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No! At C&C Therapy, our associates are not tutors; rather, we are highly trained speech-language pathologists (SLPs) specializing in the assessment and treatment of academic language and literacy skills as well as related areas such as executive function skills and speech sound production and processing. This means that our team members possess advanced knowledge and expertise in understanding and addressing the intricacies of speech, language, and literacy development.
While tutors may focus primarily on academic content and homework assistance, the SLPs at C&C Therapy offer a comprehensive, personalized approach to address a range of communication challenges. Our specialized services are designed to empower our clients with the skills they need to become confident communicators in the classroom and beyond.
Because the title “speech-language pathologist” is so cumbersome, we are known by a variety of other titles, including the acronym SLPs, speech therapists, speechies, communication therapists, cognitive-communication therapists (or cog-com therapists), and, in some countries, logopedists. SLPs sometimes refer to themselves as clinicians or interventionists. At C&C Therapy, we also proudly call ourselves word nerds, and some of the families we have worked with have even referred to us as communication ninjas or wizards!
Our fees vary based on the location, service type (assessment, therapy, consultation), and/or time of service provided (i.e., school day vs. after school sessions). When considering costs, it is important to understand that services provided by speech-language pathologists (SLPs), who are categorized as allied health professionals, can be more expensive than tutoring due to a number of reasons:
Extensive, specialized education and clinical training: SLPs hold, at minimum, a master’s degree in speech-language pathology.
Licensing and certification: SLPs are required to obtain and maintain national certification and licensure in the state(s) where they practice. These processes involve meeting specific education and training requirements, passing national examinations, and fulfilling continuing education obligations.
Scope of practice: The field of speech-language pathology encompasses the assessment and treatment of numerous skills, including speech sound production, language, literacy, aspects of cognition, hearing, fluency, and voice, as well as feeding and swallowing across the life span.
Ability to diagnose and individualize: In addition to providing therapeutic services, SLPs serve as diagnosticians, assessing clients using standardized assessments, informal observations, case history interviews, and synthesizing data from other professionals. They then analyze the results, interpret the findings, and formulate diagnoses based on established criteria and clinical judgment.
Individualized treatment plans: SLPs’ training as diagnosticians allow them to glean insight into a client’s unique profile of strengths and weaknesses, develop individualized treatment plans, monitor response to intervention and progress over time, and make modifications as needed. They use evidence-based practices and therapeutic techniques that are tailored to each individual’s specific needs, which requires specialized knowledge and clinical judgment.
Speech language pathology is often considered a form of rehabilitative or habilitative therapy, and may be covered under medical insurance plans. At Communicate & Connect Therapy, we operate as an out-of-network provider with all insurance carriers. This means that we require direct payment for all services rendered. As the client, you are responsible for 100 percent of all assessment and therapy bills incurred. Rest assured, we will provide you with detailed invoices containing all necessary codes and information required by insurance companies.
To obtain reimbursement, you will need to submit the invoices or receipts directly to your insurance company. The frequency with which insurance companies provide reimbursement for out-of-network pediatric speech-language pathology services can vary widely depending on the specific insurance plan, policy terms, and coverage options chosen. We suggest carefully reviewing your insurance policy documents or contacting your insurance provider directly to determine the extent of coverage for out-of-network services and to understand the reimbursement process.
Yes, we do offer virtual intervention using the Zoom platform.
You will be provided with a password-protected recurring Zoom link, which you can join from any desktop or laptop computer with a Windows or Mac operating system. Unfortunately, ChromeBooks are not suitable due to the limitations that their OS places on Zoom features.
For language and literacy intervention, the following items should be at the client’s workstation:
Absolutely. Homework assignments provide valuable opportunities for individuals to practice and apply the skills they’ve learned in therapy, which facilitates the generalization of skills beyond the therapeutic setting. As emphasized by the authors of Make it Stick: The Science of Successful Learning, “A central challenge to improve learning is finding a way to interrupt the process of forgetting.”
We generally recommend that clients engage in skill-building activities, whether in therapy or through homework, at least five days per week. It is not necessary for students to spend hours in practice outside of intervention; dedicating just 10 to 20 minutes daily can result in significant gains.
A therapist will be assigned to you based on their availability and your scheduling needs. If you were referred to a specific therapist and they do not have availability, rest assured that every associate undergoes a highly rigorous orientation and training period.
No; however, Communicate & Connect Therapy is a SPELL-Links Certified Center. As a SPELL-Links Certified Trainer, our CEO, Adria Leno MS, CCC-SLP, is able to offer in-house training and professional development to our associates. Rest assured, Adria has very high standards. In fact, our in-house training program is even more rigorous than the SPELL-Links Certification Program. All associates are required to not only take the same courses that certification candidates take, but also the master-level courses.
Additionally, new associates are required to follow Adria with her caseload for a minimum of 40 hours to observe, co-treat, and then lead sessions under Adria supervision so that she can assess readiness for independent implementation.
Adria offers one-to-one mentoring for every associate (typically in excess of 40 hours during their first year and then at least six annually thereafter), and she also presents an average of 18 hours of live professional development to our team annually. This far exceeds the number of hours and level of training required to become a SPELL-Links Certified Provider.
SLPs are uniquely suited to assess and provide intervention services for reading and writing skills because these skills involve multiple components of language, which is what SLP have expertise in. Reading and writing are not just about recognizing words or forming letters; they are extensions of spoken language, involving complex processes such as phonological awareness, vocabulary, morphological awareness (knowledge of word structure and parts), sentence structure, and the ability to infer meaning from context.
Furthermore, oral and written language have a reciprocal relationship. Progress in literacy skills is highly dependent on speech and language development. SLPs have specialized training in speech and language development as well as the assessment and treatment of such disorders, making them especially qualified to address those critical underlying linguistic systems and tailor interventions accordingly. By addressing all aspects of communication, SLPs can provide comprehensive support that ensures children develop strong literacy skills alongside their spoken language abilities, fostering better educational outcomes and enhancing their ability to communicate effectively in both spoken and written forms.
For more information: American Speech-Language-Hearing Association’s Position Statement: Roles and Responsibilities of Speech-Language Pathologists With Respect to Reading and Writing in Children and Adolescents
Predicting the exact length of time required to remediate speech, language, or literacy impairments is not possible. How quickly one responds to intervention is dependent upon the complex interaction of a variety of determinants, including risk and protective factors. It is therefore vital to approach reading and spelling intervention with a flexible and patient mindset, recognizing that progress may take time but is achievable with the right support and strategies in place.
Considerations related to intervention length include:
