Finding the right Speech Language Pathologist may be harder than you think.
Similar to many medical fields Speech Language Pathologists, SLP’s receive a huge amount of training which allows them to work in a variety of settings. SLP’s can work with a variety of ages: infants, to adults, to geriatrics (some SLP’s are now even working with their dogs!). More than just treating speech sounds SLP’s treat: feeding, swallowing, cognition, aural rehabilitation (hearing), reading and writing, alternative augmentative communication (AAC), motor speech disorders, TBI’s, and some specialize in treatment of certain syndromes and disorders. When asked nearly a decade ago a fellow SLP and collegue asked, "Why can't you just work with your son?" I chuckled. Did she truly think I had never thought of that! So, why couldn't I continue? Because, at that time, I had no experience working with Childhood Apraxia of Speech. The only treatment I knew to provide was failing him, miserably. This was back in 2015, isn't it amazing, how much can change in short 8 years! See full update below.
The right therapy = less therapy.
With such a huge field of knowledge it is not a surprise that it may take some time to find the right therapist for yourself or your child. Waiting or settling with just one therapist due to convenience, or lack of knowing the difference, can make a huge difference in the success of yours or your child's therapy or medical treatment. The following information will hopefully save you the heartache of months or even years spent unwisely using inadequate or inappropriate therapy due to the lack of knowledge or experience of your SLP or any medical provider for that matter! Just as you would not go to an orthopedic or bone surgeon to have open heart surgery, you shouldn’t be going to a Speech Language Pathologist who is not trained and experienced in your area of need. Therapy and medical treatment used to be decided by geographic location, availability or necessity. Advances in travel and medical payments for travel no longer offer a simple reason to stick with the “closest” SLP. Teletherapy, at home practice, parent coaching, and so much more, can now provide you with access to the right type of therapy nearly anywhere! Rural areas far away from access to therapists, such as in rural Alaska, it can be so much harder. Still, the right treatment and strategically planned "shopping trips" to Anchorage, can make the world of difference. Finding the right therapy will dramatically reduce the length and duration of treatment.
There are so many SLP's out there! So, what should you look for?
SLP’s can work in, Hospitals; NICU (neonatoal), Acute Care, Rehabilitation, Inpatient and Outpatient as well as, Nursing Homes, Schools, Infant Learning Programs and Pediatric or Adult based Private practice. There are SLP’s who work with children before they are even talking. Finding the therapist that is right for your child is one of the most important jobs you have. Some children will make the progress needed by attending school based speech therapy, while other children will need to receive private therapy as well.
The best SLP does not work alone!
Great SLP's will share with you when they feel like you or your child will benefit from working with other SLP's, Specialists, or by getting additional therapy elsewhere. While many SLP’s list themselves as having the same training, the truth behind it is, SLP's are not created equal. Further, 20 years of “experience treating” any type of speech or language disorder does not mean their experience is better than a new clinician coming out with new cutting edge skills. There is not one thing that will make the SLP right for you; schedule, location, knowledge, experience, training, availability, specializations, invovlement, requirements to complete the therapy, realistic expectations, the ability to connect and develop a therapeutic relationship, not one of these is overall more important or less, than another. Only you can decide what is going to make the biggest difference for your family, yourself and your child.
SLP's are not Magicians.
There are a variety of Speech and Language Disorders which regardless of the treatment or the therapist will remain difficult to treat. Progress may seem incremental, this can be frustrating. When progress stalls, or slows, it is sometimes a sign that change is needed. Change can take place with treatment frequency, type of therapy, therapist or location. Short, breaks from therapy are okay! Especially when the break provides respite to your child and family. Taking a month off during the summer when there is no summer school may provide your child and your family with a much needed flexibility to go on the camping trip or vacation. Traveling for speech therapy intensives to specialized clinics can provide a huge jump in Speech and Language skills, these intensives and camps can sometimes be paid for by grants, scholarships or even your insurance. While no SLP is creating magic with their therapy, I can attest that sometimes the right therapy and therapist can feel magical for the family, clients and the therapists as well!
Use your time wisely.
Here at Take Home Speech in Kenai, Alaska, we have seen countless clients that for one reason or another were not accurately diagnosed with a motor speech disorder. Months, and even years, were spent receiving weekly therapy with little to no benefit. Please hear our advice and spend your child’s precious time wisely. You can start by asking your provider what your child’s diagnosis is and how best to treat that specific diagnosis. Then ask your provider what their training and experience is in treating yours or your child’s specific needs. Remember, not every provider is created equal, its your job to find the provider that is best able to meet your individual needs.
Take Home Speech is Alaskan owned and operated in Kenai, Alaska. Our clinic provides individualized family centered speech therapy, with two Speech Language Pathologists who combined, specialize in the following skills: adult cognitive therapy, voice, infant learning speech language and feeding, family coaching, child and school age speech, language, feeding, AAC. Beginning December 2023, we will be employing the one of only two advanced trained practitioners in all of Alaska for treating Childhood Apraxia of Speech. Additional trainings our therapits hold include: Hanen More than Words Parent Training, Beckman Oral Motor Training, PROMPT, PECS, CAN-Eat, Lively Letters
and countless additional continuing education units.
Call us today to set up your free no obligation consultation.
Take Home Speech
Kenai, Alaska
11/14/23. An update about my son who has Apraxia of Speech! He has now completed two courses and is beginning his third and likely last of the REST program develped for Children with Apraxia. Yvonne San Juan, at Achieve Speech Therapy LLC has been able to provide us with access to these courses online. Yvonne too has Advanced Training for treatment of Childhood Apraxia of Speech. My son has completed telethreapy and in person evaluations with her out of Anchorage, Alaska. Those three, 6 week courses, over the past 2 years, have made dramatic and nearly unbelievable improvements. The "magic" of her therapy was never seen before after nearly 3 years of stalled progress. His speech has made a nearly miraculous improvment. Yvonne, recently referred us to another SLP who has specilialized training in treating reading disorders. Remember, (we aren't all created equal) and the best SLP's aren't afraid of this. Yvonne knew her specialty wasn't reading and she also knew it is what my son needed! I believe professionals should embrace our differences and expertise of eachother, and help clients find the right support just as she did! Because of Yvonne's perfect referral to a specialized SLP in reading, we now know my son has Dyslexia. The great news is we found it early and we can now spend his precious last few years in primary school intervening for his Dyslexia. We will be completing therapy with a new private practice SLP who specilializes in Dyslexia as well as through his school. SLP's, Parents, Teachers: dont be afraid of change! Change is good. Change is needed. We aren't equal and for SLP's that's okay!