What happens during a speech evaluation? A parent’s guide
Parents often seek a speech evaluation when they notice differences in how their child uses words, understands language, communicates needs, or reaches expected communication milestones. Some children may speak later than expected, while others may have difficulty expressing themselves, following directions, or participating in conversations.
In this guide, you’ll learn what happens during a speech evaluation, including what to expect before the appointment, how a speech-language pathologist (SLP) assesses your child’s communication skills, and what happens after the evaluation.
You’ll also learn how speech evaluations work for toddlers, what questions to ask, and how the results can help you decide on the right support for your child.
What is a speech evaluation?
A speech evaluation is an assessment that helps you understand how your child communicates and whether they may benefit from additional support.
The evaluation is usually handled by an SLP, or qualified speech therapist, who looks beyond the words your child can communicate clearly to assess how your child understands language, expresses needs and ideas, uses sounds and gestures, and communicates during everyday interactions.
This broader view helps identify your child’s strengths, challenges, and the type of support that may be helpful.
Understanding the difference between speech and language is also important. Speech refers to how your child produces sounds and words, while language refers to how they understand and use communication.
A child may experience challenges in one area or both. You can learn more about these
What happens during a speech evaluation?
The evaluation process may look different depending on your child’s age, communication abilities, and the concerns that led to the referral. However, most speech evaluations follow a similar process that helps the speech-language pathologist (SLP) build a complete picture of your child’s development.
Step 1: Parent interview and developmental history
The evaluation often begins with a conversation between you and the SLP. There might be a need to also have a similar interview with your child’s teachers and other guardians.
This gives the therapist important background information about your child’s development and the communication concerns you have noticed.
The SLP may ask about:
Pregnancy and birth history: information about your child’s early medical history that may provide context for development.
Developmental milestones: when your child reached milestones such as babbling, first words, combining words, or responding to communication.
Communication concerns: what you have noticed about your child’s speech, language, or ability to express needs.
Hearing history: previous hearing tests, ear infections, or concerns that may affect communication development.
Previous evaluations or services: any assessments, therapies, or support your child has received.
The observations from the people who have watched your child grow and develop sound are an important part of the evaluation because you see how your child communicates during everyday routines, interactions, and activities outside the assessment setting.
Step 2: Observing your child’s communication
After gathering background information, the SLP observes how your child communicates.
For younger children, especially toddlers, this part is often play-based because play provides a natural way to understand communication skills.
During observation, the SLP may look at:
How your child communicates needs: whether they use words, gestures, sounds, facial expressions, or other methods to communicate.
How your child interacts: how they respond to others, share attention, or participate in communication.
How your child plays: whether they use toys, engage in pretend play, or communicate during activities.
How your child responds to questions and instructions: how they understand and respond to spoken language.
Step 3: Speech and language assessment
In this stage, the SLP then assesses different areas of communication to understand your child’s current skills. This part of the evaluation helps the therapist see how your child understands language, expresses thoughts and needs, uses speech sounds, and communicates during everyday interactions.
The SLP may use a combination of structured activities, conversations, pictures, toys, and age-appropriate games to assess your child’s communication abilities. The activities are chosen based on your child’s age and developmental level, so a toddler’s evaluation may look different from an older child’s assessment.
The assessment may look at:
Understanding language: assessing how your child understands words, questions, instructions, and concepts.
Using language: assessing how your child uses sounds, words, sentences, gestures, or other forms of communication to express ideas and needs.
Producing speech sounds: assessing how your child produces sounds and whether their speech is clear and understandable.
Using social communication: assessing how your child uses communication during interactions with other people.
The SLP may use an articulation screening to understand how your child produces individual speech sounds.
During this part of the evaluation, your child may be asked to name pictures, repeat sounds or words, or say familiar words while their speech production is observed.
The therapist looks for sounds your child can produce clearly, sounds that may be difficult, and patterns in speech errors that may affect how easily others understand them.
Step 4: Oral-motor assessment
Some speech evaluations may include an oral-motor exam. During this part of the assessment, the therapist looks at the movement, strength, and coordination of the muscles involved in speech, including the lips, tongue, jaw, and mouth.
The therapist may ask your child to complete simple movements, such as moving their tongue, smiling, opening and closing their mouth, or making different sounds. For younger children, this may happen through play or during natural interactions.
The assessment helps the therapist understand whether your child’s speech difficulties may be related to how they coordinate the movements needed to produce sounds.
The therapist may also assess:
Lip and tongue movement: how your child moves the parts of the mouth needed for speech.
Coordination during speech: how smoothly your child combines movements to produce sounds and words.
Oral structures: whether the physical structures involved in speech appear to support clear speech production.
An oral-motor assessment is only one part of a complete speech evaluation. The SLP considers these findings alongside your child’s communication skills, developmental history, and daily experiences.
Step 5: Reviewing results and recommendations
At the end of the evaluation, the SLP discusses what they found and explains what the results mean for your child.
You should receive information about your child’s communication strengths, areas where they may need support, and possible next steps.
The evaluation report and recommendations may include:
your child’s current communication abilities.
areas that may benefit from support.
suggested therapy or follow-up services.
strategies you can use at home.
A speech evaluation doesn't only identify challenges. It helps you understand your child’s communication profile and decide what support may help them continue developing their skills.
What does an SLP test for during a speech evaluation?
We’ve established the step-by-step process of a speech evaluation. But what are the actual language tests being evaluated?
The areas assessed may vary depending on your child’s age, concerns, and developmental stage, but most evaluations consider the following communication skills.
1. Receptive language
Receptive language looks at how your child understands what others say. The SLP assesses whether your child can understand spoken language and make sense of the information they hear.
The evaluation may look at skills such as:
Following instructions: how your child responds to simple or more complex directions.
Understanding words and concepts: how your child recognizes objects, actions, and ideas communicated through language.
Responding to questions: how your child understands and responds when someone asks for information.
A child may understand more than they can say, or they may experience challenges understanding spoken language. Assessing receptive language helps the SLP understand where your child’s communication skills are developing and where additional support may be useful.
2. Expressive language
Expressive language looks at how your child shares thoughts, needs, and ideas with others. The SLP assesses the ways your child communicates, including spoken words, sounds, gestures, and sentences.
The evaluation may look at:
Sounds and words: whether your child uses sounds, single words, or phrases to communicate.
Sentence development: how your child combines words to express ideas.
Gestures and other communication methods: whether your child points, uses facial expressions, or uses other ways to share information.
For some children, the concern may involve a delay in spoken language, while others may communicate in words but have difficulty using language during conversations or social interactions.
3. Speech sounds and articulation
Speech sound assessment looks at how your child produces individual sounds and how understandable their speech is. The SLP evaluates pronunciation, sound patterns, and any difficulties that affect speech clarity.
This may include an articulation screening, where the SLP checks how your child produces individual sounds and whether certain sound patterns are expected for their age.
The SLP may also consider:
which sounds your child can produce correctly.
sounds that are difficult to pronounce.
how speech clarity affects communication with others.
Speech sound differences can occur for many reasons, and the evaluation helps determine whether your child’s speech development is progressing as expected or whether additional support may help.
4. Social communication
Social communication refers to how your child uses communication when interacting with other people. The SLP may assess how your child participates in conversations, shares attention, responds to others, and communicates in social situations.
The evaluation may look at:
Interaction skills: how your child engages with parents, caregivers, and others.
Conversation skills: how your child takes turns, responds, and shares information.
Communication during play: how your child uses language or gestures while playing and interacting.
Understanding social communication can be especially helpful when a child has concerns beyond speech production, such as difficulty using communication during everyday interactions.
If you’re wondering how speech differences relate to other developmental concerns, our guides on speech delay vs. normal variation and red flags for speech delay can help you understand when further evaluation may be useful.
How long does a speech evaluation take?
The length of the evaluation can vary depending on your child’s age, the type of assessment being completed, the communication concerns being explored, and the provider’s evaluation process.
The SLP may need time to gather information from you, observe your child, complete assessment activities, and review the findings before discussing recommendations. So some evaluations may be completed in one appointment, while others may require additional time depending on the information needed.
Before the evaluation, it can help to prepare any relevant information about your child’s development, including communication milestones, previous assessments, hearing history, and concerns you have noticed at home.
The most important part of the process is not the length of the appointment, but making sure the SLP has enough information to understand your child’s communication profile and provide appropriate recommendations.
What happens after a speech evaluation?
After a speech evaluation, the SLP will explain what they learned about your child’s communication skills and discuss possible next steps. The recommendations will depend on your child’s strengths, areas where they need support, and the goals you want to work on together.
According to Children’s Mercy, speech evaluations help identify communication concerns and guide recommendations for support based on your child’s assessment results.
Depending on the findings, the next steps may include:
Starting speech therapy: your child may begin working with an SLP to develop specific communication skills, such as using words, understanding language, improving speech clarity, or communicating needs.
Monitoring development: some children may benefit from continued observation and follow-up if their skills are developing but need additional support over time.
Using home strategies: the SLP may provide activities and communication strategies you can use during everyday routines, play, and conversations with your child.
Considering additional evaluation: if the SLP notices concerns beyond speech and language, they may recommend further assessment to better understand your child’s overall development.
If you are exploring whether speech differences may be connected to autism or other developmental concerns, you can learn more through our guides on autism vs. speech delay and ADHD vs. autism vs. speech delay.
Understanding the evaluation results gives you a clearer path forward and helps you choose support that matches your child’s current needs.
How Aldea helps you find speech therapy support for your child
Finding the right speech support can feel overwhelming when you are trying to understand your child’s communication needs. Aldea helps you explore speech therapy options and connect with providers who can evaluate your child’s communication skills and recommend appropriate support.
From the first evaluation to ongoing therapy, understanding each step can help you feel more prepared and confident in supporting your child’s development.
1. Start with a speech evaluation that helps you understand your child
Your child’s speech journey begins with understanding their current communication skills. A qualified speech-language pathologist (SLP) evaluates speech sounds, language development, communication patterns, and how your child interacts with others.
The evaluation helps identify your child’s strengths, areas where they may need support, and possible next steps.
2. Connect with providers who understand your child’s needs
Every child develops communication skills differently. The right provider considers your child’s age, developmental stage, communication challenges, and goals when recommending support.
Through Aldea, you can explore speech therapy providers who can help your family find services that match your child’s needs.
3. Receive guidance based on your child’s communication goals
After the evaluation, the speech therapist can explain what they found and recommend the type of support that may benefit your child.
Support may focus on areas such as:
Speech development: helping your child improve sound production and speech clarity.
Language skills: supporting how your child understands and uses words to communicate.
Social communication: helping your child use communication during interactions and play.
4. Continue building skills beyond therapy sessions
Speech and language development happens throughout everyday activities. Your child’s therapist may provide strategies you can use during routines, play, and conversations at home to encourage communication practice.
Your involvement helps create more opportunities for your child to use and develop their skills.
5. Track progress and adjust support over time
As your child develops, their communication needs may change. Regular conversations with your provider help you understand progress, celebrate improvements, and adjust goals when needed.
A speech evaluation is the beginning of understanding your child’s communication journey. With the right support, you can take informed steps toward helping your child develop stronger communication skills.
Explore Aldea’s speech therapy services to find support options for your child.
FAQs about speech evaluations
1. What happens during a speech evaluation?
A speech evaluation helps an SLP understand how your child communicates. The therapist will ask about your child’s development, observe communication skills, and assess areas such as speech sounds, language, and interaction.
2. How long does a speech evaluation take?
The length depends on your child’s age, communication concerns, and the type of assessment needed. Some evaluations may be completed in one appointment, while others may require more time.
3. What does a speech therapist test for?
A speech therapist evaluates how your child understands and uses language, produces speech sounds, communicates needs, and interacts with others.
4. Does my child need to talk during a speech evaluation?
No. Your child does not need to talk throughout the evaluation. The SLP can also assess gestures, sounds, play, and other forms of communication.
5. What should I bring to a speech evaluation?
Bring any information that may help the SLP understand your child’s development, including previous reports, developmental history, hearing information, and examples of your concerns.