The Ultimate Guide to Speech Teletherapy for SLPs

By Erin Kelly, M.A., CCC-SLP

Whether you're new to speech teletherapy or you've been providing virtual services for years, you've probably asked yourself the same questions:

What activities actually keep students engaged?

What equipment do I really need?

How can I teach social communication effectively through a screen?

I've been providing speech teletherapy full time for several years, and this guide brings together the strategies, tools, and activities that have made the biggest difference in my own practice.

Rather than relying on endless websites and flashy games, I've learned that successful speech teletherapy comes down to thoughtful planning, interactive materials, and giving students meaningful opportunities to participate.

This guide answers the questions I hear most often from SLPs.

What Is Speech Teletherapy?

Speech teletherapy is the delivery of speech and language services through secure online platforms. It allows SLPs to provide high quality intervention from virtually anywhere while using interactive digital materials, AAC supports, videos, games, and evidence based teaching strategies.

Speech teletherapy can be just as effective as in person therapy when sessions are well planned and students remain actively engaged.

What Equipment Do SLPs Need for Speech Teletherapy?

A reliable setup SLPs can use for speech teletherapy makes every session smoother.

I recommend:

• Multiple monitors

• Desktop or laptop computer

• High quality headset

• Webcam

• Stable internet connection

• iPad for AAC modeling

• Standing desk

• Ergonomic mouse

• Comfortable office chair

• Digital therapy materials

If you'd like to see exactly what I use every day, read my complete guide to my speech teletherapy setup.

What Is the Best Speech Teletherapy Setup for SLPs?

Your workspace should make therapy easier, not harder.

Some of the biggest improvements I've made include:

• Three monitor setup

• Multi device keyboard

• Dual computer workflow

• Monitor mounts

• Noise canceling headphones

• Dedicated therapy space

A well organized setup reduces stress and allows you to focus on your students instead of your technology.

How Do You Plan a Speech Teletherapy Session?

Every session follows a predictable structure.

1. Greeting and check in

2. Quick review

3. Explicit teaching

4. Interactive practice

5. Conversation and discussion

6. Wrap up and home carryover

Having a consistent routine helps students know what to expect while allowing you to adjust activities based on individual needs.

What Materials Work Best for Speech Teletherapy?

The most successful materials encourage active participation.

Some of my favorites include:

• Interactive PowerPoints

• Digital sorting activities

• Real photographs

• Short video clips

• AAC supports

• Visual schedules

• Conversation prompts

• Problem solving activities

• 
  

The goal isn't to entertain students. The goal is to keep them thinking, communicating, and participating.

What Are the Best Speech Teletherapy Activities for SLPs?

The best activities require students to do something every few minutes.

Students should regularly:

• Click

• Drag

• Sort

• Explain

• Predict

• Compare

• Describe

• Ask questions

• Solve problems

Passive students become distracted students.

Interactive students become engaged learners.

How Do You Keep Students Engaged During Virtual Speech Therapy?

Student engagement starts with lesson design.

Some strategies I use every day include:

• Give students choices.

• Build anticipation.

• Change activities every few minutes.

• Use themes students remember.

• Encourage discussion instead of one word answers.

• Let students become the teacher.

• Celebrate specific successes.

• Keep transitions quick.

  
  

How Do You Make Speech Teletherapy Fun?

Fun doesn't have to mean flashy.

Students enjoy:

• Mystery activities

• Detective themes

• Hidden clues

• Choice boards

• Real life scenarios

• Collaborative problem solving

• Interactive PowerPoints

The more students feel like they're part of an experience, the more motivated they become.

What Games Work Well During Speech Teletherapy?

Games should support communication rather than distract from it.

Some favorites include:

• Guessing games

• Mystery challenges

• Conversation detectives

• Barrier games

• Would You Rather

• Hidden picture activities

• Sorting games

• Category challenges

Every game should reinforce a communication goal.

How Do You Model AAC During Speech Teletherapy?

AAC can be incorporated into virtual sessions by:

• Mirroring an iPad

• Modeling vocabulary naturally

• Pausing for communication opportunities

• Using core vocabulary consistently

• Encouraging aided language stimulation throughout the session

Students benefit most when AAC is modeled consistently rather than only during requesting activities.

How Do You Teach Conversation Skills in Speech Therapy?

Conversation is much more than answering questions.

Students need explicit instruction in:

• Starting conversations

• Asking questions

• Making comments

• Active listening

• Staying on topic

• Changing topics appropriately

• Finding common interests

• Ending conversations

Each skill should be taught directly before students practice it in meaningful situations.

How Do You Teach Students to Ask and Answer Questions During Conversations?

Teach different question types individually before combining them in natural conversations.

Students should learn:

• Who questions

• What questions

• Where questions

• When questions

• Why questions

• How questions

After explicit instruction, practice through role play, pictures, videos, and real conversations.

How Do You Help Students Keep a Conversation Going?

Teach students that conversations grow through curiosity.

Strategies include:

• Asking follow up questions

• Making related comments

• Sharing personal connections

• Expanding on ideas

• Showing interest in the other speaker

  

How Do You Teach Active Listening?

Active listening includes more than looking at the speaker.

Students learn to:

• Listen for important information

• Respond appropriately

• Ask follow up questions

• Build on what someone else said

• Recognize conversational cues

  
  

What Social Skills Activities Work Well in Speech Teletherapy?

Some of my favorite activities include:

• Conversation role play

• Video analysis

• Detective mysteries

• Perspective taking scenarios

• Flexible thinking activities

• Problem solving challenges

• Social inference tasks

  
  

How Do You Teach Flexible Thinking in Speech Therapy?

Flexible thinking helps students adapt when situations change.

I teach flexible thinking through:

• Explicit instruction

• Real life examples

• Problem solving

• Discussion

• Interactive activities

• Reflection

Students gradually learn that there is often more than one solution to a problem.

How Do You Teach Perspective Taking Through Speech Teletherapy?

Perspective taking becomes much easier when students can:

• Watch short videos

• Analyze photographs

• Discuss social situations

• Predict thoughts and feelings

• Compare different viewpoints

These activities encourage students to think beyond their own perspective.

What Is Semantic Feature Analysis in Speech Therapy?

Semantic Feature Analysis is an evidence based vocabulary strategy that strengthens word knowledge by teaching students to describe words using meaningful semantic features.

Students learn to think about:

• Category

• Function

• Appearance

• Parts

• Location

• Associations

This deeper understanding improves vocabulary, describing skills, and word retrieval.

How Do You Teach Vocabulary and Describing Skills?

Vocabulary grows when students repeatedly use words in meaningful ways.

Some effective strategies include:

• Semantic Feature Analysis

• Comparing words

• Categorization

• Visual supports

• Describing games

• Real photographs

• Interactive activities

  
  

Bringing It All Together

Successful speech teletherapy isn't about finding the newest website or the perfect game.

It's about creating engaging, meaningful learning experiences where students actively participate, communicate, and build confidence.

Whether you're teaching conversation skills, flexible thinking, perspective taking, vocabulary, or social communication, interactive lessons and thoughtful planning make all the difference.

Explore More Speech Teletherapy Resources for SLPs

If you're looking for ready to use resources, be sure to explore:

• Flexible Thinking

• Perspective Taking

• Conversation Skills

• Conversation Skills Detective Academy

Each resource is designed to save planning time while keeping students actively engaged during speech teletherapy.