FAQs

Do you take insurance?

  • Our practice is out-of-network with insurance plans, and we are happy to provide a monthly document (called a Superbill) to submit to your insurance company for possible reimbursement, as well as written instructions on how to do so.

How much do you charge for your services?

How do I know if I should seek an evaluation?

  • Speech and Language Pathology encompasses a range of services. You may be unaware of all of the services offered by this type of specialist, leading to uncertainty in obtaining an evaluation. Here are some ways that an SLP can address your concerns, whether you are a parent seeking services for your child, or an adult seeking services for yourself.

  • (Child) You may think of Speech Therapy as correcting a child’s R’s, or helping a child who stutters; however there are so many facets of Speech and Language Pathology outside of these problems. Your child may benefit from a Speech and Language Evaluation if you have concerns regarding his/her:

  1. Pronunciation or how much you understand his/her speech

  2. Use of words to communicate across various settings including at home, school, or in the community

  3. Use of words to explain a story or give details about an event

  4. Understanding and recall of information that they hear from you, their caregivers, or their teachers

  5. Social interactions with family members and peers

  6. Understanding of written or spoken words

For more information about what to expect, or what is considered “normal” for your child’s age, please refer to these developmental norms.

  • (Adult) As an adult above 18 years of age, you may benefit from an evaluation if you have concerns in the following areas:

  1. Spoken words/sentences, and how others are able to understand you

  2. Use of language for a variety of purposes (making needs known, greeting, asking for help, requesting, social communication)

  3. Understanding and use of written communication

  4. Aphasia (language impairment, usually following a stroke or TBI)

  5. Accent from your primary language impacting the way others understand you while communicating in English, or your comfortability in social or work-related interactions while using English due to your primary language accent

Is there a difference between a screening and an evaluation?

  • Yes. Prices between a screening and evaluation differ significantly, as well as the duration, and intensity. A screening is usually only 15-30 minutes long and focuses on gathering general information that may indicate the need for a full evaluation, whereas an evaluation is a full comprehensive assessment typically lasting 60-90 minutes, and focuses on gathering more specific information over a broad range of categories (for example, when evaluating language, a child may be assessed in the areas of comprehension, use of syntax, and expressive vocabulary, however during the screening, the child may be observed while speaking to his/her siblings, or playing with their parent in a familiar environment). A screening and evaluation are similar in that they both involve use of clinical judgment and evidence-based practice in order to determine what next steps are necessary. 

What should I expect during my child’s evaluation? 

  • Depending on your areas of concern, your child’s age and developmental history, and past medical history, the evaluation may consist of a variety of different methods including:

    • clinical observations while your child plays or interacts with you or the clinician

    • music or familiar toys for language stimulation

    • clinically-designed pictures or tasks which prompt your child to ask questions or comment

  • Your child’s background history is typically collected during a phone consultation prior to the evaluation. 

  • Your evaluation may focus on one or more areas of speech and language depending on his/her existing characteristics and typically takes approximately 60-90 minutes to complete. 

  • How to prepare for your child’s Teletherapy session.

What types of services do we provide?

  • Our services include a range of areas for children and adults, including:

    • Articulation (speech sounds)

    • Phonology (patterns of sound errors in words)

    • Language

      • Receptive (comprehension)

      • Expressive (use of language to express thoughts and feelings)

      • Pragmatic (social communication)

    • Written comprehension & expression

  • We accept private pay (out-of-network) for all services at this time. We are happy to provide a monthly document called a Superbill to submit to your insurance company for possible reimbursement, as well as written instructions on how to do so.

How long should my child receive Speech and Language services?

  • Speech Therapy focuses on each child’s unique and individualized needs. Duration is dependent on many factors including (but not limited to) the severity and impact of your child’s speech and language needs, the child’s progress and participation in speech and language therapy, as well as family participation in services. In order to make the most out of Speech Therapy, it is recommended that parents participate in all sessions, and complete at-home activities to encourage generalization of new skills across settings. 

  • When it comes to learning a new skill, every child moves at their own pace. Outcomes of therapeutic techniques, coaching, and education are dependent on many factors including your child’s zone of proximal development, the amount of carry over taking place outside of direct sessions, parent/caregiver involvement during and outside of sessions, and the child’s motivation to participate. Techniques for home-practice are typically given to you by your SLP and are intended to be carried over at a given frequency (minutes/hours per day) for successful outcomes.

Can I be present and involved in my child’s Speech Therapy sessions?

  • Yes - in fact, for best outcomes, at least one parent or caregiver should be present during all of your child’s sessions. It is imperative to your child’s success that you be involved in their ongoing sessions, and daily carry-over activities for home practice. 

What if my child is also receiving Speech and/or Language Therapy in the school setting?

  • If you are a parent of a child who is currently receiving services in the school setting, and you continue to have concerns about his/her progress in speech therapy, private practice services can provide support with the added benefits of: receiving immediate evaluation, focused one-on-one attention to targeted skills, individual weekly check-in’s and home-practice activities, and avoidance of missing out on their daily academic curriculum. These benefits have the potential to make a huge difference in the long term duration of speech therapy and its outcomes. If you have additional questions, please don’t hesitate to contact us. 

Where can I learn more about parents coaching for parents of late-talkers?

  • Please reach out to slp@heatherismay.com if you are a parent or caregiver interested in receiving parent coaching sessions.

What does the abbreviation, CCC-SLP mean?

  • CCC-SLP is an abbreviation used to represent credentials at the end of a Speech-Language Pathologist’s signature, and stands for Certificate of Clinical Competence - Speech-Language Pathologist. This credential signifies the completion of a full-time 9-month supervised clinical fellowship (similar to a doctoral fellowship), following a master’s degree program.

  • A Certificate of Clinical Competence is granted by an organization called the American Speech-Language Hearing Association and it is a universally recognized credential for the field of Speech-Language Pathology. 

  • Please click here for more information about certification and credentialing.

What if my child or I was recently evaluated by another Speech-Language Pathologist?

  • Any comprehensive Speech and Language evaluation completed within the past 12 months from an outside facility, can be used to determine an ongoing assessment and treatment plan for your child. If you are using a previous evaluation in the place of a new evaluation, you will need to send these to SLP@HeatherIsmay.com at least three business days prior to your initial session. 

What payment methods do you accept?

  • All payments are made via Square Appointments, using an electronic check-out at the end of your sessions. At the time of your initial appointment and intake, you will have the choice of automatic payments or invoices sent to your preferred email following each session.

How can I get my child started with Speech Therapy?