Online speech therapy meets a number of schools’ and students’ needs
Online learning extends educational opportunities to a number of different student groups, and those needing special interventions are able to benefit from expanded learning opportunities, too.
One fast-growing online intervention is online speech therapy, which connects students with highly-qualified speech therapists who might not otherwise be accessible to students, whether due to geographical limitations or funding issues.
As part of eSN’s Special Education Week, we’ve pulled together these seven facts and myths about online speech therapy, from PresenceLearning’s resources.
(Next page: Seven online speech therapy myths)
Download these resources and additional details here.
Myth: Online speech therapy can help with only a few conditions.
Fact: Actually, it can help with a wide range of conditions, such as lisps and language processing challenges.
Myth: Online speech therapy isn’t as personalized as face-to-face speech therapy
Fact: It can be even more individualized and personalized because online speech-language pathologists (SLPs) have access to thousands of online resources that can directly address a student’s IEP.
Myth: Parents are not as involved when their child participates in online speech therapy.
Fact: Parents have even more access to their child’s therapy sessions because each online session is streamed live, and individual session notes are archived.
Myth: Online speech therapy only works with certain ages or grade levels.
Fact: Anyone can benefit, including teenage students. In fact, online therapy gives older students a more discreet way to work on their skills.
Myth: Online speech therapy is difficult to use and can be clunky or complex.
Fact: Everyday technologies are all that students require–a computer, headset, web cam, and an internet connection.
Myth: SLPs’ positions are being eliminated in light of the rise of online speech therapy.
Fact: Just the opposite–SLPs have even more of an opportunity for job growth. Many schools do not have enough SLPs to meet their students’ needs, and using online speech therapy to fill those gaps enables face-to-face SLPs to better help students.
Myth: Online speech therapy puts children in dangerous positions online.
Fact: Many parents are concerned about this, but sessions are private, secure, and encrypted.
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