What to Expect at Your First Speech Therapy Evaluation

Starting speech therapy can feel unfamiliar — especially for adults who have never worked with a speech-language pathologist before.

A speech therapy evaluation is not a test you pass or fail. It is a clinical conversation designed to understand how communication or swallowing changes are affecting your daily life.

What happens during an adult speech evaluation?

The evaluation typically includes:

• A detailed medical and communication history

• Discussion of current concerns and goals

• Assessment of speech clarity, voice, language, and cognition

• Screening of swallowing if needed. Swallow studies will be offered at this office soon.

I encourage you to ask questions and share what matters most to you.

Your family and friends are welcome to attend and participate in the clinical interview.

After the evaluation

Following the evaluation, I will explain:

• Findings in clear, understandable language

• Whether therapy is recommended

• A proposed treatment plan and frequency

• Expected goals and focus areas

  
  

At SpeechLink, evaluations are never rushed. The goal is to provide clarity, reassurance, and a realistic plan forward.