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Exciting news, Pillar Speech Therapy has an office space in Oro Valley!!
Call / Text today to be added to the short waitlist!
Tel: (520) 222-8208

Frequently Asked Questions
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What does "Pillar" stand for?Pillar Speech Therapy, LLC is short for “Caterpillar Speech-Language and Myofunctional Therapy”. It was inspired by The Very Hungry Caterpillar, by Eric Carle. I love this book, reading it aloud to a preschool classroom set me on a path to becoming a speech-language pathologist. Read my full story in the About section.
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What is your therapy style?I am an advocate for play-based and child-directed therapy; therefore, each session is tailored to your child. It can be structured or unstructured, but I typically incorporate both into my sessions. The amount of time spent in a structured setting (sit and drill the concepts) depends on many factors: age, attentiveness, ability level, etc. I always incorporate play and fun, positive reinforcement, and functional activities to build skills, and promote carry-over and generalization to all settings and communication partners.
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Where do you provide services?Effective August 2024, Pillar Speech Therapy has a new office space in Oro Valley!! Speech, language, and/or myofunctional therapy services are provided in person at the clinic in Oro Valley: 11115 N. La Canada Dr., Suite #295, Oro Valley, AZ 85737. Virtual services also available across Arizona and Texas. Call / Text for more details!
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How do I get in touch?Call or Text me at (520) 222-8208. You can also use the Contact form to send me an email or reach out to misty@pillarspeechtherapy.com
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What paperwork is needed to start an evaluation / therapy?After our first conversation, I will send you the consent documents and intake forms / questionnaires through a HIPAA compliant Electronic Medical Records software called SimplePractice. All forms will be completed online and submitted through your SimplePractice client portal. If you have a previous evaluation, I would be happy to review in order to start treatment more quickly. You can email the report directly to me at misty@pillarspeechtherapy.com or upload through your client portal.
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How do I schedule, reschedule, or cancel a session?Scheduling, rescheduling, and/or canceling sessions can be completed through the SimplePractice Client Portal. You can also call or text (520) 222-8208 or email misty@pillarspeechtherapy.com to make changes.
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Will I be reminded of my appointment?Yes! You will get a text and/or email reminder of your sessions through the SimplePractice software. You will also have the opportunity to cancel or reschedule your session via text, email, or by logging into your client portal.
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Do you take insurance?Pillar Speech Therapy, LLC is In-Network with Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona (BCBSAZ).* We are also an official Empowerment Scholarship Account (ESA) Vendor, found under Pillar Speech Therapy, LLC. For all other insurance providers, I am considered an 'Out of Network' provider. At the end of every month, you will receive a 'SuperBill' with the information you need to submit to your insurance company for possible reimbursement. If you plan to submit bills to your insurance company, you should do the following prior to our first session(s): Call your insurance provider using the number on the back of your card Ask about 'out-of-network' benefits for speech therapy Find out what information the insurance company needs by asking some questions: What is your deductible? Does this apply to each member of the family or can they be pooled together? What conditions are covered? Do I need to obtain a prescription? You may need a note from your doctor, called a referral. You also may need permission from the insurance company, called pre-authorization. * Pillar Speech Therapy provides a quote of benefits from BCBSAZ for speech therapy services, but it is not a guarantee of payment. Claims will be reviewed for benefit exclusions and medical necessity at the time of the claim. It is recommended that you always verify your coverage yourself to make sure the information given to our office is correct.
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What are your prices?Rates Effective as of September 2022 Clients who pay privately have a right to a Good Faith Estimate of expected charges, per the No Surprises Act. Credit cards and checks are accepted at this time. Cash is not accepted. Pillar Speech Therapy, LLC is In-Network with BCBSAZ and an ESA Vendor. For all other insurance providers, Pillar Speech Therapy, LLC is considered out-of-network. Superbills will be provided monthly for you to seek reimbursement independently. Sessions are available at your home, your child's school, a providers office (dentist, PT, OT, etc.), etc. I am really flexible and love exploring the area. Please note, there is a $15 travel fee for therapy session(s) for locations outside 10 miles of Oracle & Hardy. Speech, Language, and Articulation Assessment Treatment 1-2x per week I evaluate speech and language development along with articulation/phonological processing skills through formal standardized assessments, informal observations, and parent/caregiver reports. A consultation at the end of the assessment is provided which summarizes observations and recommendations. A comprehensive report is also provided with a detailed summary, treatment plan, and goals. Evaluation sessions are typically 60 minutes - $300 Therapy sessions are 30 minutes - $75 per session Articulation and Myofunctional/Feeding Assessment Treatment 1-2x per week I evaluate articulation/phonological processing skills through formal standardized assessments, informal observations, and parent/caregiver reports. A feeding inventory is completed by the parent/caregiver and a full myofunctional evaluation is completed using familiar, preferred foods and liquids. A consultation at the end of the assessment is provided which summarizes observations and recommendations. A comprehensive report is also provided with a detailed summary, treatment plan, and goals. Evaluation sessions are typically 60 minutes - $300 Therapy sessions are 30 minutes - $75 per session Articulation Only Assessment Treatment 1-2x per week I formally evaluate articulation/phonological processing skills through standardized assessments, informal observations, and parent/caregiver reports. A consultation at the end of the assessment is provided which summarizes observations and recommendations. A report is also provided with a detailed summary, treatment plan, and goals. Evaluation sessions are 60 minutes - $225 Therapy sessions are 30 minutes - $75 per session Myofunctional Only Assessment Treatment 1-2x per week I evaluate myofunctional skills using familiar, preferred foods and liquids through formal assessments, informal observations, and parent/caregiver reports. A consultation at the end of the assessment is provided which summarizes observations and recommendations. A report is also provided with a detailed summary, treatment plan, and goals. Evaluation sessions are 60 minutes - $225 Therapy sessions are 30 minutes - $75 per session Comprehensive Speech, Language, Articulation, and Myofunctional/Feeding Assessment Treatment 1-2x per week I evaluate speech and language development along with articulation/phonological processing and myofunctional skills through formal assessments, informal observations, and parent/caregiver reports. A consultation at the end of the assessment is provided which summarizes observations and recommendations. A comprehensive report is also provided with a detailed summary, treatment plan, and goals. Evaluation sessions are 90 minutes, may be completed over 2 sessions - $450 Therapy sessions are 30 minutes - $75 per session Please Note: Fluency, apraxia of speech, social / pragmatic language skills, voice, attention, memory, and body posturing will be informally assessed throughout the assessment and treatment sessions. Formal assessments may be requested and/or recommended at any time. Evaluation sessions include 60 minutes of direct evaluation with you / your child, with an additional 30-60 minutes of writing time to analyze the information gathered and create a treatment plan. Please allow for 1-2 weeks to receive the completed evaluation report, which will be shared with you directly through the SimplePractice Client Portal. Therapy sessions are typically 25 minutes of direct instruction with 5 minutes of consultation to review the session and discuss the homework / recommendations for the week. Therapy sessions for longer than 30 minutes are provided by request only and dependent upon the outcome of the evaluation, child's abilities, and clinician / family schedules. I provide a FREE 15 minute consultation to review your concerns and discuss the recommendations for you / your child, so call or text me today at (520) 222-8208. You can also email me at misty@pillarspeechtherapy.com.
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How can I pay for services?Payment is due at the time of service. We accept major credit cards, debit cards, ESA debit cards, and FSA/HSA cards. Online credit card payments are accepted through the SimplePractice Client Portal. It is a safe and secure platform that is HIPAA compliant, HITrust Certified, and PCI-compliant. You will be provided an invoice for the services provided. We also accept checks and cashier’s checks, which should be made payable to: Pillar Speech Therapy, LLC. Pillar Speech Therapy, LLC does not accept cash at this time.
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Early Identification of Speech, Language, & Hearing DisordersGuidelines from the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA). If your child is showing trouble with one or more of the developmental skills, a full speech therapy evaluation is typically recommended: https://www.asha.org/public/early-identification-of-speech-language-and-hearing-disorders/
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Developmental MilestonesASHA provides an outline of skills that your child should be demonstrating for their age. Speech therapy is individually tailored to target specific skills that are not mastered for their age. Early intervention is key! The earlier that we can 'fill in the gaps', the less likely they'll fall farther behind. https://www.asha.org/public/speech/development/chart/
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Age of Consonant ProductionThis is my go-to resource for the question: What sounds should my child be saying? https://www.asha.org/siteassets/Practice-Portal/Late-Language-Emergence/Consonant-Acquisition-Chart.pdf
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Apraxia of SpeechA Motor Speech Disorder that is often accompanied with a high level of understanding of language, but difficulty with speech production. Your child may demonstrate 'groping' for sounds and appear to have a hard time expressing themselves (even though they know exactly what they want to say). Words and short phrases often sound differently if asked to repeat 5 times in a row. Speech Therapy enhances motor learning and Myofunctional Therapy builds muscle strength. I combine the two disciplines for a rounded approach, and to find the best learning style of your child and the support they need. https://www.apraxia-kids.org/
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What is an Orofacial Myofunctional Disorders (OMDs)?OMDs are abnormal patterns of movement of the lips, jaw, and/or tongue during rest, swallowing, and/or speech. Identification can include the following: observations, tongue movements, speaking and swallowing tasks, along with a complete review of the case history (including information from other providers). OMDs are often associated with tongue thrusting and tongue ties. As a Certified Orofacial Myologist®, I assist with reducing the tongue thrust and teaching where the tongue should be placed at rest and during swallowing / speaking tasks. I also help with the preparation of a tongue tie release (frenectomy), if appropriate. Preparation includes: teaching the exercises, discussing timeline expectations, reviewing manual stretches and immediate after-care tips and tricks. Myofunctional Treatment involves daily exercises along with functional eating and speaking tasks. I love helping families brainstorm ideas on when to practice, what to use in practice, and how to incorporate the exercises into your daily schedule. https://www.iaom.com/faq/
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