Early Intervention Speech Therapy

Speech Therapy Evaluation

A speech therapy evaluation can be an anxious time for the parents but in realization, most of the time it’s not a difficult experience for the child.  When a child experiences difficulty understanding and using language, a speech language pathologist will attempt to diagnose the issue by playing with the child using a variety of toys or puzzles to encourage interaction between the therapist and child.

After receiving a recommendation or finding a therapy center to evaluate your child, you will need to set an appointment with the center so that forms can be sent to your house to prepare for your meeting.  The parent will need to answer questions about the child’s medical history, including your child’s birth, frequency of ear infections, milestones, etc.  A short telephone interview may be included prior to the evaluation.

The speech evaluation is held at the therapy center, or if you request it can be done at your home.  The Speech-Language Pathologist will then assess the child and complete a developmental checklist based on observations and parent interview.  If possible, the therapist will try to get a speech sample during these interactions to examine oral motor capabilities.

A former report will be drafted following the speech evaluation, including recommendations whether if the therapy is needed, how many days per week the child should attend therapy and how long each therapy session should last.  The report will also include some measurable goals and will be mailed to you in about a couple weeks for you to keep.

You will be able to consult with the therapist about the outlook on your child’s future, review goals carefully and discuss what you feel is important for your child to learn.  Your child may qualify for an early intervention program or you may request to have she or he placed in a different program but you may need to check with your insurance company, if the state does not cover that facility.

It’s important to note that early intervention speech therapy can make a big difference in the outcome of a child’s speech development.

Speech Skills by Age Group

• Speech Skills 8 to 12 Months
• Speech Skills 12 to 24 Months
• Speech Skills 24 to 36 Months
• Speech Skills 36 to 48 Months
• Speech Skills 48 to 60 Months
• Articulation FAQ

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