[USER]

Both of my kids need speech therapy and my insurance has horrible coverage for it (ie: pay 90% out of pocket and insurance covers only 10%). Has anyone used online speech therapy with success? It’s definitely less expensive, but would like to know your experience.

ADDITIONAL INFO: My kids are 8 and the school disqualified them for IEP and speech therapy since their cases are not “severe” enough.

Thank you.

[Erica]

My son had early intervention and then transitioned to an IEP in preschool for free when he turned 3. A speech therapist comes in like 2x a week to work with him in the classroom.

[Megan]

Birth to three years old (some states it’s four) early intervention!

It’s speech and other developmental therapies for kids before school age.

Then they help transition you to the school system.

I’m a service coordinator studying to become an SLP in early intervention and if you let me know what state I’d be happy to do some research to help connect you!

[Amanda]

This may not help at the moment. But make them test again every year if you think they need it.

My son was tested in Kindergarten and did not qualify. But in 1st grade I insisted he was struggling and needed tested again and he was able to get in speech through school that year.

I was told I could ask to have him tested every school year.

[Lynne]

Call your local elementary school. Kids get free therapy. You don’t use insurance for it. It is educational so schools fit the bill.

[Amy]

Like others stated, check with the school district. However, I was able to utilize the local university and their speech pathology students.

Perhaps a local university will have student-led services.

[Marianne]

Retired speech language pathologist here. For your child who doesn’t produce the final /r/ in words—here’s a few at home tips that help some children. He is not putting his tongue up far enough back in his mouth. Try having him imitate a pirate noise (argh) or mad dog sound (deep growl). If he can do this, make a list of one syllable words that end with /r/. Practice the words by leaving a pause between the first part of the word and the final /r/. For example: ‘o’ pause ‘mad dog sound’ for the word ‘or’. Practice every day and the gap between the words will shorten and disappear. I have other tips if you’d like to send me a message.

[Jennifer]

When our district could not find anyone local to do speech for the kids they used an online one. There was a teacher that met with us once a year to reevaluate and she met with her once a week during class.

It was the last year she needed speech but it did work well.

[Emily J.]

My son has severe articulation disorder. He was still improving each time he had online sessions. My daughter at 3 yrs did surprisingly well online.

They have amazing technology to keep them engaged. Try to get help sooner, as time matters!

[Stephanie]

I would think they would qualify for a Speech and Language Impairment (SLI) (speech only) IEP. If the school ignores you request, look up FAPE. Look ar your district’s website and see if they a a special services department. Call them.

[Julie]

My son did some online speech therapy due to pandemic restrictions when he was 3-4. I would say it was less successful at that point in time. Now that he is in the 5-6 range he can interact a bit more and we occasionally choose to do an online option for the week if there is something going on (like he has pink eye) and we can’t make it into the office.

It works a little bit better now that he has matured more, but there is still no replacement for the one on one in person experience.

Also my cost after insurance is still the same regardless of in person or online.

[Maren]

Your local school district should be providing that. My daughter had it all the way through elementary school. If your children are below kindergarten age, your school district should have some kind of preschool your children may be eligible for.

Call the school district main office and ask how to get services for your children.

[Author]

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