How to Find a Reliable Speech Therapist 

November 23, 2020
How to Find a Reliable Speech Therapist 

How to Find a Reliable Speech Therapist 

So you have decided to get a speech therapist that will help develop, improve, or sharpen your communication skills? 
But do you still have some lingering thoughts about how to get the right speech pathologist? If that is the case or you are faced with something similar, know that you aren’t the only one who has concerns and questions about finding a reliable speech therapist.
However, following certain steps will help you in finding a speech expert who can truly address your problems. And this blog provides you with a list of places where many find speech therapist professionals. Without further ado, let’s get into it.

Get References

Ask your doctor or child’s pediatrician for healthcare providers outside of a school district or early education program. Asking for referrals may get you a list of health professionals with targeted specialties who are more likely to meet your unique needs and expectations. Working with specialists could even be more practical if you or your child has other health issues that are compounding the speech disorder.

School Help

Check with your child’s school district to see if there are SLPs and audiologists who work with the students. For a specific diagnosis, be sure to ask for the specialty of the speech professionals on the list you get.

Utilize Online Resources

Several platforms out there can help you connect with speech professionals in your area. Good examples of these platforms are Speech Buddies Connect and the online directory of American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA). The former allows you to meet and schedule virtual, in-home, or office appointment with speech therapists. On the other hand, the latter is an online directory that lets you access information about speech language pathologists – SPLs – and audiologists who have earned the Certificate of Clinical Competence – CCC – by ASHA.

What to Look for In a Speech Professional

No one wants to waste time and resources working with the wrong speech therapist. Your child could be suffering from apraxia of speech, articulation disorders, fluency disorders, or another speech condition. Similarly, your own speech issues might have been caused by an injury or disability. As you can see, the needs and expectations of every speech therapy patient would be different based on their condition. So, why waste time with someone who can’t truly help you or even end up with them in the first place.
To get a good therapist who is qualified to treat your or your child’s speech disorder, ensure they consult with you. During the consultation, they will assess your situation and screen you in order to have a good understanding of the type and the cause of the speech issue. Afterward, you can both determine if you will be a good fit for each other.

Wrapping Up

Knowing where to find reliable speech pathologists will help save time and costs. Never underestimate the power of asking for referrals and checking out online directories when finding a good speech therapist. Besides, make sure that you and your speech pathologist are on the same page in terms of your needs and expectations. Putting all of these into use will assist you in getting the help you need.
 

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