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Virtual speech therapy is becoming a convenient and wonderful option for many families needing speech and language support. But what is the ideal time for virtual therapy: children or adults? The reality is that the answer depends. Certain ages benefit optimally given the type of communication difficulty, attention span, tech comfort, and the child’s needs.
What Is Virtual Therapy?
Nowadays, virtual therapy allows the language and speech therapist to consult with their clients in real time while treating them over video conferencing. The sessions resemble an in-person visit, and several programs can be implemented, including appointment articulation, language games, and social skills.
Ideal Age for Starting Virtual Therapy
Depending upon the child’s ability to focus and interact with the therapist through the screen, clients can usually be from as young as 3 years to adults. Most children between preschool and early elementary school age (3–10 years) typically do well with virtual therapy as long as the sessions are interactive and engaging.
Meanwhile, for the under-3 age toddlers, virtual therapy may work in a parent-coaching way. In that setup, the speech-language pathologist works with parents to model and reinforce strategies the parents can use in their everyday interactions.
Older children, teens, or adults could use these sessions to work on higher-level communication abilities, including social language, fluency, or voice modulation.
Reasons Parents and Clients Prefer Virtual Options
Here are a few reasons why virtual therapy is getting more and more popular:
- Builds flexibility around school or work scheduling.
- No need to travel, which saves time and anxiety.
- Reach a specialist who is hard to find locally.
- Provides home comfort, which can help younger clients relax.
Currently, many insurance companies accept teletherapy as an effective alternative to in-person speech therapy. They will pay for all or part of the fee, making it a choice that families can afford.
Key Considerations
Before proceeding with virtual therapy, some key factors to ask are:
- Attention span: Does your child stay focused for 20–30 minutes?
- Technology: Can you guarantee a good internet connection and a serene ambiance to conduct your sessions?
- Parental Involvement: Can you assist with the therapy when required, either during or after the sessions?
If these come out as a yes, your child or loved one is a candidate for virtual therapy.
Support Is Available at Any Distance
Whether it’s working towards better communication for preschoolers or adolescents, early intervention and intervention by experts do matter. Contact Street Simple Therapy for additional information about virtual therapy services and how our insurance speech therapy supports your family’s communication goals.
