Teletherapy, also known as online therapy or e-therapy, is a type of therapy that is delivered via the internet. It can be a convenient and effective way to receive treatment, especially if an individual lives in a remote area or is unable to travel to see a therapist in person.
Teletherapy is very effective in supporting kids and their families in reaching their occupational and behavioral goals. Even some teletherapies offer better results compared to conventional methods of occupational therapy. However, these therapies work depending on the needs of the child and their families. So, let’s dive deep to understand what is teletherapy, its effectiveness, and the OT teletherapy ideas to make therapy sessions more of assistance.
What is Teletherapy?
Teletherapy is the use of electronic information and telecommunication technologies to support long-distance clinical health care, patient and professional health-related education, public health, and health administration. Technologies include videoconferencing, the internet, store-and-forward imaging, streaming media, and terrestrial and wireless communications.
Also known as telehealth, online therapy, and e-therapy, it encompasses many health services including Occupational Therapy. Rather, it is one of the most effective ways to deliver services to patients with developmental, behavioral, sensory processing, and cognitive issues. Occupational therapists can make use of online therapies for evaluation, treatments, supervision, and consultation.
There are several ways an OT can provide online services in a therapy setting. This can include live video formats, synchronous technologies, etc. Most of these sessions are interactive in nature and thus, an OT needs to use web-based programs, conferencing software, or virtual reality devices to conduct therapy sessions.
Why Use OT Teletherapy?
There are many reasons why telehealth services may be beneficial. Some people may have difficulty traveling to see a healthcare provider due to their location or transportation limitations. Others may have difficulty taking time off from work or school to go to appointments. Telehealth can provide a convenient solution for these individuals. Here are some common reasons:
Accessibility
One of the primary reasons people use telehealth is due to accessibility issues. If an individual lives in a remote area or is unable to travel to see a therapist, they may find that teletherapy is a convenient option.
Cost
In some cases, teletherapy may be less expensive than traditional therapy. This is especially true if the individual has insurance that covers teletherapy services.
Schedule
Teletherapy appointments can be scheduled at times that are convenient for the individual, which may be more flexible than in-person appointments.
Privacy
Some people may feel more comfortable discussing personal issues in an online setting than in person. Teletherapy can provide a safe and secure environment for these individuals.
Telehealth services may also be beneficial for people who have difficulty communicating in person due to a disability or language barrier. Telehealth can provide a way for these individuals to communicate with their healthcare providers without having to leave their homes or come into contact with other people.
How Effective is Telehealth?
Telehealth services have been shown to be effective in a variety of settings and for a variety of conditions. According to studies, telehealth interventions are associated with improvements in mental health outcomes, including reduced anxiety and depression symptoms. Telehealth-based cognitive behavioral therapy is as effective as in-person cognitive behavioral therapy for treating anxiety disorders.
Parents of children with autism who receives telehealth services reported high levels of satisfaction with the care their child received. In addition, they also reported increased communication with their child’s therapist and improved access to care.
Benefits of OT Teletherapy
There are many benefits of using teletherapy for occupational therapy. Teletherapy can provide a convenient and flexible option for people who have difficulty traveling to see a therapist. In addition, teletherapy can be less expensive than traditional therapy, and it can be scheduled at times that are convenient for the individual. Teletherapy can also provide a safe and secure environment for people with communication difficulties or other disabilities.
Here are some of the reasons why OTs are embracing virtual therapy sessions:
Expand Practice
The convenience of telehealth helps OTs break down the conventional barriers and make it easier for them to schedule more appointments with patients. Building out a teletherapy practice along with clinical practice helps therapists connect with remote patients irrespective of social distancing measures.
Location Independence
Including teletherapy into an existing practice offer several benefits to OTs with regard to flexibility and time-saving. With such sessions, a therapist has all the independence to work from their preferred location. They just need to bank upon a device and the Internet to make the process feasible.
Flexible Schedule
Implementing virtual sessions into OT practice allows practitioners to maximize their time and enjoy flexibility in their daily life. Using teletherapy, OTs can schedule a wider range of appointment times without dragging transition times. This also gives them the freedom to schedule sessions at their convenient time or when the patient needs therapy.
Work-Life Balance
A teletherapy practice allows OTs to enjoy work-life balance. With greater flexibility in their schedule, they get the freedom to shape their days. This independence not only allows them to spend quality time with friends and family but also hugely impacts their peace of mind.
Improved Communication With Patients
Technology has the potential to streamline an OT’s business process. They can make use of virtual billing and scheduling systems to improve their communication with patients. This eliminates the need for manual scheduling and billing. Incorporating virtual systems allow them to send appointment reminders automatically to patients. This helps both parties to be on the same page with little to no room for confusion.
What are the Different Types of Teletherapy Services?
There are many different types of telehealth services that can be delivered via the internet or telephone. These services include:
- Video conferencing: This type of service allows healthcare providers and patients to communicate with each other via video chat. This can be done using a computer, tablet, or smartphone.
- Phone calls: Phone calls can be used to provide guidance and support to patients. They can also be used to schedule appointments and check in on patients.
- Text messaging: Text messaging can be used to provide reminders and updates to patients. It can also be used to answer questions and give instructions.
- Email: Email can be used to send information, documents, and appointment reminders to patients.
- Instant messaging: Instant messaging can be used to communicate with patients in real-time. This can be done using a computer, tablet, or smartphone.
Different Platforms For OT Teletherapy
There are many different platforms that Occupational Therapists can use to deliver teletherapy, such as Zoom, Microsoft Teams, and Skype. Here’s the detail about each of them:
Zoom: Zoom is a video conferencing platform that can be used for OT teletherapy. Zoom offers HD video and audio, screen sharing, and group chat.
Microsoft Teams: Microsoft Teams is a communication platform that can be used for OT teletherapy. Microsoft Teams offers video and audio calls, team chat, and file sharing.
Skype: Skype is a video conferencing platform that can be used for OT teletherapy. Skype offers HD video and audio, screen sharing, and group chat.
Google Hangouts: Google Hangouts is a communication platform that can be used for OT teletherapy. Google Hangouts offers video and audio calls, team chat, and file sharing.
Preparing OT Teletherapy Session
While preparing for telehealth sessions, an OT must provide parents with clear expectations of the therapy. They should inform parents whether they need to be present during the session. It’s important for the physical therapists to evaluate if the child can stay alone during the teletherapy sessions. An OT must guide parents regarding the environment needed for the therapy along with the Internet connection and device they will be using.
An OT must also ensure that the family has all the props needed to conduct the therapy session at home. Otherwise, they should send through a list of materials that parents should prepare before the session. Also, they must ask parents for medical reports of their children for better evaluation of the child and their problem areas.
When preparing for a telehealth session, it is important to consider the following:
- The type of device to be used for the session
- The internet connection
- The surrounding of the OT where the session will take place
- The potential technical difficulties that could occur
How to Make Teletherapy Interactive?
One of the challenges of providing teletherapy sessions is making them interactive. This can be done in a number of ways, such as using web-based programs, conferencing software, or virtual reality devices. OTs can also use synchronous technologies, such as live video streaming, to make the therapy session more interactive. Additionally, props, games, occupational therapy activities, and music can be used to engage patients in therapy.
There are many ways to make OT teletherapy interactive. Some of these include:
- Use props: Props can be used to engage patients in therapy. Props can be anything from a ball to a scarf.
- Use games: Games can be used to engage patients in therapy. Games can be anything from Simon Says to I Spy.
- Use music: Music can be used to engage patients in therapy. Music can be anything from nursery rhymes to pop songs.
Teletherapy Occupational Therapy Ideas
Occupational teletherapy activities are distinct from other telehealth services as it often requires clients to have props and other material on their end. Here, a physical therapist or an OT needs to plan ahead of time and inform parents or caregivers about the whole process.
However, one can also conduct OT teletherapy activities using some very common household materials. This can help both the physical therapist and the client get the most out of their therapy sessions. Here are some teletherapy ideas that an OT can use to deal with developmental issues like fine motor skills and executive functioning skills.
Dance Song-Based Activities:
This is a great way to get kids moving while working on following directions and gross motor skills. You can use any music, but we prefer using songs with lots of movement like The Wiggles or They Might Be Giants.
Felt Board Activities:
Felt boards are a great way to work on visual perceptual skills, fine motor skills, and pre-writing skills. You can buy a felt board, or you can make your own by laminating a piece of construction paper. Then, cut out different shapes from felt and Velcro them onto the board.
Pop-Up Books:
Pop-up books are a great way to work on fine motor skills and spatial awareness. You can buy pop-up books, or you can make your own by cutting out different shapes from construction paper and gluing them onto a piece of cardstock.
Find the Differences:
This is a great way to work on visual perceptual skills. You can use any type of picture, but we prefer using pictures with lots of detail like a nature scene or a cityscape.
Make Your Own Maze:
Make your own maze is an activity that works on fine motor skills, visual-motor skills, and problem-solving skills. You can make your own maze by drawing a path on a piece of paper with a pencil. Then, trace over the path with a marker or crayon.
Handwriting Exercises:
This is a great way to work on fine motor skills and pre-writing skills. You can use any paper, but many therapists prefer using lined paper.
Online Spinner Games:
This is one of the OT teletherapy activities to work on fine motor skills, visual-motor skills, and problem-solving skills. You can use any online spinner game, but we prefer using The Phonics Game.
Laundry Basket Toss:
This is an amazing activity to work on gross motor skills and bilateral coordination. You can use any type of laundry basket, but we recommend using a small laundry basket for a better experience.
Scavenger Hunt:
This is an activity to work on visual perceptual skills, fine motor skills, and problem-solving skills. Here we recommend using an online scavenger hunt for better results.
I-Spy Games:
This is a great way to work on visual perceptual skills, fine motor skills, and problem-solving skills. Download the I-Spy app on your mobile to let your child enjoy such fun activities.
Playdough Activities:
This is an excellent activity to work on your child’s fine motor skills, visual-motor skills, and bilateral coordination. Though there is a variety of playdough available in the market, you can always encourage your child to play with homemade playdough.
Craft Activities:
Craft activities are an amazing way to work on your child’s motor skills and bilateral coordination. Give your child paper and crayons along with other easily available items like tape and scissors. It’s not necessary to buy craft items from the market to perform such activities.
Follow Direction Games:
This is one of the teletherapy activities that work on visual perceptual skills, motor skills, and problem-solving skills. One of the best Follow Direction Games that you can introduce to your kid is The Phonics Game.
Gym Ball Exercises:
One of the teletherapy activities that work on your child’s gross motor, fine motor, visual-motor, and bilateral coordination is the Gym Ball Exercises. Though gym balls are easily available in the market, you can also use a regular tennis ball for the purpose.
Youtube Videos:
You can find a variety of videos on Youtube that are specifically designed to work on visual perceptual skills, fine motor skills, gross motor skills, and bilateral coordination. Indulge your child to follow the instructions in the video to make the most out of those teletherapy activities.
Conclusion
Teletherapy occupational therapy is a great way to provide occupational therapy services to children with special needs. It’s an amazing way to work on gross motor skills, fine motor skills, visual-motor skills, sensory processing skills, and bilateral coordination. You can use a variety of teletherapy activities to achieve the desired results. These activities are not only fun but also educational for your child. So, what are you waiting for? Go ahead and try out these teletherapy activities with your child today!
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Resources:
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Greutman, H., 2022. The Ultimate Guide to Telehealth for Therapists. [online] Growing Hands-On Kids. Available at: <https://www.growinghandsonkids.com/the-ultimate-guide-to-telehealth-for-therapists.html> [Accessed 3 June 2022].
Growing Little Brains. 2022. 30+ Fun OT Teletherapy Activities for June — Growing Little Brains. [online] Available at: <https://growinglittlebrains.com/blog/fun-ot-teletherapy-activities-for-june> [Accessed 3 June 2022].
Ferraro, K., 2022. Ordinary Household Items | Blog | KidSense Therapy Group. [online] KidSense Therapy Group. Available at: <https://www.kidsensetherapygroup.com/10-ordinary-household-items-for-occupational-therapy-activities/> [Accessed 3 June 2022].
