Speech and language therapy is essential for children with ASD so that they may reach their potential. Speech-language therapy can be delivered to these children in person or online.
However, it is crucial to highlight that there are several advantages to delivering this service online since teletherapy provides opportunities that are not available with in-person therapy. Families can ensure a favorable outcome with online speech therapy by considering the following factors:
Parent Coaching—Caregivers of children with ASD can learn to connect with their children by participating in online speech therapy. The SLP can collaborate closely with the family to create a treatment plan that includes tactics and activities for eliciting effective communication. The SLP has the advantage of working with the parent in their home environment. Furthermore, parents are their child’s primary educators from birth. It is highly beneficial to the child when their parents constantly repeat the same language modeled by their SLP.
Sensory Input—Many children with autism struggle to comprehend the sensory information they get from their surroundings. Changing the visual, aural, and tactile signals that a child receives increases their attention span and participation. Simple modifications, such as altering the lighting brightness or the volume of a video, may make a big difference in the quality of an online therapy session.
Use Real Objects – A common misperception is that only digital items can be used in online therapy. The utilization of real objects in the environment will assist young children, especially those with ASD. This form of tangible learning is ideal for the development of functional communication in everyday situations like mealtimes. Your child’s SLP can educate you on utilizing toys, books, and ordinary things in your house to help your child learn new words.
Movement—Another misconception regarding online therapy is that a child must sit and pay attention in front of the computer for the whole therapy session. While attention is necessary, flexibility is critical. During therapy sessions, including movements into a language exercise, such as singing “Row, Row, Row Your Boat” while having the child motion and rock their body back and forth, helps enhance a child’s attention while also enhancing their language learning ability.
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