For adult speech therapy evaluation begins with discussing medical history, communication concerns, and goals. The SLP then administers a series of standardized tests to assess areas such as speech, language, cognition, and swallowing if needed. Common tests include the Western Aphasia Battery (to evaluate language abilities in individuals with aphasia), the Boston Naming Test (for naming and word-finding skills), the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) or Cognitive Linguistic Quick Test for cognitive assessment, and the Voice Handicap Index (for voice disorders). If swallowing is a concern, the Modified Barium Swallow Study or Flexible Endoscopic Evaluation of Swallowing (FEES) might be recommended.
Using these tools, the SLP gains a thorough understanding of the adult’s strengths and needs. They create an assessment report and may also suggest consultations with other specialists, such as neurologists, psychologists, or occupational therapists, to address any additional factors affecting communication and quality of life.
An initial evaluation session typically lasts between 45 minutes to 1 hour. Our assessments are also designed to be ongoing and dynamic, allowing speech therapists to continuously evaluate the client’s progress and refine therapeutic goals as they gain deeper insights into the client’s needs.