Speech Therapy Questions, Answered

No. This is the single most common worry we hear from Lebanese families, and the research is clear: growing up with two or three languages does not cause speech or language disorders. Bilingual children may mix languages, and each language may have a smaller vocabulary than a monolingual child's — but their total vocabulary across languages is comparable. If a bilingual child has a genuine language disorder, it will show up in every language they speak, not just one. Dropping Arabic at home to 'focus' on French or English does not help, and often costs the child their connection to family. If you're concerned, an assessment in both languages is the right next step.Read the full article on bilingualism

There is a published floor. Since September 2025 the Association Libanaise des Orthophonistes has set minimum fees for private sessions of 30 to 45 minutes: $25 for a therapist with up to five years' experience, $30 from five to ten, and $35 to $40 beyond that, with the first assessment $10 above the base rate. Therapists may charge above the minimum, so fees vary between practitioners and between assessment and ongoing therapy. At this practice, in-clinic sessions in Verdun are paid in cash, and online sessions by card, Whish Money or OMT. The clearest way to get an exact figure for your situation — including whether your child needs a full assessment first — is to send a WhatsApp message describing your child's age and what you've noticed. You'll get a straight answer before committing to anything.Read the full cost guide

As broad guidance: most children say their first words around 12 months, combine two words by around 24 months, and are largely understandable to people outside the family by around 4 years. Reasons to seek an assessment sooner rather than later include a child who isn't babbling, pointing or waving by 12 months, has no words at all by 16 months, has fewer than 50 words or no two-word combinations at 24 months, is losing words they previously used, or is frequently frustrated at not being understood. Early support is consistently more effective than waiting — and an assessment that finds nothing wrong is still a useful result.Read the full milestones guide

A speech or language delay means a child is developing communication along a typical path, just more slowly. Autism is a difference in how a child communicates and interacts socially — it affects not only words but also eye contact, shared attention, gestures, play patterns, and responses to routine and sensory input. A child can have a language delay without being autistic, and an autistic child may have strong vocabulary but real difficulty with conversation and social use of language. Only a qualified assessment can distinguish them, and a speech-language therapist is usually one of the first professionals involved.

Yes, for most goals and most school-age children. Research on telepractice consistently finds outcomes comparable to in-person therapy for articulation, language, and fluency work. It works best when a parent is present, especially for younger children, and when the child can sit with a screen for the session length. Children under three, and those who need significant physical support or hands-on feeding work, are usually better served in person. If online isn't right for your child, we'll tell you that directly.How online sessions work

The first appointment has three parts: a detailed conversation with you about your child's development and medical history; standardized testing appropriate for your child's age and language background; and informal observation during play, which often reveals more than formal testing. Afterwards you receive a clear written report and a consultation session explaining what was found in plain language, with specific recommendations. Assessment is typically completed in one to two appointments.See the assessment process

It depends on what's being treated, how early therapy starts, and how consistently home strategies are used. Articulation goals for a single sound can resolve in a few months; broader language or fluency work typically runs six months or more. Goals are reviewed regularly, and you'll always know what's being worked on and why. The aim is to finish therapy, not to continue it indefinitely.How long treatment takes, and what it adds up to

English or Arabic, according to what serves your child best — and often both, since many Lebanese children live across languages. The choice is made during assessment based on your child's dominant language, the language of their schooling, and what's spoken at home. Supporting Arabic at home is almost always part of the plan rather than something to be set aside.