Good News Regarding Neurodevelopmental Delays and Age Restrictions!

When it comes to children, Speech Therapy is almost always a 'habilitative' service, that is, it helps a person learn, keep, or improve skills and functional abilities that they may not be developing normally.  As opposed to a 'rehabilitative' service which focuses on regaining skills and abilities lost to injury or illness (ie: broken jaw or stroke).

Why does this matter?  Most insurance companies in WA State have two categories for Speech Therapy (one for 'rehabilitative' and the other for 'habilitative' services called 'neurodevelopmental therapy') and the benefit's for each differ severely.  Neuro-therapy is typically only covered for children six and younger.  So at a time when a child may need Speech Therapy the most their benefits are cut off and the parents are forced to pay out of pocket or more likely stop receiving services.

Recently a U.S. District Court judge ruled that Group Health of WA must remove age restrictions on certain neurodevelopmental therapies!  Lawsuits are also pending against Premera Blue Cross and Regence Blue Shield.

This has also gained the attention of the federal agencies that are developing regulations for the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, health care reform legislation starting in 2014.  Hopefully we will see this age restriction removed on all insurance plans nationwide so that our children can continue receiving the services they need to flourish!

Grand Opening!

Join us in celebrating the Grand Opening of our new Maple Valley office!

Thursday, October 4th from 6:00 - 8:00pm

Enjoy food, beverages and good conversation as we ceremoniously cut the large ribbon and open the doors to our new Speech & Language Therapy clinic!

Details can be found here: http://www.facebook.com/events/235157393277830/

Please RSVP if you plan on attending: todd@rocktherapyservices.com

Summer Social Groups!

• Summer is almost here, don't miss out on our Speech & Language Social Groups!

• This is a great opportunity to bridge the Social & Emotional Development gaps between school years while also strengthening Speech & Language skills!

Here are some program details:
When:  July 16 - August 23 (6 weeks!), Monday through Thursday for 90 minutes each day.
Where:  In our NEW Maple Valley Office!
Who:  The groups will consist of 4-6 students plus 1 or 2 peer models and 1 or 2 instructors.

Program Activities:

• Imaginative Play - Utilizing language to initiate and maintain appropriate social interactions.
• Game Play - Encouraging the conversational skills necessary to initiate and maintain game play and casual conversation while also learning how to cope with the emotional effects of winning or losing.
• Reading - With a focus on correct articulation.

Register Soon, Space is Limited and Will Fill Up Fast!


Email todd@rocktherapyservices.com to get an application.

How Can I Help My Child? - Talk to Them!

We get a lot of questions from parents asking for ways in which they can help, aid and assist in their child's Speech and Language development.  This is a topic that we'll revisit often as there are many things that you can do to facilitate your child.  In this first post we'll discuss:

Using Your Language to Grow Your Child's

From the moment your child can hear, they are absorbing all of the language they hear in preparation to one day use it themselves!  Needless to say, the way you communicate with your child is extremely influential.  A research study by Risly and Hart (2006) found that the amount of 'family talk' surrounding a child correlated directly with that child's vocabulary and IQ at age three and up to age nine.

Let's break down four ways in which parents can talk with their children:

• Self Talk - Using short sentences to describe what the parent is doing as they do it.  For example if you are cooking breakfast you may say, "Mommy is cracking the eggs!" or "I am stirring!"
• Parallel Talk - Using short sentences to describe what the child is doing as they do it.  "You're pouring the milk!" or "You ate the cereal!"
• Description - Describing an object that the child is currently engaged with.  "That milk is cold." or "The cereal is crunchy!"
• Expansion - Expanding what the child says by one or two words.  Child: "Milk!"  Parent: "Yummy milk!" or "Lets drink the milk!" or "Milk is in the cup!"

Notice how in the examples above you're never asking questions of the child, you're simply modeling language.   Just as your child watches you drive and then wants to sit in the drivers seat themselves and move the steering wheel back and forth, or observes you shopping and then wants to walk around the house wearing your shoes and carrying a purse; your child will naturally mimic the way you communicate around them.

So what does this mean for you?

Pay attention to the type of conversation you're having with your child.  Are you using 'commanding' dialogue?  "Do this!", "Come here!", "Put that down!"

Or are you engaging your child with positive, conversational talk in which you describe and make sense of the world around them?!

A balance between the short, focused language discussed above and longer, more typical conversational sentences will help your child put it all together!

Autism Fundraiser!

Join Rock Therapeutic Services at the 
St. Patrick's Day Dash and help support the
Seattle Children's Autism Center!

The family friendly dash is on March 17th at Seattle Center, more details can be found here: http://stpatsdash.com/

Bring your kiddos out for the Leprechaun Lap,

a half mile dash just for wee ones 10 & under.

To register on team Rock Therapeutic Services click here:

https://secure.getmeregistered.com/homepage.php?id=3413

We look forward to seeing you there!

Why should you know about Senate Bill 5756?

Senate Bill 5756 expands insurance coverage of neurodevelopmental therapies to individuals age 18 and under!

Why is this important?   Currently, "neurodevelopmental" therapies (speech, physical, occupational, etc.) are only covered for children age 6 and under.  Once a child turns 7 their insurance will no longer cover such services and the family is forced to pay out of pocket.  Many families cannot afford to do this and the child's quality of life suffers.

SB 5756 allows children to continue getting the
therapy they need instead of falling through the cracks.

What can you do?   Use the template below to send an email to each of the following senators:

karen.keiser@leg.wa.gov  (District 33)

steve.conway@leg.wa.gov (District 29)

randi.becker@leg.wa.gov (District 2)

michael.carrell@leg.wa.gov (District 28)

david.frockt@leg.wa.gov (District 46)

adam.kline@leg.wa.gov (District 37)

linda.parlette@leg.wa.gov (District12)

cheryl.pflug@leg.wa.gov (District 5)

craig.pridemore@leg.wa.gov (District 49)

Use the following link to find out who your legislators are:

http://apps.leg.wa.gov/DistrictFinder/Default.aspx

Dear Senator ______________:
RE: Support SB 5756 - expanding insurance coverage of neurodevelopmental therapies

(If you are a constituent of this senator, be sure to say that at the beginning of this letter). 

I am the parent of a child who receives speech therapy.  Currently speech therapy services are covered by employer-sponsored group policy for comprehensive health insurance for children with neurodevelopmental disabilities age six years and under. SB 5756 would expand health converage to children 18 years and under. This would fill an important gap in coverage for children who need medically-necessary therapies that are evidence-based and cost effective.

(Add a personal story about your child or a child you serve who would benefit from this legislation. Emphasize how speech therapy has made a difference in this child's life and his/her family.)

Thank you for considering to support SB 5756.

Sincerely, 

(Include your name and credentials)karen.keiser@leg.wa.gov

Rock Therapeutic Services has a Blog!

Welcome to our blog!

This will be a compassionate and friendly place where families can learn about Speech & Language Therapy.  Whether you're wondering if your child needs therapy or if they're already involved in therapy, you have found a great place to get information!  Let's dive right in...

We have many families asking, "What are Speech and Language Disorders?"

Speech is the verbal means of communicating.  A person has a speech disorder if they have trouble with:

• Articulation -  Pronouncing sounds (i.e.: saying 'wabbit' instead of 'rabbit', or 'tup' for 'cup')
• Voice - Use of the vocal folds and breathing to produce sound (i.e.: a hoarse or nasal voice)
• Fluency - The rhythm of speech (i.e.: stuttering)

Language is made up of words and the rules in which we use them.  For example, the definitions of words and how we put them together to communicate are part of language.  A person has a language disorder when they have trouble with:

• Receptive Language - Understanding and processing language (i.e.: following directions)
• Expressive Language - Sharing thoughts and feelings by using words to communicate with others

About me, Adrienne Rock!

I graduated from Minot State University with a BS in Communication Disorders and an MS in Speech-Language Pathology.

My career began in Long Island, NY, where I helped children with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD).  This is where my passion in understanding and treating children with ASD began.  My expertise solidified when I moved to Washington State and contracted with several school districts and private practices.  It was here that I fully appreciated and experienced the team approach to assessing and providing intervention to children with ASD in a community effort.

In 2004 I founded Rock Therapeutic Services with the purpose of specializing in ASD and a particular emphasis on Applied Behavior Analysis.  During this time, I have been blessed to work with children and families in a variety of settings including hospitals, rehabilitation facilities, schools as well as private practices serving children ages birth to 18.

If you don't know what any of the industry specific terminology stated above means, don't worry!  What's important is that I strongly believe in the therapeutic process and am passionate about helping children grow and helping families become advocates for their children.  

Adrienne Rock, M.S., CCC-SLP