How to find your Speech-Language Pathologist
Speech-language pathologists (SLPs) evaluate and treat communication and swallowing disorders in individuals of all ages. A qualified SLP will have a master's or doctoral degree, a Certificate of Clinical Competence (CCC) from the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) and/or state licensure (where required).
Because there is a wide range in populations served, it is important to find a SLP that specializes in the type of disorder that you or a family member may have. The needs of a small child with a developmental disorder are very different from those of an adult after a stroke! It is important to spend some time finding the right therapist. Be sure to ask, if the SLP has experience in treating your specific disorder. If you have not been given a specific communication diagnosis, such as aphasia and/or apraxia of speech, you can ask about experience in stroke or brain injury recovery. It is well worth your time to start rehabilitation with a SLP that has expertise in these specific areas.
ASHA
The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) is the national professional organization for speech-language pathologists and audiologists. They also provide a great deal of information about communication disorders to the public at their website, www.asha.org.
ASHA also maintains an online database of SLPs and audiologists that is searchable by location and patient age. It can be found on their website at http://asha.org/findpro/. It is not an inclusive list of all certified professionals and only includes members that have chosen to be listed in this database. You may find other SLPs by investigating other resources such as hospitals, universities, etc.).
Your Insurance Company
If you plan to use your private medical insurance to pay for speech therapy, it is important that you contact your insurance company to find providers in your area. This can be done by accessing the insurance company's directory online or by phone. It may mean that you need to travel further to a therapist in your network, but services are generally much less expensive with a participating provider. Once you have a list of local SLPs that participate with your insurance company, take some time to find one that has experience that you need. Just because a therapist participates with your insurance company, it doesn't mean that he or she is a perfect match.
Hospitals
When you or your family member is in the hospital after a stroke or injury, you may want to ask the therapists, doctors, and nurses about referrals to speech-language pathologists. It is important to start thinking about the next stage of your rehabilitation. You want to be ready, by the time that you are discharged, and return home. If you are working with a case manager while in the hospital, he or she may help you find an SLP to continue your rehabilitation. You may be able to continue therapy at the same hospital, as part of an outpatient program. You can also contact your local hospital to determine if they offer outpatient SLP services.
Private Practices
There are many SLPs that work privately in their own practice. Some practices may be large and have many SLPs on staff, while others are small and have one SLP. You can find these therapists by looking in your local Yellow Pages, referrals from physicians, or online at ASHA’s ProSearch (http://asha.org/findpro/). It is important to ask about insurance coverage and rates, since not all private practices accept insurance.
Local University Clinics
Most universities that have majors in communication disorders have speech and hearing clinics. In these clinics, the speech therapy is often provided by an undergraduate or graduate student. These students will be planning and conducting therapy under the direct supervision of an experienced and certified SLP. Some speech and hearing clinics take insurance and operate like any other private practice. Others charge reduced rates or have a sliding fee scale based on income. Group and individual therapy may be offered. For those without insurance (or who have exhausted their insurance benefits), a university clinic can be an affordable option for continuing therapy.
