What to Expect
Speech-language pathologists at Cincinnati Children’s strive to be national leaders in helping children learn to communicate, read, write, and feed safely. As one of the largest speech-language pathology programs in the country, we provide high-quality care for children from all parts of the world.
We work to create a positive, child-focused environment that makes therapy fun for children of all ages. We are experts in working with children to understand their specific needs and challenges. Evaluation and therapy plans are individualized to help address needs and meet goals.
What to Expect at Your Evaluation
Making an Appointment for Speech-Language Pathology Services
The first step will be to make an appointment for an evaluation visit in the Division of Speech-Language Pathology. We offer appointments at multiple satellite locations throughout the Cincinnati area, including our Burnet campus. The Cincinnati Children's Scheduling Center will work with you to find the geographic location that offers the services and convenience you need.
Your child will need a referral from their primary care provider to begin speech-language services. Once you have a referral, you can contact us to schedule your child’s evaluation visit.
We encourage you to talk to your insurance company to learn how speech-language pathology services are covered in your plan. Insurance may only cover a certain number of visits or a portion of visit costs. We can provide resources to help you learn how to work with your insurance company.
On the Day of Your Visit at Speech-Language Pathology
Before Your Appointment
We ask that you arrive in our office 15 minutes before your appointment to allow time for the registration process.
At Your Evaluation
During the evaluation the SLP will evaluate your child’s speech, language, reading, and feeding abilities. First, they will talk to you about your child’s past and current medical history and your primary concerns about their speech, language and/or feeding skills.
The SLP will observe how your child interacts with you, assess your child during play, and they may use standardized tests to evaluate their skills. The SLP will then share information about the evaluation results and discuss recommendations for next steps.
If therapy is recommended, you and your child’s SLP will work together to create a plan to meet your child’s goals. This may involve individual or group therapy. We will also discuss how to work on certain skills at home, which will help your child make progress.
During therapy, families and caretakers are encouraged to take an active role in the treatment program, either by participating in the room, or by observation through our video system.
After Your Visit at Speech-Language Pathology
The speech-language pathologist will prepare an evaluation report and will send this to the referring physician and to your pediatrician as needed. The SLP will also provide you with an “After Visit Summary” that includes important information about the next steps in your child’s care, including any upcoming appointments. It may also include information on how you can help your child at home.
Please contact us if you anticipate that you will be late for your appointment. We will advise you as to whether your child can be seen at your estimated arrival time or if rescheduling will be necessary.
