Why Virtual Speech Therapy Works — And Why It’s Here to Stay!

Jaclyn Shasha
Jul 8
3 min read

When the world turned upside down during COVID-19, families and professionals alike were suddenly thrust into remote everything—school, work, and yes, even speech therapy. For many, virtual speech services weren’t a choice. They were a necessity.

Understandably, this created mixed feelings. Many parents and clients experienced tech fatigue, spotty Wi-Fi, and

a sense of disconnect that felt like a poor substitute for in-person interaction. As a result, virtual speech therapy sometimes got a bad rap.

But here’s the truth: teletherapy wasn’t the problem—emergency implementation was.

From Uncertain to Confident: My Teletherapy Journey

I remember when I was forced into teletherapy. I was working for a local school district at the time, and like so many others, I felt completely unprepared. I was nervous and uncomfortable with the platform. I didn’t feel like I had the skills or the training to truly support my students the way I wanted to. It felt like survival mode, not service.

Fast forward to now—this is where we shine!

Over the past few years, I’ve had the chance to truly embrace this model. I’ve studied it, refined it, trained others in it, and most importantly I've seen firsthand the progress students can make in a virtual setting when it's done right. Virtual therapy is no longer my backup plan. It’s a powerful part of my practice.

Virtual Speech Therapy: More Than a Pandemic Solution

Today, with the right tools, training, and planning, virtual speech therapy has proven to be not only effective but often just as impactful as in-person care. In fact, a growing body of research supports the efficacy of teletherapy for both children and adults in areas such as articulation, language, voice, stuttering, and cognitive-communication therapy.

Benefits include:

Access to specialists who may not be available locally
Flexible scheduling for busy families and professionals
Comfortable, familiar environments, which can reduce anxiety—especially for children
Consistent attendance and fewer cancellations due to travel or illness
Tech-based engagement tools that enhance motivation and participation

Virtual sessions also allow therapists to collaborate with caregivers and observe communication in real-life contexts—an added layer of insight we often miss in clinical or school settings.

Overcoming the Stigma: Teletherapy Then vs. Now

The stigma around virtual speech therapy often stems from those early pandemic days—when therapists were scrambling to go digital overnight, and families were overwhelmed with Zoom everything.

But things have changed.Today’s virtual sessions aren’t a rushed response. They’re intentional, individualized, and designed for success.

At Virtual Speech Solutions, our therapists are trained to deliver engaging, evidence-based teletherapy tailored to each client’s needs. Whether we’re helping a child master speech sounds or working with an adult post-stroke on cognitive communication, our virtual platform is a tool—not a limitation.

Adults Benefit Too

While teletherapy is widely used for children, adults are one of the most underrepresented groups in the conversation around virtual speech therapy. Yet they may benefit even more from this model. Many adults face transportation limitations, busy work schedules, or medical conditions that make travel difficult. Teletherapy can bring quality care directly to their homes without sacrificing clinical effectiveness.

For adults working on voice, fluency, memory, or communication following a neurological event, virtual therapy offers accessibility, convenience, and dignity—allowing progress to happen on their terms.

The Future of Speech Therapy Is Hybrid

We don’t believe it’s about choosing between in-person or virtual. We believe in meeting people where they are—and for many, that place is online.

Virtual speech therapy isn’t a second-best option. When done right, it’s simply another path to meaningful communication. And we’re proud to be walking that path alongside the children, adults, and families we serve.

Interested in learning more or seeing if virtual therapy is right for you or your loved one?