What are signs my child may need speech therapy?

For young children, if your child is not talking as much as their peers, is becoming frustrated due to not being able to communicate their wants or needs, or their speech is hard to understand, your child may benefit from speech therapy.

For older children to young adults, your child may already have a history of speech therapy. They may have difficulty answering more complex questions, participating in and understanding conversation, have difficulty telling stories or explaining their thoughts or feelings, or they may have speech that is difficult to understand.

What age ranges do you work with?

I work with children ages 18 months to young adults.

What do your therapy sessions typically look like?

Therapy sessions depend on the child’s age, interests, and what we are working on.

For young children with speech and language delays, I use a child-led, play-based approach to target goals. We use toys, music, games, and familiar routines to teach important functional vocabulary. Therapy is meant to feel fun for your child and hopefully something they look forward to!

For older children (elementary to middle school age), you will see me incorporating therapy targets into various activities and games. I use personalized therapy materials to motivate them such as discussing, reading, or researching about preferred topics or activities (e.g. activities centered around a favorite sports team or musician).

For older clients working on more complex language skills or approaching young adulthood, we may work on important skills such as answering interview questions, how to participate in a conversation, or work on their ability to tell a story (depending on their areas of need). As with my younger-aged clients, I aim to make therapy engaging and fun while using evidence-based strategies for effective targeting.

What is the benefit to home-based speech therapy?

Flexibility and convenience! I come to you. There is no rush out the door, no turning around because you forgot a water bottle, and ultimately taking a little off your plate. I have worked in home health for over 10 years and am very accustomed to working with parents to find a spot in the house that works well for therapy. Other benefits include family members being involved if appropriate, using your child’s preferred toys if that is what they would like (I bring my own toys and materials!), and having your child already settled into a comfortable environment.

What is the benefit to teletherapy?

Teletherapy is a great option for clients who are looking for flexibility as teletherapy sessions have historically (for me) been easier to reschedule if a client has a scheduling conflict. Additionally, if someone in the house is feeling sick, teletherapy means the session may not have to be cancelled or rescheduled due to illness. As I work in-person in the Scottsdale area, teletherapy allows me to see clients across Arizona. I have worked with clients ages 2 years to 20+ years of age via teletherapy.

Do you accept insurance?

We do not accept insurance at this time as we are a private pay company. HSA/FSA funds may be used for medically necessary speech therapy services.

Benefits to private pay services include no waiting on insurance for approval or authorization for services, flexibility in therapy plan goal setting, and we are not limited to a set amount of sessions.

What hours do you see clients?

I see clients throughout the day! Please give me a call to learn of current openings. Something to note- I have a few days starting at 7:30 AM, so if you have a motivated early riser and are feeling squeezed in the after-work and school hours, this time slot may be a good option for you!