Frequently Asked Questions

HOW LONG IS A THERAPY SESSION?

Our therapy sessions are 45 minutes long.

WHY DOES MY CHILD NEED AN ASSESSMENT?

Please refer to our Assessment page.

DO I NEED TO COME TO THERAPY WITH MY CHILD?

This is entirely up to you and we welcome parents attending therapy with their children. It can be beneficial for parents to attend therapy, to gain a greater understanding of the therapy process and the goals your child is working on. 

MY CHILD HAS THERAPY IN SCHOOL, CAN I STILL COME TO THE SESSIONS?

Absolutely, although we request attendance only once per month.  If your child is in a group with other students we will inform the other parents that you will be attending and everything that occurs within the session, we will ask you to keep confidential.

WILL YOU BE ABLE TO DIAGNOSE MY CHILD WITH ADD/ADHD, AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDER, DYSLEXIA OR A LEARNING DISORDER?

No. If you are wondering if your child has a developmental disorder or you require a diagnosis for school placement or you believe your child shows characteristics of Autism Spectrum Disorder, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, Global Language Delay etc. you will need to visit a Paediatrician or Educational Psychologist.

HOW DO I KNOW IF MY CHILD NEEDS THERAPY OR IF THEY WILL JUST ‘CATCH UP’

Great question, we get asked this a lot. While some children who are developing more slowly than their peers will eventually catch up, others will not. If your child is falling behind in multiple areas such as talking, crawling or walking or you notice some interesting or different behaviours such as a strong aversion to food or touch or difficulty with routines we recommend you book in for a Parent Consultation, so our experienced therapists can take a detailed history to gain a better understanding of your child and your concerns. We will either provide you with strategies to try at home or recommend an assessment or observation in our clinic. We believe in Early Intervention.

WHY IS THERAPY AND SPECIALIST TEACHING SESSIONS ONLY OFFERED IN BLOCKS OF TEN?

Change takes time and we feel we need a minimum of ten sessions to even start to achieve your goals and our therapy goals. At the end of the 10 sessions, we will meet with you and/or your child’s teacher to discuss their progress and plan future therapy. We also understand that children do not fit neatly into a ‘therapy mould’ which is why we can design a therapy programme that fits your child, your family and your financial situation. Talk to us about your needs so we can help.

HOW LONG WILL MY CHILD NEED TO HAVE THERAPY, COUNSELLING OR SPECIALIST TEACHING?

Intervention is different for every single child.  Your child will have individual goals that will be evaluated every ten weeks to determine future therapy needs. We will discuss your child’s goals and progress with you towards the end of the ten -week block and make our professional recommendations based on their current performance, strengths and challenges. We value the contribution and insights parents have and understand that you know your child the best, which is why we will always collaborate with you to determine your child’s ongoing therapy needs. 

IS THERAPY CONFIDENTIAL?

Absolutely. We will never discuss your child with anyone else with the exception of school staff or other therapists who are directly involved with your child provided you have given us signed permission on the initial referral form.

WHAT SHOULD MY CHILD WEAR FOR THERAPY?

Comfortable play clothes and trainers are the best.  We love to get messy with paints, water or shaving cream so please leave party, costumes or special clothes at home.

CAN MY CHILD HAVE A SNACK IN RECEPTION?

Usually we do allow snacks in the waiting room, however because of the current COVID-19 situation, we do no allow any food or drinks with the exception of a personal water, tea or coffee bottles/cups. Milk bottles for babies are of course allowed and we are a safe and welcoming space for breast feeding mothers.

HOW DO I PAY FOR THERAPY

We accept bank transfer, cash, credit card, cheque.  We will email you an invoice on the first session and you will have two weeks to make payment. 

WILL INSURANCE PAY FOR THERAPY?

This is entirely dependent on your private health insurance so it is best to contact them directly to see what they will cover.  If therapy is covered you will need a referral letter from your Doctor stating the diagnosis OR areas of difficulty. We can also provide a letter to send to your insurance company. 

WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN SPEECH THERAPY AND ENGLISH LESSONS?

Speech Therapy diagnoses and treats a range of communication disorders such as difficulties with speaking, listening, social communication, articulation and using voice. Because our therapist speaks English, Cantonese and Mandarin, she is able to determine if there is an actual delay in your child’s speech or if the problem arises because your child is learning English.  Speech problems usually present in ALL languages, while issues with the English language will only be obvious when your child speaks English. Quite often, speech problems resolve or improve with specialist support from a Speech and Language Therapist.

WILL HAVING THERAPY PREVENT MY CHILD FROM BEING ACCEPTED INTO A SCHOOL?

Speech and Language Therapy and Occupational Therapy are very common in Hong Kong and throughout the world.  Many International schools in Hong Kong have a therapy programme, because educators understand the importance of providing children with additional support during their important foundation-building, early childhood years. Teachers understand the importance of early intervention for young primary school aged children and from our own experience would prefer you to be upfront and honest on the application form so they can accommodate your child.