FAQ

We'd love to connect! Email us at hello@hillsidespeechtherapy.com or call (207) 218-2116 to discuss your concerns and determine if an evaluation and/or therapy services would be beneficial for you or your family. You can also fill out the Contact Us form here. Initial consultations are complimentary.

Yes! Many families take advantage of private therapy to supplement school sessions, especially during summer break, school vacations or if the amount of therapy time provided at school is limited. Private therapy is also an option if a child does not qualify for school-based services but concerns about speech-language development persist.

Every child learns to communicate at their own pace. If you have concerns, schedule a free consultation to discuss if an evaluation may be needed. The results of the evaluation will allow us to determine if your chld is within the normal range for development and if therapy is recommended.

If an evaluation has been done within the past 12 months or your child has a current IEP, a full assessment may not be necessary. A copy of the evaluation report, along with any targeted goals and progress reports would be requested prior to beginning therapy.

In-person sessions are provided at your child's preschool, daycare or private school in and around the Bangor/Brewer area. Families who prefer remote learning or are located outside our service area have the option to receive sessions via teletherapy using a secure telehealth platform. We're happy to provide more information and discuss which location might be best for you and your child.

At this time, Hillside Speech Therapy is an out-of-network provider. We accept payments made by credit, debit, FSA and HSA cards. Upon request, we will provide you with a medical receipt for your services which you can submit to your insurance company for potential reimbursement. Please speak with your insurace company directly to discuss your specific plan's coverage and reimbursement policies for out-of-network services.

Not all insurances cover speech-language therapy. Insurance companies also restrict the kind of therapy that is covered, where therapy can be performed and how many sessions are covered each year. Sometimes, even if speech-language therapy is covered by your insurance, you may have a high copay or high deductible. In these circumstances, paying out of pocket or going out-of-network may not actually cost you more than getting therapy with an in-network provider. Additionally, private therapy allows for personalized care to fit your family's needs. By paying privately, no referral from a physician is needed meaning there is no wait time for authorization. We can get started right away!

Speech refers to the use and coordination of the oral musculature to produce speech sounds. It refers to "how" we say things and involves the overall intelligibility of our speech. Language refers to how the system as a whole is used to convey meaning whether written, spoken or expressed through gestures, body language or an AAC device. This refers to "what" we say. Language assessments look at receptive language skills (comprehension), expressive language (conveying thoughts, wants and needs) and pragmatic language (social communication). During an evaluation, both speech and language skills are assessed by a speech-language pathologist. A child may demonstrate difficulty with speech only, language only or both speech and language skills.