What is the difference between school-based and clinic-based speech therapy?

A school-based speech therapist focuses on social pragmatics, reading skills, and receptive language — meaning how they process the language they’re hearing and how they follow directions. Speech and language services are often conducted in a group with similar-age peers.

Clinic-based speech therapists have more freedom to treat children using a variety of therapeutic modalities such as PROMPT, in which the therapist uses manual cues on a child’s lips, jaw, tongue, throat, and cheeks to help guide difficult sound productions. They might also have access to swings and other equipment to motivate speech through movement.

For more information, see our article School-Based Vs. Clinic-Based Services.