Which therapy does my child need?

Understanding the main types of child therapy

The names can be confusing, and a lot of parents arrive unsure whether their child needs “speech therapy”, “OT”, or something else entirely. Here’s the plain-language version of what each one does — and the honest truth is that children often benefit from more than one, which is exactly why a proper assessment is the reliable answer.

• Speech and language therapy — for understanding language, using words and sentences, clear speech sounds, stammering and social communication. Best if your child is late to talk, hard to understand, or struggles to follow language.
• Occupational therapy — for the practical skills of daily life: fine motor (pencils, buttons), coordination, sensory processing, handwriting and attention. Best for a clumsy, sensory-sensitive, or fidgety child.
• Behavioural therapy — for big or challenging behaviour, building routines, focus and positive skills, often for children with autism or ADHD.
• Special education — for learning: reading, writing, maths and school readiness, tailored to how your child learns best.
• Child psychology — for emotions, anxiety, behaviour and mental wellbeing.

In real life these overlap a great deal — a child who isn’t talking might need speech therapy, a hearing check and some sensory support. That’s not a failing of the tool above; it’s just how children work. If your result suggests more than one, or you’re simply not sure, a single developmental assessment looks at the whole child and tells you where to actually start. You can also run our free developmental check first, or read speech therapy vs occupational therapy for a deeper comparison.