What is DTL and why is a referral sometimes necessary?

At Silderhuis Speech Therapy, we use Direct Access Speech Therapy (DTL), which means you can make an appointment without a doctor’s referral. This provides low-threshold access to our care. When you apply through DTL, we first conduct a brief screening of about 10 minutes. During this screening, we ask you a few questions to determine if we can take medical responsibility for you or your child. This screening helps us understand your care needs and possible medical risks.

When is a physician’s referral needed?

Should it become apparent during the screening that there is an underlying medical cause or a complex care issue, we will refer you to your primary care physician or specialist. This happens when one of the questions is answered with “Yes,” which we call a “red flag. In that case, speech therapy without a referral is not permitted and it is necessary to obtain medical approval from a physician first.

Who pays for DTL screening?

Reimbursement for DTL screening varies by health insurance company. It is important to check your policy conditions or contact your insurer to find out if the screening is reimbursed. In some cases, you may have to bear the cost of the screening yourself. Unsure if you need a referral? Then consult our questionnaire for children or questionnaire for adults. When you have answered one or more questions with ‘Yes’, a referral from a (family) physician is required.