Like other areas of childhood development, speech and language skills develop throughout childhood at different ages.  If your child’s disability is present at an early age, your healthcare team may recommend speech therapy as part of your child’s early intervention plan.  See our speech-language developmental milestones here (include link to developmental slides)

You can also book a free 15-minute virtual consultation so we can answer any specific questions to discuss your child.

Depending on your insurance policy, speech-language therapy may be a covered benefit.  Benefits vary greatly from policy to policy.  Foundations Pediatric Therapy is a provider for BlueCross BlueShield, Tricare East, and Medicaid.  Before your child’s evaluation, our staff will run an insurance report and provide you with information regarding your policy coverage of our services.  

Speech is spoken language and refers to how we produce sounds and words involving articulation, voice, and fluency.  Language refers to the entire system of expressing and receiving information meaningfully.  Language includes receptive (understanding), expressive (speaking), along with pragmatic (social) skills.  

Feeding and swallowing disorders can lead to health, learning, and social problems. Feeding disorders include problems with sucking, eating from a spoon, chewing, or drinking from a cup. Swallowing disorders, also called dysphagia (dis-FAY-juh) are difficulties with moving food or liquid from the mouth, throat, or esophagus to the stomach. Feeding and swallowing disorders are often related to other medical conditions but may also occur without a known cause.

Speech-language pathologists (SLPs) help children with feeding and swallowing problems.

The length of therapy depends on the severity of the problem, the rate of progress made in therapy sessions, and the completion of home activities by parents.  

See our speech-language milestones here.  If your child is not meeting any of the milestones for their age group or if you have other concerns an evaluation is warranted.  

Of course!  We love for our families to be present during evaluations and treatment.  However, often when children become comfortable in therapy, they prefer their families to wait in the waiting area.

Language-based learning disorders, like Dyslexia, fall squarely in the purview of speech-language pathologists.  We use a wide combination of standardized testing, parent interviews, and work samples to help make a diagnosis.  

Special education advocacy services can be provided for children ages 3-21 who are enrolled, or going to be enrolled, in public school.  You and your child have federal and state rights via the Individuals with Disabilities in Education Act (IDEA).  An advocate will work with you and your child's school to make sure your child’s special education plan, Individualized Education Plan (IEP), or a 504, follows the law, protects your rights, and ensures your child is being provided the education they are entitled to.

Please fill out our contact form or have your child’s physician fax us a referral for services to 256-769-0532.