Before your first evaluation, we will ask you to complete a case history form and send any previous communication tests or related results to our office. Our children’s speech and hearing specialists will review these forms before your child’s evaluation.
Speech and Language Evaluation
At the time of the evaluation, a speech-language pathologist will see your child with at least one parent present. We perform this evaluation in a play environment using books, toys and other pictures and objects. We will ask your child to listen and follow directions and to imitate speech sounds or words if possible.
We will also perform an examination of the mouth by either by having your child imitate or by observing him or her as he/she uses the mouth to eat or speak.
We will also perform a hearing test as part of this evaluation. During the hearing test, we will ask your child to listen for sound and to respond by either looking toward a moving object or, if your child is old enough, by placing a block in a container.
Feeding and Swallowing Evaluation
Before the first evaluation, when addressing feeding problems in children, our clinic will contact you to ask questions about your child's feeding issue. Answers to these questions will help us decide if your child needs:
- A clinical feeding evaluation
- Videofluoroscopic swallow study (x-ray of swallowing)
- Feeding team evaluation
We will ask you forward any previous feeding evaluations or related results to our office before evaluation day. We will review this information, as well as your child's medical record, before the evaluation.
After watching your child eat or drink, the speech-language pathologist will work with you and your child to develop plans to make eating and drinking easier. The speech-language pathologist also may make suggestions about other doctors or specialty clinics that can help with feeding problems in children. We will also provide you with a written plan that includes ideas to try at home. If we recommend therapy, we will schedule a visit with the appropriate therapist.
General Evaluation Information
For all evaluation types, if we recommend therapy, the speech-language pathologist will work with you to find the best treatment setting based on the needs of your child and your family. If you complete treatment through Children's Wisconsin, we will schedule your child with a speech-language pathologist on our team. If you wish, we can also refer you to a school, other agency, or other hospital.
After the evaluation is complete, we will send the evaluation report to your child's pediatrician. You can also request to have it sent to other doctors, therapists or schools. The report includes a summary of findings, treatment goals and other recommendations.
Whom Will My Child See?
When your child comes to our office, he or she will see nationally-certified, state-licensed speech-language pathologists and audiologists.
