How much will therapy cost?
For case managers and solicitors, annual costings are commonly requested and provided for the year.
Please contact us to let us know more about your personal requirements.
What is AAC?
AAC stands for Augmentative and Alternative Communication. It refers to any communication method that augments a message and is alternative to speech.
We all use AAC in some format. Common examples include frowning, smiling, pointing, gesturing, signing, giving a thumbs up etc. No additional tools are required beyond the human body, but all of these simple communicative tools augment your message by giving additional cues about how you feel or what you want.
In speech therapy, we often use more specialist methods of AAC. These include voice output communication aids (VOCAs), paper-based resources like communication books, switches and eye gaze systems.
For more information, take a look at my article for the National Autistic Society below: https://www.autism.org.uk/advice-and-guidance/professional-practice/aug-alt-comm
Where are you based?
Emily is based in Wigan but has worked with clients all over the North West.
What happens during an initial assessment?
During an initial assessment, Emily will take a case history by asking relevant questions about a child’s developmental history. This information will guide therapy going forwards and inform specific assessment tools.
Emily will also work directly with a child either using a standardised assessment tool (if appropriate) or assess their skills informally through play and interaction. Depending on the age and needs of the child, a combination of formal and informal assessment methods may be used to gain the best understanding of their strengths and needs.
Once both the case history and direct assessment have been completed, a report can be provided summarising findings. If a report is not required, Emily will feedback assessment findings verbally.
I don’t know how many sessions I need. Is that ok?
Of course! There are no maximum number of sessions required for booking. Some clients simply want a one-off assessment, others need longer-term therapy. If therapy is appropriate, the number of sessions can be flexibly agreed on a week-by-week basis.
When working with clients in the medical legal process, therapy is often determined following a comprehensive assessment and liaison with the multidisciplinary team. Six-monthly or twelve-monthly predictions and costings can be provided to case managers.
How long do sessions usually last?
An initial assessment may last between 1-2h. This depends on the level of assessment required and if multiple areas are being assessed at once.
A therapy session could last anywhere between twenty minutes to an hour.
What if my child is also receiving NHS Speech and Language input?
Emily will work with a child’s NHS SLT and liaise with them accordingly. Targets can be integrated and shared with everybody (including school). The use of an Independent SLT is in addition to NHS input. It will not impact a child’s access to NHS resources and therapy.
Do you only work with young children?
No! Whilst Emily’s caseload is largely paediatric, she has extensive experience working with young adults (up to 25y).
What happens if I need to cancel my session?
Don’t worry! We understand that sometimes you need to cancel or rearrange your session. We kindly request 48h notice of any cancellations by telephone or email.
How do you deliver training?
Training can be delivered to schools on inset days or using pre-recorded video material which can be distributed amongst staff at the school’s discretion. This can be useful for training new staff mid-year; after an inset day or training has already taken place. Training can be delivered to both mainstream and special schools.
All training (regardless of the audience) can be delivered in-person or virtually, to suit the needs of a team/family/company/school.
Higgins-Walsh Therapies 