At Enrichment Therapy & Learning Center, we offer individualized instruction to help children succeed with academics and communication skills. That is why the evaluation process at ETLC follows a clear, consistent path. It helps our team best serve your child from the very first call. Here is what to expect, from the first phone call to your results meeting.
First Steps in the Evaluation Process at ETLC
Families can call our offices during business hours or set up a phone call to talk with our team about their child. During this initial call, parents can schedule an evaluation with one of our learning specialists or speech-language pathologists.
We will send a confirmation email along with a link to fill out paperwork about your child’s speech and language or academic history. We appreciate families completing this paperwork before the evaluation appointment, because it helps our specialists choose the right standardized tests to give.
What Is the Evaluation Appointment Like?
On the day of the evaluation, you will check in at the front desk when you arrive. One of our friendly intake coordinators will confirm your paperwork and let the specialist know you are here. You may have a few minutes to relax in the waiting room, check out the kids’ nook, or grab a cup of coffee.
Your specialist will greet you in the waiting room, then invite you to walk with your child to the evaluation room. Once your child settles in with the specialist, parents can wait in the waiting room. Children often work best one-on-one with the specialist. If you would prefer to observe the session, just talk with your specialist directly.
Why Is an Evaluation Necessary to Start?
Our assessment process is fundamental to finding the right recommendations for each child. It helps us get to know a child’s strengths and areas of need. Our experienced specialists combine a standardized, in-depth evaluation with clinical assessment to build a complete picture of each child’s needs. We draw from a variety of standardized strategies, and we choose them based on the specific areas of concern.
What Happens After the Evaluation?
After the evaluation, the specialist invites the parent back to talk about how the session went. Often, the specialist can share a general sense of any concerns they noticed during testing. However, scores will not be available yet. The specialist will then set up a Zoom meeting or phone call about one to two weeks later to go over the results and share recommendations.
Before that follow-up meeting, the specialist scores and interprets the standardized assessments and informal measures from the evaluation. They write a report that shares your child’s scores and their recommendations. They also write a treatment plan that outlines the goals for individual sessions.
During the results meeting, parents review the report and talk through the results with the specialist. This is a great time to ask questions, talk through recommendations, and set up a recurring schedule for individual sessions. We schedule sessions around each child’s unique needs, and most students start sessions the following week.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I stay in the room during the evaluation?
Children often work best one-on-one with the specialist, so parents usually wait in the waiting room. If you would prefer to observe, talk with your specialist.
When will I get my child’s results?
Scores are not available right after the appointment. The specialist sets up a Zoom meeting or phone call about one to two weeks later to share the report and recommendations.
How soon can therapy or tutoring start after the evaluation?
Most students start sessions the week after the results meeting, on a schedule built around your child’s needs.
How ETLC Can Help
If you would like to learn more about the evaluation process at ETLC, our team is happy to answer your questions. We have locations in Johnston and North Liberty, IA, with virtual services also available.
Learn more about speech-language and academic support services at ETLC or schedule a free consultation to get started.
You may also find these pages helpful:
- Speech Therapy and Tutoring FAQs: What to Expect at ETLC
- Language Evaluation for Reading
- School Speech Services and Private Therapy Together
About the Author
Sonia Strueby, M.A., CCC-SLP, is the founder of Enrichment Therapy & Learning Center. With over 25 years of experience as a speech-language pathologist, Sonia has dedicated her career to helping children overcome complex communication and academic challenges. She has advanced training and a special focus on treating dyslexia and childhood apraxia of speech, and she is passionate about providing families with a clear path to success.
0 Comments