What Actually Happens During Speech Therapy? The Complete Lesson Breakdown

If you've never been part of a speech therapy session, you might wonder what it's all about. And even if you went as a child, you might now be asking yourself if it's really just about playing.

The most important thing to know is: No, playing is a supporting element, but the focus is on the work. Speech therapy should be fun, not a chore. To achieve results, children often work harder than it appears from the outside!

How a Session Works

A standard speech therapy session is 45 minutes long. It doesn't matter if the therapy focuses on a lisp (Sigmatism, as we therapists say), incorrect swallowing patterns, or vocabulary building. Only in rare cases will a doctor prescribe a shorter 30-minute or longer 60-minute session.

The 45 minutes typically also include the time for:

• Parent consultation.

• Giving you ideas and exercises for home.

• Signing the prescription.

Inside the Session

1. Start with a chat. The session begins with a short chat, and this is crucial! It helps us understand how your child is doing, hear if a new sound (like "k") has made its way into their everyday speech, and, most importantly, build a good relationship with your child.

2. Specific exercises follow. The actual therapy part of the session follows. Depending on your child's needs, various methods are used:

   • Guided language sequences during free play.

   • Adapting well-known games to fit a therapy goal.

   • Breathing and blowing exercises.

   • Targeted mouth exercises ("making funny faces").

3. Parent feedback. At the end of the session, the parents or guardian are informed about what was done. This is a good time for you to ask questions. However, it's often best to bring up your most important questions at the beginning of the session. This leaves enough time to discuss them in detail, as the next child is usually already waiting for their appointment.

What Happens Between Sessions?

At the end of the session, you'll often get exercises or tips to practice at home. These are meant to be done until the next session, which is usually a recurring, fixed appointment in your schedule.

Important: This is a general outline. The structure can vary depending on the practice and institution. The most important thing is to talk to your therapist if anything is unclear or concerns you. We value your feedback and appreciate the open exchange!