Interviewing Parents: Speech-related Questions to Ask
Earlier in the month we discussed the importance of observation and interviewing the family and daycare when beginning therapy in Early Intervention. Today's post focuses on the latter, namely the INTERVIEW part of assessment. Below is a list of questions therapists can use when conversing with parents/daycares. With the hope of being thorough, I've separated this topic into three posts. My expectation is that therapists will take a more systematic look at the many situations, skills and circumstances that affect the development of the children we treat.
Speech Communication
- How old is the child? Should they be talking yet developmentally? Remember there is a continuum of "normal" development.
- How is the child communicating in daily routines now?
- When did they start babbling? Do they babble now? Do they use a variety of sounds? Can they say all age appropriate sounds?
- Has the child's communication progressed over the last year? If not, when did development slow or stop? Is it related to other events - a move? A new sibling?
- Do they use jargon? Do they have any words yet and are they consistent?
- Can the child imitate sounds in isolation?
- Are there numerous misarticulations? If they are talking, how intelligible is the child?
- Does the child attempt to sing nursery rhymes?
Medical and Developmental History
- Are there medical issues that need to be addressed? Does the child have a confirmed diagnosis?
- Is the child sick often? Does the child suffer with allergies? Are they a mouth breather? Do they snore?
- Is the child receiving therapy in other areas - PT, OT, education, vision, feeding, etc?
- If they are receiving other therapy, have they made progress? (i.e. what were they doing 3 months ago, one month ago, etc?)
- Are there hearing concerns/tubes/fluid? Are the tubes working? How do you know the child is hearing ok? When was the last hearing evaluation? Did they pass with both ears?
In the next two posts we will continue with our assessment questions and will address additional developmental areas/issues, such as family dynamics, social skills, oral motor function, feeding, sensory/texture issues, cognitive play skills, global language skills and the child's ability to focus and thus be ready for and receptive to speech therapy.
Please share other related questions YOU ask when interviewing parents/daycares to evaluate the child's skills and developmental levels.
Have a Happy and Safe Halloween!