FAQS
HOW DO I KNOW IF MY CHILD NEEDS SPEECH THERAPY?
It can be difficult to know whether your child needs speech language therapy - the best thing to do is to give me a call so that we can discuss your concerns. I'm more than happy to chat with you and answer any questions that you might have. Families often wonder if they should 'wait and see', but the early years of your child's life are very important in building strong language and social skills. Research shows that early intervention is very powerful and can make a big difference. It might be that your child does not need ongoing SLT support, but the quickest and easiest way to find out is to ask.
​
Speech Pathology Australia has released a very helpful guide for parents, which outlines general speech and language milestones for children aged between 18 months and 5 years. Every child is different, but this can be a really helpful starting point.
​
More information about speech sounds, and the ages at which different sounds develop, is available on the Resources page of this website.
​
CAN I ACCESS BOTH PRIVATE AND PUBLIC SLT?
Yes! Your child is definitely able to access private SLT and the services provided by the Ministry of Education. It is important that both public and private SLTs work collaboratively to ensure the best outcomes for your child. If your child is receiving MoE services, I will make sure that any plans or programs I am implementing, complement the work that you are already doing.
​
DO I NEED TO ATTEND THE APPOINTMENT?
Where possible, it is great for a family member to attend the appointment - to see what is happening in therapy sessions and to understand how to implement 'home' work at home. I understand that this isn't always possible, especially when working with your child at their ECC or school. In these situations, I will email you after the session with feedback on your child's session, as well as helpful strategies and activities to follow up with at home. Home practice is very important - the more you practice, the faster you see results!
​
HOW OFTEN DOES MY CHILD NEED TO ATTEND SPEECH THERAPY?
In most cases, weekly or fortnightly therapy is recommended to ensure progress - this gives you the opportunity to practice new skills between therapy sessions, while also providing frequent opportunities for me to evaluate progress and identify new skills to target.
​
In cases where regular sessions are not possible, I can work with you to develop a program that suits your family, while still providing you with the support needed to make progress.
​
HOW MUCH DO SLT SESSIONS COST?
Initial consultations are 1 hour and cost $130. Initial consults are a great starting point - we can talk through your concerns, and I can collect some background information. Initial consultations also include informal assessment - I can get a lot of information about a child's communication through play. Where possible, I will also complete a speech sound assessment, or informal language assessment (receptive and expressive language skills).
​
Formal assessment can take 1-2 sessions and costs $150 per session. This is where I use standardised assessments to gain a comprehensive view of your child's communication.
Written reports can be provided at an additional cost of $120.
​​
Therapy sessions are 45 minutes and cost $115. Some families prefer a longer appointment - 1 hour appointments are available and cost $130.
​​
WHAT IF I NEED TO CANCEL AN APPOINTMENT?
Please let me know as soon as possible if you need to cancel or reschedule your appointment. Where possible, 24 hours notice is appreciated, to give other families an opportunity to take the free appointment time. Cancellations require a minimum of 2 hours notice. In cases where appointments are not cancelled within 2 hours of the appointment time, or when families do not attend appointments, 100% of the session fee will be charged.
​
A text message is sent to you on the morning of your appointment as a reminder.
HOW DO I MAKE AN APPOINTMENT?
If you would like to make an appointment, you can contact me by phone or email.
Phone: 021 0279 9566
Email: donna@wordplay.nz