There are a number of reasons to go for private speech and language therapy; perhaps you are experiencing long waiting lists in the public sector, or maybe you can't afford to wait.
Particularly when it comes to a child who is delayed in his/ her development compared to age- matched peers, time is the key and early intervention has been proven to demonstrate better outcomes in the long-term.

Here we present 5 Reasons to Choose Private Speech and Language Therapy:
  • Shorter waiting lists - Currently at the ABSALT Clinic our clients wait no more than 2 weeks
  from first contact to attending for assessment.
  • You choose the service that suits your speech and language needs as there are no
  restrictions on the number of therapy sessions available to you. A block of therapy must of
  course be indicated by assessment however, but your therapist will advise you of what is
  necessary.
  In contrast to the public service where hardworking SLTs are restricted by budgets and
  stretched by large caseloads that mean they are trying their best to give everyone equal
  time, in a private speech and language therapy clinic you can determine:
  • The length of a session e.g. 30, 45 or 60 minutes
  • The regularity of sessions e.g. once per week, etc.
  • A review assessment/ written report at any point in your involvement with the
  clinic if you wish to get an update on your own or your child’s progress.
  • Where the session takes place – if you feel it would be easier to conduct the
  sessions in your own home then you can negotiate this with your speech and
  language therapist. This will however incur an additional charge and possibly also
  include a travel charge as well.
  •  Specialist services – conducting research into a particular area can help you to identify if
  there are any speech and language therapists who specialize in your area of need. This
  means that you can contact that therapist directly and avail of their knowledge and expertise.
  • While private speech and language therapy does cost you money, many private health
  insurance companies cover speech and language therapy which means that you can
  reclaim the cost. You can also claim tax back on private speech and language therapy
  fees using the MED 1 form from the tax office. Remember, you will need a receipt from the
  speech and language therapy clinic in order to register these claims.
  • Flexible hours! Many speech and language therapy clinics work between the hours of 9am
  – 5pm, however some clinics (such as ABSALT Clinic) are now making their appointment
  times more flexible, including ABSALT Clinic’s Saturday morning appointments and
  evening appointments both of which are bookable by request.

So there you have it… 5 reasons to go for private speech and language therapy. Please feel free to leave a comment if you found this article helpful or e-mail absalt@speechtherapist.ie. Alternatively you can call or text Adrian on 086 664 2238.

This blog was written using information provided in the FAQ section of the IASLTPP website (see attached link).