Recs for Speech Language Pathologist for Stuttering

[Anonymous]

We're in DC and my 2.5 year old has developed a very severe stutter over the last few months. I asked a two non-local SLP friends and they both agreed she should be evaluated by a SLP that specializes in stuttering. Does anyone have recommendations for a SLP in DC or close in MD or VA? Is this something Strong Start (DC early intervention) could assist with? Thank you!

[Anonymous]

Yes you could potentially get services from Strong Start. Call them and ask for an evaluation.

But I would reach out to a private SLP at the same time. I like the evaluations done at the GWU Department of Hearing and Speech.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yes you could potentially get services from Strong Start. Call them and ask for an evaluation.

But I would reach out to a private SLP at the same time. I like the evaluations done at the GWU Department of Hearing and Speech.

Thanks, will do.

Anyone have feedback on the Hearing and Speech department at Children's National? National Therapy Center doesn't seem to be in network, but Children's National is.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes you could potentially get services from Strong Start. Call them and ask for an evaluation.

But I would reach out to a private SLP at the same time. I like the evaluations done at the GWU Department of Hearing and Speech.

Thanks, will do.

Anyone have feedback on the Hearing and Speech department at Children's National? National Therapy Center doesn't seem to be in network, but Children's National is.

They are good but they tend to have a really long wait list.

[Anonymous]

Brooke at National Speech in Bethesda. She's specializing in stuttering and if she cannot help she can refer you to someone who can. They have several people in the clinic (I don't know them) but try to get in with Brooke.

[Anonymous]

OP here - thanks for the feedback, all. I spoke with Brooke earlier and she seemed fabulous, but is out of network for our insurance (with no out of network benefits). I also called Children's and they said I had to call back on Thursday at 8:00am and that the appointments go quickly. Does anyone have experience with this? It seems like a bizarre way to schedule appointments, but maybe I'm just not in the know. Brooke recommended a specific therapist at Children's, and it seems like it would be impossible to get an appointment with her if there are only a few slots available per week.

Brooke also said to be cautious with Early Intervention for stuttering - that bad therapy can be worse than no therapy. I'm not sure whether to pursue it or not, but maybe it's worth getting the ball rolling, then we can pull out if it doesn't seem like what we need.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here - thanks for the feedback, all. I spoke with Brooke earlier and she seemed fabulous, but is out of network for our insurance (with no out of network benefits). I also called Children's and they said I had to call back on Thursday at 8:00am and that the appointments go quickly. Does anyone have experience with this? It seems like a bizarre way to schedule appointments, but maybe I'm just not in the know. Brooke recommended a specific therapist at Children's, and it seems like it would be impossible to get an appointment with her if there are only a few slots available per week.

Brooke also said to be cautious with Early Intervention for stuttering - that bad therapy can be worse than no therapy. I'm not sure whether to pursue it or not, but maybe it's worth getting the ball rolling, then we can pull out if it doesn't seem like what we need.

Everything on the administrative side at Children's is difficult. The providers tend to be good though.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here - thanks for the feedback, all. I spoke with Brooke earlier and she seemed fabulous, but is out of network for our insurance (with no out of network benefits). I also called Children's and they said I had to call back on Thursday at 8:00am and that the appointments go quickly. Does anyone have experience with this? It seems like a bizarre way to schedule appointments, but maybe I'm just not in the know. Brooke recommended a specific therapist at Children's, and it seems like it would be impossible to get an appointment with her if there are only a few slots available per week.

Brooke also said to be cautious with Early Intervention for stuttering - that bad therapy can be worse than no therapy. I'm not sure whether to pursue it or not, but maybe it's worth getting the ball rolling, then we can pull out if it doesn't seem like what we need.

We had a bad experience with Children's. We were with Brooke for several years. She is wonderful but I'd go with insurance first, if that is an option. Early Intervention SLP's are generalists. You want someone who does stuttering and disfluencies. Call back or email Brooke and see if she has any other recommendations.

[Anonymous]

Maybe try U of MD clinic - they are more affordable. They also have a speech preschool starting at 3.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here - thanks for the feedback, all. I spoke with Brooke earlier and she seemed fabulous, but is out of network for our insurance (with no out of network benefits). I also called Children's and they said I had to call back on Thursday at 8:00am and that the appointments go quickly. Does anyone have experience with this? It seems like a bizarre way to schedule appointments, but maybe I'm just not in the know. Brooke recommended a specific therapist at Children's, and it seems like it would be impossible to get an appointment with her if there are only a few slots available per week.

Brooke also said to be cautious with Early Intervention for stuttering - that bad therapy can be worse than no therapy. I'm not sure whether to pursue it or not, but maybe it's worth getting the ball rolling, then we can pull out if it doesn't seem like what we need.

We had a bad experience with Children's. We were with Brooke for several years. She is wonderful but I'd go with insurance first, if that is an option. Early Intervention SLP's are generalists. You want someone who does stuttering and disfluencies. Call back or email Brooke and see if she has any other recommendations.

Thank you. Brooke did say some of her therapists (not her, but others from her clinic) actually work with DC early intervention, so that could be awesome if it worked out that way. But that would just be luck of the draw. Can you tell me more about your bad experience at Children's? Assuming we can actually make an appointment, that's where I'm leaning since they're in network and convenient to us.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Maybe try U of MD clinic - they are more affordable. They also have a speech preschool starting at 3.

Thanks, they are not convenient, but I'll try there if we can't find anywhere closer (and covered by insurance).

[Anonymous]

I'm really surprised all these SLPs are telling you to get your 2.5 year old evaluated for stuttering. I'm an SLP and stuttering between 2-4 is actually very normal and is considered normal for speech development. Has it been going on for longer than 6 months? Stuttering therapy for kids that young can actually have long lasting negative effects.
-signed an SLP who gets really upset with money hungry SLPs who do this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm really surprised all these SLPs are telling you to get your 2.5 year old evaluated for stuttering. I'm an SLP and stuttering between 2-4 is actually very normal and is considered normal for speech development. Has it been going on for longer than 6 months? Stuttering therapy for kids that young can actually have long lasting negative effects.
-signed an SLP who gets really upset with money hungry SLPs who do this.

OP here - it hasn't been 6 months, but: (1) her father also stutters; (2) she gets frustrated and says things like "...I can't say it!!"; and (3) it's more complicated stuttering, I guess. Throughout the sentence and parts of words and she'll just like freeze up and not be able get anything out. thr SLP are both friends of friends that aren't local and have no motive except to give their professional input.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Maybe try U of MD clinic - they are more affordable. They also have a speech preschool starting at 3.

Thanks, they are not convenient, but I'll try there if we can't find anywhere closer (and covered by insurance).

Vivian Sisskin at UMD is one of the premier stuttering experts in the country.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here - thanks for the feedback, all. I spoke with Brooke earlier and she seemed fabulous, but is out of network for our insurance (with no out of network benefits). I also called Children's and they said I had to call back on Thursday at 8:00am and that the appointments go quickly. Does anyone have experience with this? It seems like a bizarre way to schedule appointments, but maybe I'm just not in the know. Brooke recommended a specific therapist at Children's, and it seems like it would be impossible to get an appointment with her if there are only a few slots available per week.

Brooke also said to be cautious with Early Intervention for stuttering - that bad therapy can be worse than no therapy. I'm not sure whether to pursue it or not, but maybe it's worth getting the ball rolling, then we can pull out if it doesn't seem like what we need.

We had a bad experience with Children's. We were with Brooke for several years. She is wonderful but I'd go with insurance first, if that is an option. Early Intervention SLP's are generalists. You want someone who does stuttering and disfluencies. Call back or email Brooke and see if she has any other recommendations.

Thank you. Brooke did say some of her therapists (not her, but others from her clinic) actually work with DC early intervention, so that could be awesome if it worked out that way. But that would just be luck of the draw. Can you tell me more about your bad experience at Children's? Assuming we can actually make an appointment, that's where I'm leaning since they're in network and convenient to us.

We had our initial evaluation with them and they said my child was fine and I knew better. They completely blew us off saying they had kids with more severe issues (it was severe). We ended up going to Brooke and private paying till our insurance covered it.