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What is a speech or language evaluation?A speech or language evaluation is an assessment used to determine an individual's speech and/or language abilities and identify any areas of concern. This evaluation can be conducted in either a formal or informal setting, depending on the individual's needs and concerns.
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What is a formal evaluation?A formal evaluation is a standardized assessment that typically lasts 30 minutes to an hour. A speech-language pathologist will use standardized tests and clinical observations to evaluate speech and language abilities during the assessment. After the evaluation, a 2-3 page report will be provided to summarize the results.
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What is an informal evaluation?An informal evaluation is a shorter assessment, typically lasting 20-30 minutes. It involves clinical observations and informal measures to assess speech and language abilities. After the evaluation, a 2-3 paragraph summary will be provided to briefly explain the results.
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What happens after the evaluation?After the evaluation, clinical recommendations will be provided, including results from the evaluation, goals, and clinical recommendations. The speech-language pathologist will work with the individual to develop a treatment plan based on their specific needs.
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If my child received an evaluation within the last 2 years, do they need another one?No, we accept evaluations that have been administered within the last 2 years. The speech-language pathologist will review the previous evaluation and adjust the goals as needed.
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Who can benefit from a speech or language evaluation?Anyone with concerns regarding their speech or language abilities can benefit from an evaluation. This includes children and adults who may be experiencing difficulties with speech, language, voice, fluency, or swallowing. A speech or language evaluation can help identify any issues and provide a roadmap for treatment and improvement.
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What is the purpose of speech therapy?The purpose of speech therapy is to help individuals improve their communication skills and abilities. Speech therapy can be used to treat a variety of communication disorders, including language disorders, speech sound disorders, stuttering, voice disorders, and social communication disorders. Speech therapy involves a range of techniques and exercises that are tailored to the individual's specific needs and goals. The speech therapist works with the individual to identify areas of difficulty, set achievable goals, and develop a plan to help them overcome their communication challenges. Speech therapy can benefit people of all ages, from infants with feeding or swallowing difficulties, to children with language delays, to adults who have suffered a stroke or other neurological injury that affects their ability to communicate. Ultimately, the goal of speech therapy is to help individuals communicate more effectively, improving their quality of life and their ability to interact with others.
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Is online speech therapy effective?Online speech and language therapy is a fantastic option that is endorsed by the American Speech Language and Hearing Association (ASHA). With research confirming that online speech therapy services are equally as effective as in-person services, it's no surprise that more and more individuals are turning to online therapy for their speech and language needs. Using a video platform, most speech and language disorders can be effectively treated online, offering a convenient and accessible solution for those who cannot make it to in-person sessions. Communication Express is proud to have a high success rate with our online speech therapy services, helping our clients achieve their communication goals from the comfort of their own homes.
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What will the speech therapist work on during online therapy?During online speech therapy, a speech therapist will work on various aspects of communication depending on the client's specific needs. Some examples of the areas a speech therapist may address include: 1. Articulation and phonology: working on producing clear and correct sounds and using the correct pronunciation of words. 2. Language: improving vocabulary, sentence structure, grammar, and comprehension. 3. Fluency: helping clients who stutter or experience other speech disruptions to speak smoothly and with ease. 4. Voice and resonance: improving the quality, pitch, and volume of a client's voice. 5. Pragmatics: working on social communication skills such as turn-taking and interpreting social cues. 6. Literacy: helping clients improve reading and writing skills, including phonics, decoding, spelling, and comprehension. 7. Cognitive communication: working on skills such as attention, memory, problem-solving, and reasoning to improve communication abilities. Speech therapy can help individuals improve their communication skills and overcome challenges that may be impacting their daily lives. By working with a speech therapist, individuals can learn techniques to improve their speech, language, and communication abilities, which can enhance their overall quality of life. Speech therapy can also help individuals develop confidence in their ability to communicate effectively, which can improve their social interactions and relationships with others.
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Are additional services needed if my child already receives speech at school?If your child is currently receiving speech therapy at school, it is worth considering whether additional services may be needed to best support their communication development. While school-based speech therapy can be helpful for many children, there are several reasons why your child may benefit from additional individualized services. Firstly, school speech therapy sessions are often conducted in small groups of 2-4+ students. While this can provide opportunities for peer interaction and practicing communication in a group setting, it can also mean that your child may not receive as much individual attention from the speech therapist as they would in a one-on-one session. By receiving additional individualized services outside of school, your child can benefit from more personalized attention and therapy that is tailored to their unique needs and goals. This can help your child make faster progress towards their communication goals and achieve better outcomes overall.
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What is a Speech-Language Pathologist (CCC-SLP) and are they licensed/certified?Speech-language pathologists (SLPs) play a crucial role in helping individuals with communication, social, and feeding/swallowing disorders. They are experts in diagnosing and treating a wide range of speech and language disorders such as articulation and phonological disorders, language delays and disorders, fluency disorders, voice disorders, and social communication disorders. To become a certified SLP, one must complete a Master's program in speech-language pathology accredited by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA). Additionally, one must fulfill over 400 hours of supervised clinical experience, including a minimum of 36 weeks of full-time clinical practicum under the guidance of a certified SLP. After completing these requirements, one must pass a national board-certified examination called the PRAXIS. SLPs who have obtained the certificate of clinical competence (CCC) from ASHA are highly regarded as experts in their field. In addition to meeting the initial requirements, CCC-SLPs are obligated to complete 30 hours of continuing education every three years to maintain their certification status. It is worth mentioning that all of our SLPs are ASHA certified (CCC) and state licensed, guaranteeing that they comply with the highest standards of education and training in the speech-language pathology field.
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What are SLPAs?SLPAs, or Speech Language Pathologist Assistants, have completed coursework in the field of speech language pathology but have not yet earned a Master’s degree. They work under the direct supervision of a certified SLP with a Certificate of Clinical Competence (CCC-SLP) to assist with tasks such as conducting therapy sessions, preparing materials for therapy, and keeping records. It is important to note that SLPAs cannot perform assessments or make diagnoses without the supervision of a certified SLP.
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Are you hiring?We are only hiring speech language pathologists (SLPs) at this time.
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How often are therapy sessions and for how long?Therapists will often recommend 1-2 sessions weekly. Sessions are typically 30 minutes long.
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Are online speech therapy sessions private and secure?Yes, we take privacy and security seriously and use a HIPAA-compliant video platform (such as Zoom Pro or Zoom Business) for all our online speech-language pathology sessions. This ensures that your sessions are private and secure.
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What materials are required?All you will need is a device, a webcam, and a stable internet connection.
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Do you have a waitlist?Currently, we do not have a waitlist. Once you have completed our intake forms, we can typically schedule your first appointment within 0-2 weeks.
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I have a busy schedule. Do you offer therapy in the evenings or weekends?Absolutely! We understand that schedules can be busy and we want to make sure our services are as accessible as possible. That's why we have therapists available not only during the weekdays but also on weekends and in the evenings/after-school hours to accommodate your schedule. Just let us know what works best for you and we'll do our best to find a therapist that can meet your scheduling needs.
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Do I need to fill out anything prior to the evaluation/sessions?Yes, please fill out our intake forms which will help us understand your child's needs and ensure that we can provide the best possible care. You can request out intake forms via email. Once we receive your completed forms, we will be able to schedule you within 1-2 weeks.
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How do I pay?Communication Express accepts credit cards and checks. Your choice of monthly or weekly invoices. Once you receive the invoice, you have one month to pay.
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Do you take insurance?We do not currently accept insurance. However, we do have potential benefits available to you. These include: Superbills FSA accounts Family Empowerment Scholarship for Students with Unique Abilities (FES-UA) (available in Florida) Small Steps in Speech Grant (available in all 50 states) United Healthcare Children’s Foundation Grant We encourage families to call their insurance company and ask about out-of-network benefits. Clients are responsible for making payments directly to Communication Express.
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Can I get refunded from my health insurance company?Communication Express can provide you with a superbill upon request. You can use this superbill to request reimbursement from your health insurance company for a portion of your services.
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Do you have payment plans?Yes. We know times are hard, so we provide many options for making payments. Just ask!
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Are you a FES-UA provider?Yes! Contact us for more info.
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