Unlocking the Potential of Teletherapy: How to Achieve Great Outcomes for Children

The COVID-19 pandemic has revolutionized the way we deliver therapeutic services, particularly for early intervention (EI) programs. A recent study titled "Comparison of Goal Achievement When Transitioning from In-Person Therapy to Teletherapy in Westchester County Early Intervention Program Due to the COVID-19 Pandemic" offers valuable insights into the efficacy of teletherapy. Here's how practitioners can leverage these findings to improve their skills and outcomes for children.

Key Findings

The study examined 93 children who transitioned from in-person therapy to teletherapy. Here are some key takeaways:

• Children who continued speech therapy via teletherapy showed increased achievement in their treatment goals (3.00 vs 3.33; p=0.032).
• Participants receiving different therapy types post-transition attained similar achievement as those who received the same therapy only in-person.
• Teletherapy maintained progress across various therapy types including physical therapy (PT), occupational therapy (OT), and special instruction (SI).

Implementing Teletherapy Effectively

Based on these findings, here are actionable steps for practitioners:

1. Embrace Teletherapy for Speech Therapy: The study shows that teletherapy is particularly effective for speech therapy. Leverage telehealth platforms to deliver high-quality speech therapy sessions.
2. Maintain Consistency: Ensure that children continue to receive the same type of therapy when transitioning to telehealth to maintain progress.
3. Focus on Goal Setting: Limit the number of Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP) goals to ensure focused and effective therapy sessions.
4. Engage Caregivers: Use teletherapy as an opportunity to involve caregivers more actively in the therapy process. Provide them with training and resources to support their child's development at home.

Encouraging Further Research

While this study provides valuable insights, more research is needed to fully understand the efficacy of teletherapy across different demographics and therapy types. Practitioners are encouraged to:

• Conduct longitudinal studies to track long-term outcomes of teletherapy.
• Explore the impact of teletherapy on various developmental conditions.
• Investigate the role of caregiver engagement in teletherapy outcomes.

Conclusion

The transition to teletherapy during the COVID-19 pandemic has shown that virtual platforms can be just as effective as in-person therapy for many children. By implementing these findings and encouraging further research, practitioners can continue to deliver high-quality early intervention services and achieve great outcomes for children.

To read the original research paper, please follow this link: Comparison of Goal Achievement When Transitioning from In-Person Therapy to Teletherapy in Westchester County Early Intervention Program Due to the COVID-19 Pandemic