As you would be aware, our world is currently experiencing a global pandemic known as COVID-19. Central Coast Speech Pathology Services has introduced an alternative service to enable people to continue their speech therapy without needing to meet face to face, using “telehealth”.
Telehealth, or telepractice, is not new to Speech Pathology, but has become more popular in recent years due to newer technology and improved internet access. Telehealth is the delivery of speech therapy services using technology, usually internet-based.
What evidence is there for the use of telehealth in Speech Pathology?
There is a significant amount of research around using telehealth in speech therapy for children and adults. This research shows that telehealth is as effective as face-to-face speech therapy for a range of communication disorders such as stuttering, speech, language and literacy. Some disorders, such as voice, have had a smaller amount of research done, so there is less evidence available at this time.
What benefits are there of telehealth compared to face to face sessions?
Telehealth sessions provide an opportunity to work on your child’s goals in a unique format. In addition, they can assist you to work on different needs. For example, they may allow for collaboration with caregivers who are not usually able to be present at appointments, upskilling caregivers, working with therapists from the comfort of home, and continuity of services during the current situation with COVID-19, especially in the event of school closure or lockdown.
What do I need?
The type of device you will need depends on what type of therapy activities your child is doing. Examples are a PC, iPad/tablet or iPhone. You will need a webcam and microphone (which are built in to most computers and devices these days), and an internet connection. It is recommended you have a minimum connection speed of 5Mbps. You can check your internet connection speed by visiting www.speedtest.net.
You will also need a quiet space where your child can participate in the session uninterrupted.
Who should be present at the sessions?
Ideally a parent or carer should be with the child during their session to provide support. It is also very beneficial for training parents in how to support their child’s communication goals outside of the therapy session. Some types of therapy, eg. the Lidcombe Program for stuttering, require parents to be present.
Are there any rebates available?
NDIS funding covers sessions delivered by telehealth, regardless of whether you are self-managed or plan-managed.
Private health funds may cover sessions depending on your health fund and your individual policy. Please contact your health fund to find out whether you are covered for telehealth.
In the past, Medicare has not offered rebates for speech therapy via telehealth. However, due to the current COVID-19 virus, Medicare is expanding their telehealth criteria to include allied health services, and an announcement regarding speech therapy rebates is expected soon.
What else do I need to consider?
Not everyone is familiar or comfortable with technology, although the platform being used by Speech Pathology Australia is designed to be user friendly. You may need to consider the physical, sensory, cognitive, attentional, and motivational skills of your child. It is possible that some children may have more difficulty focusing on the screen than they would during a face-to-face appointment. In my face-to-face practice, I have found that the use of screens during assessment and therapy has often increased children’s ability to focus and concentrate.
If you have any further questions or would like to book a telehealth appointment, please contact us today!
