Reframing Success in Speech Therapy

For many families receiving speech-language therapy services, there’s an expectation that progress will follow a predictable path. New words will emerge, speech will become clearer, communication will steadily improve, right?

For neurodivergent people or those with complex communication needs, progress doesn’t always unfold in a straight line. It may move slowly, pause for stretches of time, or show up in ways that aren’t captured by traditional checklists or milestone charts. This can feel discouraging, especially when families are investing time, energy, and emotion into the process.

The reality is that communication development is often nonlinear. Reframing nonlinear progress from “a failure” to “a different rhythm” holds so much value for overall mindset and resulting outcomes! 

Success in speech therapy doesn’t always mean saying more words or producing clearer speech. Perhaps, a client is learning to feel safe in a communicative exchange via consistent acknowledgement or beginning to engage in shared attention for longer stretches. They might start showing interest in others' speech or allow an adult or peer to join them in play. These are all foundational communication skills that are just as important as talking, but often less visible to those outside the therapeutic process.

For clients using AAC, success may mean becoming more consistent with selecting symbols, exploring new categories, or showing increased intent. It might not mean full sentences right away (or ever) but it does mean the child is learning the utility of their device and that their voice matters. 

There are also times when what looks like “regression” is actually a period of integration. A client might stop using a newly acquired skill while their nervous system is busy processing something else, such as a big developmental leap, a new routine, or increased emotional demands. Rather than indicating a step backward, these pauses are often a natural part of learning. Brains don’t grow in neat, upward lines. Rather, they loop, consolidate, and leap forward in bursts.

It’s also important to recognize the emotional toll of narrowly defined ideas of success. Focusing on outcomes that aren’t yet within reach makes it easy to overlook the rich, nuanced ways a child is already communicating. A glance, a hand on your arm, or producing a familiar sound are all communication attempts. They tell us something about the child’s intent, their needs, their personality, and so much more. These growth points are worth celebrating!

Reframing success in speech therapy means expanding the definition of progress. It means shifting the focus from “Are they talking yet?” to “Are they more connected, more regulated, more engaged, more empowered in their communication?” It means valuing the moments of joint attention, shared laughter, and intentional choice-making as real milestones in their own right.

Integrative speech-language therapy is not just about helping children talk more, it’s about helping them communicate more meaningfully, more authentically, and in ways that work for them. Zooming out from rigid expectations and looking at the whole person can allow us to see just how much progress is really happening and how impactful it is.