Our Family-Centered Approach

CCLLC has always prioritized a family-centered approach to speech therapy, involving family members in a client's care at every step. After seeing how families became even more present during telehealth sessions due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we will continue to increase family involvement in the new year. Our families and our therapists quickly discovered telehealth brought more dedication to therapy and increased progress towards goals. After nearly three years of our team experiencing this positive shift, we've concluded that the most effective way to treat communication disorders and differences is with the entire family. Moving forward, we want family members to be fully present in therapy sessions and learn the strategies and techniques alongside their child or loved one, not simply observe them. 

What exactly is changing? 

Beginning in January 2023, we ask that whenever possible, a parent or guardian is present and in the same room for in-person and telehealth sessions for the duration of the appointment. Instead of waiting in the reception area for in-person appointments, or being off-camera for telehealth sessions, you will be directly involved in your child's therapy. Your clinician will help identify the most appropriate space within your home for the session and will teach you how to modify environments and items in the natural space to serve you and your child. 

Why are we making this change? 

We have seen monumental changes with this model. Our therapists have long been taught to not just address a child or a client, but to provide training and support to families and to teach parents how to support a child at home. As we involve parents and families, they can learn, practice, reflect and ask questions about the strategies we implement.  

Together as a team, you, your loved one and your therapist will work to improve communication, engagement and connection. Our clients who face communication obstacles must be able to communicate with loved ones and bringing family members into sessions directly facilities that goal. Families also gain a safe space to talk about both the challenges and the success they encounter.  

Parental engagement is understood, supported, and viewed as valuable for continuation of services by most major insurance companies and by the American Speech and Hearing Association (ASHA). Parental involvement is considered a best practice since parents can carry the therapist's strategies for the child into everyday natural routines in the child's home.

What evidence supports this change?

The standard of care is the same irrespective of whether clients are seen in-person or via telepractice. In 2021, a study was published comparing in-person and telepractice service delivery for children. [Musaji, I., Roth, B., Coufal, K., Parham, D., & Self, T. (2021). Comparing in-Person and Telepractice Service Delivery for Spoken Language Production and Comprehension Using the National Outcomes Measurement System. International Journal of Telerehabilitation Vol 13, No. 1, pp. 1-13.] "The results of our analysis of these select cohorts suggest that there is either no significant difference in treatment outcomes between traditional in-person interventions or, in a few instances, a small improvement in outcomes with telepractice services." It is important to note that "these findings strengthen those reported by similar studies (Gabel et al., 2013; Grogan-Johnson et al., 2011). These findings are also consistent with Coufal and colleagues' (2018) examination of telepractice outcomes in the category "speech-sound production. Finally, these findings support the emerging broader consensus that telepractice, across a wide spectrum of professions and interventions, is comparable with in-person delivery." (Musaji, et al., 2021).

Studies also indicate that training the main caregiver in the natural environment is key to improved outcomes, which is something telehealth offers our families. Parents know their child best, and children naturally desire engagement with their parents. Through guided training and instruction from our therapists, parents learn strategies to engage their child, which leads to better outcomes for the child.