Speech and Physical Therapy Services in Hilo, Hawai'i
Our mission at Walaʻau Therapy is to provide the Hawaiʻi island community with skilled, high-quality services to support language, motor skills, learning, and swallowing development across the lifespan.
We are hiring.
We are looking for a new speech-language pathologist to join our team. Clinical fellows welcome!
Email us at info@walaautherapy.com to learn more.
Our Services
-
Speech & Language Therapy
Speech-language evaluation and treatment in the areas of speech production, expressive/receptive language, voice, fluency, social skills, and cognition.
-
Swallowing & Feeding Therapy
Skilled feeding and swallowing intervention targeting dysphagia/difficulty with swallowing, selective eating, anxiety around mealtime, and more.
-
Physical Therapy
Skilled physical therapy to assess and improve gross motor skills, strength, balance, coordination, and endurance for functional independence in the home, school, and community.
WALAʻAU: vi. to talk, speak, converse
Welcome to Wala'au Therapy
Your comfort and progress are at the heart of what we do. We offer evaluation and personalized treatment for a wide range of communication, swallowing, and gross motor movement challenges in our clinic in Hilo, Hawaii.
Our compassionate team delivers client-focused care, providing you & your keiki with a safe space to meet your unique needs and goals.
Founded and led by a Hilo native with deep roots in the community, we are here to stay—as a trusted resource and committed advocate. With a professional, compassionate staff and a flexible, adaptive mindset, we’re ready to support every client on their journey toward improved communication and greater confidence.
Getting Started
We make it easy to get the care you need, with prompt communication every step of the way. From intake to therapy, we’re here to guide and support you and your ʻohana.
-
The first step is to contact your Primary Care Physician and have them send a referral directly to our clinic for speech/language, cognitive-linguistic, and/or swallowing evaluation. Once our clinic receives the referral, we will give you a call to schedule.
If you are a self-pay patient, contact our office or complete an inquiry form and we will be in touch to discuss your needs.
-
Once your referral has been received by our office, a member of our team will contact you to complete intake paperwork and schedule an initial evaluation.
During the evaluation, we use both standardized assessments and non-standardized assessments such as play-based interactions, parent/caregiver reports and observation.
-
At the end of the evaluation, we will review preliminary findings with the parent/caregiver and discuss recommendations, treatment approach and goals.
A written evaluation report will be completed within a weekʻs time and faxed directly to your PCP. A report may also be provided to the parent/caregiver or patient if requested.
-
If you plan on using health insurance, our team will assist in verifying insurance coverage and benefits.
Some insurances (e.g. HMSA, Medicaid) require a prior authorization request after the evaluation is complete.
Our team submits the completed report and PCP referral directly to your insurance company to determine eligibility and obtain approval (this process typically takes about 10-14 days).
-
If therapy services are deemed appropriate or approved through insurance, we will give you a call and match you with one of our therapists to begin interventions and regular therapy sessions.
From the Mountain to the Sea, Communication is Key
|
From the Mountain to the Sea, Communication is Key |