Speech Therapy in your home using Zoom

I am passionate that quality speech therapy should be accessible to everyone, no matter how remote you are.  Working through Zoom offers you regular speech therapy and has many bonuses!  

You don't need to be a whizz with technology for this to work for you.  If you (or a family member) can search the internet for the weather, I can help you to use Zoom!

No matter where you live in the UK (or the world); regular speech and language therapy is available to you.

Why have Speech Therapy via Zoom?

• You can receive personalised, face to face therapy.  This could be one or more sessions per week.  (Little and often can work best for some people.)
• Family members can easily be involved in therapy and continue with work between sessions.
• Therapy can be organised at a time to suit you; after school and evening appointments are possible.
• You don't need to leave the comfort of your own home.
• We can share computer screens so we can both see the same thing. This lets us work together with pictures and worksheets, or on computer programmes (e.g. React2).
• Headphones reduce distractions and we get lots of work done!
• It saves everyone time and reduces fuel costs.
• Studies have shown that therapy can be just as effective as if we were in the same room.

Who is it for?

• Children (aged from 3 years) with speech difficulties and/or language difficulties.
• Children with social communication difficulties.
• Parents who would like to discuss therapy or receive coaching.
• Adults who have communication difficulties (aphasia) following a stroke or head injury.

What do you need?

• A quiet place to work where you will not be interrupted.
• A computer, laptop, iPad or tablet with an integral camera (or with a separate camera connected).
• A set of headphones is useful but not essential.
• 'Zoom' (a free download) on your device, ‘FaceTime’ or Google Meet (if you are at school)
• Access to a printer is useful (but not essential).

How does it work?

• I send you straightforward instructions on how to use the system.
• If you do not have Zoom on your device, you (or your family) can download it at https://zoom.us/download
• We arrange the appointment by phone or email.
• A day or so before the session, I will email you the session plan with a list of materials you need to have ready/print;
  • For children, this might include: colouring pencils, a game or puzzle, printing a set of pictures.
  • For adults, this might consist of printing out a worksheet or a set of pictures, having a pen and paper handy.
• On the day I will contact you at the agreed time, you accept my call and off we go……!
• After the session I will send a summary of what we have done and any homework to continue with.
• You can see an example of a small portion of an online session with a child below;

What happens if the connection gets lost?

• If we are working on Zoom and lose the connection, don’t panic!  Just click the link and re-join the call.
• If that doesn’t work, I will give you a ring on the telephone and we will problem-solve it.

Therapists in Australia and the United States often provide Speech Therapy online.  It is new and innovative in the UK, but Speech and Language Therapists are conducting a range of research studies into its use and effectiveness. Research so far is very positive; showing that therapy can be as effective on-line as it is face to face in clinic.  

Find out more here:

• www.city.ac.uk/news/...
• blogs.city.ac.uk/communicate/
• www.slideplayer.com/slide/10183939/
• www.semanticscholar.org/paper/...