Speech, Language and Communication Assessment for Children

Language is how we understand and use information to communicate our needs, wants, feelings, thoughts, and ideas.

What is Language?

Language refers to:

Knowing and choosing the right words to explain what you mean
Joining words together into short phrases, sentences, stories and conversations
Making sense of what people say e.g., understanding questions and instructions.

Communication refers to:

Using language or gestures in different ways, for example, to have a conversation or to give someone directions
Being able to consider other people’s points of view.
Using and understanding body language and facial expressions, such as:
- Knowing when someone is bored.
- Being able to listen to and look at people when having a conversation.
- Knowing how to take turns and to listen as well as talk.
- Knowing how close to stand next to someone.

Child having a Language and Communication Assessment

Language and Communication red flags

Difficulty in communicating with others
Difficulties saying what they want to
Difficulty understanding verbal instructions, questions, and concepts
Difficulties understanding and using social rules
Difficulties processing language
Becoming mute in selective situations
Difficulty keeping attention

What is speech?

Speech is how we produce sounds using our tongue, lips, palate, and respiratory system.

Speech refers to:

Speaking without hesitating too much or without repeating or elongating words or sounds
Being able to produce sounds like ‘s’ and ‘z’ clearly and blend phonemes together to make words so people can understand what you say

Speech red flags

You may notice the following difficulties in your or your child's speech:

Difficulty with producing speech sounds
Being misunderstood by others
Parents or caregivers may have to translate for you
Withdrawing from communicating with others
Repeating speech sounds (such as, da, da, da, before saying ‘daddy’)

What to expect in your child’s Speech, Language and Communication Assessment

The informant (someone who knows the child well in the home context) will complete a case history with one of our speech and language therapists either via the telephone or face-to-face. This will usually take place prior to meeting your child. The clinician will take a detailed history of your child’s presenting difficulties, past medical history, developmental history, and family history. This lasts for approximately 30 minutes.

Case History

A questionnaire will be completed by a staff member who has ideally known your child for at least 6-12 months. This information is used to determine your child’s presentation in their learning environment. On some occasions, a classroom/playground observation may be required.

School Information

Your Child’s Appointment

The assessment may take place in our clinic, in school or online.

TOP TIP

Before the appointment, try giving your child an instruction and notice how they respond to this.

Notice how your child communicates? Do they point, use gestures, and make appropriate facial expressions?

On the day of the assessment, the speech and language therapist will meet with your child and conduct an informal clinical observation and a range of formal language assessments, focusing on one or more of the following:

Articulation

Attention and listening

Grammar

Narrative skills

Oro-motor development

Phonological Processing

Processing and working memory

Pragmatic skills

Sentence structures

Selective Mutism

Stammer/ dysfluency

Understanding concepts and instructions

Vocabulary

Voice quality e.g., loudness, pitch, and quality of voice

Most assessment materials are visually supplemented. There is no expectation for your child to read, write or spell. The total time of the assessment can vary (between 30-90 minutes) depending on your child’s engagement, the assessment itself and age.

We aim to complete the assessment with your child within 2 weeks of the appointment booking.

What happens after the assessment

You will be provided feedback within 7 days of the assessment unless further information is required.

Once the assessment and findings have been discussed, a report will be written and sent to you within three weeks. Our reports are comprehensive and include details of the assessment, the information provided by you and the school, a diagnosis if relevant, our understanding of your child’s difficulties, our recommendations for your child and lastly resources for you to explore.

We recommend that you share our report with your GP along with any other healthcare professional who is supporting your child (e.g. GP, Paediatrician, etc). Our report can also be shared with your child’s school and used towards an EHCP – Education Health Care Plan.

Reviews

"Lycali provided a thorough and compassionate autism assessment. Everything was explained clearly, and I finally feel understood. I wish I’d done this sooner."
"I’ve worked with other services before, but Lycali stands out for their professionalism and empathy. My therapist helped me navigate some really difficult times with sensitivity and skill."
I just wanted to say thank you to Dr Isobel Robb and Stephanie for making the assessment comfortable for both me and my parents to conduct. It was very thorough and the outcome will definitely help me in my future. I'm really thankful for receiving the results so quickly
“Thank you so much for all your help, support and care. You have explained everything we needed and thank you for saying I can get in touch if we need any more help.”
“You were very patient with our son and always gave us ideas so that we could support him between therapy sessions. Thank you so much!”
“After our daughter's Speech and language assessment, you offered great feedback and your report was very detailed. This was a huge help towards the EHCP process.”
"My daughter’s speech has improved so much in just a few months. Our speech therapist at Lycali was kind, engaging, and always kept us involved with providing follow up activities. I highly recommend them."
“Heidi was very engaging and really listened to the needs of my son. She explained her methods and gave us tips to try at home. We are really pleased with the service.”
“The calls have helped me to find more space and given me a safe space to discuss and release emotions. Tim's nature and communication is comforting and supportive, he adds thoughts and questions which offer space to analyse and to help growth.”
"Heidi was very enthusiastic and knowledgeable. She gave our son room to explore and enjoyable targets".
"Heidi was very patient with my child and has made him confident to use his voice"
"I can’t thank you enough for your help and support with my son. I will most certainly be coming back to your services again for an autism assessment".
"The ADHD assessment process was seamless, evidence-based, and respectful. I felt listened to throughout, and the diagnosis has helped me finally understand myself."
Everything has been amazing so thanks to you, Isobel and Stephanie. You have made things really easy with clear and quick communication and they really created a safe environment instantly.
Thank you so much. It was a pleasure working with your staff. They were really kind and helpful and made the process easier for both me and Matilda.
"We had a brilliant experience with Lycali. The assessment process was clear, kind, and professional from start to finish. My son felt at ease, and we finally have a clear plan for supporting his needs."
"I was nervous about starting therapy, but the team at Lycali made me feel heard and respected from day one. Their care was outstanding, and the progress I’ve made is life-changing."

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About Lycali

Lycali offers a professional and friendly service where time and attention can be taken to ensure the service received is of the highest standard and there is minimal waiting time. Our specialist team will always take the time to provide expert advice so you are aware of all the pre-and post-diagnostic and therapy services available. Our clinics are suitable for children and adults, and based in Thanet. We provide online or in-person therapy sessions.

Meet the Team

Linked Communication Speech & Language Assessment Room for children

Because Every Individual Deserves to Be Understood

Speech, Language and Communication Assessment for Children

What is Language?

Language and Communication red flags

What is speech?

Speech red flags

What to expect in your child’s Speech, Language and Communication Assessment

Case History

School Information

Your Child’s Appointment

TOP TIP

What happens after the assessment

"Lycali provided a thorough and compassionate autism assessment. Everything was explained clearly, and I finally feel understood. I wish I’d done this sooner."

"I’ve worked with other services before, but Lycali stands out for their professionalism and empathy. My therapist helped me navigate some really difficult times with sensitivity and skill."

I just wanted to say thank you to Dr Isobel Robb and Stephanie for making the assessment comfortable for both me and my parents to conduct. It was very thorough and the outcome will definitely help me in my future. I'm really thankful for receiving the results so quickly

“Thank you so much for all your help, support and care. You have explained everything we needed and thank you for saying I can get in touch if we need any more help.”

“You were very patient with our son and always gave us ideas so that we could support him between therapy sessions. Thank you so much!”

“After our daughter's Speech and language assessment, you offered great feedback and your report was very detailed. This was a huge help towards the EHCP process.”

"My daughter’s speech has improved so much in just a few months. Our speech therapist at Lycali was kind, engaging, and always kept us involved with providing follow up activities. I highly recommend them."

“Heidi was very engaging and really listened to the needs of my son. She explained her methods and gave us tips to try at home. We are really pleased with the service.”

“The calls have helped me to find more space and given me a safe space to discuss and release emotions. Tim's nature and communication is comforting and supportive, he adds thoughts and questions which offer space to analyse and to help growth.”

"Heidi was very enthusiastic and knowledgeable. She gave our son room to explore and enjoyable targets".

"Heidi was very patient with my child and has made him confident to use his voice"

"I can’t thank you enough for your help and support with my son. I will most certainly be coming back to your services again for an autism assessment".

"The ADHD assessment process was seamless, evidence-based, and respectful. I felt listened to throughout, and the diagnosis has helped me finally understand myself."

Everything has been amazing so thanks to you, Isobel and Stephanie. You have made things really easy with clear and quick communication and they really created a safe environment instantly.

Thank you so much. It was a pleasure working with your staff. They were really kind and helpful and made the process easier for both me and Matilda.

"We had a brilliant experience with Lycali. The assessment process was clear, kind, and professional from start to finish. My son felt at ease, and we finally have a clear plan for supporting his needs."

"I was nervous about starting therapy, but the team at Lycali made me feel heard and respected from day one. Their care was outstanding, and the progress I’ve made is life-changing."

About Lycali