What to Expect in Speech Therapy
Starting speech therapy with your child can be overwhelming, especially if it is the very first session.
At CB Speech Therapy, I strive to make sessions as individualized, engaging, and empowering for both you and your child. In this post, I hope to do just that so that you know just what to expect in a typical session and so that you can be confident you are prepared.
The Structure of the Session
Sessions are play-based & in your home.
The evidence is all out there: How do children learn best? Through PLAY. That means, we are going to use only the activities that your child shows and interest in. Following a child’s lead builds rapport, leading to more comfort and engagement during sessions. A child’s attention span is best supported with highly motivated activities. This also leads to smoother transitions into positive learning experiences. Personally, this means I am also flexible. I can plan a whole session around a toy I have brought with me. One session, it can be a hit. The next session, it may have lost its magic, which means we just have to pivot; it’s so much more valuable that way! I also try to stick with toys that you already have at home (your child’s natural environment) so that you know exactly how you can incorporate practice throughout the week when your SLP is not present. Research Basis: Play-based interventions are highly effective for early language development in toddlers (Bruder, 2010; Fleury, 2016).
Incorporating goals into play
Before your first session, you likely have had an evaluation completed. Based on this evaluation, your child has goals that will be worked on in therapy. A trained SLP can incorporate almost any goal into play-based activities (what I like to call “sneaky speech”). When delivering therapy, I am always thinking about what the child is showing is interest in and how we can incorporate what we are working on together. This means that we can incorporate speech sound production (i.e., articulation), vocabulary building, early language skills, grammar, social communication, and/or AAC into just about any activity. When activities are embedded in natural play, we are encouraging generalization to real-life situations. Not sure what that looks like for your child? That leads me to…
Parent Coaching & Feedback (5–10 minutes)
Coaching is always provided to you during or at the end of your child’s therapy session so that you know how to encourage this throughout the week too. Your SLP might be with your child only an hour or so per week. You are with your child almost 24/7! This means I want you to know how to reinforce the skill at home. We discuss progress, challenges, and ways to practice between sessions. This ensures that your child’s speech therapy is consistent, functional, and family-centered. Research basis: Family involvement in pediatric speech therapy improves outcomes (McAllister et al., 2012; Law et al., 2017).
More Answers to Your Questions
What should I have ready for my first appointment?
I always recommend having some of your child’s favorite toys or comfort items out. Let your child help you pick what they would like to play with! Also, have any of your questions regarding your evaluation ready.
How long are the sessions? How many times per week?
Dosage is determined on an individualized basis. Always consult the SLP if you have questions about this. Dosage is included in the recommendations portion of your child’s speech-language evaluation. I always balance intensity with attention span, ensuring therapy remains fun and effective. Documentation, caregiver coaching & education is always included in the last 10-15 minutes of your child’s session.
How is progress measured?
I track each child’s progress toward measurable, individualized goals. This means that they are specific to your child and involve qualitative (e.g., clinical observations/occurrences of a target skill) and quantitative data (e.g., producing an /s/ sound in 8 out of 10 trials or with 80% accuracy). Research basis: Progress monitoring is a core component of pediatric speech therapy (ASHA, 2020).
Other Helpful Tips for a Successful Session
Keep your child well-rested and fed before the session.
Avoid pressuring your child. Sessions are designed to be motivating and playful.
Ask questions! The session is a partnership between the child, parent, and therapist.
In Conclusion
A session with CB Speech Therapy LLC is designed to be fun, individualized, and family-centered, with measurable goals and practical strategies you can use at home. Knowing what to expect can help you and your child feel prepared, comfortable, and excited to learn and grow.
If you’re ready to get started, reach out to schedule a private-pay, in-home pediatric speech therapy session in New Jersey. I’ll guide you every step of the way.
Sources:
Bruder, M. B. (2010). Play-based early interventions in speech and language development. Early Childhood Education Journal, 37, 303–310.
Fleury, V. P. (2016). Enhancing early language through play-based approaches. Language, Speech, and Hearing Services in Schools, 47, 301–309.
McAllister, L., Doolittle, J., & McCormick, K. (2012). Family-centered practices in pediatric speech therapy.Journal of Early Intervention, 34, 200–215.
Law, J., Garrett, Z., & Nye, C. (2017). The effectiveness of family involvement in speech and language therapy.Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews.
ASHA (2020). Roles and Responsibilities of the Speech-Language Pathologist in Early Intervention.https://www.asha.org