In Search of: Speech Therapist
Updated: Nov 25, 2020
So you're in the market for a speech therapist, here are a few tips to find the one that is right for you!
We can't stress it enough that it is incredibly important to find a therapist that fits your needs. That's right, YOUR needs.
Things to consider:
The diagnosis/ concern: find a therapist that has experience working with your diagnosis or concern. They will have a better understanding of the needs, therapies and skills required to provide the best treatment. They are often familiar with the latest evidence-base practice and research regarding that specific diagnosis.
Is covered by your insurance provider: Check with your insurance carrier to find the latest list of providers covered by your insurance. Using providers partnered with your insurance carrier can help to alleviate out-of-pocket expenses.
Department of Education: If your child is school-aged, they may qualify for speech-language services through the Department of Education (post to come). Most public school campuses on Maui have a speech-pathologist assigned to the school. Check with your campus for more information or if there are local SLPs contracted to work with the DOE.
Has active licensure and credentials to practice in your state. To see if your speech pathologist has maintained their credentials with the American Speech-Language Hearing Association, visit: https://www.asha.org/Certification/cert-verify/
Personality characteristics that matter to you. Having a qualified speech therapist on your team is key, however, having a therapist that has traits and beliefs that align with you is just as important. You/your loved one will be spending lots of time with this individual. It is important that you feel comfortable communicating and working with them, asking questions and sharing your concerns.
To find a speech pathologist in your area, we recommend:
ASHA ProFind: ASHA is the professional organization for speech-language pathologists. Click on the image below to view their site. Once there, you can type in your city to locate nearby therapists or verify the credentials of a known therapist. *NOTE: Not all therapists can be located through this registry.
Google search, YELP, or Facebook groups may also identify therapists in your area.