What goes on at a speech evaluation?

Jen&Len

Our PS offers a speech evaluation for very low cost.  We do want this done since we feel like no one else understands DS even though we understand him pretty much all the time.  He does talk all the time at home and in sentences.  But he is extremely shy around strangers and has yet to really talk to his teachers (except to request a chocolate cupcake instead of a vanilla one).  I'm just wondering how they try to get the kids to talk to them.  Will DS just sit there and say nothing like he usually does?  How do they evaluate him if that happens?

Pesky

We didn't get to be around but they explained it to us -- basically they sit and play games with DD and talk to her about what they are seeing.  They basically try to get the kids to say certain words to check for speech impediment.  They are usually pretty good at drawing the kids out.

Mrs Manners

Usually at this age, they bring cool toys and ask the toddler questions about the toys and have a discussion with them. They are typically great with kids. They also may ask you a bunch of questions and may ask his teacher to fill out an evaluation.

My question would be about who is offering the evaluation? Is it a private speech therapy firm? The state early intervention? Public school special needs program? If a delay is identified, what is the course of action? It seems odd to me that you have to pay for an evaluation. The ones we had done were through our state early intervention (free), a private therapy firm (on our insurance plan - paid copay only) and through the public school system (free). 

Mrs Manners

I just checked your ticker to see how old ds was. It varies by state, but in our state at age 3 the public school systems do the evaluations (like the school system where he would go to kindergarten). You contact the special needs department and they give you a million forms to fill out. They do a FULL survey to also identify if they feel like there are any other delays (physical, gross motor, etc). Also, all of the speech evaluations we've had done have ALL required a hearing test by and audiologist done prior to the evaluation...seems odd if that isn't required at the one offered by your preschool. 

Jen&Len

Mrs Manners:

I just checked your ticker to see how old ds was. It varies by state, but in our state at age 3 the public school systems do the evaluations (like the school system where he would go to kindergarten). You contact the special needs department and they give you a million forms to fill out. They do a FULL survey to also identify if they feel like there are any other delays (physical, gross motor, etc). Also, all of the speech evaluations we've had done have ALL required a hearing test by and audiologist done prior to the evaluation...seems odd if that isn't required at the one offered by your preschool. 

 Passing the hearing test was required as part of his medical/immunization form for preschool in general.  The evaluation isn't mandatory...I guess they're just offering the services of a speech pathologist if we're interested.  I feel like his speech is typical for a 3 year old.  A few mispronounced letters, but I think it's the normal few that are more difficult to say.  My mom is the one who always tells me she doesn't understand him, but I'm not sure how much of that is due to language barrier since English isn't her first language.  (Her English is very good since she went to college here, but I don't know if she expects crystal clear English from him and is therefore telling me he doesn't pronounce things properly)