Our Services

If your child is struggling to communicate, consult a speech-language pathologist right away. Don’t just “wait and see.” Delaying therapy may contribute to increased delays in skill-building, behavior problems and an extended time needed to achieve age-appropriate communication. Starting early, while a child is most receptive, will have the most benefit on their development.

Speech is how we say sounds and words, and features several factors such as articulation of sounds (“wabbit” vs. “rabbit”), volume and pitch, fluency (the rhythm of our speech), and pausing or stuttering issues.

Language involves the words we use and how they work to share ideas and express ourselves. What a word means, how words combine into a sentence, and how to use words are components of language and expression may come verbally or by writing, signing, or making gestures. Language development includes putting words together to ask a question or retell a story.

Language and speech develop together, and our therapists are experts in determining your child’s strengths and weaknesses with each. Learn more about the difference in this blogpost or reach out to SmallTalk for more information.

At SmallTalk, we tailor individualized therapy to each child’s personality, strengths and needs.

Younger children learn best through play. You will likely see your child engage in play with a therapist on the floor or at a table. We use motivating toys and movement activities to model new words or sounds and encourage functional communication. We believe in giving children as many ways to communicate as possible. This means you may see us using signs with our hands, picture cards, or app-based communication devices. Therapists will help children find what mode of communication works best for them, and empower families to use these modes at home.

For older children, speech therapy typically involves more in-depth education, more structured practice using flash cards or worksheets, and a larger focus on independence and self advocacy, while still using motivating games and activities to practice skills, of course!

Many times this skill-building occurs naturally, but sometimes support is needed to make progress and gains. Pediatric occupational therapists help children engage in everyday tasks and routines they need for the “job” of being a child. Specific target areas include improving gross and fine motor skills, hand-eye coordination, feeding, self-care, regulating behaviors, improving attention, and play skills. We help children develop the skills they need to grow into high-functioning, independent adults.

It looks like an amazingly fun play date! Our occupational therapists blend therapy goals into play and gently guide your child out of their comfort zone and into trying something new, which helps them to gain new skills. Therapy could occur in our large gym with a climbing wall, swings, and slides, or a smaller sensory room, a therapy room with less stimuli, or even the kitchen! We use an integrative approach to therapy and manage our flexible room spaces to our client’s needs.

If your child struggles to transition to table foods and resists a variety of foods, your child will benefit from a feeding evaluation. Our therapists specialize in assessing and treating sensory-based feeding disorders and oral motor delays. We work on improving oral motor skills and sensory processing skills in a happy, positive way, to help children learn about and explore new foods. We collaborate with parents on ways to implement effective strategies into mealtimes at home.

Learning through play extends to feeding therapy! Whether it’s imitating silly faces in the mirror, balancing foods on our tongues, or conducting food science experiments, feeding therapy at SmallTalk makes developing the sensory and motor skills needed for a healthy diet fun and engaging. By combining purposeful play with a strong family collaborative approach, your therapist will tailor a plan that fits you and your family.

Social skills groups are where fun with friends happens! In our social skills groups your child will learn to “think socially” and be able to practice these skills with peers. Speech-Language Pathologists lead these groups in a variety of settings in order to teach friendship skills, empathy, problem solving and conversational skills. Your child will learn and grow in their social-emotional thinking all while in a safe environment to do so. There’s nothing we love more than watching friendships grow!

We train family members so that they can be empowered to affect positive change at home. We know that empowered parents equal joyful kids! We offer seating in all therapy rooms and encourage parents to come in, watch, learn, and try. Because families are unique, parent/guardian education can look different for each family. We communicate therapy successes, practice techniques, and provide a weekly home focus every session.

With a computer, tablet or other web-connected device, a child and therapist can efficiently work together toward therapy goals by interacting with each other on screen. Teletherapy also provides a valuable opportunity for therapists to develop home programs with your family – especially when incorporating strategies for self-care skills and/or sensory regulation (e.g. “sensory diets”). During these virtual “home visits”, our therapists can collaborate with you on custom, goal-oriented solutions right in your home.