Language Evaluations

Getting started with speech-language therapy begins with completing an evaluation in order to get a comprehensive look at your child’s current communication skills, and determine what your child is having difficulty with (e.g. receptive language, expressive language, pragmatic language, speech production) in order to formulate a treatment plan.

When to get a language evaluation:

• Difficulty following directions

• Difficulty using gestures such as pointing

• Primarily using gestures to communicate

• Little to no babbling or attempted words by 16 months of age

• Saying 50 words or less by 2 years of age

• Not yet combining words to make 2-word phrases by 2 years of age (e.g. more milk, bye dada)

• Not yet using 3+ word phrases by 2.5 years of age

• Is not using words to make requests

• Preschoolers having difficulty using grammatical markers (e.g. plurals, -ing, pronouns), responding to questions, or telling about an event

• Showing frustration when they are unable to communicate

What to expect from a speech-language evaluation:

In order to learn about your child's current communication skills, we will begin with an evaluation. This process typically includes the following:

• A review of intake paperwork ​

• Parent or caregiver interview

• Observations and informal test measures

• Formal assessment(s)

You will be able to choose if you would like to receive either a full evaluation report including detailed information on results of the assessment and treatment plan with therapy goals, or a treatment plan with goals only (see Fees). You will also receive ongoing professional recommendations for a home program, recommended referrals when needed (e.g. ENT, OT, neuropsychologist), and be provided with additional speech and language resources that may be useful for your family.