Speech Therapy (Speech-Language Pathology)

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 Speech therapy, also called speech-language pathology, helps individuals develop, improve, or maintain communication and feeding skills needed for daily life.

Speech therapy supports people across the lifespan, from young children to adults, and focuses on helping individuals communicate effectively and safely in their everyday environments.

 Speech therapy is provided by a licensed Speech-Language Pathologist (SLP) and focuses on communication, language, speech, and feeding or swallowing skills.

Speech therapy may help individuals:

• Understand and use language 
• Speak clearly and be understood 
• Communicate wants, needs, and ideas 
• Safely eat and drink 
• Use alternative or augmentative communication (AAC) when needed
   

Speech therapy is individualized, with goals based on the person’s needs, strengths, and daily routines.

 Speech therapy may focus on:

• Expressive language (using words, signs, or AAC) 
• Receptive language (understanding language) 
• Speech sound production and articulation 
• Fluency (stuttering) 
• Voice and resonance 
• Social communication and pragmatic skills 
• Feeding and swallowing skills 
• AAC use, including picture systems or speech-generating devices
   

Goals are functional and designed to support communication in real-life situations.

 Speech therapy may be recommended for individuals who:

• Have delayed speech or language development 
• Have difficulty being understood 
• Struggle to understand directions or questions 
• Have feeding or swallowing challenges 
• Have a diagnosis such as autism, developmental delay, cerebral palsy, or genetic conditions 
• Experience speech or language changes due to illness, injury, or neurological conditions
   

Speech therapy is not limited to children with a diagnosis. Many individuals qualify based on functional need alone.

 Speech therapy can be delivered in a variety of settings, depending on the individual’s needs and family preferences, including:

• Outpatient clinics 
• In-home therapy 
• EIDT or center-based programs 
• School-based services 
• Medical or rehabilitation settings
   

Each setting offers different advantages related to scheduling, environment, and integration into daily routines.

 Speech therapy is provided by a licensed Speech-Language Pathologist (SLP). SLPs are trained to evaluate, diagnose, and treat speech, language, communication, and feeding disorders.

The SLP is responsible for:

• Conducting evaluations 
• Developing individualized treatment plans 
• Monitoring progress 
• Adjusting goals as skills develop

 Speech therapy may be covered through:

• Medicaid, including TEFRA when applicable 
• Private insurance 
• ARKids 
• School-based services, when related to educational access
• First Connections
   

Coverage depends on medical necessity, service setting, and payer requirements. 

Families may receive speech therapy through multiple systems at the same time, such as school-based services combined with outpatient therapy.

 Explore therapy funding options in Arkansas
Learn about Medicaid, TEFRA, ARKids, ARHIPP, waivers, and private insurance. 

 It’s helpful for families to understand that:

• Medical speech therapy (outpatient, in-home, EIDT) focuses on functional communication and feeding needs. 
• School-based speech therapy focuses on skills needed to access education.
   

Both can be appropriate — and many families use both when needed.

 Speech therapy can benefit many individuals, but the frequency, goals, and setting should be tailored to:

• The individual’s communication needs 
• Attention and learning style 
• Family schedule and routines 
• Availability of services in the community
   

Speech therapy is often most effective when families and caregivers are actively involved and supported with strategies to use outside of sessions.

 Understanding where speech therapy is delivered can help families decide what fits best.

You can explore different speech therapy settings here:

• Outpatient speech therapy 
• In-home speech therapy 
• Speech therapy within EIDT programs 
• School-based speech therapy
   

 Explore Speech Therapy Settings 

 We’re currently building provider pages to help families:

• Find speech therapy providers by location 
• Compare service settings and scheduling options 
• Understand accepted insurance and funding sources
   

Speech therapy provider listings coming soon.