Paying for Hearing Aids

by Jacky G. Hearing Loss
Empty Pockets

Image source: Finetunedfinances.com

There’s no denying that we’ve been through some difficult economic times lately, with no real end in sight. Families across the country and worldwide are worried about everything from their grocery expenses to their car payments. Families of children with speech disorders and other special needs face the additional burdens of financing speech therapy sessions, occupational therapy sessions, and anything else that the child needs to succeed. If you have a child with hearing loss, you probably already know how expensive hearing aids are. One hearing aid can cost from $1,000 to $6,000. If your child has hearing loss in both ears, you can multiply that figure by two. And don’t forget about repairs and replacement costs. Check below for some resources that may help you pay for your child’s hearing aids.

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Top 5 Questions to Ask Your Child’s Speech Therapist This Fall

by Jacky G. Speech Therapist
Child Going Back to School

Image source: Essentialbaby.com.au

Children tend to approach the back-to-school season with a mix of apprehension and excitement. Your kidling might be enthusiastically embracing his brand-new sweaters that allow him to dress up like a pint-sized Jake Gyllenhaal, but at the same time he’s a little nervous about meeting his new teacher and navigating the school hallways. Parental viewpoints are remarkably similar. We might embrace a more structured schedule and we’re eager for them to explore the world around them, but we’re a bit nervous, too. This is especially true if you’re the parent of a child with special needs, like a speech disorder. Children with special needs often have a more difficult time with transition periods. It’s a good idea to chat with your child’s speech therapist about his needs as he enters a new grade. Consider it like a check-up. Use the following questions as a focal point for your conversation with the speech-language pathologist (SLP).

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Speech Therapy Evaluations: What Do They Mean for My Child?

by Jacky G. Individualized Education Program (IEP)
Kids Boarding School Bus

Image source: Eagleharborva.com

The back-to-school season is an exciting time for families, whether your child is boarding the school bus for the first time or he is a returning student. Your child’s teachers and the other members of the school staff are responsible for more than just his education and feeding him a healthy lunch while he’s at school. They are also responsible for identifying the possible signs of a speech disorder or other issue, such as autism or Fragile X syndrome. Your child’s teacher or his pediatrician might refer him to the agency that is responsible for special education in your state. This referral means that it is recommended that your child undergo a speech and language evaluation. You do have the right to refuse, but if your child does need extra help, an evaluation is the first step in that direction.

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Is Your Child Being Bullied?

by Jacky G. Speech Therapy Techniques
Child Being Bullied

Image source: Telegraph.co.uk

No parent wants to discover that their child is being bullied. But unfortunately, bullying is as common in schools as textbooks. And children with special needs, like those with speech disorders, are 61% more likely to be the target of bullying, according to a study by Professor Gordon W. Blood, Ph.D., CCC-SLP. Blood proposed that children with speech disorders are particularly at risk for being bullied because they often appear more withdrawn. This can be due to a lag in communication and/or social skills. So how do you know if your child is being bullied? It can often be a little difficult to tell. Some children may try to cover up the problem. There are some classic signs of bullying that you can be on the lookout for, however.

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Public or Private Speech Therapy?

by Jacky G. Speech Therapist
Children Boarding a School Bus

Image source: Mindware.com

After your child was diagnosed with a speech disorder, you may have felt lost for a little while, but eventually you formulated a plan of attack. You probably read everything you could find on his specific speech disorder and talked to a few experts. Then, you had to make a choice between public or private speech therapy.

Public speech therapy refers to speech therapy that is administered by a speech-language pathologist (SLP) working in the school. Private speech therapy means that the SLP has her own practice or she works in a hospital or clinic. There is also a third option. You might live near a university with a speech clinic. You could enroll your child in speech therapy lessons with graduate students who are supervised by licensed SLPs. There are benefits and drawbacks to all three of these options and in the end, it really boils down to what’s best for your child and your family. Weigh the pros and cons carefully before making a decision.

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