Does Online Speech Therapy Work as Well as In-Person Therapy?
Leanne Sherred, M.S., CCC-SLP
It's a common question from both parents and healthcare providers: How does online speech therapy compare to in-person therapy in terms of results? Extensive studies have been done on this topic for a variety of speech and language conditions. The research clearly shows that done properly, teletherapy is just as effective as in-person speech therapy across a range of conditions and ages.
Key takeaways
A comprehensive 2026 meta-analysis is the most recent study to show that both teletherapy and in-person speech therapy lead to significant improvements. The study covered a wide range of areas in children, including stuttering, speech sound disorders, dyslexia, and communication needs related to autism.
Many individual studies have shown the effectiveness of online speech therapy specifically for toddlers, children, and adults.
At Expressable, our own data supports this research. 96% of our patients make clinical progress within the first five sessions.
Both therapy models succeed due to the skills and expertise of the speech therapist. Teletherapy also makes it easier for caregivers to attend and learn how to support their child or loved one at home, which leads to faster progress.
If you value flexibility, convenience, and parent involvement, teletherapy might be the best fit. If your child needs hands-on or highly specialized interventions, in-person therapy may be a better choice.
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Get startedDoes research support online speech therapy?
Most recently, a 2026 meta-analysis published in the Journal of Telemedicine and Telecare set out to answer one of the most common questions families, clinicians, and others have about online speech therapy: does it actually work as well? To do the analysis, researchers searched through more than 17,000 studies. They chose seven randomized controlled trials—the gold standard in research—that directly compared teletherapy to in-person speech therapy for children 12 and under. Looking across 31 different outcome measures, they found that both approaches led to significant improvements.
What makes this study especially relevant is how broadly the findings apply. The research covered a wide range of areas: stuttering, speech sound disorders, reading and dyslexia, and language and social communication in autistic children.
Plus, parents in these studies consistently reported high satisfaction. Many of them preferred online therapy for its flexibility and convenience.
Worried your young child won’t pay attention to a screen for speech therapy? They don't need to! Here’s how online speech therapy really works.
Online vs. in-person speech therapy for toddlers
Many studies have shown the effectiveness of online speech therapy for toddlers:
De Leon et al. (2022) looked at toddlers ages 1-2 years old receiving early intervention speech therapy. They made comparable 6-month progress on their goals whether therapy was delivered online or in-person.
Several studies comparing in-person and telepractice speech therapy among toddlers (ages 18 to 30 months) have found that telepractice led to equivalent or higher scores on standardized language assessments (Behl et al. 2017; Blaiser et al. 2013; Constantinescu et al. 2014). In addition, Kronberg et al. (2021) found that both groups had similarly high satisfaction scores from caregivers.
Research also shows the power of parent involvement. When parents are coached during online speech therapy, their toddlers increase their expressive language and social communication skills (Ingersoll et al. 2024, Mettler et al. 2023).
At Expressable, our own data supports this research. Combining child-led sessions with parent involvement and easy home practice leads to strong outcomes for toddlers!
In 99% of Expressable speech therapy sessions for kids ages 0-3 years old, caregivers attend the entire session, participating and learning how to help their child at home.
Across 2,500 clients ages 0-3 years old, 96.4% of them make clinical progress within the first five sessions (as measured against documented care plan goals).
All Expressable clients begin speech therapy with an evaluation. When 0- to 3-year-olds are reevaluated at a later date, 88% show improvement in expressive language skills, and 90% show improvement in receptive language skills (based on scores from the REEL-4, a standardized parent-report measure of children's language ability).
You can learn more about outcomes for toddlers with Expressable speech therapy here.
Inside the session: Watch a toddler having fun with online speech therapy!
Watch hereOnline vs. in-person speech therapy for children
One of the most well-known studies was done in 2011 at Kent State University. Researchers compared students receiving in-person speech therapy to those receiving online speech therapy over eight months. Here were the key findings:
Children made similar progress in both therapy models.
No significant difference was found in GFTA-2 (Goldman-Fristoe Test of Articulation) scores. The GFTA-2 is the most commonly used articulation test for children and adults.
Parents and students overwhelmingly supported teletherapy due to convenience and accessibility.
Similarly, a study by the Ohio Department of Public Health examined the use of teletherapy in schools due to a shortage of speech therapists. The results were clear: Students in the online speech therapy group showed the same level of progress as those in in-person therapy when measured on the GFTA-2.
A qualitative systematic review of telepractice for 0-7 year olds found that "the majority of studies … described telepractice as a format of service delivery that seemed to facilitate and enhance children’s, families’ and professionals’ engagement in [early intervention]." Telepractice provided more opportunities for teaching families how to help their children at home. Researchers also found that young children are generally engaged in online therapy—often better than parents or providers might expect! Other studies have shown that online speech therapy works just as well as in-person for treating specific conditions such as:
Online vs. in-person speech therapy for adults
Other studies have looked at how well online speech therapy works for adults. Research shows that it works just as well as in-person therapy. For example, studies show that online speech therapy is effective and reliable for adults with:
Of course, there are cases where in-person therapy is best for the client. But for many adults, online speech therapy is just as helpful, with some added benefits, too, such as:
Flexible scheduling
No need to travel (and the cost savings that results!)
Receiving therapy in a comfortable home environment
Expressable has been accredited by The Joint Commission for providing high-quality speech therapy for children and adults.
What makes online speech therapy successful?
One major reason for the success of online vs. in-person speech therapy is that both models rely on the skills and expertise of the therapist. A great speech therapist will ensure their client's engagement, progress, and results, regardless of whether sessions are in-person or online.
If you decide on online speech therapy for your child, make sure you find a speech therapist who’s experienced with this delivery method. Beyond providing excellent care, online speech therapists know how to keep children engaged in sessions. They use different techniques to keep children's attention, such as playing fun computer games or giving your child remote access to draw on a virtual whiteboard.
Remember, one of the biggest benefits of online speech therapy is that it takes place in the comfort and familiarity of the child's home. Your speech therapist should encourage you and your child to bring favorite toys, games, or books to the session.
Parent involvement should be a central focus when speech therapy is delivered online.
Of course, for many children, especially toddlers, we'd never expect them to pay attention to a screen for 30 minutes. That's why caregiver involvement is so important--and online speech therapy makes it easy! When you attend sessions alongside your child, you learn how to practice speech and language with them at home, between sessions. More home practice will lead to faster progress.
This approach is called parent coaching, and it should be a central focus when speech therapy is delivered online.
Speech therapy that gets results
At Expressable, our research-based care model delivers meaningful outcomes for kids and adults. See our results from more than 13,000 clients.
See our outcomesParent involvement in online vs. in-person speech therapy
Studies show that parent involvement is a key factor in therapy success, whether online or in-person. A review of 12 studies on "parent-implemented interventions” via teletherapy found that in all cases:
Caregiver participation led to improved speech-language outcomes.
Parents were just as effective as therapists in helping children develop language skills.
In another example, a study conducted at Vanderbilt University looked at how well parent-implemented intervention worked among groups of parents trained to promote their child’s communication. Here were some key results:
Parents were able to understand the strategies taught by the speech therapists and use them with their child. As a result, children showed improvement in their verbal and nonverbal communication skills, including understanding, vocabulary, grammar, and how often they communicated.
Parents were just as effective at helping their child as speech therapists were. In fact, when it came to understanding language and grammar, parents were actually more effective than their therapists.
Children with a variety of language difficulties made progress when their parents were involved. That included language impairment, autism, and developmental delays.
As this and other studies show, empowering caregivers to work directly with their children can greatly improve their child’s speech-language skills. Online speech therapy makes it easier than ever for parents to be involved, leading to faster progress and better outcomes.
How do you get a toddler to pay attention in speech therapy? Find out what speech therapy sessions look like for toddlers.
Final thoughts: Is online or in-person speech therapy better?
The debate between online vs. in-person speech therapy ultimately comes down to individual needs. Research shows that both methods are equally effective when delivered by a skilled therapist.
If you value flexibility, convenience, and parent involvement, online speech therapy might be the best fit for your family. If your child requires hands-on assistance or highly specialized interventions, in-person therapy may be the better choice.
At Expressable, we’re here to help you find the best option for your needs. Find the right speech therapist for you or your child today!
How Expressable Can Help
Concerned your child isn't reaching age-expected milestones? Looking for communication support from a professional? Expressable is a national online speech and occupational therapy practice serving children and adults. We treat all major areas of communication, feeding, and developmental skills, offer flexible hours including evenings and weekends, and accept most major health insurance plans. We’re proud to have earned more than 4,500 5-star reviews from our clients (4.83/5 average).
Our therapy model is centered on parent and caregiver involvement. Research proves that empowering caregivers to participate in their loved one’s therapy leads to better outcomes. That’s why we combine live, 1-on-1 speech and occupational therapy with personalized education and home practice activities for faster progress.
