Speech Pathology Assessment for Children

The most effective, high quality, tailor made therapy for a child begins with a thorough speech pathology assessment. At Therapy Matters, we believe that understanding a child’s temperament, difficulties, and unique needs is the foundation for success. It is for this reason that we recommend all new clients have a dedicated speech assessment or parent planning session at their initial consultation, even if they have previously seen another speech pathologist.

As you take these first steps toward a better understanding of your child’s communication, you may experience mixed feelings or uncertainty. Be assured that our team is here to support you and your child through every stage of this journey.

Our Approach to Speech and Language Assessment

A formal speech and language assessment is more than just a series of tests; it is a clinical deep dive into how your child interacts with the world. Our speech pathologists use a combination of formal standardised tests and play based observations to evaluate how your child’s communication skills are developing.

Depending on your child’s specific needs, we may conduct:

Speech Therapy Language Assessments

Evaluating vocabulary, sentence structure, and how your child follows directions. We use assessment tools such as the Clinical Evaluations of Language Fundamentals (CELF-5 and CELF-Preschool) and the Test of Integrated Language and Literacy Skills (TILLS).

Diagnostic Speech Assessment

Our team hold extensive expertise in the differential diagnosis of speech sound disorders like an articulation disorder, phonological disorder, childhood apraxia (CAS) or dysarthria. We use a range of tailored assessment tools such as the DEAP Speech Assessment (Diagnostic Evaluation of Articulation and Phonology) and the Dynamic Evaluation of Motor Speech Skill (DEMSS) to help us differentiate whether a child has a delay, disorder or motor speech difficulties impacting their speech clarity. We are skilled in comprehensive apraxia speech assessments to identify CAS and provide clarity for families in appropriate intervention pathways.

At Your Pace Assessment

Used for neurodivergent children such as autistic children, ADHDers or children with disabilities who benefit from a slower pace, time to build trust and opportunities to learn about their sensory preferences, movement needs and interests. Responsive, authentic assessments based on comfort and readiness.

Speech Pathology Social Communication Assessment

We explore how your child navigates their social world including how they make friends, read social cues, and participate in conversations and play. We look at differences in conversational style, body language, eye contact, nonverbal communication, and play skills that may lead to social misunderstandings. Our assessments focus on real‑world communication, sometimes including school visits, to understand whether friendship challenges arise from your child’s differences, their peers’ ability to recognise and adapt to those differences, or the support provided by adults in their environment.

Speech Pathology Dyslexia Assessment

We can evaluate your child’s reading, spelling and written expression and determine whether any oral language difficulties in phonological processing, listening comprehension or spoken expression are contributing to their difficulties. We can work in collaboration with psychologists in the diagnosis of specific learning disorders such as dyslexia or dysgraphia.

How do I make an appointment?

Parents can phone us, drop into our clinic or fill in our New Client Enquiry Form. Our Matching Matters care pathway starts straight away. Our friendly office staff will take details such as your child’s age, contact details, appointment preferences and what you are concerned about. This helps them match your needs to a suitable therapist, location, service, days and times. It helps them understand whether an assessment or parent planning session is needed.

Our client services team will either allocate you an appointment straight away whenever available or place you on a waiting list for assessment and follow up therapy at a day/time of your preference. Sometimes, a follow up phone call may be needed from one of our speech pathologists to better understand your child’s needs.

Unfortunately, we can experience periods of high demand for our services. This means there can be a waiting time for both assessments and therapy sessions. It can be difficult to provide parents with exact timelines on these expected waits as there are many factors to juggle between our team’s capabilities as well as your availability and needs. We are proud of our Matching Matters pathway which means that our team work very hard to understand where you want a service, when you want it, who you need a service from and what paperwork is needed. This Matching Matters pathway helps us manage our waiting lists as effectively, empathetically, fairly, ethically and responsively as possible.

The more information you give us about your needs and the more flexible you are in the service you want, the shorter the waiting time. We know this can be frustrating for parents who are keen to get started. Our friendly team will have the most up to date knowledge on the state of our waiting lists at any one time for your particular circumstances and they will be more than happy to assist you navigate this process. We will endeavour to work our way through these waiting lists as soon as possible.

What to Expect During a Speech Assessment

Typically, our initial appointments for assessment for speech and language are scheduled for 1.5 – 2 hours. For toddlers, we may split this into two 45-60 minute sessions to better suit their attention spans and needs. School aged children needing learning disorders assessments (e.g. for dyslexia) typically require two (2) longer sessions to cover the examination of all oral and written language areas. Neurodivergent children on our At Your Pace assessment pathway may need multiple sessions over time and in different settings.

  • 1

    Preparation: Prior to the session, you will fill in an “All About My Child Matters” form and provide any relevant reports from paediatricians, other therapists or audiologists.

  • 2

    Evaluation: Your therapist will use specific speech pathology assessment tools tailored to your child’s age and temperament.

  • 3

    Collaborative Review: We prefer you to join us during the session. We want to discuss your concerns and ensure your child feels at ease to get the most accurate picture of their skills.

  • 4

    Feedback: At the end of the session, your therapist will discuss the findings. You will receive a comprehensive written report within 2 to 4 weeks.

The Matching Matters Care Pathway

We are proud of our Matching Matters pathway, which starts the moment you contact us. Whether you phone us, visit our clinic, or fill in our New Client Enquiry Form, our office staff work hard to match your needs to the most suitable therapist, location, and service time.

Because there can be high demand for a speech pathology assessment, this pathway helps us manage our waiting lists as effectively, ethically, and responsively as possible. The more information you provide about your child’s specific communication concerns, the better we can navigate this process to get you started as soon as possible.

Identifying the Cause of Communication Difficulties

Many communication disorders have no single definite cause, though they often run in families. During a speech assessment, we look at a range of factors. We often recommend hearing tests prior to your appointment, as middle ear infections or hearing impairments can significantly impact speech development.

Speech and language difficulties can also be associated with a range of disabilities, including autism or ADHD. In these instances, your speech pathologist may work alongside a multidisciplinary team, including paediatricians, occupational therapists, or psychologists, to ensure your child receives the most comprehensive care possible.

Frequently Asked Questions About Speech Assessments

If you notice your child is frustrated when trying to communicate, is not meeting developmental milestones for their age, or if their speech is difficult for unfamiliar people to understand, a speech assessment is recommended. Early identification is key to providing the most effective support for your child’s communication development.

A speech assessment focuses on the physical production of sounds (articulation) and the clarity of your child’s voice. A speech and language assessment looks at a broader range of skills, including “receptive language” (how your child understands what is said to them) and “expressive language” (how they use words and sentences to share their ideas).

No, you do not need a formal referral from a doctor to book an assessment for speech and language at Therapy Matters. However, if you are planning to claim Medicare rebates through a Chronic Disease Management Plan or the new M10 pathway you will need to visit your local doctor first to have the appropriate paperwork prepared.

Your therapist will provide initial verbal feedback immediately following the 1.5-hour session. A comprehensive, written speech pathology communication assessment report, which can be shared with schools, paediatricians, or used for NDIS applications, is typically provided within 2 to 4 weeks.

It’s complicated! Speech Pathologists play an integral role in building the full diagnostic picture for specific learning disorders. While formal diagnoses of dyslexia, dysgraphia, and related learning disorders are traditionally made by psychologists, speech pathologists with specialised training in literacy are increasingly identifying dyslexia and often provide the ongoing intervention that follows. At Therapy Matters, we use a multidisciplinary approach, collaborating closely with psychologists who contribute cognitive (IQ) and academic skills assessments while our speech pathologists assess understanding, expression, phonological processing, and other key skills central to understanding literacy difficulties. We also help identify other contributing conditions, such as Developmental Language Disorder (DLD), ensuring families gain a clear, accurate understanding of whether a child’s reading, spelling, and writing challenges stem from dyslexia, dysgraphia, DLD or a combination of these which leads to the most effective intervention pathway.

There is no strict minimum age for diagnosing Childhood Apraxia of Speech (CAS), but a child must be able to imitate speech often up to 2-syllable words and beyond. This typically becomes possible around 2.5 to 3 years of age, which is the youngest age at which our team has confidently diagnosed CAS. A diagnosis cannot be made for a non-speaking child, as they must be able to attempt speech movements for assessment. However, if CAS is suspected, a speech pathologist may note features of possible motor speech difficulties and begin early, motor based intervention to support emerging speech skills.

It’s completely okay if your child doesn’t speak during their assessment. Children communicate in many ways, and silence can reflect their needs, personality, or how they’re feeling on the day. Whether your child is non-speaking due to a neurodevelopmental difference, disability, anxiety, or simply feeling shy or overwhelmed, our therapists respond with warmth, patience, and expertise. We use strategies to help them feel safe and comfortable, and if needed, we can move to our At Your Pace Assessment Pathway to slow things down and build connection first. We can also support communication through Key Word Sign, communication boards or iPad apps designed for different communicators. Our goal is always to meet your child where they are and ensure the assessment reflects their true abilities, not just their willingness to speak in the moment.