Speech Therapy

What is Speech Therapy?

Speech Therapy in pediatrics is a specialized type of therapy that helps children develop effective communication and social interaction skills. Speech-Language Pathologists work with children from infancy through adolescence to address a range of speech, language, and oral-motor needs.

Speech therapist teaching child articulation.

HOW TO SPOT THE SIGNS

Early Signs Your Child Needs Speech Therapy Services

Birth -12 months

12–18 months

18–24 months

2–3 years

3–4 years

4–5 years

SMALL STEPS, BIG MILESTONES

Key Developmental Areas Strengthened Through Speech

Speech Sound Development (Articulation & Phonology)
Language Development (Understanding & Expression)
Social-Emotional Communication (Pragmatics)
Cognitive-Communication Skills
Play Skills
Fluency Skills (Stuttering)
Voice & Resonance Development
Literacy-Related Skills

Who is on your Care Team?

Speech-Language Pathologist (SLP)

A speech-language pathologist helps children learn how to communicate and understand language. They support skills like talking, listening, social communication, feeding, and swallowing. SLPs work with children to build confidence, improve speech clarity, and help them express their needs and ideas.

Speech therapist and child smiling together while celebrating the child’s graduation from speech therapy and the progress they’ve achieved.

Speech Therapy FAQ

Who can benefit from Speech Therapy?

Pediatric speech therapy benefits children who have difficulty communicating, understanding language, producing clear speech or using language socially. It supports children who are late talkers, have social communication challenges, fluency or voice disorders, articulation or language delays, or other developmental or medical conditions.

Speech therapy helps children build functional communication skills, improve confidence, support learning and better participate in daily routines at home, school or in their community.

How do I know if Speech Therapy is right for my child?

Caregivers may consider speech therapy if they notice their child is not meeting communication milestones, is difficult to understand, or becomes frustrated when trying to communicate. Other signs include limited vocabulary for age, trouble following directions, challenges with social interaction or conversation, difficulty combining words, or regression in speech and language skills.

If a child struggles to express wants and needs, has frequent communication breakdowns or caregivers feel something “just doesn’t seem right,” a speech-language evaluation can help determine whether therapy is appropriate and provide guidance on next steps.

How long is a typical Speech Therapy program?

The length of a speech therapy plan of care varies based on the child’s age, diagnosis, severity of needs, and how consistently skills are carried over into daily routines. Some children benefit from short-term therapy (a few months) to address mild delays or specific goals, while others may need longer-term support (6-12 months) for more complex language, speech or social communication needs.

Plans of care are typically reviewed every few months, with goals adjusted as the child makes progress.

Do parents participate in Speech Therapy?

Yes, caregiver participation is a key part of pediatric speech therapy. Caregivers are often involved during sessions through observation, coaching, and practice so they can support communication skills at home and in daily routines. Therapists provide strategies, modeling, and guidance to help caregivers reinforce progress outside of therapy, which leads to faster and more meaningful outcomes.

Collaboration with caregivers ensures therapy is practical, consistent, and aligned with the child’s everyday environments. Caregivers are often given home exercise programs to continue outside of therapy.

Is Speech Therapy covered by insurance?

Yes, speech therapy is often covered by insurance, but coverage depends on your specific insurance plan and your child’s needs. Many insurance plans will cover speech evaluations and therapy when services are considered medically necessary, though a doctor’s referral or prior authorization may be required.

Some plans limit the number of visits per year or require co-pays or deductibles, and coverage can vary by diagnosis. The best step a caregiver can take is to call their insurance provider to ask what speech therapy services are covered for their child.

What is the evaluation process?

A pediatric speech therapy evaluation typically includes a caregiver interview, play-based interaction with the child, and a combination of informal and standardized assessments to understand speech, language, and communication skills.

After the evaluation, results are shared in caregiver-friendly language, and recommendations are provided, including whether therapy is needed and what a plan of care might look like.

Where does Milestone offer Speech therapy?

I am interested in services, what are the next steps?

The next step is to schedule a speech therapy evaluation with a licensed speech language pathologist. Milestone Therapy’s support services team can help determine if a referral or insurance authorization is required.

After the evaluation, the therapist reviews findings, discusses recommendations and outlines a plan of care if therapy is recommended. Caregivers can then decide how to proceed with services.

Have more questions? Get in touch!