This child speech therapy quiz is a starting point for parents who are concerned about speech clarity, language development, stuttering, social communication, or how well their child understands and uses words. Review the questions by age, note any concerns, and consider how those difficulties affect communication at home, at school, or with other people.
Does My Child Need Speech Therapy?
A child may benefit from a professional speech and language evaluation when communication difficulties are persistent, noticeably different from peers, frustrating for the child, or affecting participation in everyday activities. A licensed speech-language pathologist can assess speech sounds, receptive and expressive language, fluency, voice, and social communication, then explain whether therapy is recommended.
Important: This checklist is educational and is not a diagnosis or a scored medical test. One answer alone does not confirm a disorder. If you remain concerned, speak with your child’s pediatrician or schedule a speech and language evaluation with a licensed professional.
What Does Pediatric Speech Therapy Help With?
Pediatric speech therapy is provided by licensed speech-language pathologists who evaluate how a child understands language, expresses ideas, produces speech sounds, uses their voice, communicates socially, and speaks fluently. Therapy goals are personalized after an evaluation rather than based on a quiz score alone.
- Speech clarity and articulation: difficulty producing sounds or being understood.
- Receptive language: difficulty understanding words, questions, or directions.
- Expressive language: limited vocabulary, short sentences, or difficulty explaining ideas.
- Fluency: frequent repetitions, prolongations, blocks, or tension related to stuttering.
- Social communication: difficulty using language during play, conversation, and interaction.
- Early communication: concerns about a toddler who is not using words or combining words as expected.
Families can learn more about speech therapy for toddlers, articulation therapy, stuttering therapy, and autism communication support. Questions involving sensory processing, fine motor skills, handwriting, or daily living may be better reviewed with the occupational therapy checklist.
Does My Child Need Speech Therapy at Age 2?
- Does your child smile back at you?
Y/N - At 16 months, did your child give single-word phrases or two-word phrases when they reached two?
Y/N - Does your child make babbling noises?
Y/N - Does your child play games like peek-a-boo with you?
Y/N - Has your child had difficulty bottle feeding or breastfeeding, for example, choking, coughing or reflux?
Y/N - Does your child recoil at specific flavors or textures of food when eating?
Y/N - Does your child answer to his or her name?
Y/N
Does My Child Need Speech Therapy From Age 3 to 5?
- Do people have difficulty understanding your child when they are speaking?
Y/N - Do strangers or other unfamiliar people have difficulty understanding your child’s speech?
Y/N - Does your child ever play make-believe?
Y/N - Is your child showing you things not in order to ask for help but just to share them with you?
Y/N - Does your child understand basic instruction?
Y/N - Does your child play with toys the way they are meant to be played with, for example rolling a car across the floor?
Y/N - Does your child restrict themselves to a diet of fewer than fifteen types of food?
Y/N - Does your child only eat certain foods while avoiding all others?
Y/N - Does your child show interest in playing with other children?
Y/N
Does My Child Need Speech Therapy From Age 6-8?
- Does your child stutter frequently?
Y/N - Is your child interested in playing with the other children?
Y/N - Does your child attempt to grab your attention by saying things like ‘Hey, watch me?’
Y/N - Does your child ever mispronounce certain words?
Y/N - Can your child answer “wh”-esque questions correctly?
Y/N - Does your child talk to you about their day?
Y/N - Do your child’s feeding habits always interrupt your day-to-day life?
Y/N - Can your child describe a series of events like first and last?
Y/N
Does My Child Need Speech Therapy From Age 9-18?
- Does your child stutter for long periods of time?
Y/N - Is your child able to make and maintain friends?
Y/N - Does your child understand that “white lies” are necessary to protect someone’s feelings?
Y/N - Does your child struggle to focus?
Y/N - Does your child follow social cues in a conversation?
Y/N - Does your child have difficulty telling you what they think?
Y/N - Does your child need help to understand the complexities of long stories?
Y/N
How Should Parents Use the Quiz Results?
Do not add the Yes and No answers into a single score. Some questions describe positive communication skills, while others describe possible concerns. Instead, look for patterns: difficulties that happen often, continue over time, frustrate your child, limit participation, or affect how well other people understand them.
A single concern does not automatically mean a child needs therapy, and children develop at different rates. However, parents do not need to wait for difficulties to become severe before asking questions. A licensed speech-language pathologist can review your concerns, complete an age-appropriate evaluation, and explain the most suitable next step.
Schedule a Speech and Language Evaluation in Los Angeles
LA Speech Therapy Solutions serves children and families through clinics in Silver Lake, South Los Angeles, North Hollywood, and San Gabriel Valley. Cassi Alter and the clinic’s licensed speech-language pathologists provide personalized evaluations and therapy recommendations based on each child’s communication needs.
Review the speech and language evaluation process or contact the clinic to discuss your concerns.
