Preschool Speech and Language Screening – ABC Pediatric Therapies, Orléans (Ottawa)

At ABC Pediatric Therapies, we are pleased to offer preschool speech and language screening services for young children. This short session is designed to help parents and caregivers better understand their child’s early communication development, including speech, language, play, social interaction, and overall communication skills.

Why Early Screening Matters

Early identification of speech and language delays is critical to a child’s overall development. Research shows that children who experience delays in early communication are at greater risk for later challenges in reading, academic achievement, and social development. Research shows that : 

• Language skills at age 3 are strong predictors of literacy and learning outcomes in school.

• Children with unrecognized speech or language difficulties may struggle with behavior regulation, social interaction, and classroom participation.

• Early intervention is proven to be more effective than waiting until school age—children’s brains are more flexible and responsive to therapy during the early years.

Screening helps ensure that children who may benefit from support are identified early, so they can access the help they need when it’s most impactful.

What is a Preschool Screening?

A preschool screening is not a full speech-language assessment. Instead, it offers a snapshot of your child’s current communication abilities and helps determine whether further evaluation may be needed. Screenings are most appropriate for children between the ages of 18 months and three years who have never received speech therapy services or a previous evaluation.

What to Expect

• The session lasts approximately 45 to 60 minutes.

• Your child will be seen by a Speech, Language and Communication Assistant (SLCA).

• The SLCA will ask you questions and will engage your child in play-based activities.

• The speech-language pathologist (SLP) will not be present during the screening.

The SLCA follows structured screening protocols to:

• Administer and record observations and responses

• Provide a pass/fail result for each area screened

• Determine if your child would benefit from a follow-up appointment with a speech-language pathologist

What Happens After the Screening?

Following the session:

• The SLCA will share screening results and session notes with a supervising speech-language pathologist.

• The supervising SLP will review the documentation and determine whether a formal assessment is recommended.

• If an evaluation is warranted, our administrative team will contact you to book a virtual appointment with the speech-language pathologist to go over her recommendations and next steps.

To sign up, please register here or click below to book a screening for your child. 

Have Questions?

If you have questions about the preschool screening process or would like more information about our speech therapy services in Orléans (Ottawa), please don’t hesitate to contact our clinic at 613-834-2229.

We look forward to supporting your child’s communication journey.

The ABC Pediatric Therapies Team