Speech Therapy (ST)

Speech therapy helps children develop communication skills such as speaking, understanding language, interacting with others, and expressing their needs. Speech-language pathologists work with children who may have delays or difficulties with speech, language, social communication, or feeding and swallowing.

 

Speech therapy can help children participate more successfully in daily life, school, and social interactions.

Quick Summary

  • Speech therapy focuses on communication and language development
  • Supports speech sounds, understanding language, and social communication
  • May also address feeding or swallowing challenges
  • Therapy plans are individualized based on each child’s needs

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What Does Speech Therapy Help With?

Speech therapy supports children in developing communication skills that are important for learning, relationships, and daily life.

 

Children may be referred to speech therapy if they have difficulty with:

  • speaking clearly or producing certain sounds
  • understanding spoken language
  • expressing their thoughts or needs
  • social communication and interaction
  • feeding or swallowing

Speech-language pathologists evaluate communication skills and develop therapy plans to help children build these abilities over time.

Common Areas Addressed in Speech Therapy

  • speech sound development
  • language comprehension (understanding language)
  • expressive language (using words, phrases, and sentences)
  • social communication and conversation skills
  • feeding and swallowing
  • use of communication systems such as pictures or speech devices

What Happens During Speech Therapy?

Speech therapy sessions often use play-based activities, games, and structured exercises to help children practice communication skills.

Activities may include:

  • practicing speech sounds and words
  • building vocabulary and sentence structure
  • learning conversation and social communication skills
  • activities that support safe eating and swallowing when needed

Sessions are designed to be engaging and appropriate for the child’s developmental level.

What to Expect During a Speech Therapy Evaluation

A speech therapy evaluation helps determine whether a child may benefit from speech therapy services and what specific communication skills should be addressed.

 

During an evaluation, the speech-language pathologist may:

  • talk with parents about concerns and developmental history
  • observe the child during play or conversation
  • assess speech sound production and language skills
  • review medical or school information when available

Therapists may also use standardized assessment tools that compare a child’s communication skills to developmental expectations for their age.

 

How Children Qualify for Speech Therapy

Eligibility for speech therapy services typically depends on whether a child has difficulty communicating or understanding language compared to developmental expectations for their age.

 

Different insurance programs, school systems, and funding sources may use slightly different criteria, but therapists often look for challenges in areas such as:

 

  • speech sound development
  • expressive or receptive language delays
  • social communication difficulties
  • feeding or swallowing concerns

If these challenges significantly affect a child’s ability to communicate or participate in everyday activities, speech therapy may be recommended.

Real Life Tip

Speech therapy often focuses on helping children communicate their needs and interact with others more successfully. Even small improvements in communication can make a big difference in a child’s confidence, learning, and relationships.

 

Frequently Asked Questions

What age can children start speech therapy?

Speech-language pathologists work with individuals across the lifespan, from infancy through adulthood. Some children begin speech therapy in early childhood if delays are identified, while others start later when speech or language challenges become more noticeable.

Not always. Some children receive speech therapy based on developmental concerns or evaluation results without a specific diagnosis. However, certain funding programs or insurance plans may require additional documentation.

No. Speech therapy focuses on communication, not just spoken words. Speech-language pathologists help children communicate in a variety of ways depending on their needs.

 

This may include:

• spoken language and speech sounds
• sign language
• picture-based communication systems such as PECS (Picture Exchange Communication System)
• communication boards or AAC (Augmentative and Alternative Communication) devices

 

The goal of speech therapy is to help children express their needs, interact with others, and participate in everyday activities, using the communication method that works best for them.

AAC refers to communication tools that support people who have difficulty speaking. These tools may include picture systems, communication boards, or speech-generating devices.

 

Speech therapists help determine whether AAC may benefit a child and how to use these tools to support communication. AAC can be used temporarily or long-term depending on a child’s needs.

Yes. Many speech-language pathologists are trained to evaluate and treat feeding and swallowing challenges. Therapy may help children who have difficulty chewing, swallowing, accepting different food textures, or safely eating and drinking.

Helpful Resources

Families exploring Speech Therapy may also find these resources helpful.

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