| WHAT YOU NEED TO ASK BEFORE SPEECH | | | | - Is it possible to speak with other clients of |
| THERAPY CAN BEGIN | | | | yours? (Of course the waiting room is a good |
| For the child with a language delay or apraxia, | | | | place for that.) |
| speech therapy can be effective, but it is a | | | | - Find out costs and if there schedule is |
| lengthy and intensive process. | | | | compatible with yours. |
| If you suspect a language delay to begin with you | | | | - Some therapists are willing to do home visits, |
| should start with your child's pediatrician, they will | | | | but is your home the best place for therapy? Is it |
| be able to quickly determine if your child is behind | | | | free of distractions - your other children, the |
| in their speech. They can give you a referral to a | | | | phone, the television, and your child's favorite |
| speech pathologist in your area. Generally for | | | | toys? Some kids do much better in a clinical |
| insurance to cover the services you need a | | | | setting that is quiet. |
| referral from a medical doctor. You will also need | | | | Speech therapy is a very important cornerstone |
| to check with your insurance if there is only a | | | | to your child's improvement. One of the first |
| certain therapist available to you. You can also | | | | speech therapists my daughter saw was not a |
| check with your local school district to determine | | | | positive experience. Unfortunately I did not have |
| if services are available there. | | | | the knowledge or experience to know that she |
| When choosing a speech therapist do not be | | | | was not a good therapist. To begin with she had |
| afraid to ask questions before you began. Some | | | | no warmth or enthusiasm for her work. She did |
| things to ask are: | | | | not consistantly build on what she did the session |
| - Have you treated a child with apraxia before? | | | | before. One day we worked on the "K" sound, |
| - What type of success did you have? | | | | the next the "F" sound. Some days she played |
| - What type of toys or tools do you use? | | | | music, others she read books. The only toys she |
| - Do they have a structured plan for therapy? | | | | used were dirty, old ones her children no longer |
| - Do they have goals for your child? | | | | played with. |
| - Are they a warm & kid-friendly type of | | | | I thought she must be good as she was working |
| person? | | | | in a large hospital in our area. After two months |
| - How many years of experience do you have? | | | | of taking my daughter there three days a week, |
| - If your child has particular issues such as | | | | the therapist actually ended therapy, because she |
| shyness or hyperactivity find out how they would | | | | was not making any progress. I was initially |
| handle that. | | | | shocked, thinking that if she's not progressing, she |
| - Also find out what forms of discipline do they | | | | should do more therapy, however that turned out |
| use and if they allow you to be present during | | | | to be a good thing as we sought therapy |
| therapy sessions. It is always a good idea to sit in | | | | elsewhere. Her next speech therapist was |
| on the first few sessions to observe how things | | | | absolutely amazing and worked very well with us. |
| are going. | | | | |