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Now Offering Teletherapy Services!
Difficulty finding time to travel back and forth to the office for speech therapy? Does your child enjoy technology? Then teletherapy might be for you! We are thrilled to announce the launch of our teletherapy program. This is an excellent option for children receiving therapy for articulation errors or stuttering, as we can offer more frequent, shorter sessions, which have been proven in research to achieve progress more quickly than longer, less frequent appointments. American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) has supported teletherapy since 2005. Online speech therapy has been found effective by over 50 published, peer-reviewed studies, beginning with a landmark paper by the Mayo Clinic in 1997. For those who are private pay, this will provide a new, more affordable option for services. Option 1: $99 for 3, 15 minute sessions per week (paid in advance each week). Option 2: $38 for 15 minutes, pay as you go. *No refunds for missed (no-show) sessions. If the therapist misses a session for any reason, or if a session is missed due to technology malfunction, a make-up session will be offered. If advanced notice (more than 48 hours) is provided by you in the event you need to cancel, make-up sessions will be offered. Frequently Asked Questions How does it work? Our SLP, Adrienne Krouskop, will connect with your child via a program called Zoom. Prior to the appointment, you will receive an email containing the link to join the meeting. With Zoom, Adrienne is able to incorporate games, making therapy fun and engaging. Does insurance cover these services? If your insurance is currently covering services, then yes! In Virginia there is a law stating that insurance companies have to cover services delivered in this manner, in the same way in-office are covered. Services would hold the same copay, coinsurance, and/or deductibles. What equipment will I need? A computer (desktop or laptop) with:
What type of environment is needed? For the client, a quiet, low distraction area is best. We suggest a parent or other adult is in the room to assist with any technological difficulties or to help keep the child on task. The therapist will be in a quiet, confidential work zone. Is teletherapy confidential and secure? The Speech and Language Center uses a heightened degree of security by ensuring safeguards, including but not limited to password protection, encryption capabilities, and invitation-only therapy sessions. We are bound by the same ethical, privacy, and confidentiality practices online as in an onsite setting. Is it as effective as in person therapy? The research says, yes! It is our responsibility to ensure this. If at any point you, or your therapist, feel it is not, we will refer back to in person service delivery. Who may benefit from teletherapy? Teletherapy is a great option for those who have difficulty traveling to the office, or as a general time saver. Teletherapy can be the primary mode of service delivery, or it can be combined with in-office. For example a child requiring services three or four times weekly may have one session per week in-office, and three virtually. Any child with basic computer skills, an interest in technology, and the ability to attend could be a candidate. |
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