Speech-Language Pathology (SLP)/Speech Therapy Evaluation and Treatment

Also known as: speech-language therapy, SLP.

What is speech therapy?

Speech therapy is an intervention that targets improving a child’s ability to understand and express language. The therapy is conducted by a medical professional known as a speech-language pathologist.

What happens during the treatment?

Speech-language therapy encompasses the following areas:

• Articulation
• Fluency
• Voice
• Receptive/Expressive Language
• Play
• Oral-Motor.

A formal assessment is conducted to determine the areas of deficit and goal plans are created.

Is any special preparation needed?

A prescription from a medical provider (i.e., pediatrician, sub-specialist) is required to initiate scheduling the evaluation.

What are the risk factors?

There are no risk factors related to speech therapy.

Reviewed by: Jamie Tarshis

This page was last updated on: May 13, 2022 09:42 AM

Communication and Feeding Difficulties: Does My Child Have Autism Spectrum Disorder?

April 14, 2021 – Why is my child not communicating? Why are mealtimes such a battle? These are some of the questions that speech-language therapists are asked when first meeting families seeking therapy for a young child. Sometimes, it is not just a lack of “speech” or difficulties eating that are the focus of our evaluation. Sometimes we are the first to tell parents or caregivers that the child has what we call “red flags for autism.”

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