Preschool Speech & Language

You can refer your child yourself. You know your child best! You don't need a screening or a referral from anyone else.

If you're worried about how your preschooler talks or understands, we can help.

Not sure? Check our Communication Milestones page. We're happy to see your child for a communication check-up, even if you're unsure. 

Starting school this September? You can refer your child to us until March 31 before they start. After that, or if your child is already in school, please contact the SmartStart Hub for school-aged services.

Other professionals (like childcare workers or health care providers) can refer a child too. They need permission from the child's legal guardian.

After we get your referral, we'll send you a welcome package. It will tell you how long the wait might be. It will also have ideas for things to try at home while you wait.

We contact families in the order we received their referrals. Our intake worker is a social worker with our program. They will call you closer to your appointment time. On the call, they'll ask about your child and book your first visit with a speech-language pathologist.

Your phone call with our intake worker helps us get ready for your child's assessment. You can tell us:

• Who makes decisions for your child and their care.
• The language(s) used by your family, and your preferred language of service.
• Family history of speech, language or hearing differences.
• Your child's day, including where they spend time (e.g., at home, in childcare), and who else helps your child, including other service providers.
• How your child communicates, and any questions or worries you might have. You might think about:
  • how your child uses sounds, gestures and words
  • sounds that seem hard
  • how well you and others understand your child
  • following directions and answering questions
  • stuttering

You can also share other things you've noticed, like behaviour, energy level, social skills, walking, balance, coordination, drooling, eating and swallowing. If it would help, we can suggest other services and help set up referrals. We will only do this with your consent.

Every family is different. It is important to us to provide services that are respectful and responsive to your family's needs. You can tell us about your culture, life experiences or beliefs if you like. Sharing this information is optional. What you share is private and stored securely, protected by Ontario privacy legislation.

When your appointment is booked, our intake worker will connect you with the speech-language pathologist you'll be seeing. You can contact your speech-language pathologist directly if you have questions or if you need to cancel or reschedule your appointment.