FAQs
Q. When should I become worried about my child's speech and language development?
A. I believe that parents come with an internal radar when something doesn’t “feel right”. Trust your gut. If something isn’t sitting well with you, then please don’t “wait and see”, come see me and we can talk through it! If you’d like some additional information about early developmental milestones, I highly recommend the “Speech and Language Skills” links on the “Early Childhood” page.
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Q. My two-year old seems to be delayed in their speech, but their pediatrician says that they are just a little delayed. Should I do something now or just wait it out?
A. Early intervention is key! Children’s brains develop at alarming rates, as is evidenced by all the new things they can do each day. If you are noticing that your child is developing slower than is typical, please don’t “wait and see”, come see me and we can boost them up together!
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Q. My child lives in a multi-lingual environment. Is this a detriment to their overall language development?
A. No, this is a wonderful scenario! As infants, we are geared toward learning language. This is why individuals who learn multiple languages, (infants/children), may not demonstrate an accent in either language, whereas older individuals learning new languages are more likely to speak with an accent. Take advantage of your child’s developing brain by providing them with as much language input as you can!
*Note: Since your child is learning two languages, he/she may go back and forth between languages, develop one language more than the other, or appear to be developing language somewhat slowly. This is because they are not only learning one language, they are being blessed with both! If you find that you are still concerned about your child’s development, please come see me and I can help you identify if your child would benefit from language therapy.
Q. I have noticed that my son is not speaking at the same age that my daughter began speaking in sentences. Is that normal?
A. Boys tend to develop language a bit slower than girls (we’re not really sure why!), but on average boys should still be within the developmental norms for their age groups.
If you’re curious if your son is developing within normal limits, please see the “Speech and Language Skills” link on the Early Childhood page! And of course, if you’re still concerned about your son’s development, please don’t “wait and see”, come see me.
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Q. What is the right age for speech therapy?
A. The right answer… any age! I have been fortunate enough in my career to have been able to treat infants all the way up to clients who are 99 years young!
There are a variety of interventions that we implement at various ages, but the main goal is always to increase the client’s overall communication skills.
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Q. How long will speech therapy take before my child is speaking at what is considered a "normal" level?
A. Just as each person is an individual, each person’s experience with speech therapy will be individualized.
It could take anywhere between a few months to several years, depending on the level of difficulty of the skill(s), and how many skills need to be targeted to reach goals that are “within normal limits”.
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Q. What can I do at home to help my child develop strong communication skills?
A. Read, read, read! Children learn all sorts of marvelous skills when they are introduced to books, from:
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An increase in receptive language skills (how much they understand)
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Early book knowledge (i.e., how to hold and open a book)
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Syntax (how language goes together to form sentences)
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Social skills
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New vocabulary
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An increase in overall knowledge about the world around them
…to name a few.
Here are some more ideas for you to enjoy communicating with your child:
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Helping Toddlers Expand Language Skills
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Q. What insurance do you accept?
A. Currently we accept most major insurances including Medicaid, Blue Cross of Idaho, Regence Blue Shield, Select Health, Pacific Source, United Health Care, Cigna, and UMR. We also have Private Pay options if insurance doesn't work for you.
If you have another insurance carrier or if you have an insurance related question, give us a call at (208) 904-3500, or email us at info@MakonaTherapy.com
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Q. How often should I schedule appointments?
A. Typically therapy sessions are around 30 to 45 minutes, 1 to 2 times a week.
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Q. Are we going to need a referral from a doctor?
A. All insurance carriers require a doctor’s referral. So the best approach is to go see your Primary Care Physician and ask them to send a referral our way before your initial evaluation. Call us at (208) 904-3500 if you have any other questions regarding first steps.
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Q. How often can we connect to discuss my child's progress?
A. I will provide you with a brief overview of your child’s progress at the end of each session. If you would like a more in-depth conversation, I would be happy to do so during your child’s regularly scheduled appointment!
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Q. How long does it take to begin seeing results?
A. That’s a tricky one, because all individuals are just that…individuals! Typically we start to see results within a few weeks, if not sooner.
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The questions could go on and on. What would you like us to answer? Let us know in the contact form below, and we would be happy to answer your requests, and even post some of them on here!
