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Screening Services & Assessments: Speech & Language Screening

Acquiring speech and language skills is a developmental process, with the most significant development occurring between birth and 3 years of age. Communication deficits can often be identified early, even before actual words are spoken.

 

Periodicity and Guidelines for Speech & Language Screening

Speech and language screening is considered part of developmental screening. Use both objective and subjective methods of screening for communication development.

Speech and language: evaluate the infant’s or child’s communication abilities in comprehension, expressive language, speech development, and social language.

Subjective Screening

Assess speech and language skills at each preventive health visit from birth to 5 years of age.

Through direct questioning (see below), evaluate the infant’s or child’s communication abilities in the following four areas of development:

  • Comprehension
  • Expressive Language
  • Speech Development
  • Social Language

 

Objective Screening

Although recommended ages for screening are included in the HealthCheck Periodicity Schedule under developmental assessment, objective screens should occur as needed.

Obtain objective findings through the use of standardized screening measures, such as the Denver Developmental Screening Test II or the Language Development Survey.

 

Referrals

If needed, referrals for a more comprehensive screening or diagnostic evaluation should be made to a speech and hearing clinic.

 

Hearing Concerns

It is important to note the child’s hearing screening results and any questions concerning hearing ability. Persistent episodes of otitis media can be an indication that hearing loss, though transient, may have affected the child’s speech acquisition.

 

Subjective Screening Questions

*When performing a subjective screen of the child’s speech and language skills, ask the following questions about the child’s communication abilities:

 

Comprehension

  • Is your child having any difficulty understanding what you say?
  • Is your child responding to his/her name when called?
  • Is your child able to answer simple questions?
  • Is your child able to follow simple directions around the home?
  • Is your child showing an interest in what you or others are saying?

 

Expressive Language

  • How does your child make his/her wants known?
  • Is your child communicating using true words?
    If yes, is your child combining words into sentences?
    If no, is your child communicating using combinations of words, gestures, or other expressive body language?
  • Is your child able to express his/her thoughts clearly and easily?
  • Is your child experiencing any frustration communicating with others?

 

Speech Development

  • Is your child pronouncing words clearly?
  • Is your child having trouble pronouncing certain sounds, such as s, z, k, g, t, d, l, etc.?
  • Do you understand what your child is saying?
  • Do others understand what your child is saying?
  • Is your child having any difficulties moving his/her mouth to make sounds?

 

Social Language

  • Does your child look at you and others during a conversation?
  • Does your child request assistance or information from you or others?
  • Does your child appropriately respond to questions, comments or directions
    presented to him/her?
  • Does your child naturally imitate phrases heard in conversation or do so in a way that is excessive?
  • Does your child enjoy/avoid communicative interactions with others?

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