What to Expect at a Speech Therapy Evaluation
Deciding to schedule a speech or feeding evaluation for your child can feel like a big step. Families often come to us with questions, uncertainties, or simply a desire to better understand how their child communicates or eats. Our goal is to make the evaluation process supportive, informative, and collaborative; so you leave feeling confident and empowered. Here’s what you can expect when you schedule an evaluation at Child and Family Development.
Before the Appointment: A Free 15‑Minute Phone Call
Before your child ever walks through our doors, we begin with a free 15‑minute phone consultation. This call helps us gather important background information and ensures your child’s evaluation is as meaningful and efficient as possible. During this call, we will:
- Collect demographic and contact information
- Learn about your primary concerns
- Review medical, developmental, and feeding history
- Answer initial questions about the evaluation process
This conversation allows us to individualize the evaluation and determine which tools and approaches will best support your child.
The Evaluation Appointment: What Happens During the 1‑Hour Session
Speech/language and feeding evaluations are scheduled for one hour. This time allows us to observe your child, complete appropriate testing, and collaborate with you to form a well‑rounded understanding of your child’s needs.
- Observation and Interaction
We begin by observing your child in a comfortable, supportive environment. Depending on their age and needs, this may include:
- Play‑based interaction
- Structured tasks
- Conversation and informal language sampling
Observation helps us understand how your child communicates or eats in a more natural setting, not just how they perform during testing.
- Formal and Informal Assessment
We may use standardized assessments, informal measures, or both to evaluate areas such as:
- Speech sound production
- Language comprehension and expression
- Social communication
- Fluency or voice
- Feeding and swallowing skills (when applicable)
Every evaluation is individualized, no two children receive the exact same assessment.
If the Evaluation Is a Feeding Evaluation
Feeding evaluations are designed to look at how your child eats, drinks, and interacts with food, as well as any challenges that may be impacting nutrition, growth, or mealtime participation. During a feeding evaluation, we may:
- Observe your child eating foods they already tolerate
- Look at oral‑motor skills (lips, tongue, jaw, chewing patterns)
- Assess sensory responses to textures, temperatures, and flavors
- Review mealtime routines, positioning, and behaviors
- Discuss safety concerns such as coughing, gagging, or choking
- Evaluate self‑feeding skills and independence, when appropriate
You may be asked to bring:
- Preferred foods and drinks
- Utensils or cups your child uses at home
- Bottles or feeding equipment, if applicable
Feeding evaluations are always child‑led and supportive. We never force a child to eat and instead focus on understanding their current abilities, comfort level, and relationship with food.
Parent and Caregiver Collaboration
Your insight is a critical part of the evaluation. Throughout the session, we will ask questions and discuss your observations to better understand your child across environments. Some common questions may include:
- How long have you noticed this concern?
- Has your child received speech, feeding, OT, or other therapies before?
- Have you discussed these concerns with your pediatrician or another specialist?
- Are there any relevant medical, birth, or developmental factors?
- What does communication or mealtimes look like at home? At school or daycare?
- Are there behavioral, sensory, or social challenges impacting meals or communication?
- What strategies have you tried, and what has or hasn’t worked?
There are no right or wrong answers. This information helps us see the full picture.
Putting It All Together: A Snapshot in Time
By the end of the evaluation, we combine observations, test results, and caregiver input to create a snapshot in time of your child’s communication or feeding skills. Children grow and change, and this snapshot helps guide current recommendations while leaving room for future development.
After the Evaluation: Next Steps
At the conclusion of the evaluation, we will:
- Review initial findings and impressions
- Discuss whether speech or feeding therapy is recommended and at what frequency
- Explain how therapy could help and what goals may look like
- Outline next steps, which may include therapy services, home strategies, or referrals to other providers within our multi‑disciplinary team
A Supportive, Collaborative Process
Speech and feeding evaluations are not about labels, they are about understanding your child and finding ways to support them. Whether therapy is recommended or not, our goal is for you to leave with clarity, reassurance, and practical guidance. If you’re wondering whether an evaluation is right for your child, we’re here to help, starting with a free 15‑minute phone call.
