Questions about Speech and Language Therapy

Frequently Asked Questions

Click HERE to ask Janet your own question about Speech and Language Therapy.

Who do speech and language therapists work with?

Speech and Language Therapists work in close partnership with the child or adult with a communication disability and their family, education, social work, other healthcare professionals and the voluntary sector.

What is Speech and Language Therapy?

The ability to communicate is central to all that you do, to who you are, how you learn and how you relate to others. Speech and language therapy is the process of enabling you to communicate to the best of your ability … Here at Wordswell, we look at the needs of both you and your family … treating the cause of the problem as well as the symptoms whenever possible. So, when you know that you have a problem with speech, language or communication, you need to be sure that you can access the speech and language services you need … NOW. You see, at Wordswell we want to understand your whole problem and we make time to listen to you and discuss all your concerns throughout your involvement with us. We have developed comprehensive assessment and therapy services which are always based on current theory and best practice … so you can be sure that you will receive the best therapy for your particular condition.

Why do speech and language therapists see children?

As communication skills are crucial for intellectual, educational, social and emotional development Speech and Language Therapists work with children and young people who have problems with understanding, expressing themselves and using communication to socialise appropriately. They also work with children and young people who have difficulty with eating, drinking and/or swallowing.

What are your fees?

All your fees are agreed in advance, so you’ll never be surprised by our charges. A full breakdown of our fees appropriate for your individual circumstances will be discussed with you at your free discussion appointment or given in writing in our terms and conditions letter confirming your first appointment.

Special payment arrangements can be organised including payment by monthly standing order or debit/credit card … whatever suits you best. If you pay in advance then the bill can be reduced by 10%.

Fees are based on you seeing your therapist at the clinic in Little Downham however, if your therapist travels to your own home, school or nursery, travelling expenses are usually charged. Travelling time is also charged in addition if the journey is more than 1 hour each way.

Can therapy be funded by medical insurance?

If you are insured and you want to be certain of being fully reimbursed, you should check beforehand, the extent and terms of your cover. The reason for this is that we cannot suspend collection of fees or claim fees directly from the insurers.

Most insurers require therapists’ work to be authorised by a “specialist”. This may be a GP or consultant. It might be a good idea to check with your insurers on your cover for ‘type of appointment’ and their recognition of the referrer. We are BUPA registered providers.

What is your policy on Data Protection?

This Statement sets out Wordswell’s policy in relation to holding and using information about you which may be obtained from you or other sources during your treatment.

This information may include personal details, details relating to your family lifestyle and social circumstances, education and training and employment details. This data may be shared with yourself, your relatives and other healthcare or education professionals with your permission. This information is held in files at Wordswell clinic, kept in locked filing cabinets and also on our computers. This information is used for the administration of our service to you and for the purpose of keeping our accounts and records. We will shred paper records 7 years after our last contact with you.

How do I refer my child to speech and language therapy?

Speech and language therapy has an open referral system. This means anyone can refer a child for assessment, providing there is parental consent. Parents can refer children as well. Your GP, Health Visitor, local school or playgroup supervisor should be able to give you details of your local clinic.

Will using a dummy affect my child’s speech?

Many children who use a dummy do not go on to have speech or language difficulties and dummies can be a vital comfort for tiny babies. However, once your baby is over 6 months, the following should be considered:

• How much is your child using a dummy? If he uses a dummy frequently while he is awake, this may discourage him from talking or exploring with sounds.

• When is your child using a dummy? Dummies should only be for sleep time or for comfort. If he uses the dummy a great deal during the day, your child might try to talk through it and it will also encourage his sucking reflex, both of which can be damaging to the correct development of speech sounds.

I understand what my child says but no one else does. Is there a problem?

It depends how old your child is. As a rough guide, by the time your child is 3 years old, most people (including unfamiliar adults) should be able to understand most of what your child says. Your Health Visitor has a guide on speech sound development if you want to know more.

Will watching TV help my child to talk?

Generally, watching TV does not help children to talk. Children learn to talk through communication with the people around them. You cannot communicate with a TV! However, watching programmes aimed at young children together can get both of you talking and that IS a good thing.

My child can’t speak clearly. Does this mean she’s not intelligent?

No. Children of all abilities can have a speech or language difficulty.

My child has had lots of colds and ear infections. Will this affect his speech?

If your child suffers with a lot of colds or ear infections he may be vulnerable to middle ear blockage (glue ear). This means his hearing may fluctuate. There is some evidence that children with chronic middle ear blockage are at an increased risk of a speech and language delay. If you suspect your child is not hearing well, contact your Health Visitor or GP.

Meanwhile, remember these strategies:

Make sure the home environment is quiet. Turn off the TV and radio so that your child has the best chance of listening to what you say.
Make sure you are face to face with your child before you speak to him.
Don’t speak too fast and make sure your sentences are short and clear.
Make sure you are aware of speech milestones so that you can check whether your child is falling behind with is speech. Your Health Visitor will be able to give you the information you need.

My child has a lisp. What should I do?

“Lisp” describes an immature pronunciation of “s”. The “s” is produced as a “th” sound. Children often find “s”, “th” and “r” difficult sounds for quite a long time. It is not unusual for these sounds to sill be produced as “th”, “f” and “w”, even when the child is 4 or 5 years old. As long as your child is easy to understand there is no need for speech therapy.

My child’s first language isn’t English. Will he manage when he starts playgroup?

As long as your child is speaking well in his first language, he will learn English quickly as soon as he is exposed to it. When we speak to young children we use a lot of facial expression and gesture to help them to understand. This will help your child to understand the new language too. Children also use facial expressions and gestures to “talk”. For children who are learning English as a second language, these are useful tools to help them to communicate before they can say much in the new language.

My oldest child always speaks for my youngest child. What should I do?

This is a common problem. Older children always like to show off what they know! This won’t cause a speech and language difficulty in the younger child, but it may affect their confidence. Try to give your younger child space by suggesting to your oldest: “Shall we see if your sister knows this first? You can tell me is she’s not sure.” Try to have some time alone with your youngest, perhaps while the older child is at school or playgroup. Try to teach your children about taking turns to talk.

My youngest seems to be learning to talk much more slowly than my eldest. Should I be concerned?

Comparisons between children can be misleading as each child learns to communicate at a different rate. It is likely that there isn’t any problem but if you are worried talk to your Health Visitor or arrange a visit to your local Speech and Language Therapist.

I’m still concerned about my child’s speech and language. What should I do?

Arrange to see your local Speech and Language Therapist for some advice. She wants your child to reach his unique potential with his communication skills and become a confident communicator.