Tele-Rehabilitation for Aphasia

If you’ve wished that you could receive aphasia speech therapy without leaving your home, then you’re in luck! Tele-rehabilitation might be a good choice for you.

Tele-rehabilitation means that you can work with a therapist from your computer. It is also referred to as tele-therapy. It means that you meet with your speech-language pathologist (SLP) virtually through your computer. You will connect by video chat, and the SLP can share therapy activities with you through the computer. Some tele-therapy SLPs offer services only through the computer. Other SLPs might offer a mixture of in-person and computer sessions.

What can tele-therapists do? Typically just about everything an in-person SLP can do! Your SLP can perform speech and language assessments through tele-therapy. They can also provide treatment based on your communication needs and goals. The SLP can still use the most current and evidence-based treatment strategies over the computer. The SLP might show you therapy tools through their camera or a shared computer screen. Sometimes you might just talk over video chat. There are also many computer-based therapy activities that you can do together. Examples of things that a tele-therapist can work on include speaking, listening, reading and writing skills. Tele-therapists can also work with family members on conversation strategies. Tele-therapists can also work with augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) devices. Through tele-therapy, it’s possible to try out an AAC device without ever leaving your house!

Tele-therapy is a good choice for people who live in rural areas where there are not a lot of speech therapists. It is also a good option for people who prefer or need to stay home, but do not qualify for home health services. In order to see a tele-therapist, you’ll need to have a computer that is connected to the Internet. Insurance coverage for tele-therapy varies, so be sure to ask your insurance and/or your therapist about any costs.