Following a recent evaluation for your child’s speech and language delay, you might be thinking…what next? A new diagnosis can be confusing! Perhaps you may feel relief, apprehension, excitement, or worry – I hear you! Here is what to expect as you approach your first speech therapy session.

Generally speaking, early intervention speech therapy is meant to support your child’s communication skill development. Speech therapists are trained to help your child develop the important foundation skills that they need to develop and use language appropriately. How do we do this? We work directly with your child, but more importantly, provide you with the strategies and tools to help your child learn to communicate!

Current models of early intervention place heavy emphasis on coaching parents to be the primary catalyst in their child’s speech-language development. Providing appropriate information, supports, and strategies to empower caregivers is important because: You, the caregiver, will be able to implement these strategies throughout the week…even when the speech therapist is not there!

When you provide your child with the strategies provided to you during your early intervention sessions, it is as if speech therapy becomes embedded in your daily routines. You will find yourself helping your child learn language during everyday activities such as: Brushing your teeth, having a snack, bathtime, and taking a walk!

The following are examples of what a speech therapist may discuss, and do, during early intervention sessions:

• Discuss your concerns and any changes
• Discuss developmental norms
• Collaborate with you to determine appropriate goals for your child
• Expand upon your child’s foundational skills
• Coach you on how to encourage language development through play and daily routines during interactive sessions
• Give you the tools and strategies you need to support your child’s speech and language development

Early intervention speech therapy is FUN! Therapists want you to end a session feeling, empowered, motivated, and with a better understanding of how to best support your little one. Should you have any further questions about early intervention, please reach out to info@mlgspeechtherapy@gmail.com.