Speech Matters is an insurance-based practice and works with a range of insurance providers, including:

• Aetna
• Blue Cross Blue Shield / Anthem
• Cigna
• UnitedHealthcare
• Oxford Health Plans
• Optum Health
• Humana
• Medicare
• MultiPlan
• 1199SEIU
• Northwell Health
• AARP
• NYC Department of Education (DOE) services

Insurance coverage can vary depending on your specific plan and benefits. Our team will verify your coverage prior to your evaluation and help you understand any applicable copays or out-of-pocket costs.

If you are out-of-network, we also offer private-pay options.

Have questions about coverage? Contact us and we’ll help you understand your insurance benefits and next steps.

Speech therapy supports both children and adults in improving communication skills across all stages of life. This may include developing clear speech, understanding and using language, improving social communication, or addressing voice, fluency, and oral motor function. Therapy is always tailored to the individual, with a focus on building skills that translate into everyday communication at home, school, work, and in social settings.

If you’re wondering whether speech therapy could help, we’re happy to talk it through - reach out to Speech Matters to get started.

A speech-language pathologist, SLP, evaluates, diagnoses, and treats:

• Speech sound disorders, articulation, phonology
• Language delays, understanding and expressing language
• Social communication difficulties
• Fluency, stuttering
• Voice and oral motor disorders

At Speech Matters, therapy is tailored to each individual and focused on real-world communication.

If you have concerns about communication at any age, it’s appropriate to seek a speech-language evaluation.

For children, this may include delays in speech or language development, difficulty being understood, or challenges with social communication. Early intervention can play a key role in supporting long-term communication, learning, and social development.

For adults, speech therapy may be helpful if you are experiencing changes in communication, voice, clarity, fluency, or cognitive-linguistic skills, or if you are looking to improve confidence and effectiveness in professional or social settings.

If something doesn’t feel typical or is impacting daily life, an evaluation can provide clarity and guidance. If you’re unsure whether it’s the right time, reach out - we’ll help you decide on next steps with no pressure.

A speech therapy evaluation is designed to understand each individual’s strengths, challenges, and communication goals.

At Speech Matters, this typically includes:

• A case history, parent/caregiver interview or personal background
• Standardized and informal assessments
• Observation of communication in functional contexts

Following the evaluation, you will receive:

• A clear summary of findings
• Personalized therapy goals
• Recommendations tailored to your needs or your child’s needs

Collaboration is an essential part of the therapy process, for both children and adults.

For children, parents and caregivers are actively involved through:

• Ongoing communication with the clinician
• Regular feedback following sessions
• Home program strategies to support progress

For adolescents and adults, therapy is collaborative and goal-driven, with a focus on:

• Identifying meaningful, real-life communication goals
• Practicing strategies that apply to daily environments
• Building independence and self-awareness

This collaborative approach helps ensure that progress carries over beyond the therapy session into everyday life.

Some general signs include:

• Limited vocabulary for age
• Difficulty following directions
• Not combining words, by around 2 years
• Speech that is difficult to understand
• Limited eye contact or social interaction

Every child develops at their own pace, but persistent concerns should be evaluated. If you’re noticing any of these signs, it’s worth having a conversation.

Speech disorders affect how sounds in words are produced, which can impact a person’s intelligibility, how clearly they are understood.

Language disorders affect a person’s understanding of language, for example following instructions, understanding concepts, or making sense of conversations, books, or movies, and their use of language, for example grammar, vocabulary, sentence length, and complexity.

Both can impact communication and may occur together. The best way to understand what’s going on is through a comprehensive evaluation. We’ll walk you through exactly what we’re seeing, answer your questions, and outline clear next steps, so you feel confident about how to move forward.

If you’re unsure whether speech or language is the concern, reach out to Speech Matters to schedule a consultation - we’re here to help you figure it out.

A receptive language disorder affects a child’s ability to understand spoken language.

Common signs include:

• Difficulty following directions
• Trouble answering questions
• Seeming not to understand spoken language
• Off-topic or inconsistent responses

Social communication disorders affect how a child uses language in social situations.

This may include difficulty:

• Taking turns in conversation
• Understanding social cues
• Interpreting nonverbal communication
• Adjusting language for different situations

It is common for children between ages 2 to 6 to go through periods of disfluency.

However, you should seek an evaluation if you notice:

• Tension or struggle when speaking
• Repetition of sounds or words
• Blocks or pauses
• Frustration with speaking

If you’re unsure, it’s always good to check - contact us and we’ll help you decide whether support is needed.

Autism is a form of neurodivergence, meaning individuals may experience and interact with the world in different - but valid - ways. Communication differences are one area where these differences may be noticed.

Some individuals may:

• Use fewer words, or develop language at a different pace
• Communicate in ways beyond spoken language, for example gestures, AAC, scripting, or echolalia
• Show differences in eye contact or use of facial expressions
• Prefer more predictable or structured interactions
• Find back-and-forth conversation, turn-taking, or interpreting social cues more challenging
• Have strong interests or engage deeply with specific topics
• Experience sensory differences that impact communication and interaction

It’s important to note that these differences are not “deficits” to be fixed, but variations in how communication develops and is expressed. Individuals may benefit from support in areas such as:

• Expanding communication options, spoken language, AAC, or multimodal communication
• Navigating social interactions in a way that feels authentic and comfortable
• Building self-advocacy and confidence
• Supporting understanding and expression across different environments

At Speech Matters, we take a strengths-based, individualized approach - working with each person’s unique communication style while supporting functional, meaningful communication in daily life.

If you’re noticing differences in how your child, or you, communicates and want guidance on next steps, reach out to us - we’re here to support you in understanding and navigating your options.

Your speech-language pathologist will provide a personalized home program with strategies tailored to your child.

In general:

• Talk and interact throughout daily routines
• Read books together
• Model clear language
• Encourage turn-taking and conversation

Consistency at home plays a significant role in progress.