General Information on Apraxia in Children
http://www.cincinnatichildrens.org/health/info/speech/diagnose/verbal-apraxia.htm
Cincinnati Children's Hospital. Contains an explanation of
verbal apraxia, along with symptoms and treatment recommendations.
www.speechville.com: provides resources for children with speech disorders, including those with
apraxia.
www.apraxia-kids.org: an on line source for information about childhood apraxia of speech
www.nidcd.nih.gov: National Institute on Deafness and other Communication Disorders. Resources and information on apraxia
www.asha.org: The American Speech Language Association. Information on assessment and treatment of childhood apraxia
Therapists
www.teachtofeed.com: Speech pathologist Tara Koker-Noia uses the Prompt System to help apraxic children with speech, feeding and swallowing issues
Resources for the Family
www.cherab.org: The Cherab Foundation, which helps families cope with children having speech disorders
www.StarFall.com: On-line phonics games, which encourage speech
www.arktherapeuticservices.com: Toys to help develop speech, and developmental tools, such as vibrating “chewie” pens.
www.kidspeech.com Kaufmann’s Children’s Center. Intensive therapy for speech disorders, including
apraxia.
www.harriscomm.com: Harris Communication. Sign language books, video tapes, and other resources
commtechlab.msu.edu/sites/aslweb/index.htm: On line dictionary of American Sign Language
Addressing Apraxia of Speech in the IEP
Legal Resources
www.wrightslaw.com Legal advice in the field of special education.
Tips on Insurance
From the experiences of Sign n’ Say parents:
How to get your child's speech therapy to be covered by insurance? Here are some helpful tips that we have learned:
- Be sure to keep a journal of the people with whom you speak at the insurance company.
- ALWAYS!!! Send your information via registered mail so your insurance company can't say they didn't receive it.
- Ask under what circumstances or conditions does this policy cover speech therapy? What conditions are excluded? Does this policy cover apraxia? Use the medical number for apraxia when you call.
- Most insurance companies will not cover speech therapy when developmental delay is the diagnosis. They will, however, cover speech therapy if there is physical evidence for the delay. A few possibilities are
numerous ear infections, difficulty swallowing, physiological problems with the mouth and/or throat,
difficulty manipulating foods, underdeveloped muscles, seizure activity.
- Evaluations by various specialists are critical to find or rule out what is going on with your child. Most insurance companies will pay for these evaluations. Call your pediatrician to have your child evaluated at a developmental disorders clinic. Reports from a specialist hold more weight than those from a regular pediatrician.
- Go through the appeals process with your insurance company. Be sure to let that department know, in writing, you are having your child evaluated at a developmental disorders clinic.
- If the appeals process has been exhausted before your appointments with the specialists, submit your reports to insurance via registered mail with the name of the insured on every page.
- If you have changed insurance companies, you can send your child's reports citing the medical necessity from the previous insurance company to the new insurance company. This can help convince the new company to pay the claims. This needs to be done within the first year of changing providers. Be sure to once
again registered mail.
- Most states have a Bureau for Children with Medical Handicaps (BCMH) which can offer financial assistance.
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