Unlocking Hope for Alzheimer’s: The Benefits of Virtual Speech Therapy
November is Alzheimer’s disease (AD) Awareness Month: 6.2 million Americans currently live with Alzheimer’s
Compromised speech and communications are unfortunate consequences of AD and dementia. That’s why Great Speech is pleased to help people address these issues and improve their quality of life along with their caregivers quality of life.
While AD is a progressive disease with no cure, it presents unique challenges. Online speech therapy helps individuals maintain cognitive function and remember daily tasks. Great Speech has a national network of certified Speech and Language pathologists (SLPs) who effectively address information processing and memory, helping people to maintain communication skills such as language, cognition, voice and fluency.
SLPs can provide strategies to help people “find their words” and follow directions. The overall goal of virtual speech therapy is to help the person be as independent as possible for as long as possible.
This approach also eases caregiver burden since virtual speech therapy requires no travel and is conducted from the comfort of their home.
Alzheimer’s vs. Dementia
Alzheimer’s and dementia often go misdiagnosed because of the similarities between the two conditions. However, getting a proper diagnosis is crucial not just for treatment plans but also for the type of speech therapy an individual should receive. Dementia is a broad term encompassing various cognitive disorders, not one specific disease, whereas Alzheimer’s disease is a distinct brain condition.
Alzheimer’s manifests through worsening dementia symptoms over time. Initially, AD impacts the brain’s learning-associated region, leading to early signs such as alterations in memory, thinking, and reasoning abilities. As the disease advances, the symptoms intensify, encompassing confusion, behavioral changes and additional difficulties.
Although Alzheimer’s disease is the prevalent form of dementia, it is not the exclusive one. Dementia encompasses numerous distinct types and underlying causes.
Virtual Speech Therapy Enhances Socialization
Many people with Alzheimer’s are challenged to conduct conversations with friends and family. As a result, they often withdraw from social settings which can lead to isolation, loneliness and depression.
An SLP can help people regain some of the speech and communication skills they may have lost and effectively communicate their feelings. This can reduce the frustration of not being able to communicate which leads to enhanced relationships with friends and family.
Great Speech Services: Flexible, Accessible and Covered by Insurance
Flexibility is extremely important for clients. Great Speech offers sessions in the evenings and on weekends, eliminating the worry about moving around other appointments or scheduling ongoing treatments.
Accessing care at home is also great for these individuals since they are more comfortable in familiar surroundings and do not need to travel to a brick-and-mortar clinic. Our approach removes geographical limitations and mobility concerns that limit access to care. Great Speech uses a proprietary patient matching algorithm that matches you to an SLP that is tailored to your specific speech and communication goals. Knowing you’ll be matched with an SLP who is experienced with Alzheimer’s and/or dementia brings peace of mind and helps individuals potentially reach their speech and communication goals in a shorter period of time.
Great Speech is also offered as an in-network benefit with many health plans and proudly partners with numerous Medicare Advantage and commercial health insurance plans. This makes receiving online speech therapy readily available for individuals nationwide.
As we strive to raise awareness about Alzheimer’s, Great Speech emphasizes the potential of virtual speech therapy to improve the lives of those navigating the complex journey of AD.
If a loved one or someone you know may be grappling with communication and cognitive difficulties as a result of Alzheimer’s, schedule an introductory call today.