This is the second most common question, and the honest answer disappoints: it depends. What can be said responsibly is what determines the duration, and why a number given before assessment would be unfounded.
What determines the duration
- The nature of the difficulty: a single sound is different work from a language delay.
- How many areas are affected at once.
- Age, and the level we are starting from.
- Regularity of sessions - long interruptions set the work back.
- Consistency of the work at home.
- The presence of accompanying factors, such as hearing difficulties or neurological conditions.
Why we do not promise a timeframe
Because any timeframe given before assessment is guesswork packaged as certainty. Objectives and frequency are set after the speech and language assessment, and adjusted along the way according to progress. That is not evasion - it is the only responsible way to plan.
What progress realistically looks like
Progress is rarely a straight line. There are fast periods and plateaus; there is fluctuation, particularly in stuttering. That is part of the process and does not mean the work is not moving.
What is watched is not speed but direction - and the point at which the skill gained in the clinic starts appearing in everyday conversation. That indicator is worth more than any timeframe.