Frequently Asked Questions

General Questions

What ages do you work with? Is it too late to start now?

We work with children of all ages, from toddlers through school-aged children, and also provide select services for adults. It’s never too late to start therapy — while early intervention is helpful, progress can be made at any age with the right support.

I’m not sure which service my child needs — what should I do?

That’s very common and completely okay. The best place to start is with an evaluation. During the evaluation, we’ll take a close look at your child’s strengths and areas of need, and then recommend the most appropriate services and next steps.

What is the first step to get started with services at Therapy Matters NY SLP? What is your typical onboarding process?

The first step is verifying insurance coverage (if applicable). Once coverage is confirmed, we will schedule an evaluation. After the evaluation, we’ll review the results with you, discuss recommendations, and outline the next steps for services. Our team will guide you through scheduling and any required paperwork to make the process as smooth as possible.

How fast can I get started with services for my child? Is there a waiting list?

Start times depend on your availability and scheduling preferences, as well as our current openings. We do our best to begin services as soon as the evaluation is completed. If a waiting list is needed, we will communicate that clearly and keep you informed of any openings.

Do you offer teletherapy?

Yes, we offer teletherapy for certain services and age groups, when clinically appropriate. Availability depends on your child’s needs and the type of therapy recommended.

Do parents stay during sessions?

This depends on the child’s age, needs, and the type of therapy. Parents are often encouraged to observe or participate, especially for younger children. We’ll discuss the best approach for your child to support progress and carryover.

Is there anything parents can do at home?

Parent involvement is key to your child’s progress. We provide strategies, exercises, and activities that you can practice at home to reinforce skills learned during therapy sessions. Small, consistent practice at home often makes a big difference in progress.

Do you collaborate with other professionals?

Therapy providers are committed to providing the best care possible.

Services-Related Questions

Is picky eating a reason for feeding therapy?

Yes, picky eating can be a reason to seek feeding therapy, especially if it affects nutrition, growth, or mealtime routines. Feeding therapy can help children expand their food variety, improve mealtime behaviors, and make eating a more positive experience.

How do I know if my child needs speech and/or language therapy?

Every child develops at their own pace, but some signs may indicate a need for speech therapy:

Limited words or gestures for their age
Trouble combining words or forming sentences
Speech that is hard to understand
Difficulty following directions

If you notice these signs, an evaluation with a speech-language pathologist can help determine the next steps.

What is feeding therapy?

According to the American Speech and Hearing Association (ASHA), feeding therapy in the pediatric population is designed to help children diagnosed with feeding disorders which include problems gathering food and getting ready to suck, chew, or swallow it.

Swallowing disorders, also called dysphagia, can occur at different stages in the swallowing process:

Oral phase – sucking, chewing, and moving food or liquid into the throat
Pharyngeal phase – starting the swallow, squeezing food down the throat, and closing off the airway to prevent food or liquid from entering the airway (aspiration) or to prevent choking
Esophageal phase – relaxing and tightening the openings at the top and bottom of the feeding tube in the throat (esophagus) and squeezing food through the esophagus into the stomach (ASHA, 2016).

Although feeding is seen by many as something “natural” or “in-born”, feeding disorders are quite frequent and complex due to the fact that there are many components to it. At Therapy Matters NY we believe in integration of the sensory, oral-motor, behavioral/learning, medical, and nutritional approaches to feeding.

What is a functional assessment and when would one need it?

We believe every child is unique, and there is no such thing as a one size fits all solution. Rather than focusing on surface level symptoms, we look at the root cause and the “why” behind your child’s challenges. Instead of relying solely on standardized measures and checklists, we prioritize real time observation of feeding, speech, and communication skills as they naturally occur.

Feeding and lactation assessments may include observing oral motor skills such as sucking, chewing, and swallowing, as well as coordination and breathing. Speech assessments may include oral examinations to evaluate structure, along with observation of how the lips, tongue, jaw, and teeth work together to produce speech. For language, we go beyond what a child can or cannot say and look at how they process and understand language.

Functional assessments allow us to create truly individualized treatment plans tailored to your child and family’s specific needs and designed to support meaningful and lasting results.

Do you work with adults?

At our boutique private practice, we provide highly individualized, comprehensive care for adults seeking functional, results-driven treatment. Rooted in clinical excellence and interdisciplinary collaboration, our approach is designed to honor each patient’s unique goals while improving overall quality of life. We work with adults experiencing aphasia, dysphagia, dysarthria, TMJ dysfunction, chronic headaches and migraines, and those recovering from stroke or traumatic brain injury. Through personalized therapy, we address communication, cognition, swallowing, speech clarity, and orofacial function with precision and intention.

Our philosophy is centered on care that is personalized, collaborative, function-focused, and delivered with compassion and discretion. We work closely with physicians, neurologists, dentists, orthodontists, and other specialists to ensure coordinated treatment that translates into meaningful, real-world improvements. Whether navigating neurological recovery or seeking relief from chronic discomfort, our team is committed to providing thoughtful, evidence-based care tailored specifically to you.

Do you address TMJ and other jaw issues in adults?

As part of our comprehensive adult program, we carefully evaluate and address underlying areas of dysfunction that may be contributing to persistent symptoms. These may include temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders, chronic headaches and migraines, orthodontic relapse, and breathing or sleep-related concerns.

Rather than treating symptoms in isolation, we take a whole-person, interdisciplinary approach. Our care plans may include a targeted combination of advanced myofunctional therapy, evidence-based breathing retraining protocols, and collaborative referrals to trusted healthcare specialists when clinically appropriate.

This integrated model allows us to support not only symptom relief, but long-term stability, structural balance, and improved overall function.

What is myofunctional therapy and who benefits from myofunctional therapy?

Myofunctional disorders usually stem from an airway issue or nasal obstruction, making it difficult to breathe through the nose. These can include: history of allergies, oral ties (i.e. tongue tie), enlarged tonsils/adenoids, deviated septum, and history of oral habits, such as pacifier use or thumb sucking, causing mouth breathing and low resting tongue posture.

Myofunctional therapy can benefit both kids and adults exhibiting the following symptoms:

Mouth breathing (including difficulty breathing through the nose), resulting in open mouth posture
Sleep difficulties, including snoring, sleeping with mouth open, sleep apnea, or overall restless sleep, leading to increased tiredness during the day
Tongue thrust when speaking, such as difficulty with tongue placement for certain sounds (i.e. the tongue thrusts against the back of, or through the front teeth for sounds T, D, N, L, S or Z instead of elevating to “the spot” behind the upper central incisors (not pushing against the teeth). Other speech phonemes can also be affected, such as W, R, SH, CH, and J, etc.
Tongue thrust when swallowing, as well as difficulty chewing food, especially harder textures, or containing the food in the mouth

Dental misalignment (including narrow palate or dental crowding), which can result in need for palate expansion, and in some cases, more than one round of braces due to dental shifting over time
TMJ issues

Myofunctional therapy can help:

Improve breathing quality for proper nasal breathing
Reduce snoring, sleep apnea, and improve overall sleep quality, leading to improved focus and attention
Correct immature swallow pattern and eliminate tongue thrust, in turn also preventing possible repeat orthodontic treatment
Correct speech and articulation issues
Prevent future shifting of teeth or narrowing of palate, which may lead to repeat orthodontic treatment
Help alleviate TMJ discomfort

Does my child need feeding therapy?

Feeding therapy is to be considered if your child:

is at risk for weight loss or/and malnourishment due to food refusals and selectivity;
is a “picky eater”/problem feeder, has limited food repertoire and texture sensitivity;
exhibits oral-motor delays; has history of recurrent pneumonia and frequent episodes of choking, gagging, vomiting;
does not consume age appropriate types of foods and liquids (please contact us for more information on typical foods and liquids progression);

Insurance & Payment

Do you accept insurance?

We can work with most insurance plans on an out-of-network basis. We usually start by checking coverage to see how therapy sessions might be processed.

What insurance plans do you work with?

We work with many insurance plans and can help you verify your coverage before starting therapy.

What forms of payment do you accept?

Payment can be made by credit card or other standard methods. Our team is happy to guide you through the process.

Are there any free services or resources provided by Therapy Matters NY SLP?

Yes! We are currently offering a new service called the “Pay-As-You-Wish Clinic.” This includes a brief assessment of your child’s oral-motor and feeding abilities, along with guidance to help you understand any challenges. It is available once a month for new families only on a first-come, first-served basis.

We also offer a free Infant Feeding Support Group every first Thursday of the month. This group provides a supportive, compassionate space where caregivers can come together to discuss all things feeding — from breastfeeding challenges to introducing solids, and navigating the ups and downs of early parenthood.

Do you offer any packages at discounted prices?

Yes, we occasionally offer packages for certain services. Please contact our office for the most up-to-date information and to see if any packages are available for your child’s needs.

Still Have Questions?

We are happy to answer any questions you have. Reach out for a free, no-obligation consultation.