Speech therapy letter to the prescribing doctor: template and example

The speech therapist's letter to the prescribing doctor is the letter that goes with the assessment report, or follows it up during treatment. It tells the doctor what you found, what you propose and what you need from them. It fits on one page.

This page is written for speech and language therapists (orthophonistes) working in France, where most treatment starts with a medical prescription. The assessment report stays the reference document. The letter gives its essentials in a few lines, for a doctor with little time. You also use it later, when something new comes up or when you need an ENT, eye or paediatric neurology opinion. Below you will find a section-by-section template and a completed example.

What this document is for

The doctor prescribed an assessment and expects feedback. The assessment report gives the tests, the analysis and the speech therapy diagnosis. The letter answers three simple questions. What did you find? What happens now? Do you need the doctor for anything?

It is used in four situations.

• Sending the assessment report. This is the most common case, after an initial assessment or a reassessment.
• Information about treatment. You start therapy, continue it, or suggest ending it.
• Reporting something new. A change in behaviour, a regression, or a doubt about hearing or vision appears in sessions.
• Asking for an opinion or a further test. You think an ENT, eye or paediatric neurology check would help explain the picture.

In every case, the doctor decides whether to order a test or refer to a specialist. Your letter gives them what they need to decide.

The framework in France

The medical prescription

In most cases, speech therapists in France work on medical prescription. In a 2024 webinar, the FNO, the national speech therapists' federation, lists two possible wordings on the prescription, "speech therapy assessment with treatment if necessary" and "investigation assessment". It adds that there is no "reassessment" wording. The wording matters. The FNO reminds that you must stick to it, or risk having to repay sums. If the prescription does not match the situation, it advises asking for a new, matching one.

After an investigation assessment, the doctor expects your findings and suggestions. After an assessment with treatment if necessary, you tell them whether therapy starts and with which goals.

What changed with amendment 21

Amendment 21 to the national agreement for speech therapists came into force on 23 February 2026, according to Ameli, the national health insurance website. It removes prior approval after reassessments. It also changes the coefficients of assessments, for better traceability according to the same website.

Direct access

In some settings, a speech therapist may see a patient without a prescription. CNAM circular CIR-19/2023, issued after the law of 19 May 2023, lists hospitals, social and medico-social facilities and services, primary care teams, health centres and multi-professional practices, and local health networks (CPTS) when their health project provides for it. In this setting, the speech therapist sends an initial assessment and a report of the care given to the patient's GP, and adds them to the DMP. Otherwise, the circular states that the sessions are charged to the therapist.

Shared confidentiality

Article L1110-4 of the French Public Health Code protects the confidentiality of patient information. It also frames exchanges between professionals caring for the same patient, for the information needed for coordination or continuity of care. In practice, writing to the patient's doctor fits this frame. It is usual to tell the patient, or the parents, that you are sending the letter and what it contains. Only pass on what is useful to the doctor.

The patient's right of access

Article L1111-7 of the same code lets patients access the health information about them. For a child, those with parental authority can ask for it. Service-public.fr states a time limit of 8 days after the request, or 2 months for information older than 5 years. So write every letter as if the parents could read it. Use exact words, no judgement, and no unchecked hypothesis written as fact.

The template, section by section

Header and identification

Your name, profession, practice address, phone number and professional ID number. Then the doctor's name and address. Add the date and place. Identify the patient by full name and date of birth, so the doctor finds the right file at once.

Subject

One line. For example "Speech therapy assessment report", "Information about treatment" or "Request for an ENT opinion". The doctor should know from the subject line whether they need to act.

Prescription reminder

The date of the prescription, its exact wording and the reason for referral if stated. In direct access, replace this section with the context of the first visit.

Assessment summary

The assessment dates, the areas assessed and the main findings. You can say the tests are standardised without copying every score. The details are in the attached report. Keep one sentence per area, starting with what works.

Speech therapy conclusion

The speech therapy diagnosis, worded as in the report. Add what matters to the doctor, such as fatigue, difficulty in class or family concern. Stay within your field. You describe a language disorder. You do not make a medical diagnosis.

Care plan

Whether you propose therapy, the goals, the planned frequency, the parents' role and a rough date for the next review. If you do not propose therapy, say why and what you advise.

Requests to the doctor

This is the most useful section. One request per paragraph, with the reason. An ENT opinion when hearing is in doubt. An eye or orthoptic check when the child struggles with reading. A paediatric neurology opinion when the picture goes beyond language. Word them as suggestions. The doctor decides.

Closing and signature

A simple closing line, your contact details and your signature.

Attachments

List what you attach, usually the assessment report. If the patient or the parents have received a copy, say so.

A completed example

Fictional patient. Names, dates and findings are made up for this example.

Subject: speech therapy assessment report and request for an ENT opinion, Léo M., born 14/03/2020.

Dear Doctor,

You referred Léo, aged 6, in his first year of primary school, with a prescription dated 2 September 2026 for a speech therapy assessment with treatment if necessary. His parents were worried about unclear articulation and about Léo being hard to understand in class.

I saw Léo on 16 and 23 September. I assessed phonology and articulation, vocabulary, morphosyntax and comprehension, using standardised tests and play situations. Oral comprehension and receptive vocabulary are in line with his age. His speech shows phonological simplifications that persist beyond the usual age, with cluster reduction and fronting of some back sounds. There is also an interdental lisp. In expression, Léo uses short sentences and leaves out small words. His results are low for his age in this area. He communicates willingly and accepts correction well.

My conclusion is a phonological and articulation disorder, with weak morphosyntactic expression. Details are in the attached report.

I propose weekly therapy, focused on phonology, articulation and sentence building, with advice for the parents. I will review progress with the family at the end of the term.

The parents report frequent ear infections last winter. In sessions, Léo often asks for repetition, especially late in the day. An ENT opinion with a hearing check seems useful to me, to rule out fluctuating hearing loss. I leave it to you to judge whether this test is appropriate.

I am happy to discuss this by phone. Yours sincerely,

Speech therapist's signature

Attachment: speech therapy assessment report dated 23/09/2026. A copy was given to the parents.

Common mistakes

• Copying the report. The doctor already has the report attached. The letter should give its essentials on one page.
• A request lost in the text. If you need a test, give it its own paragraph, with the reason.
• Going beyond your field. Avoid writing a medical diagnosis. Describe what you see and suggest an opinion.
• Too much private information. Conflict between the parents or a sibling's school results do not help the doctor. Keep what explains the disorder.
• Forgetting the prescription wording. Recall it. If the prescription does not fit, ask for a new one.
• A tone parents would find hurtful. They can read this letter. Write "Léo uses short sentences" rather than a judgement about the child.

Save time with Delta

Delta is the clinical assistant for mental health and allied health professionals. During the assessment session, Delta transcribes what is said. You can also dictate your observations right after, and add written notes.

Delta drafts letters, certificates and assessments, adapted to your profession. As the Delta for speech therapists page explains, it offers templates for assessments, therapy reports and letters to the prescribing doctor. You can also create your own templates, for example from the one above.

Delta does not calculate any score. Scoring, test choice and interpretation stay yours. Delta takes the results you scored, typed or dictated, and formats them. It does not replace your practice management software for scheduling and billing. It is a recent tool built by a small team.

Data is hosted in France by an HDS-certified host, and AI processing happens in France. The patient's name and identifying details are pseudonymised before the AI. No audio file is kept. Data is never used to train a model. The trial lasts 14 days, with no credit card. After that, the Pro plan costs 29 euros per month incl. VAT billed annually (348 euros per year), or 35 euros per month incl. VAT with no commitment. A free plan is limited to 10 sessions per month.

Further reading

• Speech and language therapy assessment report template
• Speech therapy discharge report template
• Speech therapy letter to school template
• The best AI report software for speech therapists
• All our clinical document templates
• What is Delta?

Frequently asked questions

Sources

• FNO, 2024 webinar for new graduates on the agreement (prescription wording, direct access), in French
• Ameli, amendment 21 measures in force on 23 February 2026, in French
• CNAM circular CIR-19/2023 on direct access to speech therapists, in French
• Service-public.fr, access to the medical file, in French