How To “Find a pediatric speech therapist near me.”
Early intervention refers to all the developmental supports, services, and classes provided to children under the age of 3 years old. Speech Therapy falls under the umbrella of early intervention.
In this post I will briefly explain early intervention and then we’ll discuss how you can find a speech therapist near you. Or you can jump straight ahead to learn how you can:
What is early intervention?
Early intervention supports are provided to parents and families who have questions related to potty training, typical behavior management, overall developmental inquiries, and general parenting questions.
Early intervention services (i.e., therapies) are available to children who are identified as being “delayed,” meaning they have missed a certain percentage of developmental milestones in one or more areas. Services are also provided to children who are at a higher risk of developmental delays, such as children born prematurely or have a sibling who received early intervention.
Some of the most common early intervention services provided are:
Speech therapy - to support communication development
Physical therapy - to support big body movement
Occupational therapy - to support fine motor movement and feeding
Behavioral support - to support engagement, participation, and safety
Early intervention makes a lasting impact!
Early intervention is extremely powerful in supporting the development of foundational skills in all areas for toddlers.
Intervention provided during this critical developmental period arguably has the greatest impact on a child’s overall development because the brain is growing and learning at a rate that will never again be matched.
Research has shown the positive impact in toddlerhood and childhood for young children who receive early intervention services (This applies to children who were identified as delay and then received support).
So how do you get started in early intervention?
Talking to your child’s pediatrician as your first step if you think your child might be falling behind in one or more areas of development.
Your child’s pediatrician will be able to refer you to a clinic or facility that provides early intervention services and will be covered by your insurance. This includes helping you to find a pediatric speech therapist near you.
You can also access early intervention services through your state’s early intervention program. It’s like the public school system, but for babies and toddlers. Remember, early intervention includes speech therapy, so contacting your state’s program is one of the best ways to find a pediatric speech therapist in your community.
Getting early intervention through your insurance
It’s also a good idea to call the phone number on the back of your child’s insurance card to verify what supports and services will be paid for by insurance; this includes how many appointments or what monetary value may be covered within a calendar year. If your insurance has rules around what they will pay for speech therapy, it’s always best to know ahead of time!
I know the idea of being on hold with insurance sounds horrible, but it’s definitely worth it in the long run to have peace of mind and no surprise therapy bills down the road!
Accessing early intervention services through your state’s program
You may also be pointed in the directions of your state’s early intervention program. A doctor’s referral is not required to get support and services through your state’s early intervention program. Every state offers tons of different supports and services to toddlers, including speech therapy. Plus, these programs provide free or reduced cost services to any qualified child.
If your child is under the age of 3, follow this link to find Early Intervention services through your state's program (*scroll to the bottom of the page and click the link to your state’s program*)
https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/actearly/parents/states.html
And if your child is over the age of 3, they can still qualify for support and services. However, rather than receiving early intervention (remember early intervention is only for children under 3 years old), they will receive an Individualized Education Plan through the Public School District which covers speech therapy and other services for preschool age children.
Here is what the CDC recommends you do in order to ask for services for your preschool age child:
“If your child is age 3 or older, call any local public elementary school (even if your child does not go to school there) and say: “I have concerns about my child’s development and I would like to have my child evaluated through the school system for preschool special education services.”
If the person who answers is unfamiliar with preschool special education, ask to speak with the school or district’s special education director.”
Well, when can I get started?
No matter which option you choose (insurance or state program), there is going to be a waiting period, it’s inevitable. Sometimes you’re waiting to see a pediatric speech therapist for a few weeks to get support and services, and in other situations it can take months.
We created Toddler Talk because we understand the benefit of getting started early. Not only does research show that starting early has a positive impact on your child, it also eases the unavoidable parent guilt and concern that seems to be amplified during the waiting period.
We provide tons of activities guides you can choose from and video examples so you can easily incorporate 10 minutes of at home speech practice into your daily routine.
See how we’ve helped other parents support their child’s early communication development.
Now let’s review! Here’s what we learned about early intervention:
Early intervention is a powerful tool for supporting your child’s development in any area they may be or are at risk of falling behind. Research has shown that getting started early can have a significant positive impact for your child in the short and long term.
Here’s what to do if your concerned about your child’s development:
Talk to your child’s pediatrician
Contact your state’s early intervention department or school district if your child is 3 years or older
Start practicing at home today with 🔗Toddler Talk
Parents Also Asked:
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Yes, toddlers qualify for speech therapy when they are delayed in one or more areas of their communication development.
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The most obvious sign that a child needs speech therapy is that they haven’t started talking and they are older than 14 months old. You may also notice that a child has not met other benchmark communication skills which would suggest they could benefit from speech therapy.
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It’s a good idea to start your toddler in speech therapy as soon as you notice that they have fallen behind in one or more of their milestones.
Babies and toddlers experience the most rapid period of brain growth in the lifespan. Getting started in speech therapy as soon as you notice a delay ensures that you are able to take advantage of this critical period in development.
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When it comes to speech therapy the earlier you can get started the better. Young children are experiencing unparalleled brain growth, and supporting them during this critical period in development is most impactful. So the rule of thumb is to get started as soon as you notice a child is falling behind in their milestones.
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There is no age requirement for speech therapy. Newborn babies can receive the support of a speech therapist when warranted.
Speech therapists begin working with babies who are identified as being at higher risk for a speech and language delay as early as 10 months old.
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There are 2 ways to get your child referred to a speech therapist.
Talk to your pediatrician and ask for a referral to a speech therapist that is in network with your insurance.
If your child is less than 36 months, you can contact your state’s early intervention program to refer yourself to a speech therapist without a doctor’s referral - find the contact information for your state here: https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/actearly/parents/state-text.html
If your child is 3 years or older, you can contact the public school system and request a speech and language evaluation for your child. One of the easiest ways to do this is to visit your neighborhood elementary school and speak to someone about getting referred to the school speech therapist. (*Your child does NOT have to be attending school in order to get speech therapy through the school district.)
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The best ways to help your 2 year old with speech therapy are to keep it simple by practicing with just one skill at a time and practicing a little bit each day. Setting aside 10-30 minutes each day to focus on teaching your child a specific skill they are working on in speech therapy is the best way to boost their progress.
© 2020-2023. Stephanie Keffer, MS CCC-SLP. All Rights Reserved.
The content offered on ToddlerTalk.com is for informational purposes only. Toddler Talk is not engaged in rendering professional advice, whether medical or otherwise, to individual users or their children or families. No content on this site, regardless of date, should ever be used as a substitute for direct medical advice from your doctor, speech language pathologist, or other health professional. By accessing the content on ToddlerTalk.com, you acknowledge and agree that you are accepting the responsibility for your child’s health and well-being. In return for providing you with information related to home speech and language practice, you waive any claims that you or your child may have as a result of utilizing the content on ToddlerTalk.com.