How to continue progress after therapy ends

Speech therapy ends for most patients. Here are some questions to ask your therapist for the smoothest transition to home.

When I graduated  *cough* years ago, with my newly minted engineering degree, I wanted to turn around and say "let me back in, I didn't learn enough ". 

The day after speech therapy ends, you'll probably think of a few questions you wish you'd asked.  That day may come up suddenly.   Your speech therapist will happily prepare you for your return home. Keep the questions below handy and prepare for discharge and a smooth return to home.

26% of patients are discharged while still needing more therapy   

American Speech-Language  Hearing Association

Note:  If your speech therapy already ended, I've answered many of these in my Home Therapy Course

Questions about Speech Therapy

1. Would it be Ok if I emailed or called you short questions I think of later? Which do you prefer?
   (And, get their email address/phone number. FYI, I surveyed over 700 speech therapists and 86% said they'd answer questions. 
2. What additional speech therapy should I expect to get, and when?
   Who should I contact  to follow-up about that therapy (if no one contacts me by that date)?
3. How much progress have I made so far in each of my therapy goals?
4. What is the reason for my discharge?
5. When and how can I return for a re-evaluation or additional therapy?
6. Is there any nearby University Speech Pathology Clinic that provides additional economical therapy from speech therapy students?
7. Ask for copies of your:
   •  initial SLP evaluation report
   • Most recent re-assessment report
   • Plan of care
   • Discharge report.

 

Questions about continuing progress at home

1. Will my speech-language ability worsen without continued practice?
2. What can I do next (at home) to continue improving?
3. How can my family & friends help me recover?
4. What techniques or strategies should I use to help me better express my ideas and understand what people are saying?
5. What community resources can help me (such as stroke support groups)?
6. What communication devices, computer software, or mobile device apps might help me improve my speech & language skills?
7.  What internet resources are available to help me recover?

A bit thank you to speech pathologist, and long time friend, Janet Gritz, CCC-SLP who provided many of the questions above.