Speech & language assessment
- If you have any professional reports from other specialists, or school reports, please send copies of them beforehand, or bring them with you. Professionals or schools will not be contacted without your permission.
- If your child is pre -school age, please explain they are going to play as this puts less pressure on the child to speak during the assessment session. If a child is primary school age, you may explain they are going to do some speaking and listening activities. If they are secondary school age or older, please explain they are going to see a speech and language therapist to talk about what they may find difficult and to do some speaking and listening activities. It is advised not to mention that it is an assessment or test.
For initial appointments, the therapist will meet with the parent or caregiver at the beginning of the session-the child may join depending on their age. The therapist will then complete assessment with the child. This may involve playing with the child and/or using picture based tools. Parents may sit in on the session; with older students, the student may have a choice whether their parent sits in to observe.
A visit to another setting such as nursery, school or home may be needed as part of this assessment. Liaison with other professionals may also form part of the assessment process.
Following all assessment, verbal feedback will be given following the session. A written report will be completed within 2 weeks and sent directly to parents and referrer if applicable.
Therapy recommendations are discussed following initial assessment. Regular sessions may be offered using teletherapy, at clinic in central London or at nursery, school or home (location dependent). Home/school/nursery visits may be carried out in West London; areas to include Chelsea, Kensington, Notting Hill, Putney.
Speech & language therapy
Following assessment, therapy options may then be discussed and jointly agreed with parents or caregivers. Typically individual sessions are offered, however small group therapy focusing on social thinking may be an option.
School aged children may be seen at school, clinic or home depending on their needs. Some children respond well to being seen within the structure of their school day. This also enables collaborative working with education staff which is particularly important to children with social communication difficulties.
A wide range of evidence based and eclectic therapy approaches are used which are sharing during therapy. Specific goals, review of progress and outcomes of goals are regularly used throughout the therapy process. Communication and behavioural parenting coaching is also available when children are not ready to engage directly with the therapist.