How to Choose a Speech Therapist

Choosing a speech therapist is an important first step to improving your child's speech. If you have determined that your child needs speech therapy, either through the school system or pediatrician, there are some things to consider. Your child's personality, the nature of his speech delay and what needs to be accomplished are important factors.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Listing of speech-language-hearing pathologists in your area from your pediatrician
• Doctor's referral, if necessary
• Documentation from your child's teacher as to development and behavior

1. Schedule an appointment with your child's pediatrician. This is always the best place to begin when there is a question about development in any area.

2. Determine with your child's pediatrician if speech therapy would be appropriate. Use documentation from your child's teacher or principal for help.

3. Ask for a list of referrals from the pediatrician. Have her choose one or two she thinks would be the best choice for your child.

4. Look for a speech therapist that is certified by one of the speech-language-hearing associations.

5. Have a private consultation with the speech pathologist you are considering. This can be done with or without your child, or in combination to see how your child interacts with the therapist.

6. Make sure the clinics you are looking into have a variety of therapies and an audiologist who checks for hearing problems.

7. Evaluate the clinic and therapist on the basis of training, rapport with children and age appropriate therapy techniques.

Tips & Warnings

• Children develop language at different speeds. If you think your child's speech and language isn't developing properly, don't wait. Have an evaluation as soon as possible.
• Make sure your child's evaluation includes a hearing screening by an audiologist. One of the first indicators of hearing loss in children is delayed speech.
• Children who have frequent ear infections often have a temporary loss of hearing in the affected ear. If your child is prone to ear infections, ask your doctor is a hearing screening should be done.

Resources

• Kids Health for Kids
• The American Speech Language Hearing Association

Who Can Help Sponsored

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[RenaissanceLady]

on 10/19/2008 Really good info!