Information for Families

The Evaluation: What to Expect

Prior to the evaluation, we will gather information regarding the child’s medical and developmental history, and review the concerns of the physician.

During the evaluation, the speech-language pathologist will gather additional information from the family, observe the child’s communication interactions informally, and administer standardized formal tests. If a problem is identified from the testing that is not “developmental” in nature (in other words, the child will not “grow out of it”), speech and/or language therapy is usually recommended.

The speech-language pathologist will thoroughly explain the problem to the family, and make specific recommendations for treatment. Occasionally, the child will be referred to other specialists for additional assessment or treatment. Finally, information will be given to the family on how to work with the child at home.

Speech or Feeding/Swallowing Therapy

At Cincinnati Children’s, we provide individual therapy for communication and feeding/swallowing disorders. When it is in the best interest of the child, group therapy is also provided.

For the best long-term prognosis, treatment of children with communication disorders should be initiated as soon as the problem is identified. The length of therapy and ultimate success depends on the cause and severity of the problem, and on the child’s motivation. One of the most important predictors of success is the frequency with which prescribed activities are practiced at home.

The speech-language pathologist will analyze the specific difficulties that the child is experiencing, and then develop individualized strategies for treating that difficulty. Once the child is able to perform a therapeutic task, then frequent practice at home is essential.

Parents are important members of the child’s treatment team. Therefore, our speech-language pathologists work closely with family members, training them to work with their child at home in order to achieve the best outcome in the shortest amount of time.

To teach parents how to work with the child at home, we encourage them to observe all treatment sessions through our closed-circuit system and to record sessions for later viewing at home. In addition, they are given specific instructions on working with the child at home between sessions. The more the child practices the task between sessions, the faster the child will make progress in therapy. Regular attendance in therapy is also important so that there is no disruption in the child’s progress.