Speech therapy first gained recognition in the 1920s when the American Academy of Speech Correction (AASC) was established in 1926.
The group, comprising of 15 women and 10 men, aimed to maintain high standards in the newly constituted discipline and laid down the minimum membership criteria for those with publication records and master’s degrees.
AASC and many other groups over the next few decades helped develop concepts, diagnostic tools, and normative data for research and practice based on scientific principles in the field of speech-language pathology.
For nearly a century, speech-language pathologists (SLPs) have been diagnosing and treating speech and language disorders in millions of children and adults worldwide. The diagnosis and treatment generally took place in-person at:
- Client’s home
- SLP’s Office/clinic
- School
In-person therapy has long been recommended for the treatment of various communication issues, including stuttering, accent modification, aphasia, etc.
Today, people who need speech therapy can avail of it online. Online speech therapy is mainly available in two formats:
- Remote speech therapy sessions
- Digital speech therapy app
With the growing internet penetration worldwide and easy access to multimedia devices, these new-age alternatives to traditional speech therapy have gained immense popularity over the last few years.
Here in this post, we will look at the top five benefits of online speech therapy:
- You Are No Longer Limited By Your Location
Millions of people around the world do not have easy access to SLPs.
Finding a specialist in your locality can be difficult. Also, people today are busier than ever before. Getting to and from SLP appointments can be cumbersome or involve lengthy drives.
Many people end up missing appointments due to bad weather, busy schedule, or other unforeseen circumstances.
Taking speech therapy online eliminates this issue.
Using digital speech therapy apps or remote speech therapy gives you multiple options when it comes to scheduling.
Needless to say, you save on travel costs too!
- A Cost-Effective Alternative
In-person speech therapy tends to cost more than online speech therapy because an SLP has to visit patients’ homes or cover the office expenses.
In some countries, one speech therapy session alone can cost up to $100.
When you choose web-based speech therapy platforms or mobile speech therapy applications such as Stamurai, such service providers can pass on the savings to you.
In fact, digital speech therapy apps such as Stamurai that offer guided training plans, tools, and assessments for people who stutter, cost a fraction of what you’d pay if you hire an SLP in your area or sign up for remote speech therapy.
It’s because one mobile app, designed based on the inputs from highly experienced SLPs, can cater to a large number of people.
- Familiar & Comfortable Setting
Young children with speech and language disorders can now access professional speech therapy services from the comfort of their homes.
A child can attend a remote speech therapy session or use a digital therapy app in a familiar setting. This way, s/he is likely to feel more comfortable.
Not just children, many adults also get nervous at the thought of interacting with an SLP face-to-face. There is no reason to be embarrassed, yes, but if you feel shy when going to therapy, you might benefit from digital alternatives.
- Access to Support Groups
Support groups play an important role in how you overcome a communication issue. You will connect with people who are on the same boat as you. Being a part of a social network of peers facing similar hurdles in life is liberating.
Finding such support groups in your locality is difficult. But, digital speech therapy platforms will provide you with access to support groups – whether through video sessions or online communities – that help you in the same way in-person support groups formed by speech therapy clinics do.
- Easy for Parents to Get Involved
Parental involvement can hugely benefit children with speech disorders.
Compared to traditional speech therapy sessions, it is easier for parents to get involved in remote speech therapy or guided training plans of a digital speech therapy app.
When a child completes a practice session, parents will know how to reinforce the lessons or techniques learned.
So, digital alternatives are more convenient for parents.
