marketing, Author at SmallTalk

As the world continues to expand its abilities to connect with other people, so has our ability as therapists to connect with you in ways that are flexible, effective, and fun! Virtual visits are a great method of speech-language services that ensure your child’s ability to make progress on their communication goals, while simultaneously supporting your family navigating busy schedules and lives.

What can be accomplished virtually?

There are a variety of benefits that a virtual visit can provide, much like in-person visits:

Assessments: Standardized assessments to determine the diagnosis of potential speech-language delays, as well as implementation of a comprehensive treatment plan are entirely achievable by meeting virtually. Virtual assessment sessions usually include a combination of standardized testing, particularly if your child is of age to participate. Another effective measure is parent interview, hearing from you exactly what your concerns and observations are of your child in their home environment.
Treatment: Virtual speech therapy sessions can be designed to meet the communication-specific needs of your child. Whether it is articulation, expressive/receptive language, social/pragmatic skills, or related areas, tasks developed through various online games, interactive stories, and songs/videos help support the progress of your child. Not to mention, they are designed to be fun and engaging so that your child will want to continue to attend these virtual visits!
Parent Education and Collaboration: Parents are just as important to the process of speech-language development as the therapists that work with your child. Virtual visits allow for private, constructive conversations to give parents suggestions, resources, and in-the-moment opportunities to demonstrate language facilitation strategies with their children right in the comfort of their own home!

So what now?

If your child might need a little guidance in speech and language, receiving services virtually is an effective way to support the communication journey of your child. SmallTalk offers virtual sessions all-week long, including several therapists, like me, who have dedicated an entire day to virtual sessions to connect with more families around the San Diego community. Please consider giving it a try – I hope to see you online!

By Alex Maloney, SLP

From The San Diego Union-Tribune

At SmallTalk Pediatric Therapy, we are deeply committed to supporting children’s language and literacy development. That’s why we are proud to highlight an important Op-Ed published in the San Diego Union-Tribune, written by one of our Lead Speech Language Pathologists, Kelly Stuart. The article, titled “California is Failing Kids in Reading – There is a Better Way”, sheds light on the urgent need for change in how we approach reading instruction in California.

“Nationally, California ranks 33rd in fourth-grade reading proficiency. This is a tragedy — but it is solvable. One can look to Louisiana to see how it went from 50th in the nation in 2019 to 16th in fourth-grade reading scores in 2024 after implementing comprehensive literacy policies requiring evidence-based teacher training — and it spends far less per child on education than California.”

The California Reading Crisis

Far too many children are struggling with reading due to outdated and ineffective teaching methods. In the article, Kelly explains how research-backed, structured literacy programs can make a profound difference in helping children become confident and capable readers. She also emphasizes the importance of phonics-based instruction and early intervention.

Read the Article

The SmallTalk Way

At SmallTalk we see firsthand how literacy challenges impact a child’s confidence, academic success, and overall well-being. When children struggle to read, it affects every aspect of their education and daily life. The good news? There are proven methods that can help.

Oral language is very important for a child to be able to read and write, as language is the backbone for reading comprehension. At SmallTalk, our speech-language pathologists are trained in phonological awareness, which is one component of the five pillars of reading instruction.

Read the Full Article & Join the Conversation

Read the full Op-Ed in the San Diego Union-Tribune here.

Let’s work together to ensure every child has the opportunity to succeed in reading and beyond! We believe that raising awareness about effective literacy instruction is crucial, which is why we encourage parents, educators, and policymakers to take action.

Author: marketing

How Virtual Speech and Language Therapy Can Support Your Family

What can be accomplished virtually?

So what now?

Op-Ed: California is failing kids in reading.

The California Reading Crisis

The SmallTalk Way

Read the Full Article & Join the Conversation