Speech and language (SLP) assessment Vancouver, Richmond, Burnaby, and Surrey BC.

SPEECH AND LANGUAGE PAHTOLOGY (SLP) ASSESSMENT

When should I bring my child to a Speech and Language Therapist?

Difficulty Understanding Language (Receptive Language Skills):

If your child seems to have trouble understanding what you or others say and cannot follow directions, it may suggest a receptive language issue that requires professional attention.

Difficulty Expressing Language (Expressive Language Skills):

For younger children, signs can include not babbling or using gestures by 12 months, not saying single words by 16 months, or not using two-word combinations by age 2. For older children, if your child has trouble forming sentences, frequently uses incorrect words, or struggles to find the right words when speaking, it may suggest an expressive language issue that requires professional attention.

Lack of Talking by Age 2

If your 2-year-old is not talking at all, it may be a sign that they need assistance with language development.

Limited Sentence Use by Age 3

If your 3-year-old does not typically use 3-word sentences, this could indicate a delay in expressive language skills.

Short Sentences by Age 4

If your 4-year-old only uses sentences that are four words long, they might benefit from support in expanding their expressive language abilities.

Examples of Social Communication and Interaction Difficulties in Young Children With Autism:

Social communication and interaction difficulties refer to challenges that a child might have in understanding and using verbal and non-verbal communication in social contexts, including:

Limited Eye Contact:

Difficulty maintaining or making eye contact with others.

Difficulty with Joint Attention:

Challenges in sharing focus on an object or event with another person.

Limited Use of Gestures:

Not using gestures like pointing or waving to communicate.

Difficulty Understanding Social Cues:

Struggling to interpret body language, facial expressions, and tone of voice.

Challenges in Conversational Skills:

Problems with starting, maintaining, or ending conversations appropriately.

Difficulty with Social Reciprocity:

Trouble engaging in the back-and-forth flow of social interaction, such as taking turns in play or conversation.

SPEECH AND LANGUAGE ASSESSMENT AS PART OF AUTISM ASSESSMENT

A speech and language pathology (SLP) assessment is a necessary component of the autism assessment process in BC for children under 6 years old. If your child has been seen by a pediatrician for concerns related to autism, we can offer both the speech and language assessment conducted by a registered speech and language pathologist (RSLP), more commonly referred to as a speech and language therapist, as well as the autism diagnostic assessment performed by a registered psychologist.

We will arrange the scheduling so that your child is first seen by our speech therapist, followed by the psychologist. In cases where observations at daycare or preschool are required, our speech therapist will coordinate a time to observe your child in a social setting.

SLP assessment may involve evaluating the following components:

Receptive language (Understanding)
Expressive language (Expression)
Pragmatic skills (Use of language)
Prelinguistic language skills (Preverbal language)
Non-verbal communication skills
Conversational skills
Speech sound production (Articulation), Voice, and Fluency
Social skills and Play skills
Feeding and swallowing
Parents-child interaction

Different Ways of Expression: Understanding Autism Through Children's Communication Styles

Many people think non-verbal behavior and speech delays are primary signs of early autism. While these are common in young children, some children on the spectrum may have repetitive speech patterns or have extensive vocabulary but only use language primarily to label objects, rather than for social exchanges. Others may have speak extensively to discuss personal interests or talk a lot about their favourite topics, yet still struggle with social reciprocal communication.

For more examples, please view the accompanying video clips showing how autism signs vary across ages.

The video content was created in collaboration with Mindarr, with usage permission provided by EL.

Vancouver Cognostic autism speech and language assessment registered pathologist

Speech and Language Pathology (SLP) Assessment Process:

Speech and language evaluation (approximately 1.5 to 2 hours).
Parent interview (conducted as part of the in-person speech and language assessment).
Home video reviewing (if needed).
Tests scoring and preparation of report (3.5 to 4 hours).

The total fee for a speech and language pathology assessment is $800, calculated at an hourly rate of $160 for 5 hours. This fee also covers a 1.5-hour session with a final report. Additional fees will apply if the child requires extra assessment time.

Examples of Additional Testing and Appointments (if required):

Additional testing and evaluation appointments.
Additional parent interview time (if needed and pre-scheduled).
Feedback session of 15-30 minutes upon request
Home, daycare, or preschool observation (1 to 2 hours + travelling time).

SPEECH AND LANGUAGE PATHOLOGY (SLP) ASSESSMENT FEES

Our Registered Speech and Language Pathologist / Therapist (RSLP) hourly rate is $160. The total cost for a speech and language pathology assessment, which includes a 1.5-hour session and report preparation, is offered at $800, approximately 5 hours of direct and indirect services. Direct services are typically scheduled in-person or virtual appointments and indirect services include test scoring time, interpreting test results, and preparing an assessment report.

The assessment process varies for children depending on their behaviors and abilities. Older and more verbal children may require a longer session or additional testing, thus the cost may increase if they require a 2-hour session or an additional appointment instead of a 1.5-hour appointment. Assessing a child's social communication abilities is a key element in the autism assessment process, sometimes, a school observation is necessary.