Choosing a Speech Pathologist: 5 Factors to Consider

Choosing the right Speech Pathologist for your child/family is honestly no small feat. In my opinion, there’s 5 factors you’ll want to consider.

First, you’ll want to find out about their credentials/licensure.

Do they have a Bachelor’s or Master’s?

Do they carry state licensure?

Are they certified by ASHA?

If the individual you’re considering has a Bachelor’s degree, they should be a licensed Speech Pathology Assistant (SLPA). These providers need to be overseen by a Speech Pathologist with a Master’s degree. Additionally, they cannot assess your child nor can they write treatment plans without the assistance of a fully licensed Speech Pathologist. Lots of bigger practices employ Speech Assistants to assist with therapy.  Assistants are wonderful and necessary to the field because there’s a real shortage of Speech Pathologists and assistants fill the gap so that more children (and adults) have access to therapy.

For providers with Master’s Degrees, they’ll also need state licensure (this is the minimum license to practice). You can look up a California Department of Health license here to make sure your provider is unrestricted.

I’m also certified by the American Speech Language Hearing Association (ASHA), and many other providers are too. You must pass a competency exam to receive licensure from this governing body. But this certification is not required to practice.

Second, you’ll want to inquire about logistics.

How do they conduct their sessions?

Will they come to your home or do they have a clinic?

Can they offer a time slot that works for your schedule?

Will sessions be one-on-one or a group?

Do they expect parent involvement or will it be a drop-off situation with only parent involvement for transportation and homework?

These are important questions because at the end of the day, logistics are often the make or break for therapy consistency. If you can’t get your child to a clinic (even if that clinic is the best) maybe that clinic isn’t right for you and home visits would be better. I’m a believer that therapy has to fit into your life and schedule to have consistency and follow through.

Third, you’ll want to find out about their clinical skills and interests.

Have they treated children like your child in the past?

Do they have any speciality certifications or trainings that suit your needs?

Personally, I have had instances where I’ve turned down a potential client because their needs did not match my clinical skills. In my opinion, it would be ethically questionable to take on a client where I couldn’t provide adequate treatment (like for stuttering, which isn’t in my clinical wheelhouse). I wouldn’t go see a cardiologist if I had a problem with my back, why would you see a Speech Pathologist to treat your child for stuttering when they’ve never treated a client who stutters or sought out additional training on the topic?

I will add that I don’t think years in practice is always a good metric for selecting a Speech Pathologist. An individual could be in practice for 30 years, but not educated on the disorder your child has. Better to consider clinical skills rather than time in practice.

Fourth, does their billing fit your needs?

Do they accept your insurance (if you want to use it)?

How do they structure payment plans?

Do they offer a “Superbill”?

I know everyone wants to give their children the best they possibly can, but real talk: speech therapy is expensive and often long not a quick fix. It is okay to choose a clinic/provider that works within your financial situation. This might mean waiting on a wait list or taking a therapy time that isn’t ideal for you. You’ll have to weigh your options.

This is the sad state of healthcare in America, and it frustrates me. I don’t take insurance precisely because as a solo provider, the pay structure isn’t enough to cover my overhead costs, and many other providers in my area don’t either. So why are we all paying for insurance when no one takes it? That’s a topic for another post, but likely someone in your area will take your insurance, you’ll need to do a little digging.

Fifth, at the end of the consultation, you’ll want to decide if you think the therapeutic relationship will be a good fit for your child and your family.

What is their personality like?

Do you like them?

Does your child like them?

These are all important questions you might consider asking yourself. Lots of providers will offer a brief phone consultation prior to starting sessions so that you can both interview each other. In a perfect world, you want both sides to feel like the therapeutic relationship will be a good fit. 

If your child is old enough, I would encourage you to ask them directly how they feel about the new provider. For younger children it can often take several weeks or months for them to warm up. As hard as it is, it’s often best to give the therapeutic relationship some time to form. By all means though, give your provider feedback about what is and isn’t working for your child. For me, I find this incredibly helpful because caregivers know their children best.

I hope this sheds a little light on how to choose a Speech Pathologist that’s right for your child and family. I’d recommend getting referrals directly from friends if possible, but if you’re left frustrated after looking at countless Yelp reviews, Facebook pages, Instagrams you can always search ASHA directly via their Profind tool.

And if you want more information on choosing the right professional, here’s a link to an ASHA article on the topic.

You can also reach out to me directly from the contact me page to set up a time to talk.