Does My Child Need Therapy? How to Know and How to Start

Maybe a teacher mentioned something, or you've had a quiet worry for a while. Deciding whether your child needs therapy — and figuring out where to even begin — can feel overwhelming. Here's the good news: you don't have to have it figured out. That's what an evaluation is for. This is how to think about it, and exactly how to start.

Signs it may be time to reach out

• Communication: not talking as expected, hard to understand, or not following directions.
• Motor: behind on milestones, clumsiness, weakness, or trouble keeping up.
• Sensory & regulation: big reactions to sounds or textures, or frequent meltdowns.
• Daily skills: difficulty with feeding, dressing, handwriting, or self-care for their age.
• Your instinct: a persistent feeling that something's off — parents are usually right to check.

Which therapy is which?

• Speech-language therapy — communication, understanding, speech clarity, and feeding.
• Occupational therapy — fine motor, sensory processing, self-care, and regulation.
• Physical therapy — strength, balance, coordination, and gross-motor milestones.
• ABA — behavior and skill-building (accepting a limited number of preschool-aged children in select area preschools).

You don't need to know which one

If you're unsure which therapy fits — or whether your child needs one at all — that's completely normal, and it's exactly what an evaluation answers. You also don't need a diagnosis to begin. Our team helps you find the right starting point.

How to get started, step by step

• 1. Talk to your child's primary care provider and request a referral (speech and OT require one — it can be faxed to 901-589-9001).
• 2. Submit our quick new-client form so we have your information.
• 3. We reach out to schedule the evaluation.
• 4. You get a clear, individualized plan with goals that fit your family.

Insurance: we accept many major plans — call our office at 901-654-5693 and we'll help verify your child's coverage before the first visit.

Still not sure? Reach out anyway

When in doubt, ask. A short conversation or an evaluation is the clearest way to know whether your child would benefit — and there's no downside to checking early.