Everything you need to know about Telehealth

What is Telehealth?

If you are looking for telehealth, telemedicine, teleaudiology, telespeech, speech teletherapy, or telepractice, you should first understand that these terms are used at the discretion of the practitioners, but all fall under "The application of telecommunications technology to the delivery of speech-language pathology and audiology professional services at a distance by linking clinician to client or clinician to clinician for assessment, intervention, and/or consultation." Says, Arlene Pietranton, Ph.D., CAE, Chief Executive Officer, The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA), who adopted the term telepractice rather than the other terms to avoid the misperception that these services are used only in health care settings.  

Achieve Hearing & Rehabilitation adopted the term "Telehealth" to define the delivery of speech-language pathology and audiology professional services.  Download Speech Therapy Telehealth Flyer

How does Telehealth work?

Amy McKay Gehan, M.A., CCC-SLP says, "take a close look at the telehealth practitioners you plan to work with to reach your goal, because beyond the computer, iPad, or smartphone there is a real speech-language pathologist (SLP) or audiologist who should be providing telehealth sessions that target 100% of the same goals completed at the office."  Just because you don't have to visit the office, doesn't mean you experience should lack professionalism.

Telehealth Testimonial:

"I think it [telehealth] is wonderful!! It makes my life easier. The speech therapist works on the same goals on telehealth as they did at the office. It is all the same, we just are not physically at the office." 

 – Allyson, Lilly’s (10-year-old) and AJ’s (7-year-old) mother.

The use of telehealth for speech-language pathology and audiology should be based on the unique clinical presentation of the patient and the ability of the clinician to ensure that the quality of any services provided in this manner matches the quality of services provided in person. Gehan co-founded Achieve Hearing & Rehabilitation in 2005 to help people achieve a balanced life.  She has over 20 years of experience working with children and adults. Prior to opening Achieve Hearing & Rehabilitation Amy worked in private practice, hospital, and residential care settings.  Gehan says, "we can load the Achieve Hearing therapy materials into the telehealth program. This enables patients to see the information just as if they were in the office, and the virtual whiteboard enables patients to complete therapeutic activities with our speech therapist or audiologist therapist.

Is Telehealth Secure and HIPAA-Compliant?

According to ASHA, the demand for audiology services is projected to increase by 21% by 2026, and the demand for speech-language pathology services is projected to increase by 18% during that period.  So be vigilant in your search and use discretion when searching for the best telehealth providers.  Therefore beyond the personalized attention, you receive in your telehealth experience, your speech therapy session should be using a secure telehealth platform that was designed for people in the medical profession.

Under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), a “health care provider” is a covered entity under HIPAA if it transmits any health information in electronic form in connection with a transaction for which the Secretary has adopted a standard (e.g., billing insurance electronically). See 45 CFR 160.103 (definitions of health care provider, health care, and covered entity).
  

Does Medicare pay for telehealth services?

Medicare pays for many different services that involve the use of these types of communications technologies. A fact sheet regarding Medicare payment and coverage is available at https://www.cms.gov/files/document/03052020- medicare-COVID-19-fact-sheet.pdf. Telehealth services paid by Medicare are the services defined in section 1834(m) of the Social Security Act that would otherwise be furnished in person but is instead furnished via real-time, interactive communication technology.

The telehealth program offered by Achieve Hearing & Rehabilitation has several options. Here's what you need for a speech therapy session and more telehealth benefits: 

• Log on from home using their personal computer (with external or integrated webcam & microphone), computer, IPad, or smartphone.


• Choose a well-lit area with minimal background noise or distractions where no one else is within hearing range.


• Achieve’s Telehealth Program helps patients feel like they are working with their speech therapist or audiologist at the office. Therefore, helping to keep the world normal for our patients.


• Patients will be able to see and talk with their speech therapist or audiologist.


• Achieve Hearing can load the Achieve therapy materials into the program. This enables patients to see the information just as if they were in the office. 


• A virtual whiteboard enables patients to complete therapeutic activities with their therapist.


• The individual, private, one-on-one sessions will mimic the services completed at the office. 


• Achieve to target 100% of the same goals completed at the office on telehealth.


• Diagnoses include Acquired Brain Injury, Aphasia, Apraxia of Speech, Autism Spectrum Disorders, Balance Disorders, Dementia, Dysarthria, Dysphagia, Fluency, Hearing Loss, Intellectual Disability, Mild Cognitive Impairment, Parkinson‘s Disease, Social Communication Disorder, Speech Sound Disorders, Spoken Language Disorders, Stroke, Tinnitus, Traumatic Brain Injury, Voice Disorders, Written Language Disorders 

The use of telehealth can be beneficial to the practice areas of, Assessment, Screening, Service Delivery, and Treatment, and constantly evolving, ongoing education and training are required to maintain expertise and familiarity with changes in telehealth technology and potential clinical applications. 


Achieve a balanced life.



References:
Enhance Older Adult Access to Telehealth Services
Amy McKay Gehan, M.A., CCC-SLP Biography
Arlene Pietranton, PhD, CAE, Chief Executive Officer, ASHA [Video]
ASHA requires that individuals who provide telepractice abide by the ASHA Code of Ethics
Achieve Hearing & Rehabilitation, Speech Therapy Telehealth Flyer
Achieve Hearing & Rehabilitation, Speech Therapy Telehealth Website

Ways to Help Toddlers that Stutter

In the United States, over 3 million Americans who stutter.  Educators and peers may perceive toddlers who stutter as shy, nervous, anxious, withdrawn, self-conscious, tense, less competent, introverted and insecure.

Speech and language skills develop at a fast pace when children are toddlers. Toddlers learn new words almost every day. Toddlers are learning how to say the sounds in the words they know. They are also learning how to structure sentences in a way that a person understands and gets them what they want. 

Toddlers have a lot of information they want to communicate. However, they do not always have the skills to communicate all of the information they want to say to someone. Therefore, it is not uncommon for children between the ages of 2 and 5 to stutter. The stuttering may come and go or last for a couple of weeks. If stuttering disappears and then returns they may be going through another stage of learning language.  

Below are ways to help toddlers that stutter and when to refer to a speech language pathologist (SLP). If you have any questions please feel free to contact us directly at 972-608-0416. 

Ways to Help Toddlers that Stutter

• Do not make a big deal about the stuttering. 

• Remain calm when children stutter. Children become frustrated if you are frustrated. 

• Create opportunities for talking that are relaxed, fun, and enjoyable.

• Take the pressure off children.  Show them that you are interested in what they are saying and give them time to communicate information.

• Model a slower rate of speech. When caregivers talk fast it puts pressure on children to talk at the same rate of speech. Toddlers do not have the ability to get their thoughts out as fast as an adult. 

• Keep things simple. Ask one question at a time. This enables children to focus on one answer. Multiple questions can put pressure on a child to recall all of the questions and communicate the answers. 

• Comment on what the child has said rather than asking questions. If a child says “Look at my car” a simple comment (e.g., “Wow, that’s a fast car”) will put less communicative pressure on the child than a question (e.g., “Is it fast?”)

• Develop a successful communication environment without distractions or interruptions. Distractions and interruptions stop the thought process and will make it more difficult for the child to communicate information. 

• Be positive about every communication attempt. Making comments like "Slow down,"  "Stop and take a deep breath," “Say it this way” should not be used.  They may be meant to help children, however, they can actually make children more self-conscious. If children become self conscious they typically limit the information they communicate. Children need to communicate to develop their expressive language skills. 

• Set up successful talking situations. Don't put pressure on your child to entertain or interact verbally with other people when stuttering becomes a problem. Encourage activities that do not involve a lot of verbal interaction.

Refer to an SLP when a Child:

• Repeats sounds of words such as c-c-c-c-carrot or ca-ca-ca-carrot.

• Holds out sounds in words “mmmmy truck is red.”

• Shows tension in the muscles of the face or body during stuttering moments.

• Substitutes or deletes sounds and is difficult to understand.

• Demonstrates language skills that are above or below their peers. Children with advanced language skills may have trouble communicating all of the information that they know. 

• Exhibits hitting or biting. Children may hit or bite because they are frustrated due to not being able to communicate the words they want to say or are afraid of stuttering.

• Has been stuttering longer than 6 months.

• Began stuttering after age 3 ½. 

• Has another member in the family that stutters.

Achieve Hearing & Rehabilitation is a speech and hearing clinic with locations in Plano and Dallas, Texas. We offer speech language pathology and audiological services to children and adults of all ages, and resources to help you target your specific speech therapy needs.  If you or someone you know demonstrates any signs stuttering, please call us at 972-608-0416 to discuss how Achieve can help. 

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Social Skills And Your Child's Ability To Communicate Effectively

"From elementary school language arts to advanced high school math classes, the standards set clearly defined expectations for students in pragmatic listening and speaking skills."

Source: Social Skills Boost Academics

What are Social / pragmatic skill deficits?
The study of the rules that govern and describe how language is used during different situations, in light of its context and environment.

Each year of your child's education brings with it a host of new behavior challenges and opportunities to excel socially and academically.  The development of communication skills begins in infancy, before the emergence of the first word. Any speech or language problem is likely to have a significant effect on the child's social and academic skills and behavior. The earlier a child's speech and language problems are identified and treated, the less likely it is that problems will persist or get worse. Early speech and language intervention can help children be more successful with reading, writing, schoolwork, and interpersonal relationships.

Achieve Hearing & Rehabilitation helps patients overcome their pragmatic language disorders. If you or someone you know demonstrates any signs and symptoms of a pragmatic language disorder please call us at 972-608-0416 to discuss how Achieve can help. 

Achieve Hearing & Rehabilitation is a speech and hearing clinic in Plano, Texas. We offer speech language pathology and audiological services for children and adults of all ages. Achieve is in-network with Aetna, Cigna, BlueCrossBlueShield, Medicare, and United Healthcare. We can help obtain information about your policy to determine if services are covered under. Please call us at 972-608-0416.

Achieve a Balanced Life