Patient portal:
Phone: 541-728-3349
Pediatric Speech & Language Therapy for Central Oregon
Connections Speech & Language is a pediatric speech therapy provider in Bend, Oregon. I offer family-centered, evidence-based evaluation and treatment of communication disorders in children.
SERVICES
Custom treatment plans and approaches are developed for each individual based on family preferences, best available evidence, and clinical expertise. Goal areas are addressed through age-appropriate, engaging activities.
I prioritize parent/caregiver partnership!
For some, an office visit sets the tone and helps them prepare for focused training and practice. For others, the home allows them to feel comfortable and ready to tackle specific skills. Which is better for you and your child?
Evaluation
Along with parent and child input, current assessments with strong evidence bases are used to aid in answering your questions about your child's speech or language development. With a commitment to honesty and openness, I'll communicate the results to you thoughtfully and clearly.
Therapy
Home or office Visits
Telepractice
If a virtual meeting is preferred or necessitated, we're ready! I use an integrated, secure system that's easily accessible and requires no special downloads for your computer.
HOURS
Tues - Thu – 8:00 - 5:30 in office
Fri – 8:00 - 5:00 home visits (determined by necessity)
CONNECT WITH ME
Phone: 541-728-3349
Fax: 888-782-4224
CONNECTIONS MADE
"I appreciate that you asked what our goals and hopes were for our son, and if we witnessed any progress since the previous session. Additionally, I appreciate that you adapted the environment to fit his needs... and offered us suggestions
on resources..."
A connected parent
"Jerod was intentional with our son,
listened to our concerns & planned out activities that helped work on areas needed to grow his vocabulary and understanding. He kept sessions fun and engaging for our two year old, while still working on developing critical skills and giving us tools we could use at home."
Emilie
"My son hadn't connected well with other speech therapists, but he loved being with Jerod and communicated so much more than before."
A connected parent
Jerod Michael, MS CCC-SLP
I'm a rather unusual presence in the field of speech-language pathology, since less than 4% of practitioners are male–
I'm officially proud of my membership in the unofficial League Of Extraordinary Speech Pathology Gentlemen!
Working in the schools has given me many opportunities to connect with children who lack a male role model, while providing valuable services to a variety of students, their families, and educational colleagues. In private practice I love being able to work directly with parents nearly every week and update each other for increased effectiveness and generalization of strategies.
Collaboration with parents and other specialists is key in my perspective, since my perspective is limited to what I know and observe.
I am grateful for the intimate knowledge and experience parents bring,
and seek out the information and strategies that other professionals have to share.
Having grown up in Bend and married early, I already had a growing family when I returned to study communication disorders. I completed an online graduate program through Western Kentucky University while living in Bend and working for the Bend-La Pine School District as an educational assistant. I was fortunate to find an opening in the district and begin my career in Bend upon graduation. I extended my experience base in January of 2017 when I began working in private practice also,
and have loved the time I'm able to spend with parents in the therapeutic process.
My strengths are in making connections with clients and families, ensuring that their perspectives and values are honored.
I have developed interests and strengths in speech sound disorders and aided language stimulation for children with complex communication needs, while building a sequential approach to language delays and disorders.
I love being with my wife and 4 children, and every now and then I enjoy snow-biking, snow-shoeing,
canoeing on the Deschutes River and Cascade Lakes, and anything related to classic cars.
INSURANCE
Do you take insurance?
YES!
My goal is to provide families with the support they seek, and most utilize their insurance coverage as their means of access.
I am currently contracted with:
BlueCross BlueShield
FirstChoice
Cigna
Medicaid/OHA (OHP open card)
MODA
Pacific Source (commercial plans)
Pacific Source Community Solutions (Medicaid)
Providence
UnitedHealth
Contracting with Tricare is currently closed, but I am happy to bill as an out-of-network provider!