Questions to Bring to Your Child's Therapy Appointment

Therapy appointments can go by fast.

You finally get in the room, start talking through what has been going on, and then halfway home you remember the three questions you meant to ask.

We have all been there.

That is why we put together this simple checklist to help you feel a little more prepared before your child's appointment.

You do not need to have every answer. You do not need to know the "right" words. Just bring what you have noticed.

Before the appointment, think about what you are seeing at home

You may want to jot down:

• What first made me concerned?
• How long have I been noticing it?
• Does it happen all the time or only in certain situations?
• Is it getting better, worse or staying about the same?
• Does my child seem frustrated, tired or uncomfortable when it happens?
• Are there certain foods, activities or times of day when it is more noticeable?
• Have teachers, daycare providers, family members or other providers noticed it too?
• What have we already tried at home?
• Did anything help, even a little?

If feeding is part of the concern

You may want to think about:

• Does my child cough, choke, gag or seem uncomfortable during meals?
• Do they avoid certain textures?
• Do meals take a long time?
• Is food often left in their cheeks?
• Is eating especially messy?
• Do they seem tired after eating?
• Do they have trouble chewing or moving food around their mouth?
• Do they click, leak milk or struggle to maintain suction during breast or bottle feeding?
• Are there concerns about growth, intake or weight gain?

If breathing or sleep is part of the concern

You may want to notice:

• Does my child usually breathe through their mouth?
• Do they sleep with their mouth open?
• Do they snore?
• Do they seem restless while sleeping?
• Do they wake up tired even after a full night of sleep?
• Do they frequently have congestion or trouble breathing through their nose?
• Is their mouth often open when they are resting, watching TV or playing?

If speech or oral movement is part of the concern

You may want to think about:

• Are there sounds that are especially difficult to understand?
• Does my child get frustrated when trying to communicate?
• Do they push their tongue forward when speaking or swallowing?
• Does their tongue seem to rest low in the mouth?
• Do they have trouble moving their tongue side to side or lifting it?
• Are there oral habits like thumb sucking, finger sucking, prolonged pacifier use or nail biting?

Questions you may want to ask your therapist

You do not have to ask all of these. Pick the ones that matter most to you.

• What are you seeing that I may not be noticing at home?
• What do you think is contributing to the problem?
• Is this something children typically grow out of, or does it usually need support?
• What should I be watching for between appointments?
• Are there things we can work on at home?
• How often should we practice?
• What does progress usually look like?
• How will we know when therapy is working?
• How long might therapy take?
• Are there other providers we should involve?
• Is there anything I should avoid doing at home?
• When should I follow up if something changes?

A few things that can help us too

If you are able, bring or share anything that helps us see what you are seeing.

That might include:

• A short video of feeding, sleeping, chewing, speaking or another concern
• A list of foods your child eats and avoids
• Notes from another provider
• Recent feeding or growth concerns
• Photos or videos that show patterns you have noticed

You do not need to gather everything.

Sometimes one short video from home tells us more than a long explanation ever could.

The most important thing to bring is your perspective

You know your child better than anyone.

If something feels different, difficult or just not quite right, tell us.

You are not expected to diagnose the problem before you walk in the door.

That is what the appointment is for.

Our job at Parkview Therapy Services is to listen, look at the whole picture and help you understand what may be going on and what the next step could be.

So bring your questions.

Bring your notes.

Bring the random video you took at dinner because you thought, This is what I have been trying to explain.

We want to see it.

Before your appointment:

Circle or check the questions that feel most important to you and bring this list with you. It can help make sure we cover what matters most while you are here.