Therapy that works when getting here does not
TelePractice connects your child to a speech-language pathologist, occupational therapist, physical therapist or ABA therapist over video. You see and talk to each other, and the session is built around the same goals as an in-person one.
What TelePractice is
It is a therapy session delivered over a live video connection rather than in our building. Your therapist is in one place, your child is in another, and the two of you work together in real time. It goes by several names and they all mean roughly the same thing: telespeech, teletherapy, telehealth, telemedicine, online therapy for kids, virtual therapy. Parents searching for any of those are usually looking for this.
Pediatric telehealth is not a lesser version of therapy and it is not a convenience feature. It is a different tool, better than the clinic at some jobs and worse at others, and it is worth choosing deliberately for the jobs it is good at. We will tell you which of those your child’s goals fall into before you book anything.
What it is not is a video someone watches, or a set of exercises emailed over. A clinician is present for the whole session, adjusting what they are doing based on what your child does, exactly as they would in a treatment room.
What you need
A reasonable internet connection and a device with a camera, a speaker and a microphone. That is genuinely most of it. Sessions can run from wherever your child actually is:
- Home
- School
- A clinic
- An office
- Hospital
For younger children an adult usually needs to be in the room, not to run the session but to help with positioning, materials and attention. Your therapist will tell you what they need before the first appointment.
Does it actually work
TelePractice has been used to evaluate and treat people of all ages, and researchers have found few differences in outcome between it and in-person services. Most families who use it report being satisfied with it.
That is not the same as saying it suits everyone. It tends to work well for language work, articulation practice, parent coaching and follow-up sessions. It works less well where a therapist needs their hands on the child, which includes a lot of physical therapy, feeding therapy and early motor work. The honest answer for your child depends on their age, their goals and how they engage with a screen, so it is a conversation to have with your therapist rather than a decision to make from a web page.
Where it earns its place
The families who get the most from it are usually the ones for whom the drive is the obstacle: a long trip from the north end of the county, a sibling who cannot be left, a work schedule that will not stretch to a mid-afternoon appointment, a week of ice on the roads. A session that happens beats a session that was canceled, and consistency over months is what actually moves a child forward.
Common questions
TelePractice FAQs
Is TelePractice as effective as coming in?
For a lot of goals, yes. Research comparing telepractice with in-person services has found few differences in outcome, and most families who use it report being satisfied. It is stronger for language, articulation, parent coaching and follow-up, and weaker where a therapist needs their hands on your child, which covers much of physical therapy, feeding therapy and early motor work. Ask your therapist about your child's specific goals rather than deciding from a page.
What do I need to take part?
A reasonable internet connection and a device with a camera, speaker and microphone. Sessions can run from home, school, a clinic, an office or a hospital. For younger children an adult usually needs to be in the room to help with positioning, materials and attention, and your therapist will tell you what they need beforehand.
Will my health plan pay for it?
Check with your plan first to confirm the service is covered. Some plans are still unfamiliar with telepractice and may ask for extra information before they approve it. Our administrative team can help you work out what your plan needs, so call before your first session rather than after.
Which therapies can be delivered this way?
Speech and language therapy, occupational therapy, physical therapy and ABA therapy. Whether it suits a particular child depends on their age, their goals and how they engage on a screen, so it is decided case by case.
Can we mix TelePractice with in-person sessions?
That is a common arrangement and often the best of both. Families use it to keep frequency up through a difficult stretch, to cover a week of bad weather, or to avoid losing a session when the drive is not possible. Consistency over months is what moves a child forward, and a session that happens beats one that was canceled.
How do we join a session?
Sessions run through the patient portal. Your therapist sends the details before your first appointment, so you are not working it out on the day.