Frequently Asked Questions

How far do you go for in-person appointments?

Sinead will travel in London Zone 1 and South West London to both the client’s home, school or nursery setting within a reasonable distance to travel. There may be an additional travel charge depending on time spent on travel, this will be discussed with the client in advance. 

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Can Sinead practice in the Republic of Ireland?

Sinead is delighted to announce that in addition to the UK she will be able to work with children and young people in  the Republic of Ireland via the Connect and Communicate online services.

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Are online appointments as effective as in-person?

Please refer to the telehealth section in the 'About' page here, there is a series of research available to support it's effectiveness. The therapist will discuss what is required from a home perspective to facilitate an effective therapy environment e.g. wifi and relevant devices. This will be explained prior to your initial assessment appointment.

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Do I need a doctor’s referral to attend speech and language therapy sessions at Connect and Communicate?

No, you can contact Sinead directly to make an appointment. Any family member or health/education professional can refer with parental consent.

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What should I expect when I bring my child to Connect and Communicate for a Speech and Language Assessment?

The initial assessment will include the following:

 

• A case history discussion, this is an online appointment with the parent/car giver to gain a deeper understanding of the child's developmental history and speech, language and communication needs.

• Dependent on you child's needs an informal and/or standardised assessment of your child’s speech, language and communication development

• Observation of your child’s speech, language and communication development

• Sinead will then discuss all findings with you following the assessment and provide recommendations on whether direct therapy would benefit your child or whether a home programme would be more appropriate.

• Sinead will also advise if a detailed initial report of the assessment would be beneficial (please see the 'initial assessment report' in the services tab to read a detailed description on this product)

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How long will my child need therapy for?

Therapy varies for each child and is dependent on the nature of their needs. Sinead will discuss options  with you on what input would best benefit your child.

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How long is each session?

Therapy sessions are typically 45 minutes long directly, some time is then taken to for indirect work that is still focused on your child e.g. writing progress notes, emails and prepping resources.

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What if my child is being seen for therapy within the NHS/HSE?

Sinead believes in the importance of a collaborative, multi-disciplinary approach with other professionals.

It's important that both therapists coordinate their care to ensure that the child’s needs are being addressed with a similar approach.

 

My child has recently been assessed by the HSE / NHS, do I need an initial assessment with Connect & Communicate?

Children will require an initial assessment with Sinead, regardless of any other assessments. To clearly understand your child's needs we require an initial assessment before we can start therapy.

 

Sinead will certainly take and value all recent assessments and reports into consideration and will not repeat the same assessments if they have been completed within a specified time frame. 

 

Is my child too young for speech and language therapy?

The importance of early intervention has been well researched and documented. Sinead advises all parents who have concerns regarding their child’s speech, language and communication to have an assessment as soon as possible. We can discuss further at our free, initial consultation call.

 

Is Sinead fully qualified?

Yes, Sinead is a fully qualified speech and language therapist. Sinead holds a first class degree and a professional qualification in speech and language therapy and is a member of the Irish Association for Speech and Language Therapists (IASLT) and of CORU.

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Still have questions?

Please do not hesitate to reach out via our 'Contact' page.