Assessment

This practice provides assessments, consultations, and treatment for people with communication disorders.  The struggle might be:  

  • Articulation / Speech Sounds
  • Language Disorders 
  • Autism Spectrum Disorder
  • Auditory Processing 
  • Developmental Delays
  • Late Talking
  • Apraxia of Speech
  • Social Communication
  • Pragmatic Language
  • Stuttering / Fluency
  • Orofacial Myofunctional Disorders / Tongue Thrust / Swallowing
  • Voice Therapy for individual Parkinson’s Patients  (using LSVT Loud)
  • Voice Therapy Groups for Parkinson’s Patients through the Dallas Area Parkinsonism Society (DAPS)

Assessment of a Child

The initial evaluation of a child’s language usually takes several hours.  We’re gathering lots of information.  There are several steps –  observation, measuring language skills, taking a language sample, and sharing in a parent interview.

Standardized tests have been developed for all ages.  Even little ones as young as 3 months.  Even if a child is delayed in speaking, with a screening instrument, we can determine age ranges for expressive and receptive language skills.

In addition, the sharing of medical history gives other clues about your child.

To avoid duplicate testing, I always appreciate receiving any prior test results.  

My goal is to check language skills in as many ways as possible.  That includes using standardized tests.  However, standardized tests don’t give me a complete picture of how your child learns.  Formal tests usually require such responses as:  pointing to pictures, multiple choice answers, sentence completion, and word defining.

I am seeking a complete picture of your child.

While much information can come from formal tests, it’s extremely helpful to have the child “talk” with me.  I record a spontaneous language sample.  I tape record the conversation. After the session, I analyze the interaction in terms of quality, looking at how your child uses language.   This transcription and analysis of spontaneous language gives me critical information about how your child learns and expresses thoughts.

Parent Conference 

Once this information is gathered, we plan together.  We schedule a parent conference so that we may exchange information.  I appreciate having this time with you, when we can freely share about your child.  We think of ways to help your child communicate and learn more effectively.  I have learned that I capture a snapshot of your child in the initial evaluation.  You already know the whole movie!  I seek your help in planning  for your child.

Together, we decide if therapy is appropriate.