Frequently Asked Questions

 

What is the difference between speech and language?

Under the umbrella of ‘speech’, SLPs treat the inability to accurately produce or sequence the sounds we need for spoken words.

‘Language’ refers to our ability to understand the words we hear or read (referred to as ‘receptive language’ or ‘language comprehension’), and our ability to communicate our thoughts via speech, written word or a communication device (referred to as ‘expressive language’ or ‘language production’). Language also refers to our use of language in social exchanges (referred to as ‘social communication’ or ‘pragmatic language’).

What conditions do you treat?

We treat a variety of disorders including:

  • Apraxia of Speech

  • Auditory Processing Disorders

  • Cognitive Communication Disorders (e.g. planning, memory, organization, self-regulation)

  • Developmental Delay

  • Dyslexia

  • Executive Function

  • Expressive / Receptive Language Disorders

  • Feeding / Swallowing Issues

  • Fluency Disorders (Cluttering, Stuttering)

  • Specific Language Impairment

How do I know if my child needs therapy?

You know your child best. If you have concerns about their speech or language development, we offer free screenings. Alternatively, you can skip a screening and request a comprehensive speech-language evaluation. We can reach out to your pediatrician if a referral is required.

My child doesn’t qualify for speech-language therapy at school. Should I pursue services privately?

School districts have a specific criteria which must be met before they can provide services to their students. Just because your child doesn’t qualify for speech-language therapy through their school, doesn’t mean that they don’t have speech-language issues that could be addressed through private therapy services.

For how long will my child need therapy?

Each child is unique, as are their abilities and the speech-language challenges they face. Following a comprehensive evaluation, your therapist will be able to discuss whether services are recommended and how frequently, but it is difficult to put a timeframe around how long services will be needed.

So how do I get started?

If you will be paying for therapy privately, you can contact us directly and schedule a screening or evaluation. If you plan to use your health insurance, certain plans require a referral from your child’s pediatrician. Check the evaluation and treatment requirements with your insurance carrier, and if necessary, discuss your concerns with your child’s pediatrician and have them forward a referral to us. If you wish, we can reach out directly to your pediatrician for you.

Do you accept insurance?

At the moment, we accept private pay, Healthy Connections Medicaid, First Choice by Select Health, United Healthcare, Humana Healthy Horizons and are a TRICARE-certified provider. We plan to continue to expand the range of plans in which we participate. In the interim, we can supply you with the appropriate documentation that you can submit to your insurance company for reimbursement. This documentation will list the diagnosis and treatment codes that your insurance carrier will require.

Please note: it is your responsibility to verify that your insurance plan covers speech-language services prior to receiving services.

Where will my child receive services?

We can provide in-person services in our office, your child’s daycare, preschool or other community settings. We can also provide services through teletherapy, via our HIPAA compliant teletherapy platform.

Is teletherapy effective?

Yes. The use of teletherapy has been growing in the field of speech-language pathology for a number of years, and with the emergence of COVID-19, its use has increased dramatically. There are a number of studies supporting the efficacy of teletherapy, and it is supported by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. Benefits of teletherapy include: access to therapy for individuals in remote geographical areas, reduced travel time for patients and family members, receiving services in the comfort and safety of your own home, and for many parents, there is no need to bring all their children to a center while one child is receiving services. Additionally, many children are already tech-savvy, and readily engage and enjoy tech-based activities!

How do I know if teletherapy is a fit for my child?

Teletherapy is appropriate for most individuals. Some accommodations may need to be made depending on the age and abilities of the child. For example, younger children will require a parent to be with them and support them throughout the session (this provides the added benefit of parent coaching throughout the session!). As with in-person therapy, some trial and error will be required to find what works best for your child. Still unsure if it’s a fit for your child? Call us to discuss your questions and concerns.