FAQs

  • Speech therapy may be included in your health benefits plan if you have extended health benefits. It is recommended that you contact your insurance provider prior to receiving services to find out what your specific plan includes.

  • No, direct billing of your insurance provider is not possible. Receipts will be issued when invoices are paid. These receipts can be submitted by you to your insurance provider. All of the necessary credentials and certification numbers that your insurance company requires are included on the receipts.

  • Invoices and receipts are sent through the Square billing platform.

  • Payments may be made with credit card, debit card, or via e-transfer.

  • Once a therapy time is assigned, it is expected that the client attends each scheduled session. Sessions may be cancelled by providing 24 hours notice. Appointments missed without adequate notice may result in a full charge. Exceptions may be made in extenuating circumstances.

  • Most sessions take place in my office. Due to the amount of materials required to manage therapy sessions, travel to a client’s home is not provided. Teletherapy may be provided in limited situations, but only for clients ages 9 and up.

  • In most cases, a full evaluation is necessary in order to set goals and determine a treatment program. Where there has been a history of previous treatment, it may be possible to complete a less formal evaluation, as long as previous reports are made available for review.

  • You can refer yourself or your child for speech therapy or myofunctional services on your own. You do not need a referral from any other professional. If your child is not developing their communication skills, their classroom teacher may wish to refer you for a speech evaluation. Occasionally, you may be referred for an orofacial myofunctional evaluation by your dentist or orthodontist, or by a Speech-Language Pathologist who does not have training in OMDs.

  • Professionals may send referrals via email to goodmanspeechtx@gmail.com. If you are self-referring, please contact me to set up a 15-minute phone consultation so that we can determine whether my services are appropriate for your needs.

  • I work with adults and with children age 4 and older.

  • Younger children typically need to come once per week, but older children and adults can come on a less frequent schedule if desired, dependent on the nature and severity of the problem and the motivation level of the client.

  • Treatment length will vary for each client, depending on the severity of the problem and the level of practice that is maintained outside of therapy sessions. Projections for the amount of time any particular client will need to spend in therapy is discussed after an initial evaluation is completed.

  • In addition to the client, it is also possible and actually highly encouraged for parents and/or other significant individuals to attend the session alongside. Practice requirements are easier to understand when sessions are observed directly.

  • A child who does not say sounds by the expected ages may have a speech sound disorder.

    It is normal for children to say some sounds incorrectly as they are learning to talk. Most children can say almost all sounds correctly by the time they are four years old.

    Click here to download an infographic.

  • Orofacial Myofunctional Disorders (OMDs) are abnormal movement patterns of the face and mouth. OMDs affect both children and adults and are often an undetected factor in speech problems and other health issues. OMDs can interfere with the development of the muscles and bones of the face and mouth. People with OMDs may have difficulty speaking, eating, and breathing through the nose.

  • Persistent speech errors beyond age 5 or 6.

    "Slushy" sounding speech

    Mouth breathing

    Tongue thrusting

    Thumb-sucking or nail biting

    Messy eating

    Overbite or underbite

    Orthodontic relapse

    TMJ Problems

    Headaches/Migraines

    Allergies/Asthma

    Neck or jaw pain

    Snoring/ Sleep Apnea

  • An Orofacial Myofunctional Disorder is frequently the result of a combination of factors such as those listed below:

    • A restricted nasal airway due to enlarged tonsils/adenoids, deviated septum, and/or allergies.

    • Improper oral habits such as thumb or finger sucking, nail biting, teeth clenching/grinding

    • Extended use of a pacifier and/or long-term use of sippy cups

    • Structural or physiological abnormalities which may include a short lingual frenum (tongue-tie).

    • Of all of these factors, lack of nasal breathing is the most commonly noted cause.

Most Speech-Language Pathologists (SLPs) in Canada do not have training in Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy. It is considered an area of specialty, and it is not currently taught as part of the regular curriculum in Canadian SLP training programs. If your SLP has not taken specialized training from a recognized certifying body in the area of Orofacial Myofunctional Disorders, they cannot call themselves an Orofacial Myofunctional Therapist. Speech therapy from a myofunctional perspective differs from regular speech therapy in that it focuses on correcting the underlying movement patterns for speech, chewing, swallowing, and breathing. When movement patterns improve, speech errors are more easily corrected.