FAQs

What is a Speech or Language Disorder?
What is Speech Therapy?
How is Learning, Literacy, Speech, and Language Connected?
Does My Child Have Autism or Autism Spectrum Disorder?
If My Child Has Autism Why Does He Need a Diagnosis?
What is Respite Care?
Is Peak Potential Therapy Registered with an Insurance Company?
Does Peak Potential Therapy Offer Occupational Therapy (OT)?
How Long Does It Take to Be Approved for the Autism Scholarship Program?
What Is the Difference Between Your Recreational & Therapeutic camps?
What Are Your Top Tips for Communicating with Children with Special Needs?
How Do I Get Started with Therapy at Peak Potential Therapy?
Do You Have Immediate Openings?
What Services Do You Offer?
What Diagnoses Do You Work With?
How Do I Know My Child Needs Speech Therapy?
What Are Some Funding Sources to Help Pay for Therapy?
Can You Help with My Child’s Behavior?

What is a Speech or Language Disorder?

A speech disorder is an impairment of articulation of speech sounds, fluency, or voice. Some causes may be related to hearing loss, stroke or severe head injury, or mental retardation. Speech disfluencies, such as stuttering, may be influenced by genetics, incoordination of speech muscles, environmental factors, or rate of language development.

A language disorder is the impaired comprehension and/or use of spoken and written language necessary for expressing and understanding thoughts and ideas. Disorders of language affect children and adults differently.

For children who do not use language normally from birth, or who acquire the impairment in childhood, the disorder occurs in the context of a language system that is not fully developed or acquired. Adults acquire disorders of language because of stroke, head injury, dementia, or brain tumors.

What is Speech Therapy?

• Speech Therapy is the treatment for the correction of a speech impairment, which resulted from birth, or from disease, injury, or prior medical treatment.
• Speech Therapy includes assessment and treatment of speech defects, such as problems of voice production, articulation, and language. (Worthington, 1983).
• Speech Therapy is used to increase communication skills. It may also include teaching sign language or using a communication device.
• Speech Therapy assesses and evaluates client’s needs for speech, language, and/or audiology services. Initiates and applies appropriate preventive, therapeutic, and rehabilitative procedures and techniques.
• Speech Therapy includes speech evaluation, tongue exercises, speech drills, and use of audio and visual machines to help restore or facilitate a person’s ability to speak and understand language.
• Speech Therapy is any therapy intended to correct a disorder of speech.
• Speech-language pathologists are the professionals who identify, assess, and treat speech and language problems including swallowing disorders. Their work encompasses speech problems, such as those related to fluency, articulation, and voice disorders, as well as issues regarding language, learning, and literacy.

How Is Learning, Literacy, Speech, and Language Connected?

Communication skills are at the heart of life’s experience, particularly for children who are developing language, which is critical to cognitive development and learning. Reading, writing, gesturing, listening, and speaking are all forms of language — a code we learn in order to communicate ideas. Learning takes place through the process of communication. The ability to participate in active and interactive communication with peers and adults in the educational setting is essential for students to succeed in school.

Spoken language provides the foundation for the development of reading and writing. In fact, spoken and written language share a reciprocal relationship, building on each other to result in general language and literacy competence. Children who have problems with spoken language frequently experience difficulties learning to read and write. Children with reading and writing problems often experience difficulties using language to communicate, think and learn. Similarly, instruction in spoken language often results in growth in written language.

Children with communication disorders frequently perform at a poor or insufficient academic level, struggle with reading, have difficulty understanding and expressing language, misunderstand social cues, avoid attending school, show poor judgment, and/or have difficulty with tests.

Does My Child Have Autism or Autism Spectrum Disorder?

“He doesn’t speak very well, and he likes to line up his cars. Is he autistic?”

Many parents are concerned about autism when their young child has a speech and language delay. However, three criterion are needed for a diagnosis of autism: a delay in communication (verbal and non-verbal), a delay in social interaction, and the presence of unusual or extreme interests. For example, a child with autism may be non-verbal at three years of age, have difficulty relating to others, and have an extreme fascination with flapping his or her hands.

If you are concerned that your child may have autism, you should ask your child’s doctor for a referral to a developmental pediatrician. A diagnosis of autism is made by a pediatrician or, even better, by a team of experienced professionals.

If My Child Has Autism Why Does He Need a Diagnosis?

Some parents worry that getting a diagnosis for their child will only label him/her without any positive effects.

The purpose of an autism diagnosis is to identify a child whose delays are seriously affecting his/her ability to communicate, learn and succeed in school, and in relationships. In turn, the diagnosis will help provide information to parents, therapists, and others who support the child to reach his/her potential. Furthermore, in some cases, a diagnosis of autism can open doors to funding sources to pay for education and intervention that will improve his/her learning and functioning.

What is Respite Care?

Respite care, sometimes called private duty home care, is a non-therapeutic babysitting service for people with disabilities. These services augment the care provided at home and are meant as a reprieve for the parent or guardian who typically provides the majority of the care services. The flexible service is available around the clock and in varying degrees of assistance.

Peak Potential Therapy offers a wide range of respite services. You can choose the schedule and location that fits your needs.

Is Peak Potential Therapy in-network with my insurance company?

Peak Potential Therapy is in-network with most Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield, Aetna, Cigna, Humana/TriCare, Medical Mutual, Optum, United Healthcare, and SummaCare plans for Speech Therapy and/or ABA Therapy.  We will also help families to get reimbursed for out of network services. We will do what we can to help you get reimbursed, fill out forms, fax info, etc. We would be more than happy to provide your insurance company with any documentation, certification, licensure, NPI, & TID numbers.

Does Peak Potential Therapy Offer Occupational Therapy (OT)?

Peak Potential Therapy offers Occupational Therapy (OT) for out-of-network. We are actively working to become in-network with insurance companies listed above.

How Long Does It Take to Be Approved for the Autism Scholarship Program?

The Ohio Department of Education (ODE-ASP) works very quickly and approves you within a few days. However, your school district needs to cooperate with your request. Most school districts are fine about this, but there are always a few who fight to have the children stay in the district (so they don’t lose the funds).

What Is the Difference Between Your Recreational & Therapeutic camps?