| Service | Typical focus | A question to ask |
|---|---|---|
| Speech & language | Communication and language | How could we understand my child’s communication needs? |
| Occupational therapy | Everyday activities and participation | What is making this activity difficult? |
| Behavioural support | Patterns, context and manageable routines | What need might this situation be showing us? |
Speech and language: communication
A speech-language pathologist works with communication, which can involve understanding language, expressing ideas, speech sounds and fluency. Communication support can also include gestures, pictures and devices. A child does not need to use spoken words for communication to matter.
Occupational therapy: everyday participation
Pediatric OT considers activities such as play, dressing, using classroom tools and joining daily routines. The therapist looks at the interaction between a child, the activity and the environment. A plan may involve skills, adaptations or changes to the setting.
Behavioural support: understanding situations
Behavioural support explores patterns in context and ways to improve communication and participation in routines. Ask what approach is proposed, who provides it and how goals respect a child’s needs and preferences. The label alone does not establish a particular programme or provider qualification.
When concerns overlap
A difficult morning routine could involve communication, sensory discomfort, motor demands, fatigue or several other factors. A website cannot decide which applies. Describe the situation and ask which professional is best placed to explore it. Where multiple services are involved, discuss coordination and consent.
You do not have to choose all three
More services are not automatically more helpful. Ask what each assessment or session is intended to add, how the plan fits alongside existing support and how the team will decide whether it remains useful.
Helpful next steps
About this guide
General parent information from Clover Creek Therapy. It is not a clinical assessment or an individual treatment recommendation. No named clinical review is claimed.
Background: Communication Health Support Association and Canadian Association of Occupational Therapists.