What to Expect at Your First Session
A guide for parents preparing for their child's first speech, myofunctional, or feeding therapy appointment.
Before Your Appointment
A little preparation goes a long way toward making the first visit smooth and productive. Here's what you can do ahead of time:
Gather Records
Bring any previous evaluations, medical records, or school reports related to your child’s communication or feeding. If your pediatrician provided a referral, bring that too.
Write Down Your Concerns
Note specific behaviors or situations that concern you. What does your child struggle with? When did you first notice? This helps us focus the evaluation.
Prepare Your Child
For older children, let them know they’ll be playing games and talking with someone who helps kids communicate. Keep it positive and low-pressure.
Bring Comfort Items
Young children may feel more at ease with a favorite toy or comfort item. For feeding evaluations, bring familiar foods your child typically eats.
Our welcoming therapy space in Dallas, TX
The Initial Evaluation
The first appointment is a comprehensive evaluation that typically lasts 45–60 minutes. Laura Friedman will guide you through each step so you know exactly what's happening and why.
Parent Interview (15–20 min)
We’ll discuss your child’s developmental history, current concerns, and the goals you have for therapy. This conversation helps us understand the full picture.
Direct Assessment
Through play-based observation and standardized testing as appropriate, we’ll evaluate your child’s current skills and identify areas that may benefit from intervention.
Feeding Observation (for feeding evaluations)
If your child is being seen for feeding concerns, we’ll watch them eat familiar foods to assess oral motor coordination, sensory responses, and swallowing safety.
Clinical Findings Review
At the end of the session, we’ll discuss our observations and preliminary impressions with you, answer your questions, and outline potential next steps.
What We're Looking At
The focus of the evaluation depends on the type of therapy your child needs. Here's what we assess for each service:
Speech Therapy
Articulation, phonology, language comprehension, expressive language, voice quality, fluency, oral motor function
Myofunctional Therapy
Tongue resting posture, swallowing pattern, lip seal, nasal vs. mouth breathing, jaw stability, facial muscle tone
Feeding Therapy
Oral motor coordination, sensory responses to food, chewing and swallowing safety, food acceptance patterns
After the Evaluation
Following the initial evaluation, here's what happens next:
- Written evaluation report provided within 1–2 weeks with detailed findings and diagnosis
- Individualized treatment plan with specific, measurable goals
- Recommended therapy frequency based on your child’s needs
- Insurance and billing discussion to help you understand coverage and costs
It's important to know that not every child needs ongoing therapy. Sometimes the evaluation provides reassurance and practical home strategies that are enough to support your child's development.
Tips for a Successful First Visit
- Arrive 10 minutes early to complete any paperwork and settle in
- Let your child explore the space — curiosity is a good sign
- It’s okay if your child is fussy or uncooperative — this is completely normal
- Bring snacks, especially for feeding evaluations
- Prepare a list of questions you’d like to ask
- Know that one session doesn’t define your child’s progress
Frequently Asked Questions
Ready to Schedule Your First Visit?
Contact us today to schedule your child's evaluation. We'll answer any questions you have before the appointment.