“What is involved in a communication assessment?”
Basically, a lot of fun! Communication is about how we talk to others, listen and understand what is being said and respond appropriately. So when we assess communication, we try and do it naturally by engaging your child in the thing they love to do the best.
Of course, we do some testing as this helps us understand the developmental level your child has achieved in their speech and language skills, but this is a small part of the whole picture that we gain about your child’s communication development.
So this is how it works:
Your child’s assessment session lasts about 45 minutes. During this time we discuss your concerns and go through the questionnaire that you filled in.
Then we do a number of activities or assessments with your child to look at their communication development.
We discuss the assessment with you and then recommend a course of action.
The session is supportive of and rewarding for your child.
“It has been recommended that my child needs speech pathology lessons – What does this mean?”
The assessment your child has received is developmentally based. This means that your child’s speech and language is compared to the expected range of normal development for a child of the same age. If your child’s speech and/or language development is below the expected range then speech therapy sessions are recommended to help your child catch up.
“How long will therapy take?”
It can be hard to estimate how long therapy will take as children take differing times to learn new skills. However, when your child is progressing well and using speech and language expected for their developmental level then therapy will stop. Some children are monitored for a while to make sure that they continue with their progress, other children achieve their milestones and are discharged from therapy.
“Will my child enjoy their sessions?”
Yes. The children love their sessions. Your child will receive 1:1 interaction for 40 minutes which is focused on your child’s individual needs. Your child’s learning is positively reinforced and there is a great sense of achievement with each learning stage.
“How can I help?”
Seeking help for your child during their early years is very important as early intervention is the key to success.
If your child is having therapy, support them at home by carrying out the homework your therapist gives you. This will help your child develop their milestones quicker. Encourage and praise your child in their learning
“Can I claim any of the fees on my Health Funds or Medicare?”
There are a number of funding solutions that may be available for your child as follows:
Go to funding on this website.