Is my child “ready” for speech therapy?
There is a lot of overwhelming information to sort through out there. “Is my child even a good fit for speech therapy?” "or “How do I even know if my child needs to see an SLP?”
At CB Speech Therapy LLC, I provide private-pay, in-home pediatric speech therapy for children in New Jersey. This post will help you understand who typically benefits most from my services, so you feel better equipped to make an informed choice for your child.
As a reminder, I also offer a free, 15-minute teleconference consultation to discuss questions and concerns specific to your child.
Who will benefit from speech-language services?
With your child in mind, here is a very brief overview of children (ages birth through high school) I mostly serve at this time & some resources to help guide you to more information before our call.
Children with Disordered or Delayed Language
This refers to children not meeting milestones expected by their age (e.g., (e.g., first words, combining words, using grammatically-accurate sentences). For a general overview of language milestones specific to your child’s age, ASHA has a helpful page to help you here.
Children with articulation or speech sound difficulties
Difficulty producing certain speech sounds clearly. It’s really important that your child is producing speech sounds clearly as speech sounds are closely related to later-developing language and literacy developmental milestones. Check out a general overview of that here.
Children with limited vocabulary or sentence structure
This refers to children who have words but maybe are not developing words as quickly compared to their same-aged peers. Maybe they are using single words but are not putting them together. Maybe your child is school-aged but really demonstrating difficulty speaking in age-appropriate sentences. Here are some more helpful links that you can explore further to see if this speaks to your child.
Children with social communication disorders or delays
This refers to children who may have difficulty taking turns, understanding instructions, or using language to interact with others effectively.
Children with Alternative or Augmentative Communication Needs
AAC is an area that I would consider to be one of my specialties! This refers to children of varying needs & abilities who can benefit from access to other modalities of communicate to support them in their communication goals. Some more info on that for you here.
Research Basis: Early, targeted intervention is linked to better outcomes in speech and language skills (Cirrin & Gillam, 2008; Law et al., 2017).
What families are an ideal fit for my services?
The “right fit” is not just about rapport with your child. YOU are one of if not the biggest proponent of success in your child’s speech-language therapy journey. Here is the kind of family I am looking to work with as the speech-language pathologist:
Families who are committed to practicing strategies at home
Caregivers who are open-minded and value collaboration and coaching alongside direct therapy
Families looking for flexible, in-home services that integrate learning into everyday activities
What do my services include?
In-home, private-pay pediatric speech therapy. Because quality services & recommendations should be decided by the family & provider, not an insurance company
Individualized session plans based on evaluation and goals
Parent coaching & practical strategies to reinforce language at home
Progress tracking & goal adjustments as your child develops
How to Determine a Good Fit
I would highly consider scheduling a free consultation to discuss:
Your child’s current communication skills
Concerns you have about speech, language, or social communication
Therapy options, frequency, and goals
During this consultation, we can decide together if my services are a good match for your child and family.
In Conclusion
Not every child or family will need the same therapy approach. CB Speech Therapy LLC is a good fit for children and families seeking private-pay, in-home, play-based pediatric speech therapy in New Jersey. With CB Speech Therapy, your child will benefit from individualized, research-backed support in overall communication, from early language learners to children with complex communication needs.
If you think your child may benefit, reach out today to schedule a free consultation and start the journey toward communication GROWTH.
Additional sources:
Cirrin, F. M., & Gillam, R. B. (2008). Language intervention practices for children with primary language impairment: A systematic review. Language, Speech, and Hearing Services in Schools, 39, S110–S137.
Law, J., Garrett, Z., & Nye, C. (2017). The effectiveness of family involvement in speech and language therapy.Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews.
Bruder, M. B. (2010). Play-based early interventions in speech and language development. Early Childhood Education Journal, 37, 303–310.
McAllister, L., Doolittle, J., & McCormick, K. (2012). Family-centered practices in pediatric speech therapy.Journal of Early Intervention, 34, 200–215.
ASHA (2020). Roles and Responsibilities of the Speech-Language Pathologist in Early Intervention.https://www.asha.org