While most children with articulation or language disorders have normal hearing, it’s important to rule out any hearing impairment, as hearing plays a critical role in language development. Even temporary issues, like fluid in the ears or ear infections (otitis media), can impact a child’s speech clarity and understanding. Hearing loss—whether temporary or permanent—can lead to difficulties with both receptive and expressive language. That’s why identifying any hearing concerns early is essential for creating effective treatment plans and ensuring the child receives appropriate support from an audiologist.

Before the assessment, the therapist will gather some initial information from you. Based on this, they’ll determine whether a standardized assessment or a play-based approach is best, depending on your child’s age and developmental level. This ensures that the evaluation feels natural and comfortable while providing valuable insights into your child’s communication skills.

Occupational therapists are experts in the mechanics of hand function and the many skills required for effective handwriting. Handwriting is a complex task that depends on a strong foundation of abilities, including body awareness, visual-motor integration, hand strength, motor planning, and sensory processing. These foundational skills work together to support a child’s ability to write clearly and efficiently. Identifying the root cause of handwriting difficulties requires a thorough assessment by an occupational therapist to determine which underlying skills need support.

Signs of Sensory Processing Difficulties:

1.​ Heightened or reduced sensitivity to sights, sounds, movement, or touch – Children may react strongly to sensory input or seem unaware of it altogether.
2.​ Seeking excessive sensory input – Behaviors like constant movement, bouncing, squeezing objects, or mouthing non-food items may indicate a need for more sensory stimulation.
3.​ Struggling with emotional and behavioral regulation – Easily overwhelmed children may experience frequent meltdowns, overexcitement, or complete withdrawal.
4.​ Poor muscle tone and physical coordination – Signs include tiring easily, leaning on people or objects, using too much or too little force when interacting with objects, and slumping in chairs.
5.​ Clumsiness and spatial awareness issues – Frequent falls, bumping into furniture or people, and difficulty judging body position in space are common signs.
6.​ Difficulty learning new motor tasks – Children may get frustrated when trying to learn new movements or follow multi-step instructions.
7.​ Avoidance of physical activities – Some children may avoid playgrounds, sports, or physical education classes due to sensory challenges.
8.​ Social difficulties – They may struggle to learn how to play or interact with other children, impacting friendships.
9.​ Challenges with daily routines – Activities like eating, sleeping, brushing teeth, or getting dressed can be particularly difficult.
10.​Fine motor skill difficulties – Learning to color, cut, draw, or write may be delayed or challenging.
11.​Resistance to transitions – Moving from one activity or location to another can cause stress or emotional outbursts.
12.​School-related challenges – Sensory processing difficulties can impact attention, organization, listening, and overall academic performance.

For children and youth, "occupations" are the meaningful activities that help them grow, learn, and thrive. These include school activities (building life skills), play (being creative and having fun), and self-care (taking care of themselves and others).

Occupational therapists often use play as a key part of treatment because it is central to a child’s development.

The primary goals of childhood are to grow, learn, and play. Play is a child’s "job" or "occupation"—it’s how they make sense of the world around them. Through play, children develop physical coordination, emotional maturity, social skills, and self-confidence to explore new experiences and environments.

Occupational therapy interventions are always tailored to a child’s unique needs, based on a deep understanding of typical development and the impact that disability, illness, or impairment can have on their play, learning, and daily activities. By addressing these areas, occupational therapists help children build the skills they need to thrive in everyday life.

We make every effort to match your child with your preferred therapist whenever possible. However, there may be instances where scheduling constraints or specific needs make this challenging. Rest assured, your child will always be cared for by a highly skilled and qualified therapist who is dedicated to helping them succeed.

Each of our therapists brings extensive expertise in their specialized field and has completed additional training in key areas to better serve your child. When assigning a therapist, we carefully consider the information you provide to ensure the best possible fit. We are committed to never assigning a therapist who isn’t fully experienced or comfortable in addressing your child’s unique needs. Your child's progress and well-being are always our top priority.

Indeed, each policy varies and is tailored with input from your employer if you're insured through your job. Consequently, some plans oer more comprehensive coverage for speech and occupational therapy. It's crucial to discuss important benets with your Human Resources Department regarding your family's needs. While we are a network provider for your insurance, we can gladly verify benets for you; however, this doesn't guarantee coverage

Speech refers to the physical production of sounds used to form spoken language. As toddlers learn to speak, they go through the complex process of coordinating muscles in the lips, tongue, and jaw. It’s natural for children to make errors as they develop these skills, and our role is to provide guidance and support throughout this important stage.

Research shows that speech sound development follows a general pattern across languages. In a comprehensive study of 27 languages, McLeod & Crowe (2018) found that children begin acquiring consonant sounds early on, with most children mastering the majority of sounds in their native language by age five. However, it’s important to remember that speech development varies from child to child.

Below is a guide to when specific speech sounds are typically acquired by 90-100% of children.

As speech-language pathologists, we often hear this question: "How many words should my child be saying?" The answer, however, can be complex. Speech and language development varies widely from child to child, which is why we use typical milestones to guide our assessments.

The chart below outlines the key milestones commonly referenced in speech-language evaluations and various online resources. A child reaches a milestone when they produce the number of words that most children their age are expected to say (for example, at 12 months: 1 word). However, it’s important to remember that while meeting the minimum milestone is a good sign, most 12-month-olds typically say between 2 and 6 words.

Therefore, when considering your child's language development, it’s helpful to focus not only on whether they’ve met the milestone, but also on the average range of words for their age to get a clearer picture of their progress.