Starting something new can feel uncertain — especially when it involves your child. At Rainbow Speech Language Clinic, we want every family to feel informed and at ease from the very first visit. Here is a straightforward look at what to expect.
Before you arrive
Once your appointment is confirmed, we will send you a short intake form to complete beforehand. This covers your child’s developmental history, any previous assessments, your main concerns, and a little about your child’s personality and interests. This information helps us tailor the session from the very start.
There is no need to prepare your child in any specific way — just let them know they are coming to play and chat with someone new. Honest and simple is best.
Meeting your SLP
When you arrive, your speech-language pathologist will take a few minutes to connect with you and your child before anything formal begins. We believe in building rapport first. Children communicate best when they feel safe and comfortable, so we never rush past the hello.
The assessment — play-based and child-led
For most children, the initial assessment looks a lot like play. We use age-appropriate activities, toys, books, and games to observe how your child communicates naturally. We are watching for how they use and understand language, how they form sounds, how they interact socially, and how they handle conversation.
Depending on your child’s age and needs, we may also use standardised assessment tools — brief, structured tasks that help us compare your child’s skills to typical development ranges. These are woven into the session naturally and never feel like a test.
Parent time
You are an essential part of the process. We will carve out time to speak with you — to hear your observations, answer your questions, and understand what matters most to your family. No one knows your child better than you do, and we want to hear that perspective.
After the assessment — next steps
By the end of the session (or shortly after, depending on the complexity), your SLP will share initial impressions and discuss whether ongoing therapy is recommended. If it is, we will collaborate with you to set meaningful goals — goals that reflect your child’s strengths, your family’s priorities, and the best evidence in speech-language pathology.
A written report is typically provided following a formal assessment, summarising findings and recommendations in plain language you can share with educators, paediatricians, or other professionals.
Ready to book?
We offer in-person sessions at our Delta, BC clinic and teletherapy appointments for families across British Columbia. Contact us to schedule your child’s first visit — we would love to meet you both.