Worried about getting your child to speech therapy?
Between school runs, work, and daily life, finding the time to travel to a clinic can feel impossible. Telehealth (online) speech therapy brings professional support straight to your home (or wherever you are), so your child can get the support they need without the stress of commuting — all while keeping therapy fun, interactive, and effective.
This kind of service can help families who:
- live in rural and remote communities
- have busy lives and don’t want to waste time getting to and from a clinic
- want more flexibility, such as enabling you to focus on your child during their therapy session while siblings play or sleep elsewhere
- prefer for therapy to take place in a child’s natural environment, which can help with generalisation
- don’t have easy access to transport for clinic visits
- are waiting to access face-to-face services locally
What a Telehealth session looks like
Online therapy works just like face-to-face sessions. Children stay engaged with their speech practice through interactive games, shared screens, and even physical toys or activities you may already have at home. Sessions are fun, hands-on, and tailored to your child’s individual speech goals.
Two Ways to Do Telehealth Therapy
1. Regular Therapy Appointments
You can choose to have weekly or fortnightly regular appointments. This is ideal for children with multiple speech sound errors, and/or for parents who prefer to have ongoing support and guidance. These sessions involve your speech pathologist working directly with your child to help them learn how to produce their target sounds. It also provides an opportunity for parents/caregivers to discuss how previous home practice went, learn how best to prompt their child to produce target sounds, and collaboratively plan the next lot of home practice.
2. Home Program
Children with very simple speech goals may be appropriate candidates for a home program. If you choose this option, you’ll receive a set of activities and resources to carry out all the speech therapy yourself at home, rather than attending regular therapy sessions. Usually, this involves a single session after the assessment to explain the program and answer any questions. It’s still tailored to your child’s individual goals, and there’s always the option for additional appointments if/as needed so you can ask questions, check progress, and receive guidance and troubleshooting.
What you’ll need to get started
Getting started is simple. All you need is:
- A reliable internet connection
- A computer or iPad (phones are less ideal because the screen is small)
- An email link to join the session that your speech pathologist will send prior to your appointment — no downloads, log-ins, or complicated software required!
Is telehealth secure and confidential?
Yes. Your child’s privacy and confidentiality are taken very seriously. Online sessions are delivered via secure, privacy-compliant telehealth platforms, and therapy is conducted from a private, professional setting. No sessions are recorded without consent, and all client information is stored and handled in line with Australian privacy requirements and professional standards. Telehealth allows your child to receive high-quality speech therapy while keeping their personal information safe and secure.
How parents can help their child succeed
Just like in face-to-face therapy, children make the most progress when parents are actively involved. Being present during sessions helps you learn techniques, understand how to carry out home practice, and support your child’s speech development every day.
Final thoughts
Telehealth speech therapy can be a flexible, effective option for many children with speech sound difficulties, but it’s not a one-size-fits-all solution. Every child is different, and what matters most is finding the approach that best supports their learning and confidence. If you’re unsure whether online therapy might be right for your child, you’re very welcome to get in touch for a chat. There’s no pressure and no obligation to commit — I’ll always be open and honest with you and will let you know if telehealth doesn’t seem like the right fit for your child’s needs.
