Parent question
What happens at a speech evaluation?
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The short answer
A speech-language pathologist (SLP) talks with you about your child’s development, listens to them say sounds in words and conversation, looks at how their lips, jaw and tongue move, and usually checks hearing. They may test language too. Afterwards they tell you whether therapy would help, and what it would focus on.
At the evaluation
- A conversation with you about your child’s health, development and what you’ve noticed.
- Listening to your child name pictures and chat, to hear which sounds they find hard and any patterns.
- A look at how the lips, jaw and tongue move.
- A hearing check, or a referral for one, since hearing affects speech.
- Often a language check as well: how well your child understands and puts sentences together.
It’s play-based for young children. Bringing a favourite toy or book can help your child relax.
What speech therapy for sounds looks like
For sound errors, therapy usually moves in steps. First your child learns to make the sound on its own and to hear the difference between the right and wrong version. Then they practise it in words, then sentences and stories, and finally in everyday conversation, which is the hardest step.
SLPs often coach parents with short activities to do at home, because practice between sessions helps the new sound stick.
Questions parents ask
How long does an evaluation take?
It varies by SLP and by how much is being tested. Ask when you book.
Will my child know they’re being tested?
For young children it mostly looks like playing with pictures, toys and books.
How often is speech therapy?
It depends on the child, the SLP and the setting. Research suggests more frequent practice tends to help, but the right amount depends on the difficulty and the approach, so follow your SLP’s plan.