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Helping Little Voices Grow Big.
Call Us for Speech Therapy in Atlanta
Helping Little Voices Grow Big.
Call Us for Speech Therapy in Atlanta
Speech and language challenges are easier to support when they’re caught early, which makes screenings very important. Sage Speech & Learning Associates uses screenings to help families get answers quickly, without jumping into a full evaluation before it’s needed. Whether you're concerned about a toddler who isn't talking yet or a school-age child who's struggling to follow directions, a screening is the first step toward clarity. Read more to find out what screenings involve, when to seek one, what to expect afterward, and how they can help your child thrive.
A screening is a short, structured interaction that gives a trained speech-language pathologist a chance to observe how your child is communicating. It’s not the same as a full evaluation. Instead, it’s a way to decide whether a child is developing communication skills on track for their age or whether a more in-depth look might be useful. During a screening, a clinician may ask your child to follow simple directions, name pictures, answer basic questions, or repeat certain words. If your child is very young, the session might look more like play. The speech therapist is watching for specific things like clarity of speech, vocabulary use, sentence structure, ability to understand what’s being asked, and willingness to engage. For children who are mostly on track, the screening offers peace of mind. For children who show signs of difficulty, it helps prioritize what kind of support might be needed. And for parents who are unsure, it provides a professional perspective based on direct observation.
Some children are late talkers and catch up on their own. Others may seem chatty but are difficult to understand outside the home. Many parents wonder if their child’s behavior is part of a wide range of normal or a sign of something more. Here are some common situations when a screening can help:
You don’t need a referral from a pediatrician to schedule a screening, though some parents are directed that way during regular well-child visits. If you're concerned, it's better to check than to wait and see. A screening doesn’t commit you to therapy. It’s a conversation starter that helps identify next steps, if any are needed.
Once the screening is complete, the therapist will review their observations with you. The feedback is simple and specific. You’ll hear whether your child’s communication appears age-appropriate, borderline, or delayed. If no concerns are identified, that’s good information to have. If a delay is suspected, the clinician will explain what that means. From there, you may be offered one of several next steps:
If an evaluation is recommended, it will go beyond the screening to include formal testing, detailed parent interviews, and a written report that can help guide speech therapy goals or support school accommodations.
Importantly, you’re not locked into any one path. At Sage Speech & Learning Associates, the goal is to equip families with clear information so they can make the best decisions for their child. You’ll never be pressured into services you don’t want or need.
Children thrive when they feel understood and when they can make themselves understood. Communication is foundational. It affects how kids learn, connect, behave, and build confidence. A screening helps identify whether a child is ready to meet the demands of school, friendships, and everyday life without extra support, or whether a small adjustment now could prevent bigger challenges later. Some delays are easy to miss. Kids are creative. They learn to gesture, rely on others to speak for them, or avoid situations that are hard for them. But when a trained professional spends even a few minutes interacting with your child, they can see patterns that others might overlook. The earlier a child receives help, the faster and more effective that help tends to be. Speech and language therapy includes comprehension, vocabulary, memory, sentence structure, fluency, and social communication. If a screening catches a concern early, therapy can help close the gap quickly and build lasting skills. Even when the results show that everything is fine, screenings still serve a purpose. They provide reassurance, track development, and offer a starting point if future concerns arise. They also give parents a sense of direction and control in what can otherwise feel like a wait-and-worry situation.
A screening gives parents a better understanding of where their child stands, what to watch for, and what actions, if any, might help. Reach out to Sage Speech & Learning Associates. Our team is trained in evidence-based methods and we work with families across the Atlanta, Georgia, area. If you’re wondering whether your child would benefit from a screening, don’t wait. Early insight opens the door to meaningful progress. Contact us today to schedule a brief, low-pressure screening with one of our experienced speech therapists.
Sage Speech & Learning Associates offer professional speech therapy, language therapy and feeding therapy in Atlanta, Brookhaven, Sandy Springs, Dunwoody, Buckhead and surrounding areas.
