Online Speech Therapy for Kid at Home

Online speech therapy at Ignitio lets families join from home—great for remote areas or when travel is hard. I coach the parent to be a co‑therapist: I explain what to do, how to do it, and why it helps. With steady home practice, online sessions can work as well as clinic sessions, though every child needs time to settle and progress

SPEECH THERAPYPARENT ADVICE

Dr. I Vishnupriya ( M.A.S.L.P)

9/18/20254 min read

Online Speech Therapy That Reaches At Home

By Dr. I. Vishnupriya, M.A.S.L.P — CEO & Head, Speech Therapy Department, Ignitio Child Development Center, Hyderabad

Many families can’t travel to our centers or live far away.
Online speech therapy lets us work together from your home.
You, the parent, act as a co‑therapist while I guide the what, how, and why of each activity.

How our online sessions work

Set clear goals: We agree on small targets (e.g., asking for needs, clearer sounds, longer sentences).
Parent as co‑therapist: I show you what to do, watch you try with your child, and coach you live.
Simple home plan: 10–15 minutes a day with things you already have at home.
Review often: We track wins, adjust steps, and keep it doable.

What a 30‑minute online session looks like

Minutes 0–5: Quick check-in, confirm today’s goal, set up materials.
Minutes 5–18: Teach → Try → Coach. I model; you do it; I give tips.
Minutes 18–25: Repeat the best version once more.
Minutes 25–30: Agree on a short home plan and how to track it (stickers or 30‑sec video).

Real‑life home examples (with exact scripts)

1) Late talking (age 2–4): Snack requests

What: Use snack time to build words.
How: Hold the biscuit, pause 3 seconds. If your child points, say “biscuit” or “give biscuit” and help them copy. Give a small piece each time.
Why: Pairs strong motivation (snack) with clear words so requests become speech.

Script:
Parent: “What do you want?” (wait 3 sec)
Child: (points)
Parent: “Say biscuit.”
Child: “bi…biscuit.”
Parent: “Great job—here you go!”

2) Clearer /s/ sound (age 5–8): “Snake sound”

What: Practice soft “ssss” then words: sun, soap, bus.
How: Use a mirror and a straw. Teeth close, tongue behind teeth, blow gently for “ssss”. Add words.
Why: Trains tongue and airflow for accurate /s/.

Tip: If air sounds too loud, ask for a quiet s like a whisper.

3) Stuttering (age 6–10): Easy starts

What: Slow, gentle start before tricky words.
How: Take a tiny breath and stretch the first sound: “mmmmmilk”, “ssssit”.
Why: Reduces tension and gives control at the start of speech.

Script:
Parent: “Let’s use soft starts. Try mmmm‑milk.”
Child: “mmmm‑milk.”
Parent: “Nice and easy. That felt smooth.”

4) Autism‑focused communication (any age): Turn‑taking play

What: Use a ball or car to build “my turn/your turn” and simple words.
How: Roll the ball, say “my turn”; pause; help your child say “my turn” or a word like “ball”; then “your turn”.
Why: Teaches joint attention and simple social language.

Progress step: Add 1–2 word comments: “fast car,” “big ball.”

5) School‑age language (age 7–12): Homework talk

What: Read one short paragraph; ask Who/What/Where/When/Why.
How: If answers are short, model a full sentence and have your child repeat.
Why: Builds comprehension and sentence length for school work.

Script:
Parent: “Why did Raju go to the shop?”
Child: “Buy milk.”
Parent: “Say the whole sentence: Raju went to the shop to buy milk.”

6) Bilingual home: Consistent key words

What: Pick 10 daily words in your strongest home language (e.g., water, come, open, more).
How: Use the same word every time; add the English word later if needed.
Why: Consistency builds faster understanding and speech.

What you need at home

A phone, tablet, or laptop with stable internet.
Common items: snacks, picture book, blocks/cars, mirror, paper/markers, straw.
A quiet corner and 10–15 minutes daily for practice.

Pros and cons

Pros

Access from anywhere: Great for remote areas or busy families.
Parent empowerment: You learn the steps and can continue after sessions.
Real‑life practice: Skills grow in the same place your child lives and plays.
Flexible timing: Short, focused sessions; easier to involve caregivers.

Cons

Tech issues can break flow.
Home distractions (TV, siblings) need planning.
Adult support needed during sessions.
Some needs (feeding, complex medical concerns) may require clinic or hybrid.
Adjustment time: Every child needs a few sessions to settle into the routine.

Online therapy can give results similar to clinic therapy for many children.
Progress depends on steady practice and will vary by child.

Common hurdles and quick fixes

Internet shaky? Keep videos off for a minute, or switch to audio while I coach.
Child leaves the seat? Use stand‑up tasks: “Find 3 blue things and tell me their names.”
Shy on camera? Start with favorite toy show‑and‑tell for 3 minutes, then the main task.
Too fast/too hard? We reduce the step, fewer words, more praise.

When we suggest clinic visits or hybrid

Feeding/swallowing concerns, hearing doubts, or when special tools are needed.
If behavior or sensory needs block learning online.
We explain the reason and plan the next steps with you.

Simple weekly plan (example)

Mon–Fri: 10 minutes/day: snack requests + “snake sound” words.
Sat: Read one paragraph; answer 5 questions in full sentences.
Sun: Short review video (30 seconds) to track progress.

Tracker idea: Draw 7 boxes; add a sticker for each day you practice.

Getting started with Ignitio (Hyderabad)

We serve families across Hyderabad with branches at Srinagar Nagar Colony, Madinaguda, Manikonda, Attapur and Nizampet—and we meet families online across regions.
Book an online consultation; we’ll set goals and plan your first session.

With care,
Dr. I. Vishnupriya, M.A.S.L.P
CEO & Head, Speech Therapy Department
Ignitio Child Development Center, Hyderabad