SPEECH & LANGUAGE ASSESSMENTS
SPEECH & LANGUAGE
Gain a deep understanding of how your child processes, uses, and understands language. Receive targeted recommendations to effectively support your child’s speech, language, and communication skills.

Speech and Language Evaluations
A speech and language evaluation is a comprehensive assessment conducted by a speech-language pathologist (SLP) to determine how well a child understands, uses, and processes language, as well as how effectively they communicate. It identifies strengths and areas needing support in speech, language, and communication skills.

Assessment areas include:
- Receptive Language:
How well your child understands words, sentences, and concepts. - Expressive Lanuage:
How effectively your child uses words, sentences, and gestures to express thoughts and ideas. - Speech Sound Production:
Clarity of speech, articulation, and ability to form sounds correctly. - Fluency:
Smoothness of speech, identifying any signs of stuttering or hesitations. - Voice Quality:
Tone, pitch, volume, and overall vocal health. - Pragmatic (Social) Language:
How your child uses language in social contexts, including understanding social cues and maintaining conversations.
Assess if Your Child Needs a Speech & Language Evaluation
Speech Concerns
- Difficulty pronouncing certain sounds or words
- Speech that’s hard to understand for unfamiliar listeners beyond age 3
- Stuttering, frequent hesitations, or repetition of sounds, words, or phrases
Language Concerns
- Delayed speech milestones (e.g., not using words by 18 months, limited vocabulary)
- Trouble following directions or understanding questions
- Difficulty forming sentences appropriate for their age
- Limited ability to express thoughts, needs, or ideas clearly
Social Communication Concerns
- Difficulty with conversational skills (e.g., turn-taking, staying on topic)
- Challenges understanding non-verbal cues (e.g., facial expressions, tone of voice)
- Trouble making friends or engaging in age-appropriate social interactions
Voice and Fluency Concerns
- Unusual pitch, volume, or hoarse voice quality
- Frequent loss of voice or vocal strain
- Persistent stuttering beyond age 5
SPEECH & LANGUAGE EVALUATIONS
The Speech and Language Evaluation Process


INITIAL CONSULTATION
The process begins with a meeting with parents to discuss concerns, developmental history, and observations about the child’s communication skills.


Case History Review
The SLP collects detailed background information, including medical, developmental, and educational history, to understand potential contributing factors.


Standardized Assessments
The child completes various tests to measure specific speech and language abilities, such as vocabulary, sentence structure, comprehension, articulation, and social language use.


Observations
The SLP observes the child’s communication in natural settings (e.g., during play or conversation) to evaluate social interactions, language use, and speech patterns.


Parent and Teacher Questionnaires
Input from parents and educators helps provide a comprehensive view of the child’s communication abilities across different environments.


Analysis and Interpretation
The SLP analyzes the results to identify any speech or language disorders, delays, or areas of concern.


Feedback and Recommendations
A detailed report is provided with assessment results, diagnoses (if applicable), and personalized recommendations for therapy, school-based supports, or home strategies.
Speech & Language Resources for Parents and Educators

American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA)
www.asha.org
Comprehensive resources for understanding speech and language development, disorders, and finding certified speech-language pathologists.
The Hanen Centre
www.hanen.org
Offers programs and resources for parents to support language development in young children, including strategies for speech delays and social communication.
Speech and Language Kids
www.speechandlanguagekids.com
Practical tips, activities, and resources for parents and professionals to support speech and language development.
Zero to Three
www.zerotothree.org
Focuses on early childhood development, with resources on speech, language, and communication milestones.
Reading Rockets – Speech and Language Disorders
www.readingrockets.org
Provides information on language development, how speech issues can affect learning, and strategies to support children.
Stuttering Foundation
www.stutteringhelp.org
Resources for parents and educators on understanding and supporting children who stutter.
Early Intervention Services (U.S.)
www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/actearly
Learn about early intervention programs that provide free or low-cost services for children under age 3 with developmental delays, including speech and language.
What Our Clients Are Saying
"Cornerstone was such a blessing to our family. She gave us the information we needed and a plan to follow to help our son. We are eternally grateful."
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐Sandra S.
"After many years of having IEPs and never understanding why my daughter struggled, I now understand! With Cornerstone, I finally have answers and truly understand what is going on with my daughter."
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐Kati M.
"This evaluation was thorough and gave us the information we needed to advocate for our child."
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐Emily N.

Meet Dr. Christy Bock, Psy.D, LEP
Christy brings a wealth of experience as a Licensed Educational Psychologist (LEP #3063) and a seasoned school psychologist for over 25 years. Growing up with dyslexia, Christy knows firsthand how tough learning difficulties can be. As a mother of six with special needs children, she truly understands the struggles parents face in supporting their kids’ unique needs.
Since founding Cornerstone in 2008, Christy and her team have performed countless Independent Educational Evaluations (IEEs) across the state. She has served as an expert witness in court and co-created an Educational Custody Evaluation to aid special needs students in custody cases.
Under her leadership, Cornerstone has expanded nationwide, providing essential support to schools and families across the country.
Schedule a free clarity call to speak with a licensed educational psychologist about what is going on with your child.
We are here for you and your family.

Frequently Asked Questions
Our incredible team is distributed throughout California and are available to meet with you and your child in-person or virtually to complete our educational assessment(s).
When your child is struggling and despite their effort, they are still struggling academically, a psychoeducational evaluation might be the answer. The psychoeducational evaluation answers the “WHY” to why your child is struggling. By taking a comprehensive dive into your child’s
cognitive abilities, academic achievement, and processing skills, we are able to understand and address all learning difficulties and specifically look at areas of concern like dyslexia, dysgraphia, dyscalculia, ADHD, to name a few. A psychoeducational evaluation helps pinpoint the exact areas your child struggles and gives you a roadmap towards intervention.
Does your child struggle academically, have difficulty focusing, show signs of learning challenges despite effort and support or exhibit social-emotional and behavioral issues, an educational assessment can provide the “WHY” behind these concerns and can help lay out a roadmap to intervention.
Our process begins with scheduling a clarity call where you can discuss your frustrations and concerns. Based on this discussion, we match you with the most suitable team member to start the evaluation.
We understand the urgency and are ready to begin testing right away, moving at a pace that suits your needs. Throughout the process, we keep you informed and updated. Once the evaluation is complete, we present the results in a clear and understandable meeting, providing you with actionable recommendations.
An evaluation with Cornerstone can move at the pace you want. Most of our families want to move quickly, and we love to jump in and complete the evaluation as quickly as you need. The typical timeframe is 3 to 4 weeks, but it can be quicker if needed.
Our evaluations are conducted by licensed evaluators and can help support the need for accommodations, a 504 Accommodation Plan, or even an IEP. Often, schools prefer to conduct their own evaluations for an IEP, but the evaluation through Cornerstone can lay the framework for displaying the need.
An educational assessment provides a thorough understanding of your child’s strengths and challenges. It offers actionable recommendations for tailored interventions, which can improve academic performance, enhance emotional well-being, and address behavioral issues. Without an evaluation, most parents are guessing as to what area to focus intervention but with a full evaluation, you know EXACTLY where to focus so time and money are saved.
The cost of an educational assessment varies depending on the type and scope of the evaluation. Please contact us for specific pricing and to discuss your needs.
Typically NO, but we are able to provide a Superbill that you can submit to your insurance for reimbursement, and some parents are able to have the evaluations covered by insurance, but typically they are not covered. If you have a Health Savings Account (HSA) you are able to pay for the evaluation through HSA funds.
Scheduling an assessment is easy. Simply contact us via phone or email to set up a free clarity call. During this call, we’ll discuss your concerns and determine the best evaluation plan for your child.
Our evaluators are licensed with extensive experience conducting educational assessments and providing expert recommendations in and out of the schools. They are trained to work with children of all ages and learning profiles as well as adults.
Yes, we have bilingual psychologists, speech pathologists as well as occupational therapists. We have assessors who are bilingual in multiple languages. Please reach out with your language needs.
YES! Assessments can be completed virtually, as all Cornerstone evaluators are trained in virtual administration, which has become an increasingly popular and in-demand assessment method.