Speech therapy in the digital age

More than 500 speech-language pathologists and 44 clinical fellows in the VA healthcare system provide services through outpatient clinics, inpatient settings and telehealth.

VA speech-language pathologists provide care to Veterans of all ages with speech, language, cognitive, voice and swallowing disorders. These disorders may occur in conjunction with a medical problem, such as a stroke, brain injury or neurological disorder.

Among them is Nan Musson, VA’s National Speech Pathology program manager. “We’ve been doing telehealth for quite some time. Speech has been a leader of telerehabilitation services.”

TeleSpeech

Many people became familiar with telehealth during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, VA speech-language pathologists have been providing care through telehealth since the late 1980s. What started with treatments through fax machines and speaker phones has now advanced to video visits, automated text messaging reminders and VA apps.

Today, over 98% of VA speech-language pathologists provide some part of care through virtual care, including telehealth, secure messaging and treatment reminders through the Annie app. 

Video visits enable the speech-language pathologist to conduct a treatment session from their office while the Veteran is in the comfort of their home. The majority of TeleSpeech appointments, an average of 8,000 per month, are conducted through VA Video Connect, VA’s secure videoconferencing app.

“Interviewing the patient at home or work using video visits helps to better understand the patient’s communication goals. Patients may participate in individual or group TeleSpeech programs,” Musson said.

How to get started

Before beginning treatment, patients will meet with a speech-language pathologist in a clinic or by telehealth and create a care plan that fits their needs. Care plans can involve the use of assistive technology, including computerized speaking devices and cognitive aids.

Depending on the Veteran’s diagnosis, they may take part in various language-stimulating activities. A Veteran diagnosed with aphasia, a language disorder that affects a person’s ability to express and understand written and spoken language, may be asked to describe a picture or use a gesture to identify a picture.

A Veteran diagnosed with dysphagia, a condition that makes it difficult to swallow, may practice swallowing exercises.

Nearly all speech therapy appointments can be conducted through telehealth. 

“It’s never been easier to receive care through VA. There are constantly new innovations and opportunities for Veterans to have access to care through telehealth,” Musson added.

To learn more about VA speech-language pathology, talk to your primary care physician or visit VA’s Rehabilitation and Prosthetic Services page.