What You Should Look for in a Speech-language Pathologist?

If you are in need of Speech-Language Pathology services you may be entering into an area with which, you are unfamiliar. If you, or someone you are responsible for has a communication need, you will find that health care providers may recommend a Speech-Language Pathologist (SLP) – here’s how to go about finding the right one for you:

The first thing you need to know is whether the SLP you are considering will allow you to set your own appointment or whether a medical referral is required. SLP’s in private practice do not require you to have a medical referral – you can simply call and arrange for an appointment at your convenience. Then you need to know if they accept clients for the particular age group of the individual in need of services. Some SLP’s treat specific age groups whereas others accept clients of any age.

Availability is important. You need to know that the services you need will be available where and when you need them. Some clients have special needs and the SLP may need to travel to a location outside of their clinical setting.

You want to feel comfortable with the SLP that you choose and to know that you are receiving individualized attention. You should be able to ask questions and get satisfactory answers and if you have any concerns these should be addressed. It is important to be kept informed as to the progress that is being made and have recommendations made that would be beneficial during the course of treatment. Of course you will want to know the credentials of the professional that you are going to be working with.

At S. L. Hunter & Associates we have a strong commitment to providing quality care to all clients. All our SLP’s and CDA’s are fully qualified and hired based not only on skill and experience, but on possessing the qualities that make them a good fit with our unique team. If you or someone you know needs the assistance of a Speech-Language Pathologist, we can help.

The offices of S.L. Hunter & Associates are located at 5195 Harvester Rd. Unit 4B. We can be reached by telephone at 905-637-5522 or online at www.slhunter.ca.