Child development and speech therapy: how to find a specialist for your child
Which specialist your child needs
The name “child development” covers several specialists, and it is important not to mix them up.
- A speech therapist works on pronunciation, speech and writing: the child cannot say “r” or “sh”, or speech is developing late.
- A special educator helps with developmental delays and special needs.
- A child psychologist helps with anxiety, behaviour difficulties or adjusting to school.
- School readiness and early development — reading, counting, attention, imagination.
If you do not know whom to see, describe the problem in your own words. Serious questions, such as a diagnosis or a suspected developmental disorder, are best discussed first with a doctor, for example a neurologist or paediatrician, and only then look for a specialist for sessions.
How to find a specialist through BlaBlaPrice
You write one request: the child’s age, your concern, the format of sessions, the area. It is checked and you are told what else is missing. Then specialists and centres reply in chat: experience, price per session or what it depends on, the schedule. They see where their offer stands among others, so they can improve their terms. Reviews show next to each. Your phone stays hidden and you pass it only to the one you choose. More on the “How it works” page.
What to put in your request
- Specialist — speech therapist, special educator, psychologist, school readiness.
- The child’s age.
- The concern — late speech, pronunciation, attention, readiness for school.
- Diagnosis or report, if there is one, for example a speech delay.
- Format — online, at a centre or at home; one-to-one or in a group.
- Frequency — for example, twice a week.
- Specialist’s experience — if you need experience with particular cases.
- Area and budget per session.
Example: “Tsuen Wan. My child is 4, cannot say the sounds r and sh, speech is otherwise developed. I am looking for a speech therapist for one-to-one sessions twice a week, home visits are fine. Budget up to HK$78 per session.”
What to look at when choosing
Ask about qualifications and experience with children of this age. A good specialist first carries out an assessment and explains the plan, rather than promising a quick result. Sessions should be playful, especially for little ones.
Find out how long a session lasts, whether homework is given and how often you will see progress. Ask about payment terms and what happens if the child is ill. For small children a home visit is convenient, while a centre may have more learning materials, so ask about that.
If you need only a speech therapist, see the separate category speech therapists. And if you need help with studies, see tutors. All the areas are in the “Education & sports services” section.
