Best next reads
- What to do for 3 to 6 monthsRead the Little Words guide
- When the waitlist is 12 monthsRead the Little Words guide
- How to get off fasterRead the Little Words guide
- How to find a cancellation slotRead the Little Words guide
- Free resources while waitingRead the Little Words guide
- DIR Floortime vs ABA: Which Is Right?From this hub
- ABA Therapy for Autism: An Honest LookFrom this hub
- When Does OT Help With Speech?From this hub
Work the queue actively
Ask about cancellations, call on predictable schedule-change days, join multiple lists, check university clinics, and keep referral paperwork moving.
Build the bridge plan
Use short daily routines, AAC exploration, free core boards, parent coaching resources, and early intervention while waiting for the first appointment.
Arrive with useful data
Track what your child communicates, what triggers frustration, what sounds or words are emerging, and what routines get the most engagement. That helps the SLP start faster.
Quick answers
What should I do while waiting for speech therapy?
Start early intervention or school evaluation paths, use daily routines, and keep working cancellation lists.
Is a long waitlist normal?
Unfortunately, yes in many areas. That is why a parallel plan matters.
Important: Little Words is educational support for home practice. It is not a medical device, not an AAC replacement, and not a substitute for a licensed speech-language pathologist, pediatrician, or developmental evaluation.