5 Things to Look for in an SLP

Finding a SLP

With the new school year beginning soon, you may be on the hunt for a speech language pathologist (SLP). Working with a great SLP can help your child communicate their thoughts and needs more clearly, help them socialize with more comfort, and improve their ability to get the most out of their time in school.

Assuming that you’re considering a few different SLPs who are all experienced and certified, how do you go about choosing the right one for you and your child? Here are five tips to help you decide:

1. Pick an SLP who can work with your child in your preferred setting.You may prefer the privacy and distraction-free environment of a clinic for your child’s speech and language sessions. Or you might prefer the convenience or added comfort for your child of having an SLP come to your home. Make sure that the SLP you choose is ready and eager to meet you and your child on your own terms.

2. Choose someone kind.Be sure that the person you choose is a genuinely kind and patient person who takes joy out of working with children. If they often seem flustered or overly stern, they may not be the person to help your child.

3. Choose someone your child likes. This may seem like a no-brainer, but in your hurry to choose an SLP, you may forget to actually introduce your child to your favorite candidates and see who they like best. If your child develops a genuine connection with someone or feels more comfortable with one SLP over another, that can have a huge impact on how well they progress with their speech and language goals.

4. Choose a good listener.You know your child better than anyone. You should be able to talk to your SLP about the behaviors or speech issues that you have observed in your child and feel that you have their full attention and understanding.

5. Choose a good communicator.If your SLP doesn’t bother to fill you in on what they’ve been working on with your child, things you should be watching for, or ways that you can help with your child’s therapy between sessions, that’s a problem. You need an SLP who encourages you to be an active participant in your child’s development.

Finding a SLP for your child isn’t always easy, but hopefully we can make it easier. Give our office a call to schedule a consultation with a highly experienced SLP in Chicago.