Early Detection
The Scottish Rite Clinic for Childhood Language Disorders is designed to serve children, ages 1 to 6 who may have difficulty hearing, speaking or comprehending language.
Children develop speech and language at individual rates, passing important milestones along the way. Some children are at risk for language delay or disorder because of medical conditions that develop before or after birth. Many children with normal intelligence have difficulty speaking and understanding words.

Evaluation and Treatment
Parents concerned about their child's language may contact the clinic for an evaluation. The earlier a child's language difficulty is identified, the greater the success of the therapy.
A certified speech/language pathologist's evaluation is the first and most important step. The speech pathologist then discusses evaluation results with parents and offers recommendations to meet the child's individual needs.
If the child needs therapy, the clinician establishes a three to six month treatment plan for individual or small group sessions. Each session lasts 30 to 60 minutes. Therapy works best when parents observe their child's sessions and involve their child in learning activities at home.

Fees
Fees are set for all evaluation and treatment sessions. Scottish Rite scholarships are available to pay for treatment when insurance coverage is limited or non-existant. The family may be asked to make a co-payment for care as well.

Accreditations
The program is nationally accredited by the Professional Services Board and our local clinic is operated by Childrens Mercy Hospital. Speech and Language Pathologists are licensed according to the laws of Missouri and certified by the American Speech-language & Hearing Association