Is my child too young for speech therapy? Can he actually sit at a table and ‘work’? Won’t he just catch up on his own?
Believe it or not, even the littlest toddlers love coming to speech therapy. They see their therapist as a playmate with all kinds of fun and interesting toys. By the second or third visit, they are usually bouncing into the therapy room ready to work and play!
What will happen at my child’s first appointment?
The Speech-Language Pathologist (SLP) will get to know your child through a combination of informal play and formal assessment, using toys and books to assess his speech and language skills. The SLP will also ask you a variety of interview questions about your child’s speech, language, and overall development.
What will happen in subsequent sessions?
Your SLP will have developed a therapy plan based on assessment findings and parental concerns. Therapy sessions will consist of specific activities to target these goals. For example, if your child needs work on the ‘F’ sound, your SLP may play a game of “Go Fish”. If your child has difficulty undertanding location words, such as ‘in/out, on/off’, your SLP may play a game with a toy farm whereby she may give instructions, such as “Cow in”, “Horsey out”. For the words “on/off”, she may play with lego or blocks, using these words throughout the activity.
How do I make an appointment? Do I need a referral from my doctor?
You may choose to see a public SLP, a private SLP, or both. As a first step, it is recommended to get your child’s name on the waiting list for the “Preschool Speech and Language Services”. As the waiting lists can be anywhere from 4-12 months, you may wish to get started with a private SLP in the interim. A doctor’s referral is not needed, however, some extended health care plans do require one for reimbursement. Check with your plan to see whether your insurance company requires a written referral. If you choose to start off with a private SLP, your SLP may collaborate with the public SLP to ensure consistency of goals.
Whatever your choice, remember that early intervention is the key to success.
