If you are concerned that your child’s speech and language development is not satisfactory, when compared to his peers, please refer to the chart for speech and language developmental milestones.
Check the following chart to know the number of words a child should speak corresponding to his/her age.
“Online speech therapy, also known as telepractice or teletherapy is the application of telecommunications technology to the delivery of speech language pathology or audiology professional services at a distance by linking clinician to client for assessment, intervention,and/or consultation.”(American Speech-Language- Hearing Association,ASHA).
Telepractice was approved by ASHA as an appropriate and effective method of service delivery in 2005. Online Speech therapy is carried out through video conferencing using various digital resources.Online Speech Therapy sessions are similar to in-person sessions and provided one-to-one by the speech pathologist. A customised therapy plan is prepared for the client and the speech pathologist follows evidence based practice for intervention.
Initially, a comprehensive assessment is carried out to identify the problem areas.Standardized tools, parent/caregiver interviews and checklists, observation of the client, and vidios are used for assessment. Individualized goals are planned based on the assessment. During prescheduled sessions, our speech therapists interact with our clients via video conferencing, using appropriate therapeutic strategies and exercises needed to achieve the goals. Based on the specific needs of the client, receptive and expressive language skills, clarity of speech, fluency, social communication, or any other goals are targeted. Digital resources relevant to the goals are provided via subscription to our e-learning platform, Speech Ally (for children), which helps in additional practice of skills at home so that the clients can practice between sessions and ensure carry-over of the skills.
We currently have therapists who speak English, Hindi, Malayalam,Tamil and Kannada.
You can fill out the form given on the ‘contact us’ page, or call, whatsapp or mail us using the contact details provided on the website. Our team will be available to book an appointment at a time suitable for you.
Once you contact us, we will collect all basic information regarding your concerns. Then an assessment will be scheduled with a therapist. After the assessment, based on the needs of the client, we connect with you to plan the therapy schedule. Once the slots are confirmed and you make the payment, regular therapy sessions will be conducted one-on-one. Wherever it is suitable, you will also be given a subscription to our e-learning platform, Speech Ally.
We accept online transfers, UPI, credit cards or debit cards.
In the case of children who are younger than 3 years, or those children who do not cooperate for the sessions due to attention deficits or any other concerns, the therapy will concentrate mainly on training and coaching the parents, demonstrating each goal-oriented activity, and guiding them to carry out these activities step by step.Each activity will be of very short duration and mostly revolve around the child’s daily routine so that parents/ caregivers will not have to spend a lot of additional time carrying out the activities at home.
There is plenty of research to prove that online speech therapy is effective.Some of the studies carried out are listed below.
An Investigation of the Efficacy of Speech-Language Interventions with Students with ASD Using Telepractice, a study at the University of Massachusetts Amherst in 2009 provided empirical evidence which suggested that telepractice service delivery method is an effective and valid way to provide interventions to students with ASD.
A Pilot Exploration of Speech Sound Disorder Intervention Delivered by Teleheath to School-Age Children, a study in the International Journal of Telerehabilitation in 2011 indicates that live interactive videoconferencing appears to be a viable method for delivering intervention for speech sound disorders.
The Efficacy of Telehealth-Delivered Speech and Language Intervention for Primary School-Age Children: A Systematic Review, in the International Journal of Telerehabilitation in 2017 showed no significant difference between teletherapy and traditional in-person therapy for primary school aged children with speech and language challenges. The study did show a significant change in test scores from pre- to post intervention for both groups, so both groups made significant and similar progress during intervention.
Do Patients Treated for Voice Therapy With Telepractice Show Similar Changes in Voice Outcome Measures as Patients Treated Face-To-Face? by Rangarathnam, B., Gilroy, H., et al. (2016) reviewed studies that addressed treatments such as Lee Silverman Voice Therapy, confidential voice or vocal function exercises, vocal hygiene, flow phonation exercises, relaxation exercises, and Lessac-Madsen Resonant Voice Therapy. Evidence supported comparable treatment effectiveness for service delivery methods (telepractice and face-to-face).
Telehealth and Autism: A Systematic Search and Review of the Literature by Sutherland, R., Trembath, D., et al. (2018) in the International Journal of Speech-Language Pathology suggests that there may be a range of benefits in using intervention using telehealth to individuals with [autism spectrum disorder] ASD, their families and teachers. Results indicated overall positive outcomes for intervention delivered via telehealth sessions.
Telepractice for Adult Speech-Language Pathology Services: A Systematic Review by Weidner, K., & Lowman, J. (2020) is a review of published, peer-reviewed studies investigating the use of speech-language pathology services delivered via telepractice for adult populations (e.g., aphasia, dysphagia, traumatic brain injury).For individuals with Parkinson’s Disease, five studies investigating the provision of Lee Silverman Voice Treatment (LSVT) LOUD via remote videoconferencing service delivery reported generally comparable results to in-person sessions.
Online speech therapy is effective for children with autism as just like in-person therapy, it involves direct intervention with the child as well as educating the parents to become significant partners in their child’s communication journey. The first step in the intervention for autism is parental education. If parents understand all the characteristics of autism and how a neurodivergent mind works, this helps them stimulate the child in the right way. Online therapy first focuses on educating parents about the child’s sensory needs and problems arising from communication difficulties. Parents are then taught simple strategies to make the child cooperate with them. Along with this, the speech pathologists will work on rapport building and use different communication strategies with the child.
Early detection and intervention can give children a good start. 70% of children with communication difficulties may outgrow this problem, but 30% will need some form of intervention. There is no way to determine whether your child falls in the 70% range or not. So its safer to start early intervention instead of waiting and watching.
By 3 years of age, around 80% of brain development is completed in children. During this period, brain plasticity is highest, and this is a critical period for learning language. Intervention provided during this period leads to faster speech and language development when compared to intervention provided later on.
Intervention for clarity of speech and fluency involves plenty of repeated practice at home. The outcomes of therapy depend mainly on the consistency in attending therapy sessions and the amount of practice done each day. Online therapy makes it easier for clients to attend therapy consistently. Hence online mode of therapy for speech clarity and fluency issues have very good outcomes.