How to choose the right speech therapy professional for your child?
Choosing the right speech therapy professional is of immense importance in order to get the right results. If you think your child has a problem pertaining to communication or social interaction, then he/she may need to consult a speech therapist. However, it is of paramount significance that you access the right professional.
Given the abundance of such professionals in the market, it has become difficult to choose the right one. Therefore, you need to take into account the following factors to ensure that you get the right results for your child:
#1. Credentials and experience
This is a no brainer. You have to ensure that you are familiar with the credentials and experience of the professional who will treat your child. This can be done in many ways – for example you ask the professional directly or go through different testimonials to determine such. Usually, competent professionals are qualified from good universities and are trained under highly qualified trainers. They have spent numerous hours on their training and education in order to deliver results to children. Therefore, you should ask for such information to ensure that the professional is highly competent.
#2. Specialization and expertise
Speech pathology and therapy is a diverse field. It entails several other sub-fields that require a different level of expertise. Therefore, it will be helpful for parents to ask about the different specialization and expertise of the professionals. For instance, some professionals are experts for speech-language disorders. While some may have expertise in enhancing the cognitive abilities of your child. In view thereof, you need to be absolutely familiar with what competence does the specialist belong to. If your child needs specialist treatment, then you should consult such specialists to get better and more personalized results.
#3. Philosophy in speech therapy
This is something that a lot of people are not unaware about. Moreover, people who are aware of such, they further tend to undermine this factor. Therefore, it is important that you consider this factor in order to make your final decision. You should know what the philosophy of a speech therapist is. Some professionals emphasize more on holistic measures and base their approach on evidence. While others take an experimental approach. Such information may enable you to make your decision according to what the needs and preferences are of your children. Professionals such as Speechie Whanganui emphasize on this factor the most.
#4. Determination of a plan
This is another factor that a lot of parents are not familiar with. Normally, therapy plans vary from person to person. Each plan is unique in its own way and is subsequently tailored according to the varying situation. In view thereof, you should ask the professional how will he determine the therapy plan. Ask the types of assessments he will undertake to determine what the problems are. This will give you a holistic view of the approach that the professional has and its subsequent effect on your child.
#5. Goals of the therapy
This is perhaps one of the most important factors that every parent must take into account when hiring a professional. Success of any speech therapy must be premised on several factors such as disorder, severity of the disorder and age. In view thereof, you should ask what are the goals of the therapy and the ultimate objective the professional seeks to attain. You should be certain on the milestones that are aimed for. This will further enable you to monitor those goals in a more effective and efficient manner.
#6. Price
This is something that you tend to consider irrespective of what you are purchasing. Price is always an important factor within the service industry. Ask the professional how much the speech therapy will cost. Also get familiar with the insurance policies to see whether speech therapies are a part of it. Only knowing the price may not be sufficient. Therefore, you also need to be sure of the mode and methods of payment. Determine the budget and accordingly, make your selection. Also ask whether there are special discounts available. Knowing the package beforehand will enable you to make the right choice.
#7. Experience
Speech therapy is an area of expertise which can not only be built through education, training and certain credentials. In fact, it requires a lot of experience for you to get the desired results. While making your appointment, you need to be certain on how experienced the professional is. Ask the professional since how long is the part of the profession. Higher the experience, higher the chances are that you get better results due to the competence they provide. Therefore, be sure that you know in detail of the quality of experience he has in the field.
Mode of therapy
There are various modes of therapy that you can go for. For instance, some therapists prefer therapy based in their own clinics. In this mode, you will have to travel from one place to another several days a week. However, online therapies are equally effective which tends to be more convenient. Therefore, make your choice according to your own convenience. Mode of therapy also entails a very important question – whether you want individual therapy or group therapy. Individual therapies are normally catered to the individuals needs and preferences. You can also pace it according to your own comfort. Whereas, group based therapies are different in nature. Such therapies are normally beneficial to those who want to enhance their social skills in different kinds of situations.
The bottom line
Speech therapies and professionals who are expert on such matters are expensive. It can cost you a great deal of money. However, the value for money is worth it. Nevertheless, given its expense, you need to ensure that you spend it in the right manner. Therefore, you must take into account the factors above in order to get hands on the right professional, and subsequently, get the right results.
