Does your healthcare plan cover speech therapy? No idea? Ask your employer for the packet or book with the comprehensive explanation of benefits. Check the table of contents for sections labeled something like “Speech-Language Pathology,” “Hearing Care,” “Audiology,” or “Speech and Language Benefits.” If you don’t see any of these sections, check for a rehabilitation section or an “Other Services and Therapies” section. You may also find hearing and speech assessment coverage listed under diagnostics.
Top 6 Questions to Ask Your Child’s Speech Therapist
Speech Therapist1. Ask the speech therapist what his credentials are and where he received his education and training. Ask him how long he has been practicing and whether he has experience working with schools. Speech therapists should have a master’s degree, if not a doctorate. Master’s degree programs provide speech language pathologists with the practical experience working with children under the supervision of a licensed practitioner.
What Happens During the Initial Assessment?
Speech TherapistBefore you bring your child to a speech therapist for an initial assessment, your child may have had a few preliminary screenings. If you notice that your child has had problems communicating, you might ask his pediatrician to conduct a screening. The pediatrician will conduct a few tests to determine if your child might have delayed speech development. If this is the case, he may refer you to an audiologist for a hearing test. This will determine whether your child’s communication issues arise from a hearing problem, rather than a speech disorder.