How common are communication delays in children?

Nearly 1 in 5 children have a communication delay or disorder that impairs their ability to understand the people around them and express themselves in a functional way.

Who can benefit from speech therapy?

Any child struggling to communicate effectively with those around them can benefit from speech-language therapy (aka speech therapy). 

How do I know if my child needs speech therapy?

A comprehensive speech-language evaluation may be needed if your child is not meeting, or is slowly meeting communication or other developmental milestones. It may also be prudent to have your child evaluated if they are at an increased risk for a speech-language delay due to the presence of other conditions (ex. Down Syndrome, Autism Spectrum Disorder, etc.), or if there is a family history of speech and language difficulties.

What if I am unsure about whether or not my child needs therapy?

If you have concerns about your child’s development please don’t hesitate to reach out to a qualified professional. We’re here for you and want to ease your worries and support you in determining an appropriate course of action.

If you would like to speak with a therapist about your concerns, please call us for a free telephone consultation. This call generally takes around 10-15 minutes, and allows you to express your concerns and gain helpful feedback and guidance, without committing to a full evaluation. The therapist will ask questions about your child’s development, address any concerns you may have, and provide general recommendations for your child. 

How much of my child's speech should I be able to understand at ___ age?

Typically, a child's speech should be 100% intelligible to unfamiliar listeners by the age of 5 years. For younger children, unfamiliar listeners should be able to understand roughly 25% of a child's speech by age 1, 50% by age 2, 75% by age 3, and 80-90% by age 4.

Is my child too young to be seen at Let’s Talk Pediatrics?

No! At Let’s Talk Pediatrics we’re experienced in treating even the youngest clients, particularly those in the 0-3 years age range. Our therapist will work closely with Early Intervention (EI) and other service providers to ensure coordinated, collaborative care across settings starting at an early age.

What should I expect during the initial meeting?​

Upon arriving for your child’s first appointment, you will be provided with an intake questionnaire regarding your concerns and medical, language, educational, environmental, and developmental history. ​

The therapist will then use the appropriate assessments to evaluate your child’s current communication abilities and level of functioning. These assessments may include standardized testing, direct observation, caregiver interview, and review of patient history. Play based evaluations are typically conducted with younger children. ​

Following completion of the assessment, the therapist will provide verbal feedback and recommendations, and may provide written information, such as handouts, etc. After your appointment, the results of this evaluation will be analyzed, and you will be provided a comprehensive written report detailing your child's strengths and needs and therapy goals, typically within two weeks.

Referrals to other professionals may be recommended if the client shows difficulties in areas outside of the speech pathologist's scope of practice. 

How long will my child need speech therapy? 

Unfortunately, the length of therapy cannot be predicted. The length of time it takes to treat your child’s unique communication difficulties is dependent on a variety of factors. At Let’s Talk Pediatrics, our mission is to provide efficient, effective therapy to assist the client to reach their communication goals and graduate from the program as soon as is appropriate. The client and/or caregiver's participation and willingness to incorporate home programming and practice learned skills outside of therapy sessions will facilitate completion of treatment sooner rather than later. 

How will I be involved in my child’s treatment?

It is important for parents to be involved in their child’s therapy for success and progress over time. Parent participation will look different for everyone, and is dependent on a variety of factors including the child’s age, nature of the impairment, communication goals, individual personality and interaction style, parent/child comfort level, parent availability, etc. Parent involvement in the therapy process may commonly include direct, in-room therapy participation, out of room observation, carryover of home programming, and practice of learned skills outside of therapy.

Do you offer screenings?

Let’s Talk Pediatrics is available to provide screenings to children of all ages at daycare centers, preschools, private schools, charter programs, or in our office. Screenings are essentially abbreviated evaluations that help to identify children who may benefit from further evaluation. Conversely, if a child’s level of performance is age-appropriate and no further evaluation is needed, the screening can help to ease parent worries. If an area of concern is identified based on screening results, a full, in-depth evaluation will be recommended.

Do you take insurance?

Yes! Let’s Talk Pediatrics is now accepting a variety of private insurance plans including Blue Cross, Cigna, Select Health, and St. Luke’s Health Partners plans. As always, Let’s Talk Pediatrics is a proud provider for Idaho Medicaid. We also offer a private pay discount for those paying out-of-pocket for therapy services. We strive to become in-network with additional insurance providers in the very near future.

How can I pay for services?

Let’s Talk Pediatrics accepts all major credit cards, cash, and checks at this time.

How do I schedule an appointment?

Please call our office at (208) 254-0441 to schedule an appointment. You may need a referral from your child's pediatrician or primary care provider.