What to Expect from a Speech Therapy Evaluation

Embarking on the journey of a speech therapy evaluation at Blossom Children’s Center is a moment filled with anticipation, curiosity, and perhaps a hint of nervousness. As you prepare to unlock the doors to enhanced communication skills for your little one, the path ahead may seem like uncharted territory.

However, it’s natural for parents to feel concerned if their child’s speech and language development seems behind what is expected. Let us guide you through what you should expect during your child’s speech therapy evaluation with one of our professional speech-language pathologists.

From their first babbling sounds to those initial words, every milestone is a cause for celebration. So, get ready to dive into a world where every word spoken is a step closer to newfound confidence and expression!

Step-by-Step Process for a Pediatric Speech Therapy Evaluation

Below, we have outlined Blossom’s overall speech therapy evaluation process that parents/guardians can follow so you know what to expect during the assessment.

1. Initial evaluation:

The start of the evaluation consists of a meeting with the speech-language pathologist (SLP). During this part of the evaluation, the SLP will gather information about your child’s developmental history, medical history, and any concerns you may have.

2. Observation

The SLP will then observe your child’s communication skills during play. This may involve play-based activities, conversation, or interactions designed to assess speech and language abilities.

3. Formal assessment

Depending on the concerns identified, the SLP will use standardized assessments to evaluate specific aspects of speech and language, including articulation, receptive language, expressive language, and social communication skills.

4. Parent involvement

Parents and caregivers play a crucial role in the evaluation process. Be prepared to share insights into your child’s daily routines, interests, and any factors that may influence their communication development.

5. Recommendations

Following the completion of the evaluation, the SLP will provide you with feedback and recommendations. If therapy is recommended, the SLP will discuss the goals, frequency of sessions, and potential strategies to support your child’s progress.

Seeking a speech therapy evaluation for your child is a proactive step towards supporting their communication development. Early intervention can make a significant difference in addressing speech and language challenges, promoting confidence, and setting the foundation for effective communication skills.

Frequently Asked Questions about Pediatric Speech and Language Therapy

Question: What are some important early speech and language milestones for young children?

Answer:

Question: At what age should my child start speaking?

Answer:

Speech and language development begins with cooing and babbling before progressing to imitation of environmental sounds (e.g., moo, baa, beep beep), then single words (e.g., eat, ball, more), phrases (e.g., want ball) and sentences (e.g., I want the ball).

Talk to your pediatrician if your child is not making attempts to vocalize. Other important signs include making eye contact, smiling, laughing and engaging socially.

Question: What are ways to improve my child’s speech and language skills?

Answer:

For children 0-12 months old:

• Responding to your child’s coos and babbling
• Stay simple and consistent with vocabulary
• Matching language with your activities (e.g., “shoes on”)
• Look at picture books. Label the pictures, take your child’s hand and point to pictures as you name them
• Telling nursery rhymes, singing songs, and playing simple games together such as peek-a-boo and pat-a-cake
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Children ages 12 months-24 months:

• Reward and encourage efforts at saying new words. Asking your child to “show me” if something is unclear.
• Talk to your child about what you’re doing
• Encourage play with other children
• Describe what your child is doing
• Go on trips (e.g., visit the zoo, go on a walk, start a garden)
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Question: What are good toys for children working on speech and language skills?

Answer:

The best toys to promote speech and language are simple toys that allow children to be creative while playing. Some of our Speech therapists prefer to use toys that do not make sounds, as these toys encourage children to use their imagination to make the sounds.

• Cars/trucks/trains
• Play food
• Farm set
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• Baby doll and doll house
• Potato Head
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• Blocks and legos
• Bubbles
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• Puzzles
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If you have concerns about your child’s speech development, please fill out an inquiry form to schedule an evaluation or visit our speech therapy services page for more information today!