Speech therapy isn't 'working' — when do you stay the course vs. switch?
Posted May 10, 2026
We're 14 months into weekly speech therapy. Progress feels slow, and I can't tell if that's just how this goes, or if we should be looking for someone else.
Things I'm trying to figure out:
- Is plateau normal? Our SLP says skill development isn't linear and there are integration periods. That tracks with what I read, but it's hard to sit with.
- Is the modality the issue? We're doing pull-out tabletop sessions. I keep reading about more naturalistic, play-based, embedded approaches.
- Is AAC underused? My kid uses some words and a lot of gestures. We haven't really tried a robust AAC system. I've started to wonder if that's the missing piece.
- Is the chemistry off? He likes our SLP but I'm not sure he engages with her. I don't know how much that matters.
For parents who switched providers — what was the moment you knew? And for parents who stayed — what helped you trust the process during the slow stretches? Especially curious about families who introduced AAC and whether it changed everything (in either direction).