You've updated the goals. You've tried new materials. You've adjusted your prompts, reinforcers, and session flow.

And still — progress is slow… or nonexistent.

When a child stalls in speech therapy, it can leave even seasoned SLPs wondering:

What am I missing?

Here's the good news: Hitting a plateau doesn't mean you're doing something wrong. But it does mean it's time to step back, zoom out, and troubleshoot clinically — not just emotionally.

Let's walk through how to do that.

Step 1: Reassess the Goals

Start here:

• Are the goals developmentally appropriate?
• Are they functional for the child's daily life?
• Are they too broad (e.g., "increase expressive language") or too narrow (e.g., "use irregular past tense for 'run'")?

If you wouldn't know how to collect data on a goal in session, the goal may need to shift.

Step 2: Check the Prompting Hierarchy

If you're always using the same cue and getting stuck:

• Try backing up the support level (visual → tactile)
• Try fading support faster (verbal → gestural → independent)
• Use contrastive sets (e.g., "ball" vs. "wall") for articulation

Plateaus often happen when a child is stuck between levels of support — and we haven't adjusted the bridge.

Step 3: Zoom Out to the Environment

Progress doesn't just depend on what happens in your therapy room. Ask:

• Is there carryover at home or school?
• Are classroom demands too high or too low for practice?
• Is there stress, fatigue, illness, or trauma affecting regulation?

This is especially key in school settings, where performance can change drastically across environments.

Step 4: Reevaluate Readiness

Sometimes we're targeting a skill that's just… not ready yet.

Signs of this:

• Consistent failure despite best-practice cues
• Regression or shutdown
• Emotional frustration or task refusal

In these cases, it may be time to:

• Put the target on hold
• Focus on foundational skills (e.g., joint attention, turn-taking, or phonological awareness)
• Reassess cognitive, sensory, or emotional load

Step 5: Look for a Hidden Barrier

The child may be:

• Dealing with undiagnosed ADHD or anxiety
• Experiencing language-based learning difficulties
• Masking social communication breakdowns
• Struggling with fatigue, medication effects, or processing delays

This is where your collaboration with teachers, parents, and other professionals is essential.

Step 6: Change the Measure of Success

Not all progress looks like "80% accuracy." Other valid outcomes include:

• Increased participation
• Decreased frustration
• Greater independence with supports
• More spontaneous attempts

If a child is trying more, that's progress. If they're self-correcting, even with errors — that's progress too.

Step 7: Document the Stall Clearly (and Kindly)

Whether you're at an IEP meeting or writing a private practice note, clarity matters:

"Despite consistent attendance and engagement, [Student] has not demonstrated measurable progress toward current articulation goals. Adjustments in prompting, materials, and pacing have been implemented. A shift in goals and/or assessment for underlying factors is recommended."

This protects you while showing clinical care.

Step 8: Re-Engage the Family or Teacher

Parents and teachers may assume "no news = no problem" — but if you're hitting a wall, loop them in:

• Ask if they've noticed progress outside of therapy
• Explain what you're seeing (and not seeing)
• Share options: new goals, new strategies, outside referrals, or even a therapy break

Collaborative transparency builds trust — and sometimes surfaces the missing puzzle piece.

How SLP Score Can Help You Rethink and Reframe

When you're not sure how to frame a lack of progress in your report, SLP Score helps you:

• Document what's been tried, clearly and compassionately
• Generate updated goals that reflect new baselines
• Add observations that paint a full picture — not just percentages
• Export flexible summaries that can be edited and personalized

Because sometimes, the most powerful part of a report is what you see beyond the numbers.