TIME TO JUMP ONLINE!  

Online therapy services or ‘Telehealth’ or what we prefer to call ‘Teletherapy’ is a fantastic alternative way for your child to receive their regular therapy.  

Chatterbox has used teletherapy for remote and overseas clients various times over the years and we are confident that our therapists can continue to support your child with the adequate therapy they need to continue to reach their therapy goals.  

Now with the COVID-19 hitting our community and disrupting our normal lives, it is a great opportunity for parents to book their child in with their usual therapist for an online session.  

We are also offering teletherapy sessions to any other families (Non-Chatterbox clients and Nationwide) whose child has had their therapy disrupted during this time. This also applies for an adults requiring Speech Pathology treatment or Voice Therapy.

Other Services Available

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FAQ’s About Online Therapy (teletherapy)

What are the benefits of Teletherapy for your child?

The Australian Government announced a ‘lockdown’ or ‘restrictions to activities’ to on Tuesday 24th of March 2020.  This means not only will therapy sessions be disrupted but children will not be at school or kinder.  Restricted activity will mean children may  spend large periods of time on electronics and/or watching TV.  An online therapy session will help your child continue to achieve their therapeutic goals in a creative way, while allowing the therapists to support you and your child in preparing them for school and all the life skills they will need as they get older.  For smaller children, online sessions are a great way for parents to get involved with therapy and have some fun playing therapeutic games! 

Therapy areas can be targeted via teletherapy?

Suitable therapy for Speech Pathology & OT issues include;

  • Articulation issues (difficulty pronouncing sounds for e.g. a lisp)

  • Stuttering

  • Dyspraxia

  • Language delay (difficulty putting 2-3 words together)

  • Early Play Skills

  • Literacy delays

  • Phonological Disorders (trouble with spelling or sounding our words when reading)

  • Reading comprehension (understanding a paragraph and then answering questions)

  • Inferencing (being able to make predications, especially in social situations)

  • Auditory Processing (Taking a long time to finish a task, unable to remember many instructions)

  • Social Skills for Primary School Children

  • Social Skills for Teens

  • Dealing with Stress and Anxiety (both Primary and Secondary Children)

  • Public Speaking with Confidence

  • Voice Disorders

  • Emotional regulation for stress, anxiety, meltdowns, building resilience

  • Handwriting

  • Fine motor skills for school readiness

  • Self-care skills for toileting, dressing, time management, organisational skills, hygiene, showering

  • Executive functioning skills

  • Problem solving skills

What do I need for an Online Therapy Session?

  • A computer, laptop, tablet or phone

  • Internet connection

  • Microphone

  • Webcam

Your therapist will send you a link for a program called ‘coviu’ and you are all set! There is even a waiting room for you to wait if you call in too early.  We are encouraging all parents to please go online and book appointments and pay prior to their sessions.  You can still call our reception staff for help but it is easier if you follow the online booking process.

How do I get IT support?

Our inhouse IT department is able to help families with purchasing items. If you require any help with purchasing items or setup  on your system, we are lucky to have access to IT technicians from Cyberfix Computing who are highly trained in this area. To contact them for help; please call 0407 511 626 . Cyberfix are also experts in the best parental control software available for parents that may have computers that children and adolescents have access to. They also offer remote sessions.

Will my child have a positive response by accessing  online sessions?

Over the last week we have had to let lots of our children know what we may need to switch to using the computer (due to COVID-19).  The response was excitement! Our very creative therapists have created packs that go along with each teletherapy session.  These special packs include reward charts, activity or craft sheets.  Using NDIS funding, parents are also able to purchase some fun and educational resources that can also be used.  Our therapists will also use things that your children will love and are motivated with.  For example, if they like the wiggles they may play a wiggles song or a game together on the screen. Some children also love to show us what they have in their house! They will often bring out a favourite toy or book.

Is my child suited for teletherapy sessions?

We recommend online therapy sessions for children 4 and above. Younger children or children who have difficultly sitting still will need some assistance from a parent or a carer. For our younger clients, in replacement of teletherapy sessions, we can offer phone consults so we can discuss and provide strategies and therapy games you can work on at home.

Your therapist will ensure that any resources in your child’s ‘therapy pack’ will have the correct resources that they need, for example; a visual scheduling board.  Your therapist will also talk you through the process of how to best set up your child.

Is Teletherapy just for Children?

No.  Adults requiring Speech Pathology intervention can receive teletherapy sessions.  Treatable disorders include;

  • Voice Disorders

  • Voice for performers

  • Accent modification

  • Public Speaking

  • Speech and Language issues caused by stroke and other medical conditions.

  • Stuttering

Can I Access Funding to pay for Teletherapy sessions?

Yes.

You are able to use your NDIS funding to pay for your telehealth sessions.  Please speak to our NDIS Coordinator – Monique for more information.  (ph) 9467 2642  or monique@chatterboxats.com