Frequently Asked Questions about speech therapy

 We like to get to know you and your child when you join us. We'll ask you to fill out a case history form before you arrive for your first appointment so we can jump straight into assisting your child.

 
Assessments are administered over the first few visits, depending on the requirements of the child.  A therapy plan will be tailored to suit. If an assessment and report has been recently conducted by another Speech and Language Pathologist, then another assessment may not be necessary. Goals will be based on what you and your child would like to achieve, guided by your concerns, our findings, assessment outcomes and evidence based practice. 

Therapy is conducted over a computer or ipad, using webcams, from the comfort of your own home anywhere in Australia.  At Chat Write we have a great deal of experience in delivering engaging therapy through telehealth. We use a variety of activities such as online and interactive activities for older, computer-savvy children, to 'magical' green screen experiences for some of the younger cohort.

For many years, research has shown telehealth is equally as good as face to face speech language therapy. The recent lockdowns and travel restrictions due to Covid have given many people the ability to test the research for themselves.

We encourage the use of telehealth for many reasons:

• Children who live too far away from our clinic to attend face to face therapy, particularly those in regional and rural areas of Australia where speech pathologists are difficult to get in to see
• Literacy therapy is particularly suitable to telehealth, even for those living close
• As a once off, where a parent/carer or sibling is ill, and the child would otherwise not be able to come in for their normal face to face session
• For specific parent/carer education sessions, or feedback sessions, where the attendance of the child is optional

No.  You do not need a referral to see a speech pathologist.  Your doctor, paediatrician, or psychologist may give a referral if they think your child needs assessment or therapy.

We see self-managed and plan-managed NDIS clients.  We can not take agency-managed clients at this stage however

Private clients (ie clients not funded through the National Disability Insurance Scheme NDIS) should see if they are eligible for a Chronic Disease Management Plan (CDM) through their GP.  This will enable a Medicare rebate for 5 sessions a calendar year.

Some private health insurers provide rebates for speech therapy.   Please contact your insurer for details.