Any advice for picking a Speech Therapist?

[TraceyS/FL]

I'm waiting on the Audiologist's report still (unless it's in the mailbox), and he was going to put some recommendations in there for me on people in my area. This is for Auditory Processing stuff (no report in hand to tell you what exactly).

I found that i can search here: http://www.asha.org/proserv/ and see what they are certified in and/or treat.

A Mom, that does home health care, at gymnastics - when i was trying to pick an OT, got excited when she saw a name in my book, then bummed for me that she only did ST.

That place is looking like they has the most specialties listed - ok, here is what is listed:
Speech Language Pathology:
Articulation/phonological dis
Augmentative/alternative comm
Aural (re)habilitation
Autism
Central auditory processing
Cleft palate
Cognitive-comm disorders
Fluency and fluency disorders
Language acquisition/disorders
Learning disabilities
Orofacial myofunctional dis.
Phonology and phon. disorders
SLP developmental disabilities
Speech/lang. research/dev.
Speech/language disorders(gen)
Swallowing disorders

If i go with someone i can use that is on that list, my other choice says this:
Speech Language Pathology:
Apraxia
Articulation/phonological dis
Autism
Central auditory processing
Fluency and fluency disorders
Language acquisition/disorders
Phonology and phon. disorders
SLP developmental disabilities
Speech/language disorders(gen)
Voice Disorders

APraxia is on the first one, but on the center listing vs the individual therapists listing.

I have ZERO experience at picking a ST - my youngest goes to the school because we had no insurance coverage. I'll probably be trying to get her into private speech once i find out what insurance coverage she has.

This child will also be going to OT (99.9% on that, eval tomorrow), and we will also be taking on the "fight" for Vision Therapy.

Anyway, anything i should know before i call them? Words of wisdom? I know from Drama Queen to go with my gut if i don't like them :D

Thanks bunches!

[mamato3 all-boy boys]

I would :

1. Make sure they are at least Masters level trained and have CCC (Certificate of Clinical Competence)
2. Ask how long they have been a slp (speech language pathologist)
3. Ask if they have specific training in ---- ( fill in the blank for our child's main problem) whether in their masters program or in continuing education coursework or self-study. Ask about the number of cases they've worked with as well.

A good SLP should not feel uneasy answering these questions, and should make you feel like a good advocate for your kids (which you are!). If you had asked me these questions when I was working, I would not at all feel threatened or offended. I would have applauded you and thought that you would be a good team member to work with!

4. If you are near a university that has a Masters level speech language pathology program, you can consider calling their clinic. If your child is seen in their training clinic, he/she gets the benefit of the enthusiasm of a graduate student and the expertise of a Masters level clinician with significant professional experience. There may be a wait, though.

I'm a former SLP myself, but retire to make the big bucks homeschooling my kids!:lol:

[TraceyS/FL]

LOL.... those big bucks! :lol:

Actually, i have a blanket OT/PT/ST referral to University of Florida's program, but it's 65 miles away, and well, i'm going to have to go with the places that are 20-25 miles. I'm "assuming" that one can't really do OT & ST on the same day? The kids are covered under FLorida's Special Needs insurance, and everything is run thru UF if possible.

Thanks for telling me what those letters mean (mainly CCC), that helps. Looking at the website (http://www.therakidsinc.com/id2.html) for the first place i posted, all of the therapist have CCC - except one is CF. OK, so what is that one? LOL!

Thanks bunches - i'm already smarter! LOL!!

[Dobela]

I would ask who would actually be working with your child. I hired an OT to work with my son and assummed that after she did the testing she would be the person actually working with him day to day. Imagine my surprise when a technician was the one who actually began working with him supposedly under the supervision of the OT. It was fine until I wanted to integrate therapies more and the tech just didn't know what to do. I also feel that some of my son's vision tacking and perception problems could have been worked on more in OT if the person who worked with him daily had been the OT instead of the tech. The OT didn't supervise much at all and, well, I was very unhappy. The cost was the same for the tech or the OT which I also feel is a rip off.

[Dobela]

LOL.... those big bucks! :lol:

Actually, i have a blanket OT/PT/ST referral to University of Florida's program, but it's 65 miles away, and well, i'm going to have to go with the places that are 20-25 miles. I'm "assuming" that one can't really do OT & ST on the same day? The kids are covered under FLorida's Special Needs insurance, and everything is run thru UF if possible.

Thanks for telling me what those letters mean (mainly CCC), that helps. Looking at the website (http://www.therakidsinc.com/id2.html) for the first place i posted, all of the therapist have CCC - except one is CF. OK, so what is that one? LOL!

Thanks bunches - i'm already smarter! LOL!!Children can receive both therapies on the same days, at least on our state insurance. Actually they can receive several therapies in a single day. What you have to watch out for is that you don't go over maximum limits for each day per therapy. I like having therapies back to back for obvious reasons, but sometimes it is more than the child can do without being too tired after. Until my dd built up stamina for each therapy we did therapies on different days and she came home exhausted from each.

[TraceyS/FL]

The exhaustion is what i am mainly worried about, i'd be afraid each wouldn't get 100% if they were on the same day.

I'll have to see how tomorrow goes and what will be recommended. But right now, i can't see her being able to handle them on the same day.... things to think about and ask about.

I may be able to stop by the ST place tomorrow after the eval - depends on if my mom needs me to get to gymnastics for child #3 right away. And, i'll try to get the OT to give me an opinion on the 2 speech places since they are in the same town.

But back to the same day, i just can't see driving 1:20 minutes, doing 2 types of therapy, and driving home. Especially not if the court/STBXH orders her to Public School that gets out at 3 (i actually don't know what time they get out - 2:30?). Then the oldest wouldn't get out till 4pm.....

Thanks ladies, it all helps!

[mamato3 all-boy boys]

for the first place i posted, all of the therapist have CCC - except one is CF. OK, so what is that one? LOL!




"CF" Mean Clinical Fellow -- This is a person who is working on completing his/her first 9 months of work post-graduate school. During the CF "year", you are supervised by a CCC'ed therapist who must sign off on all your evaluations, and must observe a portion of your work (I cannot remember the %age). They also read progress notes and are there to answer questions.

There's nothing wrong with having a CF -- some are young, not jaded, and eager to stay up late researching for different cases, etc. If a CF is an option because of location, I'd be inclined to really ask about coursework and previous clients who've had similar diagnoses.

:001_smile:

[TraceyS/FL]

Thanks!

OK, I went thru who they list and who got updated in notes, they have:

CCC: 4, with one on maternity leave till Sept.
CF: 1
Assistants: 2
And one more CCC for the summer it sounds like.

I think i'm going to for sure try to swing by there after the eval. More info is always good! LOL! I want to know what the assistants do...

[mamato3 all-boy boys]

Well, just like in physical therapy and occupational therapy (and nursing with CNAs and to some degree medicine with physician assistants), there is a certain amount or type of exercise that can be done by someone -- anyone -- with some training but not Masters level training. The assist. doesn't have the level of expertise to diagnose a problem, but when given a plan of treatment laid out by the SLP, they follow it. If there are problems, the SLP makes adjustments and assesses progress.

In physical therapy and occupational therapy, there are standard academic programs -- I believe they are associate's level programs -- that people complete to become a PTA or OTA (physical therapy assistant, occupational therapy assistant). Over the past decade, there have been more speech assistant programs popping up in community colleges, plus if someone gets an bachelors in communication disorders (the usual college department level name), they can usually be an assistant if they did not go one to graduate school (I had an acquaintance in graduate school who worked as an assistant in the public schools while getting her MA in speech language pathology. nice gig if you can get it.)

Last I checked, assistants are regulated more at the state level than by our national ASHA association (this might've changed, so don't hold me to it), so it can vary from state to state as to the standards for an assistant. In my last speech job in the public school prior to "retiring" I had an assistant, and she was very good, even though it was her first job as an assistant; she asked lots of questions and was quick to tell me when something wasn't working right.



Thanks!

OK, I went thru who they list and who got updated in notes, they have:

CCC: 4, with one on maternity leave till Sept.
CF: 1
Assistants: 2
And one more CCC for the summer it sounds like.

I think i'm going to for sure try to swing by there after the eval. More info is always good! LOL! I want to know what the assistants do...

[TraceyS/FL]

YOu have been sooooo helpful Alane!!! THank you!!

Both of the assistants have 4 year degrees, so that is good. I checked with my mom and i will have time to stop by this afternoon (baring a total meltdown after the OT Eval that happens first). I have my Auditory Processing Eval report in hand (although, i think it will be redone since he used 9y 0m for the baseline instead of 10y 0m - she'd just had a birthday. But that just makes the results worse right? 2 deviations off should become 3 or so....

OK, i'm better prepared for this....

Thanks again!!

[Sonshine]

I am an OT at an outpatient pediatric clinic. It is my observation that a speech pathologist with a master's (what is required have a CCC) is usually more competent than a speech assistant with just a bachelor's degree. There are exceptions, but unless I personally knew otherwise I would request a fully licensed speech pathologist.
You might actually ask what specific training outside of their university training they have had in your child's problems and look online for that specific information. Some therapists are happy to get the minimum required continuing education and some are always trying to learn more.I don't think this is asked very often though. However, it would be easier to ask now than to ask to change therapists once you get started. You could also ask to speak to the director (not a manager) and ask which therapist is especially good at these problems. You may want to ask enough questions of the director to discern if she is giving you an honest answer or something like "All of our speech pathologists are qualified, blah, blah, blah. " As long as you are nice about it, you are likely to get better therapy for your daughter if you appear to care enough to ask questions.

[TraceyS/FL]

Thanks, from what i gather - the owner/director is the one that does the eval and then will assign therapy. I've read some more and am gaining a better grasp on a few things, but really, i think a lot of my questions won't/can't come till she does that eval and lays out what she thinks is a treatment plan.

This also reminded me to call up there - the office lady is on vacation this week but told me to call and have someone check on the request for the eval. Thanks! LOL!!

ETA: they are still waiting, ugh.