If you're wondering whether your child may need speech therapy, you’re in good company. Most parents don’t start with certainty. They start with a gut feeling.
Maybe your toddler gets frustrated when you don’t understand what they want. Maybe your preschooler talks a lot, but people outside the family struggle to follow them. Maybe a teacher mentioned something and now you can’t un-hear it.
“My goal is to help children become better communicators,” says speech language pathologist Heidi Webster, CCC-SLP, who sees patients at Zarminali Pediatric - Sartell. “When kids can more effectively communicate, they feel more confident in initiating communication and have higher self-esteem. This leads to better relationships with their peers and family members.”
This guide will help you understand what an evaluation can tell you, what speech therapy looks like, and how to decide what next step makes sense for your family.
A speech and language evaluation is an information-gathering visit. It’s designed to answer questions like
An evaluation can lead to several outcomes. You might learn that your child’s development is within expectations, and get a few targeted tips to support progress at home. If things are borderline or improving, the therapist may recommend watching for specific changes and checking back after a set period.
If speech or language differences are making it hard for your child to be understood, participate, or feel confident, therapy can offer a clear plan and measurable goals.
Signs often show up in daily routines and patterns. Here are a few categories to think through.
None of these automatically mean your child needs therapy. They do mean it’s reasonable to gather more information.
One of the most helpful ways to understand speech therapy is to picture progress as a ladder.
Parents sometimes hear a child pronounce a sound once and think, “They can do it. Why aren’t they using it?” Or a child might say a word clearly during practice, then lose it completely in conversation. That doesn’t mean they’re being stubborn or not trying. It often means they’re on an earlier rung of the ladder.
Therapy helps children climb from “I can do it sometimes” to “I can do it naturally, with anyone, anywhere.”
Parents sometimes imagine speech therapy as sitting at a table repeating sounds on flashcards. In pediatric therapy, the vibe is usually very different.
Most therapists use a play- and interest-based approach. That means they follow what motivates your child (cars, animals, crafts) and build skill practice into activities your child wants to do.
“We first talk about the child’s interests,” says Heidi. “If a child likes dinosaurs, then our treatment materials and sessions include dinos.”
Motivation matters because repetition is how the brain learns, and kids repeat more when it feels fun and successful.
Therapy may include
A good session often looks like your child is simply playing. Under the surface, the therapist is carefully shaping the play to create repeated, meaningful communication opportunities.
Gestures, pointing, signs, and shared attention are meaningful communication. A therapist will pay attention to how your child gets their message across, not only how many words they say.
Many young children go through phases of disfluency. If your child seems distressed by stuttering, avoids talking, or it’s increasing over time, an evaluation can help you learn how to respond in a way that protects confidence.
AAC stands for augmentative and alternative communication. It can include picture boards, simple communication books, or speech-generating devices. Some parents worry that AAC will stop a child from talking. In reality, giving a child reliable ways to communicate can reduce frustration and support communication development. The goal is connection and expression now, not waiting until speech is “perfect.”
If a child has sensory or regulation needs that make it hard to sit, attend, or tolerate frustration, occupational therapy can help build the foundation for communication work. Some children benefit from coordinated care so they can participate fully in speech therapy.
Evaluations aren’t about proving something is wrong. They’re about giving you clarity.
Reassurance and home strategies may be enough if
An evaluation is worth it if
Scheduling sooner makes sense if
This quiz isn’t a diagnosis. Think of it as a decision tool that helps you organize what you’re seeing.
For each question, answer: Not really / Sometimes / Often
You won’t regret getting clarity. Bring up any speech concerns with your child’s clinician. Even if therapy isn’t needed, you’ll walk away with a plan. And when therapy is recommended, it’s because there’s a clear path to making communication easier for your child and your family.