My child is two years old and is not talking. Is this normal?
While development can vary from child to child, typically children 18 months old have between 10 and 20 spoken words, children 2 years of age have approximately 50 words, children 2 ½ have approximately 250 words, and children age 3 have approximately 450 words. If your child is not using the expected number of words, it is a good idea to consult with your pediatrician and schedule a speech-language evaluation with a certified speech-language pathologist to determine if speech therapy is needed.
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Will my health insurance pay for speech therapy?
Insurance coverage for speech therapy varies from plan to plan. Some plans pay for therapy regardless of the diagnosis. Some plans only cover speech therapy if the disorder is a result of a medical condition. Therapy Solutions of Georgia, Inc. will be happy to assist you in determining your specific benefits before therapy is initiated.
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My child is having difficulty chewing and eating foods with chunks. Is this
something that speech pathologists address?
Yes. At Therapy Solutions of Georgia, Inc. we work with children with both swallowing disorders and sensory concerns. We help children learn to accept, chew, and swallow foods with a variety of textures. We also help children who are coughing frequently when drinking liquids. Therapy often involves participation in an oral motor program to strengthen the muscles of the mouth.
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What type of training is required for a speech-language pathologist to be
certified?
To be certified by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, a therapist must hold a master's degree in Speech-Language Pathology from an accredited university. During the master's program, students are required to have at least 375 hours working directly with patients. In addition, upon graduation, therapists are required to complete a clinical fellowship year which involves working as a speech-language pathologist with both direct and indirect supervision for 9 months. After completion of the clinical fellowship year, speech-language pathologists apply for their Certificate of Clinical Competence
from the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. In the state of Georgia, a license is also required to work in a hospital or private practice.
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If I want to have my child evaluated what should I do?
To schedule an evaluation you can call our Dacula office at 678-377-9634
or our Athens office at 706-583-9525. We will set up a time for you to come in with your child. A prescription from your child's pediatrician will be required. We will also need a copy of your child's insurance card upon arrival.
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What is involved in an evaluation?
An evaluation generally takes between an hour and an hour and a half. The type of test administered depends on the areas of concern. If concerns involve speech and language then your child will be given a complete language evaluation 
looking at both expressive language (what your child is saying) and receptive language (what your child is understanding). He/she will be asked to perform tasks including pointing to pictures in a book, following directions, and using words for a variety of purposes. If sound errors are a concern, then your child will be given an articulation test to look at sound development. When we are working with younger children, the testing frequently involves play with toys. With swallowing concerns, we will watch your child eat foods of varying tastes and textures as well as drink liquids to determine if he/she is presenting with a
swallowing or sensory disorder. We give parents the option of joining the evaluation or remaining in the waiting room. If you would like to accompany your child during the evaluation, we ask that you leave siblings at home. You will be asked to complete a case history form including medical information and the developmental milestone history of your child. When observing the evaluation it is important not to "help your child" by giving out clues or rephrasing questions so that an accurate assessment of your child's developmental level can be determined.
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If my child qualifies for speech/language therapy, how long will he/she require therapy?
There are numerous factors which may impact the success of speech-language therapy with any given child. Some of these factors include cognitive level, attention skills, play skills/social skills, behavior, desire to learn and/or please others, carryover of therapy techniques/suggestions in the home environment, origin of the speech-language delay or disorder, rapport/relationship established with the speech-language pathologist, and consistency of therapy sessions. Some children may only need therapy for a few months while others may require therapy for several years.
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