Ask a Speech Therapist | Parent Advice from Hart Therapy Services
Real Conversations, Thoughtful Support, and Practical Takeaways
Families often come to us with thoughtful, honest questions about their child’s communication—and many of those questions come up again and again. This page is a growing collection of questions we hear in sessions, along with guidance, reflections, and practical strategies we share with families.
At Hart Therapy Services, we believe that understanding your child’s communication starts with connection, curiosity, and compassion. Our answers are rooted in a child-led, neurodiversity-affirming approach, designed to support children with a wide range of communication styles, including gestalt language processing and early language differences.
This page is updated as we continue to have meaningful conversations with families. If you’re navigating speech therapy decisions or wondering how best to support communication at home, you’re in the right place.
Families seeking speech therapy, evaluations, or parent coaching in Atlanta often find that these shared questions help clarify next steps and build confidence.
Question from Families: “My child scripts constantly—does that mean they aren’t learning language?”
As speech pathologists, we know that many children use scripting as a meaningful way to communicate, especially children who process language in chunks rather than single words. We often explain to families that scripting isn’t something to stop—it’s a sign that a child is engaging with language in the way their brain understands best. Over time, Families we work with learn over time, with supportive modeling and child-led interaction, those scripts can become more flexible and spontaneous. Speech therapy sessions or parent coaching sessions can be especially helpful for families with children who show patterns of gestalt language processing or who rely on familiar phrases during play and routines.
Helpful Takeaway for Home
Try responding to scripts as meaningful communication rather than correcting them. Pause, model a slightly shorter or flexible phrase, and follow your child’s lead.
Related Support at Hart Therapy Services
Families seeking child-led, neurodiversity-affirming speech therapy in Atlanta often find our gestalt language therapy and parent coaching programs a strong fit.
→ Learn more about choosing the right speech therapist in Atlanta
Question from Families: “How do I know if my child needs a speech evaluation or just more time?”
Every child develops communication skills at their own pace, and it’s common for families to wonder whether to wait or seek support. We often talk with families about looking at patterns over time—such as persistent frustration, limited spontaneous communication, or difficulty expressing needs across settings. A comprehensive evaluation doesn’t label a child; it provides clarity and helps families understand their child’s strengths and next steps. This conversation is especially helpful for families of toddlers and preschoolers navigating early language development. As a speech language pathologists, we believe an evaluation never hurts to learn more about the strengths and needs of a child as they develop and grow.
Helpful Takeaway for Home
Notice how your child communicates during everyday routines like meals or play. Writing down patterns can help you decide whether extra support would feel helpful.
Related Support at Hart Therapy Services
Hart Therapy Services provides comprehensive speech and language evaluations in Atlanta, designed to be strengths-based and family-centered. We also offer screeners and informal assessments to look at a glance at strengths and needs.
→ Learn more about our evaluation process
