In-Person Pediatric Speech Therapy
in University Place, WA & Columbia, TN

Pediatric speech therapy is a specialized type of treatment that helps children develop effective communication skills. This therapy addresses a range of speech and language issues, including difficulties with articulation (pronouncing sounds correctly), language comprehension and expression, fluency (such as stuttering), and social communication skills. It also supports children with more complex needs, such as those with speech delays due to developmental disorders or injuries.

Our team will work closely with your child to assess their specific needs and create a personalized therapy plan. Your child will work with a Speech-Language Pathologist (SLP), a specialist in speech and language skills. Our SLPs help children build their communication skills through fun, play-based sessions that are designed to address each child’s strengths and limitations.

Our goal is to help your child improve their ability to communicate easily and effectively with others. Your child’s therapy sessions will include activities and exercises designed to improve their pronunciation, fluency, conversation skills, and more. We’ll help your child find and use their voice, which can give them the confidence to make friends, do well in school, and enjoy being part of the community.

If you notice that your child is having persistent difficulties with speech or language that are affecting their daily life, it’s a good idea to get an evaluation from our experts. These difficulties could include trouble pronouncing words clearly, challenges understanding or using language appropriately, issues with fluency such as stuttering, or struggles with social communication.

Additionally, if you’ve noticed that your child is becoming frustrated due to their communication challenges, we can help. Your child may avoid speaking, get upset when others can’t understand them, or struggle with homework assignments that involve writing. Those are signs of a speech or language challenge that our experts can address to improve your child’s overall wellbeing.

In-person speech therapy is especially helpful because it allows for a hands-on approach and direct interaction with our Speech-Language Pathologists (SLPs), who are experts in all aspects of speech and language. Our team is here to help assess your child’s needs and determine whether in-person speech therapy can help them. Reach out to us today for an evaluation to find out how we can help your child find their voice and improve their confidence.

There are several signs that your infant or toddler could benefit from speech therapy. If your child is not meeting typical speech and language milestones for their age, such as babbling, using single words, or combining words into simple sentences by a certain age, we recommend getting an evaluation from our experts. For example, if your child is not making any recognizable sounds or words by 12 months, or if they are not starting to combine words by 24 months, these could be areas of concern.

Another indicator that your child might need speech therapy is if they seem to struggle with understanding or following simple instructions. By 18 months old, many children can understand and respond to basic one-step commands, and by 24 months, they should be able to follow two-to-three-step directions.

Additionally, if your child’s speech is unclear or difficult to understand, or if they are not using a variety of words to express themselves as they grow, an evaluation can help determine if they have a delay or other challenge. Some signs of unclear speech include consistently substituting one sound for another, stuttering, or struggling to pronounce certain sounds at all.

Our team is here to support you and your child. Reach out to us today for an evaluation to see if speech therapy can help.

Speech therapy offers tons of great benefits for preschoolers struggling with speech issues. Our team focuses on helping each child develop effective communication skills that are vital for their overall growth and social interactions. Some of the ways speech therapy can benefit your child include:

• Improving speech clarity: Our Speech-Language Pathologists (SLPs) work on helping preschoolers articulate words more clearly, making their speech easier to understand. For example, we can address challenges like substituting sounds (i.e., saying “wed” instead of “red”).

• Building language development: Speech therapy supports the development of both expressive and receptive language skills, meaning how well your child can share their ideas and how well they can understand others. Strong language skills are essential for success in school, making friends, and much more.

• Communicating with confidence: Children who struggle with speech may feel frustrated or shy. Speech therapy helps them gain confidence by improving their ability to communicate effectively. This confidence can positively impact their social skills and overall self-esteem.

• Supporting cognitive development: Speech therapy also aids in cognitive development by improving your child’s ability to follow instructions, solve problems, and engage in imaginative play. These skills are important for their overall cognitive and social development.

During your child’s first speech therapy session, our team will focus on creating a comfortable and welcoming environment to set the stage for effective therapy. Here’s what you can expect:

1. Initial evaluation: The session will begin with an initial assessment to understand your child's specific speech and language needs. Our Speech-Language Pathologist (SLP) will ask questions about your child’s developmental history, current speech and language challenges, and any concerns you may have. This helps us tailor the therapy to meet your child's unique needs.

2. Observation and interaction: Our team will observe your child’s communication skills through various activities and play-based assessments, where your child works with the SLP so we can evaluate their speech, language, and cognitive abilities in a natural and enjoyable way.

3. Setting goals: Based on the initial assessment, we will discuss and set specific, measurable goals for your child's therapy. These goals are designed to address the areas where your child needs the most support and will guide the course of future sessions.

4. Scheduling and answering questions: We will discuss how you can support your child’s progress at home and answer any questions you might have about the therapy process. And lastly, we’ll agree on scheduled appointment times that work best for your family.

When it comes to addressing stuttering, our approach is all about understanding and supporting your child’s unique needs. We start by assessing how stuttering affects your child’s ability to communicate. This helps us get a clear picture of how it impacts their daily interactions.

From there, we create a tailored therapy plan. This often involves teaching your child techniques to help manage their speech, like slowing down how quickly they speak, practicing smooth and controlled speech patterns, and incorporating breathing exercises. These methods can help make your child’s speech flow more naturally.

We also work on building your child’s confidence and helping them cope with any frustration or anxiety that might come from stuttering. This can include role-playing, practicing conversations, and encouraging them with positive reinforcement.

Throughout their therapy sessions, we will keep a close eye on how things are progressing and make adjustments as needed. We also make sure to involve you, so you know how to support your child at home. The goal is to help your child communicate more smoothly and feel more confident, making their everyday communication easier and less stressful.

Yes, pediatric speech therapy can definitely help with social communication skills. This is because speech therapy is a bit of a misnomer. Each session is run by a Speech-Language Pathologist (SLP), who is an expert in all aspects of communication—including speech, language, social skills, and more.

When a child struggles with social communication, it often means they have difficulty with the more subtle skills like understanding social cues, starting and maintaining conversations, and interpreting nonverbal signals like facial expressions and body language.

In speech therapy, we focus on these areas by working on skills like taking turns in conversations, understanding and using appropriate language, and recognizing emotions in themselves and others. We also do activities that promote understanding of social rules and norms, which can be really beneficial for improving interactions with friends and classmates.

Each therapy session is designed to be interactive and engaging. Our SLPs use play-based treatment methods, including games and specialized activities that make learning social communication skills fun. Our goal is to help your child feel more comfortable and confident in their interactions with others so that they can enjoy making friends and participating in school and their community.

Being well-prepared for your child’s first speech therapy session can make the experience faster and smoother. Here are several things you should bring with you to your child’s evaluation to get started:

• Insurance Information: Bring your insurance card and any relevant information about your coverage to help with billing and verification. This will ensure our team can help you with insurance claims so that your child’s therapy sessions are covered.

• Medical Records: If applicable, bring any medical records or referral documents from your child’s pediatrician that are relevant to their therapy. This can include previous therapy evaluations or notes from their teacher or daycare provider.

• Comfort Items: Consider bringing something that comforts your child, like a favorite toy or blanket, especially if they’re a bit anxious about the session. Familiar objects can help your child feel more secure during their first session.

• Snack and Water: The initial evaluation can take a while longer than individual sessions, so you may want to bring some snacks and water for your child in case they get hungry or thirsty during the evaluation appointment.

When your child comes to their follow-up appointments, you won’t need to bring much. Just make sure that they’re dressed in comfortable clothes that are easy to move around in and that they are well-fed before their session.

When it comes to keeping children engaged during speech therapy sessions, our team uses a variety of strategies tailored to each child’s interests and needs. Here’s how we keep sessions fun and productive:

• Using their interests: Our Speech-Language Pathologists (SLPs) take the time to learn what interests your child, whether it's superheroes, animals, or specific games. By integrating these interests into therapy, we make sessions more enjoyable for them.

• Interactive activities: We use a range of games designed to capture a child’s attention. and keep them engaged and motivated throughout the session.

• Positive reinforcement: Celebrating your child’s progress is a big part of how we keep them motivated. We use praise and positive feedback to help boost their confidence and make them excited about their achievements.

• Creative play: Our therapists use play-based approaches to make therapy feel like fun rather than a chore. This can involve role-playing games, storytelling, or creative exercises that align with speech therapy goals.

• Visual and auditory cues: We can utilize visual aids, such as flashcards and pictures, along with auditory cues, like songs and rhymes, to keep children engaged. These tools help make concepts easier for children to understand and practice.

Tracking your child’s progress during in-person speech therapy sessions can help you see how well the therapy is working and where adjustments might be needed. Our team will help you keep track of your child’s progress through:

• Regular updates from the therapist: Our Speech-Language Pathologists (SLPs) provide regular updates on your child's progress. They will share feedback on what’s been achieved during each session and how it aligns with your child’s therapy goals.

• Session observations: We encourage parents to observe therapy sessions so you can see firsthand the strategies being used and how your child is responding.

• Home practice assignments: We may provide home practice assignments or activities for you to do with your child between sessions. By working on these at home, you can gauge your child’s progress and see the practical application of what they're learning in therapy.

• Celebrating milestones: We make it a point to celebrate and acknowledge milestones reached during therapy. Recognizing these achievements helps keep your child’s motivation high and shows you the progress being made.

By staying involved and communicating with your child’s therapist, you can effectively track their progress and support their continued growth and success in speech therapy.