Sunshine Pediatric Therapy LLP Speech and Language Services
Assessments
Speech and language skills are foundational to human connection, learning, and everyday functioning. When a child or adult experiences difficulties in communication, it can affect their academic success, social relationships, self-esteem, and overall quality of life. This is where speech and language assessments play a vital role.
Occupational Therapy assessment can help determine sensory seeking and sensory avoiding behaviors. Even if your child does not need classes, they may have visuospatial difficulties affecting perception and even affecting reading skills.
Why Are These Assessments Important?
- Early Identification and Intervention
The earlier a communication difficulty is identified, the better the outcome. Children’s brains are especially responsive to intervention in the early years. Early assessment helps determine if a child is developing communication skills at an age-appropriate level or if support is needed. For adults, assessments can identify changes related to medical conditions such as stroke, brain injury, or neurodegenerative diseases.
- Individualized Support
Every individual has unique communication needs. An assessment provides detailed insight that guides the development of personalized therapy goals. Rather than taking a one-size-fits-all approach, SLPs and OTs use assessment results to tailor intervention strategies to each person’s strengths and challenges.
- Improved Educational Outcomes
Communication skills are directly linked to learning. A child with speech and/or language delays may struggle with reading, writing, or participating in class discussions. Assessments help educators and parents understand how a communication disorder may be impacting learning and provide a roadmap for support, such as therapy or classroom accommodations.
- Enhanced Social and Emotional Well-being
Communication is key to building relationships and expressing thoughts and emotions. Without it, individuals may experience frustration, isolation, or behavioral challenges. Assessments help uncover the root of these difficulties, paving the way for interventions that improve not just communication, but confidence and social interaction as well.
- Monitoring Progress and Guiding Treatment
For individuals already receiving therapy, periodic assessments allow SLPs to track progress, adjust goals, and ensure the treatment remains effective. This ongoing evaluation helps maintain a clear picture of development and functional improvement over time.
We offer a variety of assessment options!
Speech Assessments
Preschool / School Age Language Assessments
Early Language Assessments
Is the child saying all the sounds recommended for their age?
Early Language Assessments
Preschool / School Age Language Assessments
Early Language Assessments
Early language assessment involves primarily parent reporting. The SLP can guide you through a series of questions. It will also involve a lot of play to assess understanding, play skills, gesture use, social-emotional skills, and expression! A thorough assessment requires taking a broad look at a child's development to help us form a full picture of the individual strengths and needs - beyond just milestone attainment.
Examples of early language assessments include:
MacArthur Bates Communicative Developmental Inventory (MCDI)
Infant-Toddler Checklist
Communication Matrix
Preschool / School Age Language Assessments
Preschool / School Age Language Assessments
Augmentative and Alternative Communication Assessments
Language assessments are used to determine if the need for SLP services is required. It will also offer a general profile of strengths and weaknesses. It typically involves your child listening and pointing to pictures and saying sentences about pictures. Examples of Language tests:
Clinical Evaluation of Language Fundamentals - 5th Edition (CELF-5)
Clinical Evaluation of Language Fundamentals - preschool (CELF-P3)
Receptive-Expressive Early Language Test, 4th Edition (REEL-4)
Developmental Assessment of Young Children, 2nd Edition (DAYC-2)
Augmentative and Alternative Communication Assessments
Augmentative and Alternative Communication Assessments
Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) is used when children are not (yet) using verbal communication. Some examples of AAC include sign language (ASL), pictures, symbols, mid-tech devices, and high-tech devices, like the use of the iPad with apps. The assessment is done by an SLP who goes through each of these options, as well as the child's visual-spatial skills, preferences and interests, environmental factors, and vocabulary to find to best fit for the individual child as a starting point. Therapy would involve changing the AAC method as required over time and skill development.
Some examples of AAC assessments include:
AAC Evaluation Genie
Communication Matrix
Functional Communication Profile
Test of Aided Communication Symbol Performance (TASP)
Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test (PPVT)
Communication Sampling and Analysis (CSA)
MacArthur Bates Communication Developmental Inventory (MCDI)
Reading Assessments
Reading and Writing are complex and involve many strands of functioning. If you hire someone for an assessment that only assesses a piece of the puzzle, you may waste a lot of time focusing on the wrong things!
A comprehensive reading assessment with an SLP will look at:
sound letter correspondence
decoding real & nonsense words
spelling
oral language
fluency / rapid automatic naming
executive functioning skills
phonological awareness skills
vocabulary
oral narration
We have the Test of Integrated Language and Literacy Skills (TILLS) in addition to many supplemental tests for a comprehensive assessment.
Supplemental Assessments
Language assessments are used to determine whether there is a language disorder or not. Once that is determined, often supplemental testing is further done to determine strengths and weaknesses and monitor progress over time. Supplemental assessments we have available:
Test of Narrative Language - 2nd edition (TNL-2)
Test of Problem Solving (TOPS)
Phonological Awareness Test - 2nd edition normative update (PAT-2:NU)
Comprehensive Test of Phonological Processing (CTOPP)
Gallistel-Ellis (GE) test of coding skills
Word Test -3
Test of Written Language (TOWL-4)
Feeding
Sensory Assessments
Our pediatric feeding assessments support infants and children who have difficulty with eating, drinking, or mealtime participation. Speech-Language Pathologists (SLPs) and Occupational Therapists (OTs) work together to assess oral-motor skills, sensory responses to food, chewing, swallowing, self-feeding, positioning, and mealtime routines.
Feeding assessments are play-based and family-centered, with caregivers actively involved in the process. We consider medical history, developmental skills, and family goals to understand the whole child.
Following the assessment, families receive clear recommendations, and when appropriate, an individualized feeding plan.
Our goal is to provide effective, compassionate pediatric feeding services in Vernon that helps children build confidence, safety, and positive experiences with food.
Sensory Assessments
Sensory Assessments
Occupational therapists (OTs) provide sensory assessments to evaluate how individuals process and respond to sensory information from their environment. These assessments help identify sensory sensitivities, seeking behaviors, or difficulties with regulation that may impact daily functioning. Tools like the Sensory Profile or Sensory Processing Measure are often used to gather detailed insights. Based on the results, OTs develop personalized strategies to support sensory integration and improve participation in everyday activities.
Motor Assessments
Occupational therapists conduct motor assessments to evaluate a person's fine motor, gross motor, and coordination skills, which are essential for daily tasks. These assessments may include tools like the Bruininks-Oseretsky Test of Motor Proficiency (BOT-2) or the Peabody Developmental Motor Scales (PDMS-2). They help identify challenges in strength, balance, dexterity, and motor planning. Based on the findings, OTs design individualized interventions to enhance functional movement and independence.
School Readiness Assessments
School Readiness Assessments
Occupational Therapists evaluate a child's developmental skills needed for success in a classroom setting. This includes fine motor skills (like writing and cutting), attention and self-regulation, visual-motor integration, and basic self-care tasks. Tools such as the Miller Function and Participation Scales (M-FUN) may be used. The results help OTs create targeted interventions to support a smooth transition into school and promote independence in the home and learning environment.