Showing Up Authentically to SLP Assessments

When I’m blowing bubbles and singing “Wheels on the Bus” for the tenth time in a row, it’s easy to forget I have a Master’s Degree.

Right now, SLPs in hospitals are meeting with patients after cleft palate surgery. On paper, our university education is the same. If we had to switch places for the day, I would not be able to do their job very well… but they wouldn’t be able to do mine very well, either. These so-called “soft skills” required to best serve the pediatric population come with experience and continued education. An attentive, empathetic connection is even more important when caring for neurodivergent children in particular. Every interaction I have with a client is different, and it’s my professional competency that allows me to remain flexible and continue working on communication goals in many different situations. Connection as the foundation for SLP intervention drew me strongly to neurodiversity-affirming approaches in particular, but that’s a blog post for another day.  

Just because I sometimes forget I have a Master’s Degree doesn’t mean that families do. I have to remember that adults seeking out a speech/language assessment for their child are always aware of my “invisible white coat.” They have had many different experiences with medical professionals in assessment contexts, for themselves and for their child. That’s why it’s so important for me to be clear about my approach from the beginning.  

I don’t believe it is fair to assume that what I see in an hour-long assessment is completely representative. Most often, the child is entering a new place, meeting a new person, and is aware of being observed by that person. They are very likely not going to communicate and play as they would at home, for example. That is why a family interview is a huge part of my assessment process.  

When it comes to assessments, I want to be truly collaborative. We both have our roles – the family will do their best in a short amount of time to explain the complexities of a young person’s way of communicating and connecting with others; the SLP will provide assessment results and share relevant perspectives from their professional background. I expect families to be honest with me, and I will be honest in return. I may provide families with resources to learn more about topics I believe are relevant to their child. At the end of the day, I want families to be able to make an informed decision. My invisible white coat and I are here to be a resource for you, not your boss.

– Cora L., Speech Language Pathologist

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