Top 10 Benefits of Teletherapy Services with an SLP
As a certified SLP, I have incorporated teletherapy into my practice since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. With teletherapy speech therapy, treatment is provided face to face through a secure technology connection. It has been around for more than 20 years and is an effective alternative to in person treatment. Teletherapy has been shown to improve access and efficiency, while also decreasing costs of treatment and social isolation.
Many of my clients were already part of my caseload prior to COVID-19 and transitioned their services to teletherapy in order to prevent any disruption in services and skills. New clients have since been added to my caseload with reports of functional decline in communication, voice and cognition. Once therapy has been initiated, none of my clients have discontinued teletherapy. In fact, when asked about their experiences with teletherapy, 100% report satisfaction with services; 100% report feeling less isolation; and 100% report that they are able to carryover some skills learned during our teletherapy sessions. If given a chance to resume in person or remain on telehealth services, the majority of my current caseload shared they would prefer to maintain telehealth services. Why? Because clients and their families are noticing that when teletherapy focuses on function, real world improvements happen.
Here are the top 10 benefits for participating in teletherapy:
Reduced Risk of Illness: Teletherapy can provide safety measures that reduce an individual’s risk of illness. By working remotely, clients can continue their progress without having physical exposure to other clients and therapists in an office or hospital setting.
Preventing Social Isolation: The COVID-19 pandemic has altered many of our social networks, exposing us to increased risk of poor mental and physical health. Participating in teletherapy allows clients to receive support and feel connected, while working on improving skills that can often be challenging and frustrating. Teletherapy can reduce the risk of functional decline and social isolation.
Preferred Provider Choices: When using teletherapy, you can select providers based on their expertise thereby eliminating concerns over traveling distances to access services. (Note: Some states have credentialing regulations for providing therapy across state lines).
Uninterrupted Treatment: Appointment times can be more flexible, working around medical appointments, vacation schedules, work and school. This way clients don’t have to skip appointments or lose momentum in therapy due to outside obligations.
Increased Consistency and Timeliness: Inclement weather, illness and schedule conflicts with other family members will not impact the ability to remotely participate in therapy. Similarly, without the concern of traffic jams, detours or getting lost on the way to the office, clients can be on time for treatment with use of their device.
Increased Support: Caregiver burnout is a real concern and many family members report difficulty attending sessions in person due to outside obligations. With teletherapy, family member availability can increase by avoiding travel time and not needing to take time off from work to participate in a therapy session.
Increased Carryover: With teletherapy, clinicians are able to see the home setting, problem solve and establish strategies in real time. These strategies can then be applied immediately in the home setting.
Privacy Protected: Therapy should always be provided in a confidential manner and teletherapy is no different and should be offered through a HIPPA secure platform thereby protecting each client’s personal health information. Clients no longer need to sit in a waiting room with others and can participate from the comforts of their home.
Evidence-Based Treatment: Treatment outcomes for sessions delivered in teletherapy have been shown to be consistent with face-to-face therapy.
Cost-Effective: Insurance regulations are supporting treatment provided through telehealth as it reduces risk of rehospitalizations and overall health costs.
Amy Karas, MS, CCC-SLP | (617) 893-8807
Owner/Speech-Language Pathologist
Certified Brain Injury Specialist & Trainer
Certified in LSVT®, SPEAK OUT!® and PhoRTe
SLPAmyKaras@gmail.com | North Shore, MA
