Do you want to have speech therapy at home? Are you looking for a more convenient and comfortable setting for you or your child’s speech therapy sessions? Let’s talk about the advantages of an in-home speech therapist! It might even be more effective than traditional face-to-face office visits.
In this article we will discuss:
Let’s talk about 7 advantages of speech therapy at home
There are a lot of advantages of private speech therapy at home.
1. Your home is more comfortable.
It can be difficult to feel relaxed in a new environment, especially for children. When therapy takes place at home, it’s easier to focus on the task at hand and make progress. It can be a disadvantage for some people to work in their own homes because of outside distractions. But for most people, it’s a more comfortable setting.
This is most applicable to adult patients. Many times, anxiety and stress can be roadblocks to success in therapy. If you feel more relaxed at home, you may find it easier to process the information and complete the exercises.
2. You don’t have to travel.
This is a big one, especially if you live in a rural area or far from town. No worrying about traffic, finding parking, or being late for your appointment. At-home speech therapy is more flexible. Life can be hectic and it’s not always easy to make it to appointments on time. In-home speech therapy offers more flexibility that can be scheduled around your busy life. You can start your therapy session on time and not have to worry about being late or rushed. When adult patients are nonambulatory, this can be a significant advantage. Many times, transportation can be a barrier to therapy. If you don’t have a car or can’t drive, in-home speech therapy may be your only option. At Better Speech, we offer online at-home speech therapy for all.
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3. You can see how therapy is integrated into daily life.
Your speech therapist at home can see how you or your child communicate in the natural environment. This helps to carry over therapy goals into everyday life. It also allows for a more individualized approach to therapy. It might be inviting to think that speech therapy would be more effective if delivered in a therapy center. Home visits allow a speech therapist at home to personalize the treatment to fit the patient’s daily routines.
Therapy sessions focused on meals or diaper changes are more effective. It can teach a lot of words that can be generalized right away. The client may practice dealing with issues that they will encounter on a daily basis at home.
4. You can practice in a realistic setting.
Your speech therapist can target specific areas of your home to help with the generalization of skills. If you are working on verbal commands, your therapist can work with you in different areas of your home. This includes the living room, kitchen, and backyard. This allows you to practice using the skills you are learning in different settings. It can help make the skills more automatic. This might be a bit more difficult to do in a traditional therapy setting. Since in a therapy center, you are only working on skills in one room. For adults with aphasia, this is an important factor. Aphasia can make it difficult to carry on a conversation. In-home speech therapy can help you practice your skills in a more realistic setting and help you to prepare for social situations.
5. Toys and materials are familiar.
Familiar toys and materials can be used in therapy to help with the generalization of skills. If you are working on speech sounds, your therapist can use a toy that your child is familiar with. It's either used to help them practice the sound or make different actions. This can make the therapy session more fun and motivating for your child. You or your child may then replicate and practice the skills they’ve learned throughout the week.
The geriatric population, in particular, can enjoy this type of therapy. They may be more comfortable and motivated in their own homes with familiar surroundings.
6. You have more control over the environment.
In your own home, you can control the noise level. You can also control a number of people present and other environmental factors. This can be helpful if your child is overwhelmed or distracted. You can also create a more stimulating environment if needed.
7. Family can be involved in therapy.
In-home speech therapy offers the opportunity for family members to be involved in therapy. This can be beneficial for both the child and the family. The child can enjoy the support of the family, and the family can learn how to support the child’s progress. This is the most important part of rehabilitation. Families are given an opportunity to learn more about their loved one’s condition. They are taught how they can help with the therapy process. In some cases, for children that are living in a bilingual home, it can give the opportunity for bilingual speech therapy access.
Tips for Speech Therapy at Home
To maximize rehabilitation and development at home speech therapy, it is best to:
1. Have a specific therapy room or area. Children and adults need to feel that this is a place where they can focus on therapy. This will help to increase motivation and compliance with therapy activities.
2. Make sure that the therapy materials are accessible and organized. Having them organized makes it easier to find and use the materials. This will also help to keep therapy sessions more fun and engaging.
3. Use a daily routine board or chart to help with scheduling and time management. Having a daily routine will help to keep therapy activities on track. They make sure that everyone knows what is happening and when.
4. Get the whole family involved in therapy by involving them in activities. It is important to show them how they can help at home. This is a great way to increase motivation and compliance with therapy.
6. Be creative and think outside the box to come up with new ideas for therapy activities. There are lots of great resources available online and in books.
7. Take breaks as needed and make sure to reward yourself or your child! Provide a box full of positive reinforcement items to use as rewards for therapy activities.
What happens during a speech session
The therapist will start by evaluating the child’s or adult’s strengths and weaknesses. This will help to determine what goals should be set for therapy. After the evaluation, the therapist will work with the child or adult on specific goals. This may involve working on speech sounds, language skills, or social skills. The therapist will use different activities and materials to help with the goals. He or she will review what was learned and give suggestions for activities to do at home. The therapist may also provide resources for families to use at home. This may include books, websites, or apps. During a therapy session, a speech therapist at home will work on speech or language skills. He/she will also use different activities and materials to help achieve the goals set from the evaluation. Therapy for speech and language can look different for each child and it's always tailored to their individual needs!
What to do after a speech session?
A speech therapist at home can only do much. The progress of at home speech therapy depends on you and your child. The therapist can only help to guide you. It is best to incorporate the therapy activities into your daily routine. This will help to make the activities more natural and less forced. It is also important to be consistent with the therapy. This means doing the activities on a regular basis, even if you don’t see results right away.
Here are things you can do and supplement at home for your speech therapy sessions:
1. Parents should stimulate their child’s speech and language development at home. This can be done through daily activities and doing things outside!
2. Try to make use of any materials or ideas that were used during the session! Your child will practice the skills they have learned. Explore the outside world, read books together, and have conversations.
3. Be creative and come up with new ways to practice the skills at home. There are lots of great resources available online and in books.
4. Reward yourself or your child for completing therapy activities! This will help to increase motivation and compliance with therapy.
5. Be patient. Therapy takes time and progress may not be seen right away. And most importantly, remember to have fun!
Does speech therapy work?
The answer is YES! Speech therapy has been proven to be effective in treating a variety of communication disorders. It can help to improve the quality of life for both children and adults. In-home speech therapy can be an effective way to treat communication disorders. It can provide the child with the opportunity to practice the skills they have learned in therapy. It can also help make the activities more natural and less forced. In-home speech therapy can also help involve the whole family in the therapy process. It can be beneficial for both the child and the family.
At Better Speech, we offer online speech therapy services convenient for you and tailored to your child's individual needs. Our services are affordable and effective - get Better Speech now.
About the Author
Mikee Larrazabal
I am a Speech-Language Pathologist with 14 years of experience working with children and adults who have communication difficulties. I completed my Bachelor of Science degree in Health Science at Cebu Doctors' University and have been helping people overcome their communication challenges ever since.
I have worked with individuals of different ages, including toddlers, preschoolers, school-aged children, adults and seniors. I'm passionate about speech therapy and take great satisfaction in helping people overcome their communication challenges and improve their lives through better communication skills. In my spare time I like reading books, going hiking in nature and taking care of my dog Locas.
