FAQ

If you're worried that your child isn't talking as much as expected or seems behind in communication, you're not alone—and we're here to help. The first step is a simple conversation. We’ll schedule a 15-minute free consultation to listen to your concerns and help decide if a speech-language evaluation is needed.

Since we do not go through your insurance, you do not need a doctor's referral to begin the process.

An evaluation typically takes around 60-90 minutes to complete. Afterward, we'll review the results with you and talk about what’s next—whether that’s starting speech therapy, language enrichment, or simply reviewing at-home strategies for parents and caregivers.

If speech therapy is recommended, we will set specific goals to target like answering WH- questions, building vocabulary, improving speech sounds, or sequencing events.

Our goal is to support your child’s communication in a way that feels natural, fun, and empowering.

We do not accept insurance for speech therapy services. However, we offer competitive self-pay rates that are consistent with many insurance co-pays! This means that you could be paying the same amount without the hassle of going through your insurance, and services can be 100% focused on the individual's needs rather than being limited by what gets approved by your insurance.

English pronunciation lessons do not qualify for insurance coverage, since it is not a disorder or delay. However, we recommend discussing with your employer to see if this may be considered Professional Development!

We don’t have a traditional clinic space! We offer in-home speech therapy and language enrichment services in the northern Wilmington, NC area. We also provide secure, convenient online therapy for families who prefer virtual sessions or live outside of our travel radius. Feel free to contact us to see if we provide in-home services in your neighborhood.

English Language Coaching (or accent modification) is the process of modifying or adjusting how a person speaks in a language that is not their primary language. The most common difficulty in speaking another language is learning to say new sounds instead of substituting them for sounds in your first language. It also involves practicing pronunciation, intonation, rhythm, and listening skills.

The goal is not to eliminate an accent or change someone's cultural identity, but to communicate more easily and comfortably in another language. 

Training is typically led by instructors who have an expertise in language, articulation and phonology, such as Speech Language Pathologists.

English coaching sessions are not just English classes!

If you already speak English in your everyday life but feel limited because certain words or sounds are still challenging to pronounce, you get frustrated because people often ask you to repeat yourself, or you want to speak more clearly and confidently, English coaching can help you!

At Elevate Speech, we specialize in American English.

People often use accent and dialect interchangeably, but they are actually very different.

Accents are how people pronounce words. This can be influenced by a person's native language or where they grew up. For example, someone born and raised in Texas will have a different English accent than someone born and raised in India. Someone from Ohio will have a different accent from both of them. Everyone has an accent!

Dialects form within sub-groups or sub-cultures of a language. Dialects can have different grammar rules, vocabulary, and–you guessed it–different pronunciations.