combining Ability Resources, LLC &
Professional Speech Services of Alabama, P.C.
205.978.9939
(fax) 205.968.4157
3057 Lorna Road, Suite 220
Birmingham, AL 35216
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Frequently Asked Questions1. Does my child need occupational therapy? 2. Does my child need speech therapy? 3. Does my child need physical therapy? 5. How is private speech therapy different from the therapy provided at my child’s public school? 6. Will my insurance cover occupational, physical, or speech therapy services? 7. How often will my child need occupational or physical therapy services? 8. How long will my child need occupational therapy? 9. What steps do I take to obtain an evaluation from Child’sPlay Therapy Center? 10. What other services do you offer at Child’sPlay? 1.
Does my child need occupational therapy? Occupational therapy benefits children who have delays in fine and gross motor skills, sensory processing, and self care skills. If your child has difficulty with any of the following, occupational therapy can help.
2. Does my child need speech therapy? 3. Does my child need physical therapy? Difficulty with gross motor skills such as walking, running, playing on playground equipment, stair climbing 4. How is private occupational or physical therapy different from the therapy provided at my child’s public school? Occupational and physical therapy provided through the public school system are categorized as related services. This means that in order for a child to receive occupational or physical therapy as a free service through the public school, the child must qualify for special education services. A child cannot receive occupational or physical therapy unless they meet the criterion set up by the state to be eligible for special education. Many students who do not meet this criterion need occupational or physical therapy services. Additionally, students who do qualify for occupational or physical therapy at school might need additional therapy. While school occupational and physical therapists are highly qualified and perform an excellent service, the realities of school based practice often mean the therapist carries a large caseload and the amount of service provided could be minimal.
5. How is private speech therapy different from the therapy provided at my child’s public school? In the state of Alabama, speech/language impairment is considered a disability area and a child can qualify for speech therapy services at school even if they do not receive any other types of academic special education services. The state has a specific criterion, or test score, that a child must score below in order to qualify for these services. Many students who do not meet this criterion need speech therapy services. Additionally, students who do qualify for speech therapy at school might need additional therapy. While school speech therapists are highly qualified and perform an excellent service, the realities of school based practice often mean the therapist carries a large caseload and the amount of service provided could be minimal.
6. Will my insurance cover occupational/physical/speech therapy services? Insurance coverage for occupational and physical therapy varies widely. You will need to check with your insurance company to determine what coverage, if any, you have for occupational and/or physical therapy services, as well as what your deductible and co-insurance will be. Child’sPlay is now a “preferred” provider with Blue Cross and Blue Shield for occupational and physical therapy services. Regarding insurance coverage for speech therapy services, we currently file your insurance with most third party payers. It is your responsibility to check with your insurance company to find out if you have coverage for speech services. You also are responsible for determining your deductible and subsequent co-insurance for therapy.
7. How often will my child need occupational/physical/speech therapy services? The frequency of service is determined by several factors including the severity of the need, the age and attention span of the child, and your personal schedule. Most children receiving services at Child’sPlay Therapy Center attend 1-2 times per week. The length of the session also varies, with most children having 30 or 45 minute sessions. These decisions will be made following the evaluation and will be made by you and your therapist.
8.How long will my child need occupational/physical/speech therapy? The length of time that therapy services are needed varies widely from child to child. Regular collaboration between you and your therapist will guide this decision.
9.What steps do I need to take to obtain an occupational, physical or speech therapy evaluation at Child’sPlay? The first step is to call our office at 978-9939. We will obtain information from you regarding your concerns about your child and answer any questions you might have. Before scheduling your occupational or physical therapy evaluation we will need to receive a physician’s prescription for therapy services. This is a requirement for all licensed occupational and physical therapists in the state of Alabama and is required even if you will not be filing insurance. This usually does not require a visit to your pediatrician. You can simply call their office and ask them to fax the prescription to our office at 968-4157. Upon receipt of your prescription, we will call you to set up the evaluation. A physician’s prescription is not needed for a speech evaluation and we can often schedule your speech evaluation when you make your initial inquiry.
10. What other services do you offer at Child’sPlay? In addition to our three major therapy areas, Child’sPlay offers: |