Evaluations

At Little Sparrows Speech Therapy, evaluations are designed to provide a comprehensive and individualized understanding of your child’s communication skills. The goal is not only to identify areas of need, but also to highlight your child’s strengths and how they learn best.

Evaluations are tailored to each child and may include a combination of formal and informal assessment measures. They incorporate clinical observation, caregiver input, and comparison to developmental milestones to identify areas of strength and any communication skills that may benefit from support.

What to Expect
Evaluations typically last about 60 minutes and may include:

• Clinical observation during play and interaction

• Parent or caregiver interview and input

• Use of standardized (formal) assessments when appropriate

• Informal assessments, such as play-based tasks and language sampling

• Comparison to developmental milestones

This holistic approach allows for a more accurate understanding of your child’s communication abilities in both structured and natural environments.

Neuroaffirming Approach
For neurodiverse patients, evaluations are conducted using a neuroaffirming, strengths-based approach. This means your child is not viewed through a deficit-based lens, but rather as an individual with unique ways of communicating, learning, and interacting with the world.

The evaluation process focuses on:

• Identifying your child’s strengths and interests

• Understanding their communication style and preferences

• Recognizing areas where additional support may be beneficial

The goal is not to “fix” a child, but to support meaningful communication, autonomy, and participation in their daily life.

After the Evaluation
Following the evaluation, you will receive a comprehensive report that includes:

• A summary of findings

• Your child’s strengths and areas of need

• Recommendations for support

• An individualized plan of care, including therapy goals and recommended frequency (if appropriate)

We will review the results together to ensure you feel confident, informed, and supported in the next steps.

Therapy Sessions

Therapy at Little Sparrows Speech Therapy is individualized, child-led, and play-based, designed to support meaningful communication in your child’s everyday life. Each session is tailored to your child’s unique strengths, interests, and goals, while incorporating evidence-based practices and a neuroaffirming approach.

Speech Sound Disorders
Therapy for speech sound disorders focuses on helping children improve how clearly they produce sounds so they can be better understood by others.

Sessions may target:

• Correct production of specific speech sounds (articulation)

• Patterns of sound errors (phonological processes)

• Carryover of skills into everyday communication

Therapy is engaging and interactive, helping children build confidence while practicing new skills in a supportive environment.

Early Language Development
For young children with emerging language skills, therapy focuses on building a strong foundation for communication through play, connection, and interaction.

Sessions may support:

• Expanding vocabulary

• Using words, gestures, or AAC to communicate wants and needs

• Developing joint attention and engagement

• Building early social communication skills

Caregiver involvement is a key part of this process, with strategies that can be naturally embedded into daily routines.

Language Disorders
Therapy for language disorders supports children who have difficulty understanding and/or using language.

Sessions may target:

• Understanding directions and concepts

• Using words and sentences to express ideas

• Grammar and sentence structure

• Storytelling and conversational skills

Goals are always functional and meaningful, helping children communicate more effectively at home, school, and in their community.

Gestalt Language Processing
For children who are gestalt language processors, therapy takes a natural language acquisition (NLA) approach that supports how they learn language best.

This approach focuses on:

• Honoring and building from your child’s existing language (including scripts or “gestalts”)

• Modeling new language in meaningful, natural contexts

• Supporting progression toward more flexible, self-generated language over time

Therapy is responsive, relationship-based, and centered on helping children communicate in ways that feel natural and authentic to them.

A Family-Centered Approach
Across all areas of treatment, families are an essential part of the therapy process. You will be provided with practical strategies and coaching so you can confidently support your child’s communication growth during everyday routines.

Parent Coaching

Parent coaching sessions are designed to support caregivers in building the knowledge and confidence to help their child’s communication development outside of therapy sessions. These sessions may take place by phone or in person and do not require your child to be present.

During coaching sessions, we will discuss individualized strategies, techniques, and evidence-based approaches tailored to your child’s unique needs. This may include guidance on supporting speech and language development during daily routines, understanding your child’s communication style, and learning how to implement therapy techniques in a natural and meaningful way.

These sessions are ideal for families seeking additional support, collaboration, or a deeper understanding of how to best help their child at home.