Does My Child Need
Speech Therapy or an
Autism Evaluation?

When your child isn't speaking on time, it's hard to know the right next step. The answer depends on what's causing the delay — and a professional evaluation is the fastest way to find out.

Get Clear Answers from Specialists — Fast

Call (844) 923-4222 Free consultation · We'll help you determine the right path

Which Does Your Child Need?

🗣️

Speech Therapy

Best when speech delay is the only concern — your child communicates socially but is slow to form words

🔍

Autism Evaluation

Recommended when speech delay is combined with social difficulties like limited eye contact or not responding to their name

✅

Not Sure?

That's exactly why evaluations exist. A specialist can determine the cause and recommend the right treatment.

Board-Certified Specialists (BCBAs)
Most Private Insurance Accepted
Same-Week Evaluations
11 Locations in NH & MA

Speech Therapy vs. ABA Therapy: What's the Difference?

Both help children communicate — but they address different root causes.

Speech Therapy

Focuses on communication skills

Best For

  • Children with isolated speech or language delays
  • Articulation and pronunciation issues
  • Stuttering or fluency difficulties

Addresses

  • Vocabulary and sentence formation
  • Receptive and expressive language
  • Oral motor / feeding skills
VS

ABA Therapy

Addresses the whole child

Best For

  • Children with autism spectrum disorder
  • Speech delay combined with social difficulties
  • Behavioral and developmental challenges

Addresses

  • Communication and social skills
  • Behavior and emotional regulation
  • Daily living skills and independence
Recommended by the U.S. Surgeon General and American Psychological Association as the gold-standard treatment for autism.

Does This Sound Like Your Child?

If your child shows speech delay along with any of these signs, an autism evaluation may be the right next step.

If you checked even one or two of these, a professional evaluation can give you clarity. Early intervention leads to the best outcomes — and the evaluation itself is covered by most insurance.

Not Sure Which Path Is Right for Your Child? We Can Help.

Call (844) 923-4222

Free consultation · Our team will help you determine the right next step

What to Expect During an Autism Evaluation

The process is designed to be simple, thorough, and stress-free for your family.

1
📞

Free Phone Consultation

Call us and share your concerns. Our team will answer your questions and verify your insurance coverage — all at no cost.

2
📋

Comprehensive Evaluation

A licensed expert conducts a thorough developmental assessment to determine if autism is present and what your child needs.

3
🎯

Personalized Care Plan

If autism is diagnosed, we create a custom ABA therapy plan. If not, we connect you with the right resources, including speech therapy referrals.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

We first searched for speech therapy because our son wasn't talking. ABA Centers helped us understand the bigger picture. Within months of starting ABA therapy, he was making progress we never expected.

— Parent of a 3-year-old, Braintree, MA

Insurance We Accept

Blue Cross Aetna Cigna United Harvard Pilgrim Tufts

Don't see your insurance? Call us anyway — we accept most private insurance plans and will verify your coverage at no cost.

Questions Parents Ask

Should my child get speech therapy or an autism evaluation?
If your child's only challenge is forming words or sentences but they communicate socially — making eye contact, pointing, and responding to their name — speech therapy may be the right first step. If speech delay is accompanied by social difficulties, an autism evaluation is recommended to identify the root cause before choosing a treatment path.
Do you offer speech therapy?
No. ABA Centers of America specializes in autism diagnosis and ABA therapy. If an evaluation determines your child's speech delay is not related to autism, we will help connect you with qualified speech-language pathologists in your area.
Can my child receive both speech therapy and ABA therapy?
Yes. Many families combine ABA therapy with speech therapy for the best outcomes. ABA addresses the broader developmental needs while speech therapy targets specific communication skills. Our team can help coordinate care with your child's speech-language pathologist.
How quickly can my child be evaluated?
We do not have waitlists. Most families are scheduled within the same week of calling. We have 11 locations across New Hampshire and Massachusetts, plus in-home therapy options.
Is the evaluation covered by insurance?
Yes. Most major private insurance plans cover autism evaluations and ABA therapy. Our team verifies your coverage before your first appointment at no cost to you.
What if the evaluation shows my child doesn't have autism?
If autism is not present, we'll share our findings and help connect you with the appropriate next steps, which may include speech therapy, developmental language support, or other services.

Get Answers. Get a Plan.
Get Started Today.

Whether your child needs speech therapy, autism evaluation, or both — the first step is a conversation. Our specialists are here to help.

(844) 923-4222

Free consultation · Most insurance accepted · Same-week evaluations

ABA Centers of America specializes in autism diagnosis and ABA therapy. We do not provide speech therapy services. This page is for educational purposes and does not constitute medical advice.
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