A calm place to begin
Not sure where to start?
Noticing something about your child’s communication and wanting a clear next step is a good place to begin.
You may be noticing
Any of these feel familiar?
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Something feels a little off, but you cannot quite name it
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A teacher, grandparent, or pediatrician has mentioned something
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Your child seems frustrated when a message does not land
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Your child’s speech seems inconsistent from day to day
What this may mean
These are not diagnoses, and none of them means something is wrong with your child. Children build communication on different timelines. When there is something worth supporting, earlier support tends to be easier and more playful. Both things can be true at once.
Trusting your instincts and getting them checked are not opposites.
Sounds familiar?
Pick the one that sounds most like your family.
Tap one to see what it may mean and where to go next.
My child isn’t talking as much as I expected
Children build language on different timelines, and a difference in pace is not automatically a problem. When support would help, starting earlier usually means easier, more playful support.
Notice what your child does use to communicate: gestures, sounds, pointing, or leading you by the hand.
My child talks, but people have trouble understanding
You catch most of it, a teacher or grandparent catches less, and a stranger catches almost none. Speech sounds develop gradually, so “hard to understand” means very different things at three than at six.
Sometimes it is a few sounds, sometimes a pattern, and sometimes how sounds get sequenced. An evaluation sorts out which.
My child repeats scripts, phrases, or lines from movies
Some children build language in whole chunks (scripts, phrases, or songs) and gradually break them into flexible pieces. This is called gestalt language processing, and it is a recognized route into language, not a habit to train out.
Try responding to what the script means, not only its literal words.
My child communicates, but not reliably with speech
Your child has a rich inner world and clear opinions, and you can read them better than anyone. What is missing is a reliable way for everyone else to hear it too.
AAC (augmentative and alternative communication) gives a child a dependable voice through picture boards, sign, and speech-generating devices. It is not a last resort.
My child has an AAC system, but we need more support with it
The device lives on the counter, or works beautifully with one person and not at all with anyone else. This is one of the most common places families get stuck, and it is almost never because the child cannot do it.
More often the system needs adjusting, or the people around the child need modeling and practice of their own.
I do not know if this is worth an evaluation
An evaluation is information, not a verdict. It can show that development looks on track, or it can identify what would help and how.
A free consultation is often the clearer first step. It costs nothing, and no referral is required.
What you can do now
Three small steps
- Write down what you have noticedAnd when it happens. A few real examples are worth more than a checklist.
- Pick what sounds most like your familyEach concern leads to a short page with a clear next step.
- Start with a free consultationIt costs nothing and often answers the question. No referral is required.
An evaluation is information, not a verdict. We will always be honest about what we recommend next, including when waiting is reasonable.
About evaluationsThis page is general education about communication development, not medical advice or a diagnosis, and reading it does not establish a client relationship. Every child is different. If you have concerns about your child’s communication, speech, hearing, or development, please talk with a licensed speech-language pathologist, your pediatrician, or another qualified professional who can meet your child directly.
Free consultation
Still not sure where your family fits?
A free consultation is a conversation with a speech-language pathologist about what you are noticing—no referral, cost, or expectation that it leads anywhere in particular.
Text or call (615) 900-4420 (texts get the quickest reply) · No referral needed.