What to Expect in a Speech and Language Initial Assessment

At North West Speech and Language Therapy, we understand that taking the first step towards supporting your child’s communication skills can feel overwhelming. Whether you're seeking help for stammering, speech clarity, language development or another communication area, our initial assessment is designed to be a relaxed and supportive experience. In this blog post, we’ll walk you through what to expect during a speech and language initial assessment to help you feel prepared and confident.

Why is an Initial Assessment Important?
The initial assessment is a vital step in understanding your child’s unique communication needs. It helps us identify areas of strength, pinpoint specific challenges, and create a tailored therapy plan to support your child.

Our assessments cover key communication areas, such as:

- Attention and focus
- Speech clarity (articulation and phonology).
- Language development (understanding and use of vocabulary, grammar, and sentence structure).
- Social communication skills.
- Stammering or fluency concerns.
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Before the Assessment
To make the most of the session, we’ll send you a questionnaire in advance. This helps us gather background information, including:
- Developmental milestones.
- Medical and educational history.
- Specific concerns you’ve noticed about your child’s communication.

We encourage you to share as much detail as possible so we can tailor the session to your child’s needs.

What Happens During the Assessment?

1. Introduction and Building Rapport
We start by introducing ourselves and explaining how the session will run. The goal is to make your child feel comfortable and at ease.

2. Parent and Child Discussion
We’ll chat with you about your concerns and your child’s communication in everyday situations. This provides valuable context for the assessment.

3. Interactive Activities
Your child will participate in a range of fun and engaging tasks to assess their:
- Speech sounds: We might ask your child to name pictures or repeat words to evaluate how they form speech sounds.
- Language skills: Activities may involve following instructions, describing pictures, or answering questions.
- Social communication: For older children, we may explore conversation skills and how they interact with others.

These activities are always tailored to your child’s age and interests to ensure they enjoy the process.

4. Observations and Notes
Throughout the session, we’ll observe your child’s strengths and challenges, noting specific patterns in their communication.

After the Assessment

Feedback
At the end of the assessment, we’ll discuss our initial findings with you. This includes:
- Areas where your child is doing well.
- Any identified difficulties.
- Recommendations for next steps.

Tailored Therapy Plan
If therapy is recommended, we’ll outline a plan tailored to your child’s needs. This may include:
- Regular therapy sessions.
- Strategies to use at home.
- Resources to support your child’s communication development.

How Long Does the Assessment Take?
An initial assessment typically lasts around 60 minutes, depending on your child’s age and needs.

Supporting Your Child’s Journey
At North West Speech and Language Therapy, we believe in working collaboratively with families to help children reach their full communication potential. Whether through one-to-one sessions, group therapy, or home strategies we’re here to support you every step of the way.

If you’d like to book an initial assessment or learn more about our services, please contact us.

FAQs About Initial Assessments

Q: How should I prepare my child for the assessment?
A: Let your child know they’ll be meeting someone who wants to learn more about their talking and listening skills. Reassure them that it will be fun and there’s no right or wrong answer.

Q: Can assessments be done online?
A: Yes, for certain concerns. We offer online assessments as an option, which can be particularly helpful for older children for speech sound therapy or stammering.

Q: What if my child is shy or doesn’t talk during the session?
A: Don’t worry—our therapists are skilled at building rapport and making children feel at ease. We also use a variety of tools to gather information, even if your child is quiet.