What Is Involved in a Speech Therapy Evaluation?
A speech therapy evaluation looks at your child's communication history, current skills, family concerns, and therapy needs.
Direct answer: A speech therapy evaluation usually includes parent interview, review of medical and school history, direct testing or observation, informal play or conversation, and recommendations for goals, frequency, and next steps. The exact process depends on your child's age and concern.
Before the Evaluation
Families are usually asked about birth history, medical history, hearing, school support, previous therapy, current concerns, and what communication looks like at home.
During the Evaluation
The SLP may use standardized tests, speech samples, play-based observation, feeding observation, language tasks, reading-related tasks, or parent-child interaction depending on the referral question.
After the Evaluation
You should leave with a clearer explanation of strengths, needs, recommended frequency, and what progress might look like. Good evaluations translate test results into a practical plan.
How should I prepare for a speech therapy evaluation?
Bring relevant medical records, school documents, hearing information, previous evaluations, and examples of your child's communication at home. A few video clips can also help when concerns are hard to recreate in the clinic.
Local Speech Therapy Options
Front Range Speech Therapy serves children, teens, and young adults birth through age 21 from Greeley, Colorado. Families commonly visit from Greeley, Fort Collins, Loveland, Windsor, Evans, Johnstown, Berthoud, Firestone and Carbon Valley, and Mead.
Sources
Ready to Talk Through Your Child's Needs?
If you are wondering whether speech therapy is the right next step, call (720) 798-6930 or apply to become a patient. We will tell you honestly whether Front Range Speech Therapy is a fit for your child's age, needs, and timeline.
This article is educational and does not replace an individualized evaluation or medical advice.