Speech, Language, and Hearing disorders affect 1 in 6 people. See the tip sheet below for more information.
Usually we can arrange for assessment appointments within 2-3 weeks, depending on how much time/how comprehensive an assessment is needed. Reports are typically ready within 2 weeks after an assessment.
Voice therapy is usually recommended when speaking habits are potentially causing harm your larynx, or following medical interventions such as surgery. Sometimes voice therapy will be prescribed to try to avoid surgical options.
The goal of voice therapy is to help restore the best voice possible to meet your occupational and social needs.
The duration of voice therapy depends on many factors including the severity of the issue, the nature of the problem, and the client follow-through and practice. We tend to start voice therapy intensively with at least 1 hr per week, and then follow up with 1 session every 2 weeks until maintenance of your new voice is achieved.
Voice therapy ends when any tissue changes have been eliminated or reversed, when your voice sounds improved to you, when any physical symptoms such as pain are gone, and there is no return of symptoms.
We work closely with your family physician and/or Ear, Nose, and Throat physician (ENT) to monitor your progress and any underlying conditions which may be contributing to your voice disorder.
Lack of improvement after an appropriate trial of therapy is also an indication that another approach may be warranted.
There is a shortage of qualified SLP’s in this province, so waitlists are a reality in BC. We strive to provide intensive, effective, individualized services. We do keep a waitlist for therapy hours, as we can only serve so many clients at one time and maintain excellent service. Sometimes we can offer assessments, one-time consultations, or brief therapy blocks around our already scheduled times. We have Communication Health Assistants and Speech Language Pathology Assistants who are trained to provide therapy under the supervision and treatment plan of an SLP. Please email us or call if you have any questions, or if you want to get onto our waitlist.
No. We provide services for all ages. One in 6 people have a Communication Disorder of some type in their lifetime. Speech pathologists are trained to assess, diagnose and treat communication disorders that occur in all age groups. Speech and Hearing BC has more information about communication disorders and their treatment.
YES.
If someone has an ASD, they have social communication difficulties even if they have strong verbal skills. These difficulties may include:
- initiating conversations
- staying with the conversation (turn taking)
- understanding sarcasm, humor, or other figurative language
- sharing enjoyment of activities
- understanding or using non-verbal gestures and facial expressions
- understanding abstract concepts
- understanding other people’s perspectives or intentions
- motor planning for clear speech production
If the person is still non-verbal, picture communication systems or voice output devices can be used to encourage interaction and communication development.
Check out these information pages and checklists. If you have concerns or questions we would be happy to help!
early child speech and language development
elementary school speech and language development
Social learning groups allow students to take lessons and concepts they have learned in individual therapy and in school, and put them into practice with peers in a less structured, but facilitated environment. Successful interactions with peers encourage competent social engagement, self-regulation, and executive function skills.
Services in the public sector have similar costs, but families are not billed for these.
SLPs in the private sector need to charge to cover their business costs and to make a competitive salary. Private practitioners have to buy their own assessments, materials, and clinic space and have no paid sick leave, educational leave, vacation pay, or employer-paid pension and have no income when clients cancel or no-show.
We are determined to recruit and provide competitive wages and benefits for excellent therapists so we can provide exceptional service to our clients!