Before Starting Speech Therapy: A Parent's Preparation Guide

Before Starting Speech Therapy: A Parent's Preparation Guide

Starting speech therapy can feel exciting, overwhelming, and full of questions. What happens during the first appointment?

What should you bring? How do you know if therapy is working? What can you do at home to help?

This comprehensive parent guide was created to answer those questions—and many more.

Designed for families of children with autism, speech and language delays, childhood apraxia of speech, Down syndrome, hearing differences, developmental delays, feeding challenges, and other communication needs, this workbook helps you begin your child's speech therapy journey with confidence.

Inside you'll find practical explanations, printable worksheets, planning pages, communication trackers, home practice tools, and organizational resources that help you become an active member of your child's therapy team.

Most importantly, this guide emphasizes that communication is more than spoken words. Whether your child communicates through speech, gestures, signs, pictures, AAC, or speech-generating devices, every meaningful attempt to communicate is worth celebrating.

Inside You'll Discover:

• What speech therapy looks like and what to expect
• How to prepare for your child's first appointment
• Questions to ask therapists before and after sessions
• Understanding evaluations, reports, and therapy goals
• AAC, communication beyond spoken words, and common myths
• Practical home strategies that support communication every day
• Realistic expectations for progress and how to recognize meaningful growth
• Printable communication logs, goal planners, home practice trackers, and reflection worksheets
• A complete Speech Therapy Binder guide to help you stay organized throughout your child's journey

Whether you're preparing for your child's very first speech therapy appointment or simply want to become a more confident partner in their communication journey, this workbook provides the tools, knowledge, and encouragement to help you every step of the way.

Because the goal isn't simply learning to speak—it's helping every child communicate, connect, and be understood.