How long will my child need extra help? Can you guarantee he will make progress? Why are services at Enrichment Therapy & Learning Center better than somewhere else? Parents often ask us these questions while planning for services at ETLC, and each one is valid. Starting the enrollment process is a time of uncertainty. You have recognized that your child is having difficulty learning or is delayed in speech and language development, and you have decided to invest in your child’s future.
Can You Guarantee Progress?
In short, we can say that every child will make progress while taking part in our programs. We know that when you make a commitment, you naturally want some kind of guarantee that you will see results.
First, at ETLC we are different from other tutoring services because all of our learning specialists are certified teachers with classroom and individual teaching experience. You can read about the difference between learning specialists and tutors. In addition, each of our speech-language pathologists holds the Certificate of Clinical Competence and has studied and trained in many research-based practices.
Our team prides itself on giving each child a specific plan to best meet their individual needs. We do not use a cookie-cutter approach. Instead, after an evaluation, we create a specific set of goals to help your child improve their skills, because each child is unique and has a unique learning style.
Planning for Services: How Long Will My Child Need Help?
Every child will make progress. However, many factors affect how fast, and how long a course of therapy or academic skill-building will last. For this reason, we are not able to give you a number of days or sessions it will take for your child to reach their goals. Below are some of the factors that affect a child’s rate of progress.
Number of Sessions per Week
After your child’s evaluation, we will recommend a number of individual sessions per week, or specific programs we feel your child will gain the most from. Then we will work with you to create a schedule that fits your family’s needs. Most often, the more often a child builds skills, the more improvement you will see.
Home Practice
In addition, at ETLC we feel it is important for skill-building to carry over at home too. In fact, a short time of daily practice will improve your child’s rate of progress. Depending on your child’s age and ability, 10 to 15 minutes of practice each day often makes a difference. Your child’s speech-language pathologist or learning specialist will also give you home activities to complete.
See these tips for practicing speech sounds at home, building language during play, and working on math facts. Also, our blog is full of great home activity ideas.
Motivation
For example, for older children, being motivated to improve is a huge predictor of the rate of progress. If a child is motivated, he will want to complete his home program and will work hard, and the result will be meeting goals.
Complicating Factors
Finally, some children have a medical diagnosis that may affect their health and learning ability. Because these factors are out of the control of the child, family, and clinicians, but they do affect how long a child may need therapy or academic skill-building.
A Partnership With Families
As you can see, many things play a role in how long your child will benefit from services at ETLC. We feel that a partnership with families that includes ongoing communication will help your child succeed.
Frequently Asked Questions
What should I know when planning for services at ETLC?
How long your child needs services depends on the child, because session frequency, home practice, motivation, and any medical diagnosis all affect it. We cannot promise a number of sessions, but your child will make progress.
How much should my child practice at home?
Often 10 to 15 minutes a day makes a difference, depending on your child’s age and ability. Your specialist will give you activities to try.
Why is ETLC different from other tutoring services?
In short, all of our learning specialists are certified teachers, and our speech-language pathologists hold the Certificate of Clinical Competence. Each child gets a plan built for them, not a one-size-fits-all program.
How ETLC Can Help
Enrichment Therapy & Learning Center has locations in Johnston and North Liberty, IA, with virtual services also available. We provide individualized speech-language therapy, dyslexia and reading intervention, academic support, and executive functioning services to help children build skills and confidence.
Learn more about our services or schedule a free consultation to talk about how we can support your child.
You may also find these pages helpful:
- Evaluation Process at ETLC: What to Expect
- Speech Therapy and Tutoring FAQs: What to Expect at ETLC
- Learning Specialist vs. Tutor
About the Author
Sonia Strueby, M.A., CCC-SLP, is the founder of Enrichment Therapy & Learning Center. With over 25 years of experience as a speech-language pathologist, Sonia has dedicated her career to helping children overcome complex communication and academic challenges. She has advanced training and a special focus on treating dyslexia and childhood apraxia of speech, and she is passionate about providing families with a clear path to success.
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