Speech Therapy, ABA Therapy, Occupational Therapy
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1 more
Address: 20400 Observation Dr. #104
| Germantown, MD
20876
Rating: 4.60
(19 reviews)
Insurances:
Aetna,
Coventry Health Care,
Humana,
Kaiser Permanente,
Medicaid,
Blue Cross Blue Shield (BCBS),
AmeriHealth,
The HSC Health Care System,
MedStar Select,
MedStar Family Choice,
CareFirst Blue Cross Blue Shield,
Ages Served:
Children
Care Settings:
In-clinic,
Virtual,
AboutReviewsServicesInsurancesFAQ
About National Therapy Center - Germantown
National Speech is a family oriented practice specializing in the evaluation and treatment of pediatric speech and language disorders; learning differences and behavioral challenges.
Please note that without member information we cannot guarantee that
your specific plan covers these services. We recommend asking the care
provider before beginning services.
Aetna
Coventry Health Care
Humana
Kaiser Permanente
Medicaid
+ See More
20400 Observation Dr. #104,MD,20876
Get in Contact
(301) 540-0445
contact@nationaltherapycenter.com
Reviews
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Abby H. has been working with our grandson this past year and we are very pleased with the progress hes made. Abby is patient caring and does all she can to work with our family as a part of the team. Shes always eager to address any concerns we might have and provides feedback needed to keep him on the path of having a successful outcome. Love her
Karen Lewis
17 March 2024
google review
I cannot be any happier with the service Abby Heitzenrater has offered my daughter. Her knowledge and patience has been extraordinarily. If you have a child that needs extra help I highly recommend Abby. My daughter has learned so much and I know its been team work. Abby has gone that extra mile for our family. We are so honored to have her in our lives.
Carol Gonzalez
17 March 2024
google review
My son has been going to National Speech for a very long time and if it wasnt for the wonderful Mrs. Amanda who has worked with him since he was a toddler now he is almost 17 he would not be able to speak and express himself like he can now. He is on the the autism spectrum and he has come a long way. Mrs. Amanda is hardworking caring friendly and professional. We are so grateful for all she has done for us.
Michelle Tran
17 March 2024
google review
At first the communication was a little rocky. After having someone reach out to me directly things are much smoother. My daughter is excited to go to her sessions and the feedback provided with each visit is very informative and appreciated.
Karla Lopez
17 March 2024
google review
My son Matthew has been coming here for about 3 years now. He loves working with Christina for speech and Marissa for occupational therapy. But everyone in the office is friendly and helpful
Natalia Khrycheva
17 March 2024
google review
Amanda and National Speech changed our lives. We are forever grateful to Amanda for helping our son find his voice. We have been with her for 8 years and the progress our son has made is mind blowing. He came to her a toddler who could not even babble and now participates in a local childrens theater group. If you need SLP services we recommend National Speech.
Rich Langley
17 December 2023
google review
Let me start off by saying I work in a medical office and deal with patient care daily so I know how to speak to our patients with respect. A referral from my sons pediatrician led me to this clinic. When I called the second time I was dismayed to find the new patient scheduler rude and unprofessional. I was taken aback by her attitude and the way she spoke to me. Now I will say I was at fault when I called the first time and misunderstood her about the appointmentswaitlist but it did not mean for her to speak to me in that manner when I called to follow up. I was shocked at how unprofessional and dismissive she was.
erika castro
17 December 2023
google review
This service has truly helped my son. I recommend this to all parents with children who are none verbal. My son is actually talking with me. His expressive language has developed tremendously.
Armieka Sanchez
17 August 2023
google review
Awesome place with very professional and intelligent staff. Keep up the great work. Team work indeed. You are all appreciated
Mariam Njie
17 August 2023
google review
The therapists are amazing. I have nothing but great things to say about them. However dealing with adminmanagement can be an added task that you just dont need as a parent who has to juggle these services with their school etc.. Authorizations are not done on time so there is a lapse in service and the operational directormanager seems think theres nothing wrong with that as there is no accountability. I would keep dealing with admin side of this provider in mind when considering this place.
Teyent Getaneh
17 March 2021
Frequently Asked Questions
Speech therapy is almost always recommended for autistic children since many people with autism have difficulty with social communication. Even if a child is very verbal and says a lot of words, they might need to work on communication skills like:
responding to questions
starting or ending conversation
changing conversation topics
using gestures like pointing
understanding other people's body language
Speech therapy is a big focus in early intervention for autistic children and is usually the starting place for recently diagnosed kids. There is a critical period in the brain for language development and so, it's really important to teach language and communication skills as early as possible, especially if there are any delays in that area. Your child will learn effective ways to communicate which will help them grow into more independent and confident individuals.
It might be obvious when a child struggles with speaking —they are very quiet, say only a few words, or don't speak at all.
Spot speech and language delays like a doctor here.
The goal of speech therapy is to help your child communicate effectively with other people across all environments. This may take the form of using gestures, simple signs, verbal speech, and Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC).
Some other common things speech therapists can help with:
Nonverbal skills, such as signs or gestures
Forming speech in a clearer way
Communicating thoughts and feelings clearly
Understanding and responding to questions
Discerning facial expressions and their corresponding emotions
Noticing and understanding body language
Feeding and swallowing
Stuttering
Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) is a therapy rooted in the science of learning and behavior. Using principles of ABA, children and adults can learn to improve their communication skills, social skills, and daily living skills while also addressing problematic or challenging behaviors. The primary goal of ABA therapy is to teach helpful skills that promote independence and reduce harmful behaviors. Here's our complete guide to everything you need to know about ABA therapy.
It's a big decision to make for your family! Applied behavior analysis (ABA) seeks to improve communication skills, introduce productive habits, and reduce harmful behaviors. Watch out for ABA providers who look to "cure" autism.
High quality ABA therapy does exist where the goal is not to “fix” children, make them appear “less autistic”, or change who they are. The goal is to help people learn all that they can so they can live to their potential while embracing their unique, individual personality traits. Here's our complete guide to start and end ABA therapy.
ABA is usually covered by insurance if you have an autism diagnosis. Autism is typically the only diagnosis insurance will authorize for ABA services since its benefits have been researched extensively.
Always check with your specific insurance plan to confirm that ABA is covered for your child’s diagnoses and that the provider you are seeking care at is in-network. Here's our complete guide to everything you need to know about ABA therapy.
The occupational therapy process includes an OT evaluation before care starts. Here are the four steps your family can expect when starting occupational therapy:
Complete OT evaluation. An occupational therapist first identifies your child’s strengths and needs through a thorough OT evaluation, also known as an OT assessment or screening. You’ll answer questions about your child’s skills, and your child will most likely demonstrate their skills via hands-on activities with the therapist. Evaluations can last 30 minutes to a few hours.
Approve OT plan. The therapist develops a care plan with individualized goals and customized interventions based on your child’s needs. You can also share any specific goals or concerns before approving the OT plan.
Start therapy sessions. The therapist works directly with your child and your family, using various strategies and exercises to systematically improve areas of limitations and to build upon a child’s strengths. Some exercises your child might participate in are animal walks, obstacle courses, and therapy swing activities. Your family may learn strategies for supporting your child’s individualized needs at home, such as ways of supporting emotional regulation and sensory processing. The therapist may also recommend tools and techniques to use at home, in the community, or in the classroom to help your child succeed.
Monitor your child’s progress. Parents and caregivers can expect ongoing progress monitoring and communication to ensure the child is achieving their short and long-term goals.
Occupational therapy can also be provided virtually via telemedicine. Virtual therapy is a great option for families in rural areas who may not have access to in-person services, or for families who prefer to have therapy in their child’s home.
Virtual OT allows the opportunity for increased caregiver participation and understanding of a child’s strengths, areas of improvement, and generalization of skills in the child’s home environment. Virtual therapy also provides increased opportunities for caregiver and family education to support the child and the family based on each family’s needs.
Once you find a quality physical therapist you want to work with, here are a few things you need to know:
There will be an evaluation. First, you can expect an assessment to identify your child’s areas of strength and needs. A physical therapy evaluation usually lasts 30 minutes.
You’ll review and approve the care plan. The physical therapist will create a care plan, also known as a plan of care (POC), outlining the goals and strategies. They will review this with you and your care team before moving forward with therapy sessions.
Physical therapy sessions will be fun. PT with children is designed to be enjoyable. The therapist will use strategies and exercises based on your child’s needs. Exercises might involve playing on large stability balls, obstacle courses, movement equipment, stretches, and other hands-on activities.
Expect home exercises. Physical therapists commonly assign exercises to work on at home. Doing these exercises with your child outside therapy sessions can improve your child’s overall progress.
Get in touch with National Therapy Center - Germantown