If your child is struggling with their speech, as a parent, you might be thinking: How do I find a good speech pathologist near me?
Finding a good speech pathologist that your child is comfortable with and responds to can sometimes be difficult. However, there are some key factors to look for when choosing a speech pathologist that can help make your decision a little bit easier. At Alex V. Speech Pathology, we specialise in children’s speech therapy, focusing on treating children in a holistic way that is completely tailored to their specific needs.
They are Adaptable
One of the most important traits that a speech pathologist should have is the ability to be adaptable to their client’s needs. The most effective treatments will be those that are tailored to the child’s interests, learning styles and specific needs; therefore, your speech pathologist needs to consider this in their treatment plan.
Of course, it will take most speech therapists some time to work out how your child responds to treatment. However, if your child doesn’t seem to be responding to the activities and treatments after some time, check to see if your speech pathologist is changing their approach to get the most out of each session.
At Alex V. Speech Pathology, we don’t believe in a one size fits all treatment plan. We completely customise each session to each child; their interests, hobbies, life milestones, ethnicity and family environment.
They have Patience
Working with children requires a significant amount of patience, especially in appointments where the child has to focus. Therefore, it’s really important that your speech pathologist is patient and compassionate with your child. It’s understandable that there will be time where your child isn’t feeling well or has had a tough day at school, and the last thing they feel like doing is coming to a speech therapy appointment. Therefore, your speech pathologist needs to take the time to see what’s going to work for your child that day and rearrange appointments if needed.
At Alex V. Speech Pathology, we only work with children, so we know how important it is to be patient with every child we treat.
They are Passionate
It goes without saying that all speech pathologists should be passionate about their job. At Alex V. Speech Pathology, treating children’s speech disorders is our passion and there is nothing more rewarding for us than seeing a child progress. We understand that treating children requires a different focus, and we prioritise making our environment child friendly, removing the ‘clinical’ element from our clinic.
They are Assertive
While it is important to be patient and kind, it’s important that your child’s speech pathologist is assertive when treating your child. Enough assertiveness balanced with kindness and rapport will ensure that your child will progress with their treatment plan. It’s also important that your speech pathologist gives your child homework to do outside of sessions, and parents should also be assertive and encourage their child to complete homework tasks.
They Keep Learning
As speech pathology is a field that is constantly changing, it’s important that your speech pathologist has evidence of up-skilling and professional development. This will help to support their current practices and even open up new treatment possibilities for your child, especially if they have a complex speech disorder.
Speech Pathology Australia has a program where they monitor their members development on an annual basis to ensure they’re adhering to practices. The speech pathologists at Alex. V Speech Pathology are members of Speech Pathology Australia and is registered with the Speech Pathology Board of Australia.