Speech Therapy, Early Intervention, Adult Independent Living
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2 more
Address: 1475 Capitol St NE
| Salem, OR
97301
Rating: 4.76
(47 reviews)
Insurances:
Health Net,
Kaiser Permanente,
Medicare,
Blue Cross Blue Shield (BCBS),
MultiPlan,
Ages Served:
Children to adults
Care Settings:
In-home,
In-clinic,
Virtual,
AboutReviewsServicesInsurancesFAQ
About Sensible Speech Language Pathology - Salem
At Sensible Speech, we’ve been serving families and neighbors in and around the Willamette Valley with quality speech therapy for years! Our team is like a family and we look forward to showing you and your loved ones our clinic as you join the Sensible Speech “home.” We have a constantly evolving group of Speech Language Pathologists all which have obtained
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.
Health Net
Kaiser Permanente
Medicare
Blue Cross Blue Shield (BCBS)
MultiPlan
1475 Capitol St NE,OR,97301
Get in Contact
(971) 599-1712
info@sensiblespeech.com
Reviews
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My 9 year old son worked with Marissa for Speech Therapy for two years. I cannot say enough good things about her She was professional kind understanding and supportive even on the hard days. She always met my son where he was that day to be able to get the most out of each session whether it was sitting on the floor or at the table or even going for a walk around the block. They really connected and he adored Marissa and looked forward to seeing her every week. She made sure their sessions were productive as well as fun. She also welcomed me to sit in during their sessions so I could learn how to continue working with my son on his speech in between sessions which I appreciated so much We had such a great experience working with Marissa and I wholeheartedly recommend her
Laurinda Frisby
17 March 2024
google review
My daughter has gone to speech therapy here during preschool and kindergarten. Marissa is absolutely amazing She helped my daughter get on track with her speech and she gave my daughter someone to look up to and something to be excited about every week We are sad to go but Im so thankful that we are leaving with a confident and awesome 5 year old who can now communicate more effectively. Thank you Marissa for being such an amazing role model and speech therapist for my girl We will miss you so much
Elizabeth Desmarais
17 March 2024
google review
First let me just say I am so glad we were referred to SSR The ladies at the front desk are always so sweet and welcoming with smiles on their faces. My daughter sees Marissa for speech and I am so happy we made the choice to go with her. She is so kind attentive patient and over all amazing She has taken the time to learn what works and what doesnt work for my daughter and has really paid attention to the little things to make sure their weekly sessions are successful. I couldnt thank her or the office staff enough. I highly recommend Salem SSR for any speech therapy or occupational therapy needs
Morgan Rodriguez
17 March 2024
google review
Dr Leisha is amazing. Not only did she notice what was causing my daughters tongue and lip issues but she helped me know how to help her as a mother. From eating habits to keeping me in the loop as we learned more about her rare disability. She was easy to schedule many appts down the months to follow but was very sweet and a friend to my toddler Sariah. 5 STAR. No where else is better
Christina V
17 March 2024
google review
Our little fam loves SSR Ive been coming to sensible speech for many years now. And I just wanna Thank you. We are very glad we got a wonderful OT Therapist Sekayi Malek thank you for everything you do for my kiddos love her so much shes fun energetic shes very understanding and Kind shes awesome. Everyone at sensible speech Rehab are wonderful.Thank you
Veronica Fuentes
17 March 2024
google review
My son sees Sekayi for his OT and out of all the clinics we have tried for him she is the one and ONLY therapist that he has connected with my son was never able to go and do therapy by his self with out me in the room but now Sekayi has made that happen and teach him that OT is a safe and calm place to be and that he learns from. My family is forever grateful for Sekayi we would literally follow her if something ever happen because theres no one else like Sekayi for my son to have OT with my son needs ALOT of patience and Sekayi has been that with my son since the day we had a evaluation with her.Thank you Sekayi for all you do for our son
Chanel Coleman
17 March 2024
google review
If there was a way for me to just rate my speech pathologist I would have given Marissa 5 Stars. She is amazing. Unfortunately I would rate the owners with a 1. When you are the parent of a child with disabilities you spend a lot of time fighting for them to get care. You fight the schools the insurance companies the county services and on and on. Unfortunately the owners of Sensible speech find it appropriate to threaten their clients with losing their long waited and hard fought appointment slots.My sons father failed to take our son to his second OT session and I was called and threatened and made to feel unreasonable because I wanted a different slot that was not available but struggled with the time we could get him into right then. I was also belittled for not being available to be away from work twice a week. When you wait for over a year for services the last thing you need is to be threatened to have it taken away. We were fired as patients and lied to because the husband owner is a poor employer and forces the staff to threaten the client families. He said his staff were not willing to work with my son any longer but later learned that the real issue was his management style and employees not wanting to follow his intense threat demands.Beware not to complain when you are threatened with losing your time slot you waited so long forIn response to the owners reply to my rating I want to share that a few things stand out to me. 1. They have updated their waiting area to be more professional and client friendly regarding seating and a fancy new sign. That is a direct result of my complaint when speaking with the owner. 2. He again neglected to be honest about my frustration over scheduling. I was not stating I could not attend the next appointment. I was asking specifically if I could have my childs personal support person bring my child and wait in the waiting room because I could not afford to take another day off work. The employee responded by saying she could ask if they could accommodate that but their policy was for a parent to be in the room with the client and then she threatened me with loosing his spot if I did not show up to the next appointment. I was living by the thing that they claim to do which was collaborate for a resolution. I was met with a threat to lose services if I failed to comply and miss more work than I already am.As a society we need to evaluate if we want parents like myself to lose their employment and instead utilize more public services so our children with special needs can get the help they need.One last note for those of you seeking these services with sensible speech. The whole reason I sought occupational therapy for my child was to support the speech pathologist. After Sensible rehab collected the fees for the assessment and started providing services they again failed to collaborate and share information with the speech pathologist. Just goes to show your website can say anything.... Its your words and actions that matter. Yes I used the F word out of frustration. I had literally done everything in my power to get my child help and it still was not working. It was a bad choice but it does not change the fact that the employee left not because I swore at them but because they did not want to threaten clients anymore.
Melissa Silbernagel
17 August 2023
yelp review
I have worked with all the staff either on the phone or in person. I can honestly say they are the friendliest and most helpful people I have ever encountered.
J Andrew B.
24 May 2023
google review
Leisha and her team were great to work with She was able to help all 3 of my kids with their sleep apnea and breathing issues. They used fun noninvasive exercises and my kids looked forward to their weekly appointments We highly recommend Sensible Speech
Derek and Kimberly M
17 April 2023
google review
Our family loves Sensible Speech One of my sons had speech therapy with Leisha for quite a while after a tongue tie revision and now hes doing great with his speech. My youngest son is in the evaluation process and Leisha has been so incredibly helpful by listening to all my concerns and questions. She is patient kind and very knowledgeable about all things speech. I highly recommend Sensible Speech
Holly Terpening
17 March 2022
google review
My two little boys saw Leisha for about a year and a half- she was so accommodating With us driving from out of town to the appointments. Especially during the pandemic she was easy to work with if we had to change things to a zoom appointment and worked hard to keep my little boys involved and interested over the computer with fun and engaging activitiesIve had the pleasure of knowing Leisha since elementary school And as friends on Facebook she noticed some speech struggles my toddler was having and reached out to me. When the rest of the doctors told me I should just wait before getting him in therapy Leisha fought with me to get him the services He truly needed and it wasnt long before he was talking up a storm Not only that my son loves Leisha and asked every time we got in the car if we can go see Leisha that dayThe staff is always friendly and professional and worked with me to find appointments that worked with my schedule. If I didnt have six kids and had time to make the 2 hour long drive weekly We would still be seeing Leisha in a heartbeat- and if I could give more than 5 stars I sure would
Vera Collins
17 March 2022
yelp review
Couldnt make it past the registration process. Their scheduling policy is impossible and unreasonable.
D S.
05 January 2022
yelp review
I have taken my son to a few different places for speech therapy and this place is amazing Leisha is absolutely wonderful with my son. Who isnt the...
Lizz C.
11 March 2017
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
“Early Intervention” might be the provider’s way of describing services that they provide to babies or young children. However, it might also indicate that the provider is a vendor for your state’s publicly funded program. This means the services with this provider might be covered by your state!
The first step in accessing these free services from your state is to get an evaluation. The evaluation will help the state determine what services your child qualifies for, if any. You can find your state’s local EI program by clicking here.
When you contact your local center, say “I have concerns about my child’s development and I would like to have my child evaluated to find out if they are eligible for early intervention services.” They will ask screening questions and arrange for an evaluation, which is provided for free.
If you’re not sure where to start, this article lists 6 types of housing to be on the lookout for. Your child’s school and other parents are great resources to find out about potential options. Local groups, like your area’s Arc chapter, autism society, or special needs groups on social media, are good places to find resources as well. For additional help, consider working with a social worker and/or case manager.
Here are a few alternative options to consider:
Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT): CBT helps by identifying and changing unhelpful thoughts and behaviors. It's useful for those dealing with social anxiety or difficulties. CBT addresses cognitive patterns and provides strategies to manage social challenges.
Group therapy: Group therapy offers a supportive space where individuals can practice social skills. They can feedback from peers and a therapist. It allows interaction with others who understand and learn from each other.
Play-based interventions: Play therapy or play-based interventions work well for younger children or those who learn through experiences. Play activities target specific social skills like turn-taking and problem-solving in a safe and engaging setting.
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.
Get in touch with Sensible Speech Language Pathology - Salem