Losing the ability to clearly and effectively communicate your thoughts impacts your life in several ways. Speech and communication disorders stifle your relationships, confidence, and independence in varying degrees depending on the severity. However, with the right treatment, consistency, and commitment, you can gain back your confidence and independence in due time.

One of the primary treatment options that puts you on your journey to recovery is speech therapy. This therapy involves exercises and activities that improve speech production, naming, word-finding, and other communication skills. It is primarily carried out in hospital settings or outpatient clinics under the guidance of a speech language pathologist. However, it must be done consistently, at least 20 to 50 hours and 3 to 5 days weekly, for significant progress and results (1).

So, how do you achieve this? Through guided home speech therapy.

This piece explores how to do speech therapy at home and how to train speech therapy at home to get maximum results.

Key Takeaways

• Speech and communication disorders can significantly impair your independence, relationships, and overall quality of life.
• Speech therapy is the mainstay treatment for speech and communication disorders and is primarily conducted by a licensed speech-language pathologist.
• While it is possible to do home-based speech therapy by yourself, it is essential to combine professional guidance, personalized goals, evidence-based tools, and consistent practice for effective results.
• Some of the benefits of home-based speech therapy include convenience, improved outcomes, and cost-effectiveness.

Can You Do Your Own Speech Therapy?

Yes. However, this must be done under the guidance of a speech language therapist or recommended by one. Your speech therapist can recommend proven strategies, exercises, or activities that can complement the in-person sessions. These exercises can be done using digital platforms or apps such as Constant Therapy or using printed materials.

How to Start Speech Therapy at Home

Speech therapy plays a vital role in helping you recover from speech impairments and improve your communication and language skills following brain injuries like strokes and traumatic brain injuries. Since speech therapy needs to be done consistently for effective results, some researchers have encouraged home speech therapy to promote consistency and improve outcomes for individuals with speech disorders.

Whether you’re wondering how to start speech therapy at home or how to do your own speech therapy, we have provided some valuable practical tips to get you started.

1. Consult with a Speech-language pathologist: This is the first and most important step to take before starting speech therapy, at home or in hospital settings. Your speech-language pathologist is a qualified professional who is responsible for conducting thorough assessments, diagnosing your speech disorder, and determining your treatment plan. Your SLP will use various examinations and tools to assess your language skills and deficits, cognitive abilities, voice quality, and speech clarity.

You can consult with a speech therapist physically within the traditional hospital setting or virtually through teletherapy apps and platforms like Constant Therapy. Consulting with a professional helps you to get your diagnosis and treatment right and improve your chances of recovery.

1. Set your treatment goals: After thorough assessments, the type of speech disorder and its severity will be determined. This will influence your goals and treatment plan. For instance, if you have mild aphasia, your goal may be full recovery of speech and language skills. Conversely, if you’re struggling with severe expressive aphasia or a combination of speech impairments, your goal may include learning alternative and augmentative communication. Remember, progress takes time and consistency. As such, ensure that your goals are feasible and your expectations, realistic.
2. Create an Individualized Therapy Plan: After setting the goals of your treatment, you will work closely with your SLP to create an individualized therapy plan based on your speech or language disorder, its severity, your treatment goals, and availability. This plan will typically outline the therapy techniques, strategies, and exercises, and the duration and frequency of your sessions. During this process, you can ask your SLP to recommend home-based exercises and homework that will complement your therapy sessions. Additionally, you can decide whether you want physical, virtual, or hybrid therapy sessions.
3. Get your tools: Once you’ve gotten your diagnosis, set your goals, and drawn up a feasible and individualized therapy plan, you need to get your tools ready and start treatment. These tools may include speech therapy apps, alternative and augmentative communication tools, or flashcards, depending on what your exercise entails and the support you have at home. With evidence-based speech therapy apps or platforms, you can book virtual therapy sessions with your personal SLP or other SLPs. You can also practice virtual or physical exercises recommended by your therapist. There are multiple valuable speech therapy resources online; explore and utilize them.
4. Choose a comfortable space: Select a comfortable and private space in your home where you can practice home-based exercises without distractions or interruptions.

How Do I Give Myself Speech Therapy?

You can give yourself speech therapy at home if you struggle with mild to moderate speech and communication impairments. With the right guidance, tools, and commitment, your self-led or caregiver-assisted speech therapy can yield significant progress. However, giving yourself speech therapy starts with a thorough professional assessment from a licensed speech therapist, setting your treatment goals, creating a therapy treatment plan, and getting the right tools. After putting these in order, here are some steps you can take for home-based therapy exercises.

1. Subscribe to established mobile apps and online programs such as Constant Therapy, Tactus Therapy. Etc
2. Repeat structured speech and language exercises done during therapy sessions or recommended by your speech therapist. These can be done using printed materials or online platforms.
3. Practice articulation and pronunciation exercises using tools like mirrors and flashcards. You can also employ the help of a caregiver.
4. Integrate speech exercises into your daily activities.
5. Monitor your progress through notes and in-app feedback.
6. Share your progress with your speech-language pathologist and change your exercises as you progress.

Although severe or complicated speech and communication disorders require consistent professional involvement, home-based practice serves as a great complement to formal therapy.

Benefits Of Doing Speech Therapy At Home

Home-based speech therapy offers multiple benefits over the traditional in–person speech therapy sessions. Here are a few reasons why.

●     Convenience

Home-based speech therapy eliminates the need for in-person therapy sessions. It allows you to do your therapy exercises and activities at your convenience while getting rid of travel time. This is especially beneficial to patients with mobility issues or busy work schedules.

●     Cost-Effectiveness

Doing your speech therapy at home cuts your expenses in several ways. First, it reduces the number of in-person sessions, thereby eliminating travel costs – bus fares and gas. Additionally, it reduces the cost of physical speech therapy sessions. In-person speech therapy sessions are often quite expensive; as such, regular sessions or visits may not be financially feasible.

●     Improved Outcomes

Doing your speech therapy at home, either independently, virtually, or with the help of a family member or caregiver, can significantly improve your outcome (2). Doing these exercises and activities in a familiar environment eliminates anxiety and stress, and aids relaxation and comfort. It also encourages full participation and consistency, thereby making speech therapy more productive.

Wrapping it Up

Home-based speech therapy is not as difficult as it sounds. Doing your speech therapy at home provides you with a fun and convenient way to improve your language and communication skills while boosting your confidence and independence. With professionally developed speech therapy apps like Constant Therapy, you can do home-based practice and exercises in the comfort of your home while tracking your progress. Thinking of starting your home-based speech therapy? Try out the free demo with Constant Therapy here!

References

1. Brady, M. C., Ali, M., VandenBerg, K., Williams, L. J., Williams, L. R., Abo, M., Becker, F., Bowen, A., Brandenburg, C., Breitenstein, C., Bruehl, S., Copland, D. A., Cranfill, T. B., Di Pietro-Bachmann, M., Enderby, P., Fillingham, J., Galli, F. L., Gandolfi, M., Glize, B., . . . Wright, H. H. (2021). Dosage, Intensity, and Frequency of Language therapy for Aphasia: A Systematic Review–Based, Individual Participant Data Network Meta-Analysis. Stroke, 53(3), 956–967. https://doi.org/10.1161/strokeaha.121.035216
2. Constantinescu, G. A., Theodoros, D. G., Russell, T. G., Ward, E. C., Wilson, S. J., & Wootton, R. (2009). Home-based speech treatment for Parkinson’s disease delivered remotely: a case report. Journal of Telemedicine and Telecare, 16(2), 100–104. https://doi.org/10.1258/jtt.2009.090306