Therapy through Teletherapy is the compliance of the same code of conduct of Speech and Language Therapists  that applies to live intervention, as well as ensuring the security of the personal data of clients, families and the session itself. This is achieved with the right selection of a video conferencing platform so that it can provide the necessary security and platform lock during each session.

 

Session duration: At young ages it is appropriate to provide short and frequent sessions (e.g. 30-minute sessions 2-3 times a week, or 45 – 60-minute sessions for older children and/or adults 1-2 times a week, based on their needs).

 

​Parental Contribution: It is necessary to educate and guide parents and/or caregivers in Teletherapy because it may seem necessary to participate as "assistants" during sessions mainly with children and/or adults who do not have all the necessary skills for the use of computers or tablets.

 

Request a free presentation of how Teletherapy is provided... only by experiencing it you can identify if it suits the needs

of your child...