First Time Patients
You’re ready to get started!
What does the process look like?
Step 1: How to Schedule an Evaluation
At your first appointment, an evaluation will be conducted to determine the present level of the individual’s skills.
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Contact our office at (201) 297-9167 or info@gardenstatespeech.com
Our intake coordinators will ask about your concerns and will collect basic biographical information such as the patient’s name, date of birth, insurance information, and location preference. Once our office receives your insurance information we will verify your coverage for services and will discuss your coverage with you.
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A therapist will contact you to schedule the evaluation appointment. At GSST all evaluations are conducted during the morning/early afternoon hours. After-school appointments are reserved for therapy only. Evaluation appointments take about 60 minutes depending on the needs of our clients. Prior to the evaluation, you will be asked to complete an intake questionnaire. You will be present throughout the evaluation.
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At your evaluation appointment, your therapist will talk further with you about your concerns, what goals you or your child have for therapy, and review pertinent medical history. The therapist may administer a formal assessment to evaluate skills in the area of concern and/or interact through play or conversational activities in order to gain an understanding of skills in a more natural context.
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You will receive a written evaluation report within 2-3 weeks following the evaluation.
Step 2: Therapy Sessions
● If therapy is recommended, a plan of care with a list of your child’s therapy goals will be reviewed with you.
● The evaluating therapist will collect your availability. Depending on availability, therapy will either be scheduled at the time of the evaluation or you will be contacted as soon as your desired session time is available.
● Any paperwork required by your insurance carrier will be submitted for authorization of therapy sessions by our office for in-network insurance companies
● Therapy sessions are offered at 30-minute intervals.
● Our approach ensures that each therapy appointment is a dedicated and recurrent commitment, with treatment delivered at the same time, by the same experienced therapist, in the comfort of the same location every week.
FAQ
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We provide speech, occupational, and feeding therapy. Our speech therapy services span from pediatrics to adults and address speech and language disorders, voice therapy, social skills therapy, cognitive therapy, Parkinson’s therapy, aphasia therapy, apraxia of speech, treatment for traumatic brain injury, dysphagia therapy, aural rehabilitation, accent modification, and life skills. Our occupational therapy services focus on enhancing daily living skills, fine and gross motor coordination, and sensory processing. We offer feeding therapy for oral-motor disorders, swallowing disorders and picky eaters. At our multidisciplinary practice, we are committed to fostering a supportive and collaborative environment. Our team of experienced and compassionate therapists works tirelessly to empower individuals to reach their full communication and functional potential. If you have specific questions or if you’re interested in a particular service, please contact us. We look forward to the opportunity to assist you on your journey toward improved communication and enhanced quality of life.
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A multidisciplinary practice involves professionals from different fields working together to address diverse client needs. At Garden State Speech Therapy, this includes our speech and occupational therapists. This collaborative approach allows us to offer a more integrated and personalized treatment. By combining the expertise of speech therapists and occupational therapists, we provide holistic care that considers sensory, motor, cognitive, and communication aspects. This approach ensures seamless coordination, comprehensive assessments, and better outcomes for our clients and families.
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If you would like to speak with a therapist about your concerns, you can book a free consultation. A free consultation consists of a 10-15 minute phone call where you can talk with one of our therapists about your concerns without committing to a full evaluation. The therapist will ask questions about your child’s development and will let you know if they feel a complete evaluation is warranted at this time. Please note that the therapist will not be able to make diagnostic/ treatment/goal recommendations without a complete evaluation.
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At GSST, we strive to provide timely and effective support to our clients. While we do our best to accommodate everyone promptly, the demand for our services can vary. If there is a waitlist in place for your desired day/time, we will make every effort to find a solution that meets your needs. Our team is dedicated to ensuring that everyone receives the attention and care they deserve.
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Unfamiliar listeners should be able to understand roughly 50% of their speech by age 2, 75% of their speech by age 3, and 100% of their speech by age 4.
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We believe in continuity and personalized care for each child. This depends on your desired day and time for therapy and the availability of the evaluating therapist. If the therapist who conducted the initial evaluation is not available during your desired day/time for ongoing weekly therapy, our team will collaborate closely to ensure a seamless transition. Our therapists work together to share observations and insights to guarantee consistent and effective support for your child. If you have specific preferences or concerns, please feel free to discuss them with our team, and we’ll do our best to accommodate your needs.
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GSST will call your insurance company and check coverage before you schedule your first session or evaluation so you can make an informed decision about any out-of-pocket expenses.
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Yes. Treatment of children with autism and working closely with their families is one of our specialties. We are committed to providing our staff with extensive continuing education and ongoing training opportunities related to working with Autistic population.
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The frequency and length of time that a child needs speech therapy are determined on an individual basis. During your child’s assessment, the speech therapist may give you an idea of what they anticipate based on your child’s needs. Therapy appointments are scheduled on a recurring basis: same location, day, and time with the same therapist.
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Yes, absolutely! We offer speech therapy services for adults. Whether you are seeking assistance with speech and language difficulties, voice disorders, aphasia therapy, accent modification, cognitive therapy, Parkinson’s therapy, dysphagia/swallowing difficulties, aural rehabilitation/auditory training, or any other challenges, our team of experienced speech therapists is here to provide comprehensive and personalized support.
