VIRTUAL ACCESS: In a pilot telehealth treatment study including 7 participants, preliminary findings show participants made strong progress over the course of 20 sessions of virtual treatment for SSD, indicating the potential for permanent adoption of telepractice treatment for residual/r/misarticulation.

These findings and methods are all publicly available, allowing for easy implementation by licensed therapists around the world.

"Our research shows that telepractice delivery of visual biofeedback in speech therapy can work, and that positive results can be achieved," said Hitchcock. "But, perhaps more importantly, they serve as the foundation for continued research and refinement to make therapy delivered in this medium even stronger. They are proof that this is something we should continue to study, and that with continued research, even greater progress to improve treatment options can be made."

Recommendations for Parents

For parents of children with persisting speech sound distortions, Hitchcock encourages them to explore these new methods of treatment – because they offer new possibilities and are likely to become more widespread.

"The growing successes of the children in our research and clinical programs demonstrate that there is hope for children who have struggled with their

speech for long periods of time, some spending as long as 8-10 years in therapy," she said. "In our continuously advancing technological world, it is clear that visual biofeedback feedback and

telepractice care options are only going to become more widely used, so it will be increasingly important for parents to learn about and understand these styles of treatment because they could mean all the difference in the long-term care and results for their child."

"The pandemic has provided the opportunity to reexamine in-person therapy, and see how it can be even further enhanced to provide the best possible care."

Additionally, Hitchcock has the following tips for parents and families:

• Don't wait: If you are concerned about your child's speech or the impact SSD may be having on their emotional or academic wellbeing, you should schedule an appointment with a speech-language pathologist immediately.
• Consider new treatment methods: In-person evaluation and care are excellent options, but telepractice and visual biofeedback methods have proven to be successful as well. Considering these options could improve the long-term outcomes for children who have previously been unsuccessful in overcoming speech-related challenges. Importantly, such options can be used as effective alternatives to overcome geographic, transportation or other barriers to in-person care.
• It's never too late: Smaller-scale studies have shown that adults can successfully change long-standing speech patterns using visual biofeedback. No matter a person's age, there are treatment options available that can help you overcome Speech Sound Disorder. •