What Does a Speech Therapist Do During Your First Consultation?

You notice a pattern. A child avoids longer words. An adult repeats “sorry, what?” more often. A voice feels tired after short calls. These moments raise questions, but the first step stays simple: book a first session and learn what happens. Speech therapy focuses on improving how you speak, understand, and use language in daily life. The first consultation gives clarity, not judgment. It identifies what helps, what blocks progress, and what practice fits your routine. At 3 Senses ENT & Dental Clinic, the Audiology Department supports speech therapy and links it with hearing assessment when needed.

Also Read: Muffled Sound Meaning: Common Reasons for Dull, Blocked Hearing

What is speech therapy?

• What is speech therapy? A structured plan to improve speech clarity, language skills, voice use, and communication habits.
• Areas it commonly supports:
• Speech sounds: how you pronounce letters and blend sounds into words.
• Language: how you understand instructions and express ideas.
• Voice: how you use loudness, pitch, and breath while speaking.
• Fluency: how smoothly words come out (pauses, repetitions, blocks).
• Social communication: how you start, maintain, and end conversations.
• The benefits of speech therapy often show in real situations:
• Clearer speech during daily conversations.
• Better confidence in school, interviews, meetings, and phone calls.
• Less frustration during communication.
• Stronger listening and response skills when hearing affects speech.

Before your appointment: what to bring

• A short symptom note (keep it practical):
• “People ask me to repeat.”
• “My child misses sounds like ‘s’ or ‘r’.”
• “My voice feels strained after talking.”
• A timeline:
• When you first notice the issue.
• Whether it changes with stress, tiredness, or illness.
• Any past reports (if available):
• Hearing tests, ENT notes, school feedback, and previous therapy reports.
• For children:
• Favourite toy or book for comfort and warm-up.
• A list of commonly used words and any words they avoid.
• For adults:
• Job role and speaking demands (calls, presentations, teaching).

Step 1: The therapist listens to your story

• This step answers, “what does a speech therapist do first?” with one word: clarify.
• The therapist asks targeted questions to understand:
• The main concern (speech, language, voice, fluency, or multiple).
• Where it shows most (home, school, office, public speaking, phone calls).
• How others respond (requests to repeat, misunderstandings, teasing, avoidance).
• Medical background that influences communication:
• Frequent colds, allergies, mouth breathing, ear infections,and  hearing concerns.
• Daily habits that shape speech and voice:
• Screen time, reading, sleep schedule, hydration, voice load.
• The therapist also looks for strengths:
• Sounds like you produce well.
• Situations where speech becomes clearer.
• Topics that help a child speak more freely.

Also Read: Ear Pressure Symptoms That Return Often: When ENT Evaluation Helps

Step 2: Screening speech sounds (clarity check)

• The therapist checks how you produce sounds using simple tasks:
• Naming pictures or objects.
• Repeating single words and short phrases.
• Reading a short passage (for adults or older children).
• The therapist listens for:
• Substitutions (saying one sound instead of another).
• Omissions (skipping sounds).
• Distortions (unclear sound shape, like a lisp).
• Sound patterns (errors that repeat across many words).
• The therapist notes placement and movement:
• Lip seal and lip rounding.
• Tongue position and range of motion.
• Jaw stability while speaking.

Step 3: Screening language (understanding + expression)

• The therapist checks both sides of language:
• Receptive language: understanding.
• Expressive language: speaking and organising ideas.
• Common first-visit tasks include:
• Following 1–3 step instructions.
• Answering “who/what/where/why” questions.
• Describing a picture or retelling a short story.
• Naming categories (foods, animals) and explaining relationships.
• The therapist observes everyday skills:
• Word finding speed.
• Sentence length and grammar.
• Ability to stay on topic.
• Ability to repair communication when misunderstood.

Step 4: Checking voice (if voice is the concern)

• The therapist checks how you use your voice in real life:
• Loudness and projection during normal speech.
• Breath support (whether you run out of air quickly).
• Pitch comfort (too high/low for long use).
• Strain signs (tight throat feeling, voice fatigue).
• The therapist asks about triggers:
• Long calls, shouting, classroom teaching, gym workouts, and acid reflux patterns.
• A first plan often starts with “voice hygiene” basics:
• Hydration habits.
• Reducing throat clearing.
• Safer volume strategies.

Step 5: Checking fluency (if stammering is the concern)

• The therapist looks at speech flow, not only “stammer frequency.”
• Observation includes:
• Repetitions (sounds or words).
• Prolongations (stretching sounds).
• Blocks (silent pauses with effort).
• Secondary behaviours (eye blinking, face tension) if present.
• The therapist also checks impact:
• Avoiding words.
• Avoiding speaking situations.
• Speaking faster due to anxiety.
• First-session focus stays gentle:
• Reduce pressure.
• Build comfort.
• Choose one easy technique to practise.

Also Read: Ideal Age for Adenoid Removal: What ENT Doctors Consider

Step 6: Hearing check (when speech and hearing connect)

• Speech therapy often works best when hearing is clear.
• The first consultation may include or recommend a hearing assessment because the clinic also provides an audiology evaluation.
• Hearing checks can support speech planning by showing:
• Whether you miss certain speech frequencies.
• Whether middle-ear pressure or fluid affects hearing clarity.
• The Audiology Department lists testing options that support diagnosis:
• Audiogram.
• Impedance testing.
• SISI (Short Increment Sensitivity Index).
• Tone decay test.
• If hearing needs support, the department also offers digital hearing aids as part of hearing care.

Step 7: Explaining results in plain language

• The therapist summarises findings without jargon:
• What looks strong (so you know what to build on).
• What needs practice (so goals stay focused)?
• What influences progress (hearing, habits, attention, consistency)?
• The therapist answers common “first visit” questions:
• How many sessions do I need?
• How fast do results show?
• What can I practise at home?
• What should I stop doing that slows progress?

Step 8: Setting goals and a home plan (the “next steps”)

• The therapist sets goals that match daily life:
• “Clearer ‘s’ sound during conversation.”
• “Longer sentences with fewer pauses.”
• “Better classroom listening and response.”
• The plan usually includes:
• Session frequency suggestion (based on need and routine).
• A short home plan with repeatable steps.
• Progress tracking checkpoints.
• The clinic’s service positioning highlights customised treatment plans and rehabilitation support in audiology and speech care, which aligns with goal-based therapy planning.

Step 9: Demonstrating speech therapy techniques in-session

• The first visit often includes a quick demonstration, so you leave with something usable.
• Common speech therapy techniques introduced early:
• Sound placement cues (where to place tongue/lips).
• Slow rate practice for clarity.
• Breath pacing for longer phrases.
• Minimal-pair listening (hearing the difference between similar sounds).
• Simple drills that take 5 minutes, not 50.
• For children, the therapist uses play-based practice:
• Games, picture cards, and short turn-taking tasks.
• For adults, the therapist uses functional practice:
• Call simulation, meeting phrases, and clarity strategies.

Book a speech therapy consultation

Book a speech therapy consultation at 3 Senses ENT & Dental Clinic when you want clarity about speech, voice, or language goals and a plan that fits your routine. The Audiology Department supports speech therapy and provides hearing assessment tools like audio grams and impedance testing when speech and hearing need a combined approach. To schedule, call +91 88262 62607 or email us at info@3sensesclinics.com. Use the first visit to ask questions, understand your results, and leave with simple practice steps you can apply the same day. 

FAQs

1. What does speech therapy do?

Speech therapy helps improve speech clarity, language skills, and communication confidence through structured goals and guided practice. At 3 Senses, speech support sits within the Audiology Department, which also covers hearing assessment and rehabilitation—useful when hearing and speech influence each other.

2. How to treat speech delay?

Treatment usually starts with an assessment to identify what the child needs most (speech sounds, language understanding, expression, or listening skills). A speech therapist then sets goals, plans regular sessions, and assigns short home practice tasks, adjusting the plan as progress improves.

3. What is the cost of speech therapy in Gurugram?

Exact pricing varies by clinic, session duration, and the type of concern, and no verified price is available in the information currently accessible. The simplest way is to request the latest fees directly from 3 Senses using their appointment contact details.

4. What disease affects speech?

Several medical conditions can affect speech, depending on whether they impact the brain, nerves, muscles, hearing, or development. Examples include stroke, Parkinson’s disease, cerebral palsy, autism spectrum disorder (language/communication), and hearing loss (which can affect speech development and clarity).