What Is Best For Your Child?
Research shows that between five and 10 percent of all children have some speech and/or language difficulty and one in 150 children have autism. Therefore, selecting the best and most effective therapy services for your child is of paramount importance.
Every child over 3-years-old is eligible to receive speech/language therapy services through their local school district. That is one option. However, there are many things to consider when making this important decision. Typically, children in private therapy make faster gains in shorter periods of time.
There are many reasons why children in private therapy make faster and more obvious gains than those receiving therapy through the school district. These reasons include:
1. Consistency: In private therapy, the child is typically seen for the number of scheduled appointments each week. Cancelled appointments are rescheduled. Children in school-based therapy often have missed sessions due to holidays, vacations, absences, teacher conferences, etc..
2. Beginning to receive services: When a parent calls a private therapist, the child is typically seen within the next week and services start immediately. There is a process to be eligible for school-based services. This may result in valuable time being lost.
3. Individual attention: Unless otherwise indicated, children in private therapy receive individual therapy. The entire session is devoted to addressing their specific problems. Typically, in school-based therapy, children are seen in groups of two to five.
4. Parent involvement: In private therapy, parents are counseled following each therapy session on the child’s performance, progress and on ways to facilitate carry-over in the home. When appropriate, parents observe/participate in therapy sessions. In school-based therapy, especially if the child is a student at the school receiving pull-out services, parent involvement is limited.
5. Choice of speech/language pathologist: In private practice, you are choosing the person working with your child. You can be sure it is a good fit to maximize the benefits of therapy.
6. Scheduling: In private practice, days and times are scheduled to meet the needs of the parent and child. In school-based therapy children often miss core academic subjects or fun activity time in their school day.
7. Qualifications/Experience: In private practice, all providers must be licensed by the state of California and certified by the American Speech and Hearing Association (ASHA). School-based therapists may be licensed and certified, but they may also be speech aides.
8. Privacy issues: In private practice, the only people who know your child is in therapy are the people you choose to tell. When pulled out of class, all the children know. This may lead to teasing.
Susan Kasdorf, speech/language pathologist, is in private practice. She is a graduate of Columbia University with a Masters degree in Speech Pathology. She holds a California license, is ASHA certified and has been in private practice in Santa Clarita for the past 17 years.
For more information, please call 661-259-1858.