We are looking for feedback (positive or negative) about local speech therapists for a 2-3 year old.

If your child is under 3, you can go through the local ECI (Early Childhood Intervention) program and get good therapy on a sliding scale. It takes awhile to get all the paperwork done and get an appointment so if your child is close to 3, I would just contact the elementary school that you're zoned for and ask about options. They do provide speech through the schools starting at age 3. I've heard great things about the therapists at both the Brazos Valley Rehab center and St. Joseph's Rehab center. We used Hannah at St. Joseph's for my mother-in-law after her stroke but I'm not sure if she works with children. She had so much patience and encouragement for my mother-in-law that I'm sure she would be great with kids. Sorry I don't know more but we did ECI in Spring when we lived there so I don't know any of the therapists here.

Our child will be 3 in Dec so I guess it isn't worth it to go through ECI. We would be zoned for Johnson Elementary in Bryan. To go through the school, I guess we would just call after he turns 3? In the meantime, I'll look into St. Joe's. I'm assuming this isn't something insurance would generally pay for?

Actually, our insurance paid for it but the copay was around $30/visit so we just went through ECI since at the time, it was free. I know insurance paid for my MILs therapy and she has BC/BS. There's just a copay like at the doctor's office.

I would contact your pediatrician first. If I recall, you have to be referred to ECI, or at least we were when we used them. Even though you only have a few months until the 3rd birthday, ECI can provide you with wonderful, free in home therapy, and provide great references for after the 3rd birthday.

We had a fabulous therapist and we saw tremendous improvement in our kid in just a few months.

good luck.

Plenty of talk about ECI, so no need to continue to harp on it. But do start becoming familiar with IDEA, the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. We are currently under IDEA 2004, it is reauthorized every 7 years. Your child may qualify under speech impediment, I did until I was in middle school and learned how to overcome my disability. Your child may have certain rights in the educational system such as speech therapy and an appropriate education for their disability. It got me the help I needed and the school was required to pay for it.

Anyone can make a referral to ECI. It does not have to come from a doctor. Once you call and make the referral, 821-9478, they are suppose to call you within 5 days and and an evaluation within 45 days. The 45 days is the state mandated time. 120 days before your child turns three, they will assist you in making a referral to the local school district. It should be a smooth transition from ECI to school district, if your child qualifies. If you give permission for ECI to bill your insurance company, there is no charge to you for six months. And you are not required to pay any deductibles.
Best of Luck!!!

You can go ahead and contact the school district before December and make a parent referral - they would be required to complete their testing and have a program set up (if your child were to qualify) by the time your child turns 3, so they usually start paperwork 120 days before the actual birthday...

I remember when I was young (about 5~6) I went to the "Easter Seals". At the time I lived in Oklahoma.
I do know that when we moved back to Texas the schools around us had some top speech therapists. It seems like the consensus is ECI.
good luck and keep in mind often young children grow out of many speech impediments and problems.

Our insurance specifically excludes speech therapy for "developmental delays". How do you contact ECI? Is there a local facility?

The local ECI number is 821-9478. They are physically located in Bryan, but also serve many surrounding counties.

As someone posted above, you may also want to inquire with Brazos Valley Rehab. You would likely receive a higher frequency of services with this option, as many kids with ECI are seen for speech 2x/month. Their number is 776-2872.

In order to qualify for speech services through your local district, your child's delay must be so significant that it is considered a disability, thus the formal evaluation. The evaluation would need to be done and the initial ARD held on or before their third birthday, unless you refer after they turn three. Some districts have a screening process to help you know if formal testing is needed or not. You can find out more about the special education process here:

http://framework.esc18.net/

They may grow out of it, but better safe than sorry...speech therapy isn't going to hurt. I was in it from age 4 until 6th grade (with a few random periods of break). Then when i moved after 6th grade everything was magically fixed...go figure.

Thanks a bunch. He's not severely delayed, but has trouble with making certain sounds. We just want to be ahead of the game if he needs more comprehensive help. Got a bunch of phone calls to make tomorrow!

Call ECI and you will at least get an evaluation before the 3rd birthday, probably a few therapy sessions if they qualify.

I used to be a service coordinator for them and it is a great program that can at least help you with the process at the school if your child needs therapy past the age of 3.

Contact Bryan ISD Child Find http://www.bryanisd.org/default.asp?pageID=120

Child Find

If you suspect an infant, child or young adult of having a developmental delay or disability, your school district can open a window of hope for a brighter future.

Services at no cost to the family are available to all eligible individuals from birth through 21 years of age regardless of the severity of their disability.

Special services are available to eligible infants, children and young adults identified with a disability who may be experiencing difficulties in one or more of the following areas:

- Physical Disability - Deaf or hard of hearing - Visual Impairment
- Deaf-Blind - Mental Retardation - Emotional Disturbance
- Learning disability - Speech and/or Language - Autism
- Health Impairment - traumatic Brain Injury

Contact your local School District for more information.

Contact Information

Bryan ISD Special Education Services
1307 Memorial Drive
Bryan, Texas 77802
Terri Brenton 979-209-2856

Also, contact Texas A & M. Graduate students in the Speech Therapy program (I presume they have one) are always looking for clients to work with under supervision from PhD staff members.

Scott & White has an excellent speech therapist. As do St. Joseph and The Med. Get your pediatrician to refer you to someone in your insurance network. With that evaluation, you will get better services through ECI or the schools if you choose to go that route.

Unfortunately, A&M doesn't have a speech therapy program. If your insurance will cover it, I HIGHLY recommend Lori at The Med. She has lots of experience and works well with kids.

[This message has been edited by B/CS Bear (edited 8/10/2009 10:58a).]

Thought this is a little down the road, if he's still having problems at school age, beware of school programs that only offer the therapy during class hours. I got so much crap for leaving class to go to speech therapy... /hated it.

I'm not bitter, just something to watch out for in school aged kids. I was in much of the same boat...I apparently had a whole list of letters/letter combinations that I couldn't say. They finally decided it was from me not being able to hear clearly because most of my 2 year old year was spent in pain from near constant ear infections.