Waitlists Are Long - What Columbus Parents Can Do While Waiting for Speech Therapy

By Gina Schumann, MA, CCC-SLP Owner, Small Talk Speech Therapy (Columbus, OH)

I recently had dinner with a new mom-friend from my children’s school. She has three children, the youngest of whom needs speech therapy. She shared that this child has been on a waitlist for services at a large local hospital system for nearly nine months. As a pediatric speech-language pathologist, I am acutely aware of just how long nine months is in terms of child development. Sadly, this mom is not alone.

Speech therapy waitlists throughout Central Ohio are often extensive. This is due to several factors, including increased demand for therapy services following the pandemic, high referral volumes at larger institutions, and a shortage of practitioners, particularly outside major metropolitan areas. Here in Columbus, many families have also been impacted by the recent closure of Columbus Speech and Hearing, a long-standing provider of outpatient speech therapy services.

Navigating evaluations and treatment options for a child who needs speech therapy can feel overwhelming enough without the added stress of long waitlists. So what are families like my friend’s supposed to do in the meantime?

First things first: Get on all applicable lists

Help Me Grow and Child Find

Many families are surprised to learn that speech therapy services may be available to them at no charge through Help Me Grow or their local school district.

Help Me Grow is Ohio’s statewide early childhood support system for families from birth through age three. Help Me Grow offers free developmental screenings, evaluations, and early intervention services. No referral is needed; families can contact Help Me Grow directly to request a speech and language evaluation. If a child qualifies, services are typically provided in the home by a licensed professional.

For preschool and school-aged children, parents can request a speech and language evaluation through their local public school district under a process known as Child Find. Even if a child attends private school or is homeschooled, the public district where the family lives is responsible for completing the evaluation. Once completed, the team determines whether speech therapy services are warranted. If the child is eligible, services are typically provided at the school.

Outpatient and Private Clinics

For children who are already on a waitlist at a large outpatient facility, stay on it. I often recommend that families check in periodically via phone or email, as sometimes the squeaky wheel really does get the grease.

While waiting, this may also be a good time to explore private pay speech therapy services. Private-pay clinics often have shorter waitlists than large insurance-based systems. Although they can come with a higher upfront cost, many families view private therapy as a short-term solution to help bridge the gap while waiting for services elsewhere.    

What Parents Can Do While Waiting

Build Language Into Daily Routines

Being placed on a waitlist, especially when you know your child needs support, can feel frustrating. While nothing replaces direct therapy services, there are meaningful ways parents can support speech and language development at home.

For children with expressive language delays or late talkers, modeling language is critical, and it doesn’t have to be complicated. Narrating daily activities is a powerful, low-effort strategy.

For example, while getting your child dressed in the morning, label articles of clothing and use simple phrases (e.g., “Shirt on!”) throughout the process.  Or before heading to the grocery store, you might say, “We’re going to the store. Let’s get our list!” Review items together, then label them as you find them. During routines like mealtime or bath time, label functional vocabulary and go beyond naming objects. Include:

• Action words (run, jump, pour, splash)

• Descriptive words (hot, crunchy, soft, shiny)

• Social phrases (uh-oh!, ready, set go!, hi, bye)
  

This broader exposure to many types of words (not just the “things” in the environment) gives children a larger vocabulary bank to draw from as they begin combining words.

Connection Over Correction

When parents know their child has a delay or is making sound errors, it’s natural to want to jump in and “fix” things. But the biggest impact comes from connection and consistent modeling, not constant correction.

It’s okay to occasionally draw attention to errors, especially if you’re noticing your child struggling with individual sounds (example “bish” for “fish”).  However, it's important to avoid pushing to the point of frustration. Model correct sounds and language naturally.  For example, you can hold toys close to your mouth when demonstrating sounds, or let your child “catch” mistakes in your speech.

Follow your child’s interests during play. If you’re at the playground and your child becomes fascinated by a leaf instead of the swings, pause and join them. By leaning into what the child is already interested in, you don’t need to go through the effort of gaining their attention.  You might say, “You found a leaf! It’s a big leaf. Let’s throw it in the air.” These moments of shared attention are rich language-learning opportunities.  

Make Reading Part of the Daily Routine

One of the most powerful ways to support language development (vocabulary, grammar, and storytelling skills) is reading together every day. This doesn’t need to be lengthy; even 10 minutes before bedtime can make a big difference.  Incorporate books into daily routines, whether it’s bedtime or first thing in the morning. 

Re-read favorite books and let your child fill in familiar words or phrases. If your child is wiggly or doesn’t sit still, skip the text and talk about the pictures instead. Lift-the-flap and textured books can help maintain interest, and letting your child turn the pages increases engagement.

Follow your child’s interests when choosing books. If they love dinosaurs, trucks, or animals, lean into it. This shared excitement builds connection, and language growth follows.

Support Doesn’t Have to Be on Hold

While sitting on a waitlist can feel discouraging, the key takeaway is this: parents are not powerless. Requesting evaluations through Help Me Grow or Child Find, exploring private therapy options to bridge the gap, and intentionally building communication skills at home are meaningful steps families can take while waiting.

Columbus Parent Resource Checklist

✔ Contact Help Me Grow – Free evaluations and in-home services for children birth–3. ✔ Request a Child Find Evaluation – For preschool- and school-aged children through your local public school. ✔ Stay on outpatient clinic waitlists – Check in periodically for updates. ✔ Explore private speech therapy – Shorter wait times; can bridge the gap. ✔ Model language at home – Narrate routines, expand vocabulary, and follow your child’s interests. ✔ Read together daily – Even 10 minutes per day supports language growth. ✔ Focus on connection over correction – Shared attention is the best learning tool.

Author Bio & Contact Information Gina Schumann, MA-CCC/SLP is a licensed pediatric speech-language pathologist. She is the founder of Small Talk Speech Therapy, LLC, specializing in customized in-home speech therapy for children in and around the Columbus area.