Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Welcome to Strathcona Speech Therapy! We look forward to working with you and your loved ones. Please see below for answers to some of our frequently asked questions. If you have additional questions, please do not hesitate to reach out to us. Thank you for considering us!

General Questions

• Why are your assessments more expensive than some other SLPs?

  Good question! I charge more for assessments becuase I DO NOT charge extra for reports. Most other SLPs charge per page for reports, which means reports can end up costing anywhere from $150-$300.

• What is involved in the assessment process?

  All our assessments include gathering case history, family/client interviews, informal speech/language tasks, and some type of formal assessment measures. The exact process will depend on what we are looking for, but that is generally what to expect.

• Can I book online?

  Yes you can! We use JaneApp which allows for easy online booking and payment.

• Do you Direct Bill insurers?

  Yes! We offer direct billing for some major insurance providers in BC. You can inquire here to see if direct billing is available for your plan.

• Is speech therapy covered by insurance?

  Speech therapy is not covered by MSP, however, most extended health plans do offer coverage for SLP services. Check with your insurance provider to see if your extended health plan covers speech therapy services.

Alternative Augmentative Communication (AAC)

• Is AAC only for people who can't speak at all?

  No, AAC is for anyone who has trouble communicating! And just because you use AAC does not mean you need to use it all the time.

  Maybe you’ve had a stroke and have trouble finding the words you want to say- AAC can help!

  Maybe you have Head and Neck Cancer and had a surgery that impacted your ability to talk- AAC can help!

• I can still use my speech. Why do I need AAC?

  If you have a degenerative condition where your speech is likely to deteriorate, it’s great to get used to using AAC before you need to rely on it to communicate. The more you use AAC the quicker and easier it becomes!

  If you have aphasia, AAC can be just one part of your “communication inventory”. You may find that using your speech and AAC together allows you to communicate more effectively and quicker!

• I can't afford an AAC device. Are there funding options?

  Yes! Communication Assistance for Youth and Adults (CAYA) is a provincially funded organizations that provides AAC equipment and services to adults in BC. They provide equipment on a “long-term loan” basis, which means it’s yours to use for as long as it is functional.

  For those under the age of 19, there are other funding options available. If your child is in school, SET-BC may provide communication equipment.

• If I can get CAYA services for free why do I need a private SLP?

  Good question! CAYA has a waitlist that is approximately 10-12 months long, so the benefit of working with a CAYA-associated private SLP is you can skip the waitlist. Also, CAYA is a consultative program which means they won’t see you for regular appointments. They set-up the system, train you how to use it, and then it is up to you and your support team to practice and implement it. A private SLP can dedicate more time to training you to use the system, and can help you practice using it in the community.

• Is all AAC high-tech?

  Nope! AAC can be “non-tech” or “low-tech” as well. Some people have paper-based communication systems, and some people use both high-tech and low-tech AAC.

Swallowing / Dysphagia

• Sometimes I cough when I eat. What's the big deal?

  Good question! Coughing when eating or drinking can be a sign that food/drink is going into your airway. This is dangerous as the food/drink can get into your lungs and cause infection or pneumonia. If you frequently cough when you eat or drink you should see an SLP for a swallowing assessment as soon as possible.

• What is an 'instrumental assessment'?

  An instrumental assessment refers to a type of test that looks at the functional and structural aspects of swallowing that aren't visible from the outside.

  There are two types of instrumental exams:

  1. Videofluoroscopic Swallow Study (VFSS), also commonly referred to as a ‘Modified Barium Swallow (MBS) Study’. This test uses an X-ray machine to take videos of you eating/drinking.

  2. Fiberoptic Endoscopic Evaluation of Swallowing (FEES). This test uses a flexible camera, or ‘scope’ to directly visualize the inside of your throat while eating/drinking and talking.

• Why do I need an instrumental assessment?

  It is best practice in the Speech-Language Pathology field to do an instrumental assessment when a client is experiencing difficulty swallowing. SLPs can get a lot of information from a clinical swallowing assessment, however, swallowing is a very complex process and many things can’t be judged form the outside. An instrumental assessment allows your SLP to see what is actually happening in your throat when you swallow and then recommend the safest diet for you.

• Why can't you recommend a therapy plan without an instrumental assessment?

  In order to determine what therapy exercises will help improve your swallow, your SLP needs to identify what muscles and structures in your throat need to be targetted. This isn’t possible without an instrumental assessment as we can’t see many of these from the outside.

• Why do I need to drink thickened liquids?

  If your SLP recommended nectar-thick or honey-thick fluids, it’s because they determined that thin liquids (such as water, coffee/tea, pop, alcohol, and most juices) are unsafe. Thin liquids may be entering your airway when you drink, which puts you at risk of aspiration and developing infection/pneumonia.

• Where can I purchase thickener?

  There are many different brands and types of thickener. Powdered thickeners are the easiest to find and can be purchased online from stores like Amazon and Walmart. A popular brand is “Thicken-Up”.

  You can buy pre-thickened liquids from medical supply stores and some drug stores.

Neuro-degenerative Conditions

• What is a neuro-degenerative condition?

  The term ‘neuro-degenerative’ refers to conditions that involve the progressive deterioration of neurons, either in the brain or in the peripheral nervous system. Some commonly known conditions include:

  • Dementia / Alzheimer’s Disease

  • Parkinson’s Disease (PD)

  • Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS)

  • Primary Lateral Sclerosis (PLS)

  • Multiple Sclerosis (MS)

  • Primary Progressive Aphasia (PPA)

• I don't want me speech to get worse. What can I do?

  Research has shown that the best thing you can do for your speech muscles is to continue speaking! Drill-based speech exercises are often not recommended for degenerative conditions, as they can tire your muscles out more. Continuing to talk (and taking breaks when you feel tired) is the best thing you can do.

• Will you see my family member in their long-term care facility?

  Of course! As long as the facility is allowing visitors we can see clients in assisted living or long-term care. Virtual services are also available if the facility has wireless internet.

• I have trouble swallowing. Can you also help with that?

  Yes! We are happy to see you for both speech and swallowing services.

• My family member has Dementia. Will they benefit from speech therapy?

  Item descriptionDepending on where a person is at in the course of their disease, they may find that speech therapy help them retain their current abilities. Due to the progressive nature of Dementia, it is unlikely that speech therapy will improve a person’s language abilities. But this doesn’t mean that SLP services can’t help them communicate! We can introduce communication tools, such as memory books or communication boards, to help a person with Dementia get their message out. We can also train their supporters to be more effective communication partners and give them tools to support the person with Dementia.

Aphasia / Language Therapy

• What's the difference between 'speech' and 'language'?

  ‘Speech’ refers to the sounds that come out of your mouth. Speech therapy focuses on improving the function of the muscles in your mouth and throat, also referred to as “articulators”.

  ‘Language’ refers to the content of speech, such as words and sentences. Langauge is created and understood in your brain, therefor, language therapy focuses on re-training the brain.

  It is common for stroke survivors and people who’ve suffered traumatic brain injuries to experience difficulty with both speech and language.

• I've had a stroke. How long will it take to get my speech back to normal?

  This is a very common question, and unfortunately the answer is different for everyone. After injury, the brain experiences a certain amount of ‘spontaneous recovery’. The most spontaneous recovery tends to happen during the first two months post-injury, and can continue for up to 2 years post-injury. That being said, it is important to acknolwedge that your brain has sustained a serious injury and “back to normal” is not a realistic goal for everyone. Working with an SLP can help you find a new normal, and communicate functionally in a way that meets the needs of your daily life.

• What is a 'Communication Partner'?

  A communication partner refers to anyone that a person communicates with. For example, your spouse, children, and other family/friends are all your frequent communication partners.

• Why is 'Communication Partner Training' important?

  When a person is experiencing speech/language difficulties, communicating can often be a stressful and frustrating experience. This can lead to people avoiding social situations and generally “shutting down”. It can significantly reduce a person’s stress and frustration if they know the person they are communicating with knows how to help them. You will be amazed at how helpful small changes can be, such as speaking slower, checking in to make sure you understood, and acknowledging their competence.