Why should my child receive private speech therapy?
As a speech pathologist with 10+ years of experience helping children overcome communication challenges, I’ve witnessed firsthand the transformative power of private speech therapy. For parents navigating the maze of options to support their child’s development, private therapy is a fantastic way to get personalized care and targeted intervention. Here’s why investing in private speech therapy can make a world of difference for your child:
Let me start by saying: I am not against speech therapy in school. It’s a good option, and almost all children I work with also receive speech therapy in a school. I’m all for getting as much speech therapy as you can, and I regularly tell parents to try to get their child in speech therapy at school too. But a lot of kids just aren’t making fast enough progress in schools, and continually pulling them out of classes isn’t an ideal situation.
Every child is unique, and so are their communication hurdles. Private speech therapy allows for a customized approach tailored to your child’s specific strengths, weaknesses, and goals. Unlike group sessions where generalized strategies may not address a child’s precise needs, private therapy is all about catering to their needs and interests.
Whenever I start working with a new child, I begin by getting to know them. I ask about their favorite games, sports, vacations, colors, foods, etc… And then I try to incorporate these into my sessions as much as possible. I regularly buy games based on child suggestions, and I make engaging homework activities based on their interests. I can do this because I see each child one-on-one for at least 30 minutes once a week. That doesn’t usually happen in a school due to the sheer volume of kids one SLP has to treat.
The 30-45 minute time frame I have with each child is also vital for practice time. Research shows that for kids to learn a new sound, they need to get lots of repetitious practice. I typically get a child to practice their new sound 75-100 times each session. This is the type of drilling that is needed to see change occur.
Tracking progress is key in therapy, and private sessions facilitate ongoing assessment and adjustment of goals. Goals can be adjusted or changed as needed or depending on parent concerns.
Speaking of parents, private speech therapists work hard to develop a good relationship with a child’s parents. I make sure parents know they can always ask questions or make requests. I also make sure they understand what is happening after each session and what they are supposed to practice each week. I regularly add goals that parents want to be addressed. No one knows a child better than their parent, and I work hard to make sure to combine my professional experience, current research, and parent concern when making a treatment plan.
Often times children progress faster when they do private speech therapy. Faster results makes life easier for everyone. The parental involvement, individualized treatment plans catered to your child’s interest, and increased time frame for intense practice can make all the difference. If your child could benefit from speech therapy, reach out to a speech pathologist and get started!
