Speech therapy questions

Hi there, I have a minimally verbal 2 yo with mild cp and accompanying dysarthria - essentially weak muscle tone in the mouth. We have been seeing a prompt certified therapist privately who is great but $600 month (in addition to two hours of traditional speech therapy from EI). Can't afford the private therapist for much longer. I can get a prompt "trained" therapist from EI for free, but I'm told there's a big difference between prompt trained and prompt certified? Can anyone shed any light?

Also does anyone know of any great group speech therapy places?

Thanks!

Re: Speech therapy questions

There is a very big difference between PROMPT trained and PROMPT certified. Training is where they learn the techniques, but they don't necessarily have enough practice in the analysis of the motor planning errors/strengths. It gets fairly complicated. However, the second level is called BRIDGING and this is where they take the methods and apply it to intervention. The certification comes when the therapist works on BRIDGING for quite sometime (it may be a year). They have a mentor and they have to videotape sessions etc.

Now there are PROMPT certified therapists that work through agencies,...there is a way to possibly get a PROMPT certified or at least one at the BRIDGING level through EI or CPSE. My daughter's SLP during EI was PROMPT certified. Not all 'certified" are in private practice...so it can be done. The PROMPT institute website lists the therapists by their qualification and their location.

YOu can also try to go through insurance.....which may help you with cost. However, many times speech therapy is not covered. It is in the case of autism, but I am not sure about CP.

http://www.lispeechandmyo.com/

I will send you a FM.

Message edited 7/29/2014 7:59:40 PM.

Re: Speech therapy questions

Thank you SO much for the feedback :) I am so torn, the therapist we see right now is supposedly one of the best and does not take insurance and I have a huge oon deductible...of course I want my son to have the best but I have to weigh his needs against the rest of the family's :/ and. $600 a month is a LoT.

My coordinator told me they do not have prompt certified therapists...just trained. But I will ask about the bridging. :) thank you again!

Message edited 7/29/2014 8:26:07 PM.