How long will my child be in therapy?

This is a common question we get from parents. Every child is different, there is no set way to predict how long they will be in therapy. This being said, their number of goals, practice at home, your consistency of attendance, and any diagnoses will all impact your child's progress.

What impacts your child’s progress:

• Number of Goals - If a child has goals in multiple areas (articulation, receptive language, expressive language, and pragmatics) more time will be required to address and resolve each goal. And if a child has multiple goals in each of these areas, additional treatment time will be required.

• Practicing at Home - Recommendations to develop skills at home were given to you after the evaluation. The more you implement these strategies, as well as recommendations and/or homework that is given after each session, the less treatment time will be required.

• Consistency of Attendance - Improvement in therapy is dependent on consistent access to treatment. If therapy appointments are missed due to illness or vacation, it is important to schedule makeup appointments. If therapy sessions are missed due to other appointments, vacations, or illness, additional treatment time will be required.

• Diagnoses - Some speech and language deficits are independent and occur on their own and some are related to other diagnoses. If your child has a diagnosis of ASD, ADHD, or ADD, for example, it is likely additional treatment time will be required.

There’s no one-size-fits-all answer to how long your child will need therapy. It depends on their specific condition, progress, and therapeutic goals. Regular assessments and open communication with clinicians ensure your child receives the appropriate level and duration of therapy for their needs.

Navigating therapy can be a journey, but understanding these factors can help you feel more informed and prepared as you support your child's development.

If you have concerns regarding your child's development, reach out us at 253.237.3405 or info@circlecreektherapy.com. We would love to help!