Frequently Asked Questions

Assessment is used for diagnosis, while follow-up focuses on progress.

The assessment helps to better understand the patient: their strengths, challenges, and communication style. It is necessary to define the goals to work on and to begin follow-up sessions.

Follow-up sessions involve working step by step on the goals chosen together, in a playful and motivating way. If the family wishes, small exercises or games are provided for practice at home to reinforce the work done during sessions.

In most cases, an assessment is required for effective follow-up. It helps to understand the person’s strengths and needs, create a detailed profile, and set appropriate intervention goals.

For children under 3 years old, it is sometimes possible to start with a screening. This helps determine whether a full assessment is needed, provides recommendations and guidance, and offers parental coaching to enhance language stimulation.

Yes, absolutely. If a recent assessment (less than one year old) has already been completed, we can begin follow-up sessions without repeating a full evaluation. We will review the existing report, discuss priorities with you, and establish an intervention plan tailored to your child’s current needs if necessary. Depending on the situation (relevance and currency of the report), an update of skills may be proposed in the form of a supplementary assessment, a brief re-evaluation, or a full assessment. These decisions are made in accordance with the Code of Ethics of the Order of Speech-Language Pathologists and Audiologists of Quebec to ensure a rigorous, ethical, and individualized approach for each person.

An assessment typically lasts between 1 and 4 hours, depending on the child’s age and the areas being evaluated (oral language, articulation, learning, etc.).

It includes:

• Review of documents completed by the family and sometimes by the educator or teacher,
• Administration of standardized tests and activities to assess the child’s strengths and challenges,
• A feedback session to explain the child’s profile, provide recommendations, and plan follow-up sessions. The report is then sent to you by email for your records and, with your consent, for sharing with partners (school, public services, childcare centers, etc.).

Yes, absolutely! Private and public services can complement each other. Due to long wait times for public services, especially in Montréal, many families choose to have their child assessed and supported privately while waiting for their turn in the public system. When your child is called by the public service, they can immediately benefit from those resources, and we can pause our sessions if desired. With your consent, we will share our observations or reports with the public service providers to ensure continuity of support.

The duration of follow-up sessions is determined with the family, based on the child’s needs, age, and attention span. At the clinic, sessions are offered in 30, 45, or 60 minutes. Typically, preschool or articulation/phonological awareness sessions last 30 minutes, while school-aged children’s sessions are 45 or 60 minutes.

It is difficult to determine the exact number of sessions needed, as it depends on the nature and severity of the difficulties, the goals selected, the frequency of sessions, and the individual’s progress. Some situations require only a few sessions, while others need more regular follow-up over several months.

Breaks may be scheduled during the follow-up to allow the individual to integrate what they have learned before resuming sessions later if new needs arise. The planning of follow-up sessions is determined in collaboration with the family. The involvement of clients and families is also a key factor in the success of speech therapy.

The frequency of sessions varies depending on the difficulty and the family’s availability: some situations require weekly sessions, others every two weeks, and sometimes monthly. The schedule is always adjusted according to the child’s pace and the family’s organization.