Embedded Files
If your child has been referred for a speech and language evaluation, you may be wondering what the appointment will look like. The goal of an evaluation is to better understand your child’s communication strengths and areas where they may need support.
Before the Evaluation
Your speech-language pathologist (SLP) will ask questions about your child’s development, medical history, communication skills, and any concerns you may have. Caregiver communication is a very important part of the process!
During the Evaluation
Evaluations are designed to be child friendly and may include:
● Play
● Conversations
● Observation
● Following directions
● Answering questions
● Looking at pictures
● Assessing speech sound production
● Assessing understanding and use of language
● Standardized testing
● Informal activities
● Parent communication
Standardized testing includes structured tasks and questions that help compare your child’s communication skills to others their age. These assessments give SLPs helpful information about your child’s strengths and areas that may need support.
For young children, most of the evaluation may look like play!
After the Evaluation
After the evaluation is completed, the SLP will go over:
● Strengths
● Areas of concern
● Whether therapy is recommended or not
● Goals and recommendations
● Referrals to other professionals if needed (such as ENT, occupational therapy, audiology, etc..)
A speech and language evaluation is the first step in understanding your child’s communication needs and how to best support their growth. There is no “passing” or “failing” during an evaluation. The purpose is simply to identify your child’s strengths and areas where support may be beneficial. Our goal is to create a comfortable, positive experience while providing families with helpful information, guidance, and next steps to help their child build confidence and communication skills.
Page updated
Report abuse