Screening vs. Evaluation - What’s the Difference?
We like to think of a screening as a blink and an evaluation as a stare.
A speech screening is a very general short interaction that gives a clinician an idea if there are areas of concern that would require a more in depth look. A screening can be conducted in 5-15 minutes. However, not all children will need a screening. If you or your pediatrician have concerns we would likely move right to an evaluation.
An evaluation is a much more thorough look at a child's specific strengths and challenges and usually involves the use of a standardized assessment that compares their skills to same aged peers nationally. An evaluation can take as little as 45 minutes and as much as 3 hours. An evaluation is required to begin any therapy as it gives us a specific starting point for goals.
Please note - parental consent is required for any professional to interact with your child.
