Speech-Language Evaluations
Comprehensive evaluations are the first step in evidence-based therapy for speech and/or language disorders. Evaluations are used to determine areas of strength and those that need support through therapy. Before beginning services, it is recommended that all clients receive an evaluation, with re-evaluations annually to update treatment plans and assess the need for continued therapy.
Evaluations consist of:
Evaluations can last between 45 min. to 2 hours, depending on your child and the complexity of your case. After all evaluation components have been completed, the speech-language pathologist will discuss results with the parent/caregiver to determine frequency and length of treatment sessions.
Evaluations consist of:
- gathering medical/developmental history
- identifying areas of concern
- standardized assessments to determine how skills compare to same-age peers
- informal assessments/observation
Evaluations can last between 45 min. to 2 hours, depending on your child and the complexity of your case. After all evaluation components have been completed, the speech-language pathologist will discuss results with the parent/caregiver to determine frequency and length of treatment sessions.
What kinds of things can you test for?
So many things! Here are some examples:
Speech Sound development/Intelligibility (sounds he/she uses and how well your child is understood)
So many things! Here are some examples:
Speech Sound development/Intelligibility (sounds he/she uses and how well your child is understood)
- Articulation: the accuracy of a child's speech sounds
- Phonology: the accuracy of the child's speech sound patterns (how sounds are put together)
- Stuttering: involuntary repetition of sounds during speech
- Vocabulary: the amount and types of words your child uses or understands
- Following directions: how well your child follows directions, and what type they area able to follow
- Comprehension: the child's ability to recall and answer questions about information they heard or read when given choices or spontaneously
- Morphology/Syntax: the child's understanding or use of word endings and word order (grammar)
- Sound-letter knowledge: the child's knowledge of the alphabet and sounds each letter makes
- Reading comprehension: recalling and answering questions about what the child has read
- Decoding: the child's ability to read an unfamiliar word and determine the meaning of that word
- Spelling: the child's knowledge of the conventions of English spelling
- Content: the child's ability to respond to a prompt, as well as the complexity of their response
- Grammar: the child's use of the conventions of English grammar, including: word order, capitalization, punctuation, and sentence structure