Early Communication & Interaction Assessments
About the assessments:
There isn’t a “one-size-fits-all” approach to assessments. The aim is to:
- Understand your concerns and start identifying potential causes
- Explore support, management, or treatment options to help you achieve your goals
- Review how well any current support is working
Assessments are tailored to your child’s age and specific needs. For example, assessing a non-verbal toddler differs from evaluating a 4-year-old with a speech issue.
Before the assessment:
Here’s what to do before your assessment:
- Identify Concerns: Why are you seeking an assessment? For instance, are you worried your toddler isn’t speaking yet, or does your child have a hoarse voice?
- Set Goals: What do you hope to achieve? Are you looking for an explanation, diagnosis, or treatment options? Do you need help with funding?
- Funding and Documentation: If you’re using or applying for funding (like Medicare, health insurance, or NDIS), let us know. There are specific requirements we need to meet.
Complete these steps before your appointment:
- Service Agreement: Complete Here
- Case History Form: Complete Here
- Provide any relevant reports from other professionals (like speech pathologists, audiologists, etc.)
The more information you provide, the better we can tailor the assessment to your needs. It’s okay if you don’t have all the answers; sharing what you know helps us understand your concerns and goals better.
During the assessment:
Assessments are customised to fit your needs and may include:
- Discussion: Talking with you about your concerns and goals
- Observation: Watching your child communicate during play or while talking about their favourite things
- Activities: Using picture books, structured play, or formal tasks depending on your child’s age and needs
- Tasks: These might include listening to speech, recording and analysing voice, or checking mouth movements
Assessments can be completed in one session or may require multiple appointments, depending on the complexity. Contact us if you’d like to know how long an assessment might take.
How to access the service:
- Hearing Screening: All children need a recent hearing screening to access this service. ACT residents can get this at no cost through the Children’s Hearing Service.
- NDIS: We accept NDIS participants as well as children not using NDIS.
- Booking: Schedule appointments online.