Frequently Asked Questions
How often will my child need therapy?
Do you accept insurance?
My child didn’t qualify for services at school. Does that mean he/she doesn’t need
speech therapy?
If my child has an IEP in the school, can he/she receive speech therapy with you?
Where does therapy take place?
What do sessions look like?
Are parents or caregivers allowed in your sessions?
What is orofacial myofunctional therapy (OMT)?
Following an evaluation, a speech-language pathologist will discuss recommendations with you regarding the recommended frequency of therapy sessions. This is dependent on each child’s and family’s unique needs. Sessions are commonly recommended for 1-2 sessions per week.
Yes! We are in-network with Blue Cross Blue Shield insurance plans. We are considered an out-of-network provider for all other insurance providers. For out-of-network speech therapy, we are able to provide you with a superbill or medical receipt, at your request, in order to seek reimbursement for therapy sessions. We recommend you call your insurance provider to find out if you are eligible for out-of-network speech therapy. We are happy to speak with you to help you understand what specific questions to ask your insurance provider. If you have a HSA/FSA card, you may use that to pay for therapy services.
No, not necessarily. When children do not qualify for speech and language services at school, it means that they did not meet their specific eligibility criteria for the public school system. School-based speech therapy services are available for the purpose of helping the student access the educational curriculum, and students must demonstrate an educational need for services. For private speech therapy, an evaluation can be initiated when there is a concern about any aspect of your child’s speech and language development.
Yes! There are many families who choose to receive private speech therapy in addition to school-based therapy. One of the benefits is that we can provide you with 1 on 1, quality, family-centered therapy. We love working closely with our families and developing relationships. Some families also choose to do private speech therapy during the summer months in order to maintain their skills while school is out. If your child has an updated IEP, give us a call. If a comprehensive evaluation was completed recently, we may be able to rely on your child’s school evaluation and IEP.
We provide speech therapy in our clinic located in downtown Tomball or in nearby daycares, preschools, and/or private schools. Daycare, preschool, and private school visits are limited and based on therapist availability and location. Give us a call today to see if we have availability to see your child at their school.
Therapy sessions are typically 30 minutes and are play-based and child-led. We believe in connection over compliance. We love to incorporate each child’s own interests into therapy in a play-based manner in order to make therapy fun and effective.
Absolutely! We value families being involved in this process. We want families to know and observe what we’re working on in speech therapy so that they can carryover skills at home. We love to have parents be active participants in therapy with us.
Orofacial myology is “the study and treatment of oral and facial muscles as they relate to speech, dentition, chewing/bolus collection, swallowing, and overall mental and physical health”(Sandra R. Holtzman). Myofunctional therapy is ideal for children and adults 4 years and up, dependent on each child’s attention, maturity, and ability to comprehend and follow directions. The goals of orofacial myofunctional therapy are to help ensure proper oral rest posture
throughout the day (e.g., tongue up resting on the roof of your mouth, teeth slightly apart, lips sealed, and breathing from your nose). We work closely with ENTs, orthodontists, pediatric dentists, oral surgeons, and lactation consultants in the area to provide your child with the best
care possible.
What are the signs my child may have an Orofacial Myofunctional Disorder (OMD)?
● Tongue thrust
● Open mouth at rest
● Mouth breathing during the day and/or at night
● Excessive drooling
● Frequent chapped lips
● Prolonged oral habits (e.g., thumb or finger sucking, pacifier use, nail biting, chewing
objects)
● Difficulty chewing or swallowing
● Articulation or speech sound issues, particularly with the following sounds: t, d, n, s, z, sh, ch, j
● Long facial growth
● Recessed chin
● Poor sleep (e.g., dark circles under eye, wakes frequently, snores, wakes feeling
unrefreshed)
● TMJ issues
● Tongue or lip tie
● Frequent headaches
