Speech-Language Therapy for Children

What Is Pediatric Speech-Language Therapy?

Pediatric speech-language therapy helps children develop the communication skills needed for daily life. A pediatric speech therapist works with children of any age, from infancy through adolescence, targeting areas such as articulation, vocabulary development, sentence structure, comprehension, and the social use of language.

Therapy for children with autism or developmental differences is tailored to each child’s strengths and challenges. This may include visual supports, child-led activities, or integrating favorite interests into sessions. For example, children with receptive language delay may have difficulty understanding spoken language, while those with expressive language disorder may struggle to verbalize their thoughts, needs, or feelings.

At BY YOUR SIDE (BYS), our Speech-Language Pathologists (SLPs) take a tailored, play-based approach to support each child’s development. Our goal is to promote growth through compassionate, evidence-based care and support communication in ways that are functional and transferable to daily activities at home, in school, and in social situations.

Speech-language therapy at BYS focuses on meeting the language needs of our clients by expanding their repertoire of communication. These needs may be in the areas of speech production (articulation), understanding of language (receptive language), language output (expressive language), and social use of language (pragmatics).

Our Speech-Language Pathologists specialize in treating individuals with autism or other developmental delays. They utilize a variety of research-based methods and materials to create individualized therapy programs unique to the individual’s needs. These services are offered individually or in small groups. It is our goal to build a variety of communication options that can be generalized into the natural settings of life.

Common Communication Challenges in Autism

Children with autism spectrum disorder often face a wide range of communication challenges that may impact how they interact with the world. Some experience speech delay in toddlers, while others may use only a few words or none at all. Difficulty following directions, understanding gestures, or interpreting tone of voice can limit participation in everyday routines. In some cases, a child may repeat words or phrases (echolalia) without understanding their meaning.

Pragmatic language deficits – such as trouble maintaining a conversation, turn-taking, or adapting communication across settings – can make it difficult to form friendships or engage in group activities. For some, social skills do not come naturally and require direct support and modeling.

Parents should consider speech-language therapy if their child shows early red flags like limited eye contact, minimal gestures, or a lack of response to their name. These signs don’t confirm a diagnosis but indicate that communication development might benefit from further evaluation.

Our Individualized Therapy Approach

Speech therapy for autism is never one-size-fits-all. Each child’s therapy plan is crafted based on a comprehensive assessment and collaboration between families and our team of specialists. This includes input from Board Certified Behavior Analysts (BCBAs) and occupational therapists when appropriate.

Our services include both 1:1 therapy sessions and small group environments, depending on a child’s readiness and goals. Goals are continuously reviewed and adapted to match developmental progress. We use structured tasks as well as organic sessions to build communication skills in a way that feels natural and enjoyable.

Parental feedback is also a key aspect of our model, helping us adjust approaches and celebrate progress every step of the way. The result is a therapy experience that truly reflects each child’s unique journey.

Below is a list of some of the skills targeted and types of interventions offered at BYS (This list is not inclusive):

Speech production
Oral motor therapy
Play-based language therapy
Language concepts
Pre-academic skills
Interactive play skills
Social interactions

Functional communication skills
Phonemic awareness
Reading comprehension
Written expression
Social language expression
Social language comprehension

Speech and Language Therapy by Age Group

Our approach to speech-language therapy evolves as children grow. Developmental goals are shaped not just by age, but also by cognitive, emotional, and social readiness.

Early Intervention (Ages 2–5): Our focus at this stage includes joint attention, using gestures and early words to request and label, imitation skills, and foundational play routines. Many children benefit from language development therapy that supports both understanding and expression.
School-Age (Ages 6–12): We emphasize storytelling (narrative skills), sentence structure, phonemic awareness for reading, and peer conversations. Speech therapy techniques also support classroom participation, including asking questions, answering appropriately, and using language flexibly.
Adolescents (Ages 13+): As teens prepare for transitions, we help them develop self-advocacy, independence in communication, and the ability to navigate complex social interactions. Therapy might address using email, managing job interviews, or explaining needs in school or work environments.

No matter the age, we provide support that grows with the child and matches the communication demands of their current life stage.

Techniques & Tools We Use in Therapy

Our SLPs implement a diverse, evidence-based toolkit tailored to each child’s communication profile, developmental stage, and sensory needs. This customized approach helps maximize engagement, progress, and long-term skill retention.

Visual Supports: Visual tools like picture schedules, cue cards, and social stories are essential for children who benefit from structure and visual processing. These tools help children anticipate routines, understand transitions, and navigate new social scenarios. For example, a visual schedule can reduce anxiety around changing tasks, while a social story might guide a child with autism through peer interactions or doctor visits.
AAC Systems: Augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) tools are vital for children who are minimally verbal or nonverbal. We incorporate both low-tech solutions like PECS (Picture Exchange Communication System), core word boards, and choice cards, as well as high-tech speech-generating devices tailored to each child’s motor and cognitive abilities. These tools give children an immediate, functional way to express themselves and are critical components of speech therapy for a nonverbal child.
Core Vocabulary Strategies: Rather than teaching isolated or obscure words, we focus on high-utility vocabulary that can be used across multiple environments (e.g., “want,” “go,” “help,” “more”). Teaching these core words empowers children to communicate a range of intents – requests, protests, greetings – early and often, even with limited vocabulary.
Naturalistic Teaching: Speech-language therapy is most effective when it reflects real-world interaction. That’s why we embed structured learning within play and daily routines. Using toys, games, and sensory-rich materials, SLPs introduce and reinforce language targets in ways that feel organic to the child’s experience. This approach helps children generalize skills beyond therapy sessions.
Modeling and Expansion: Our therapists model target words and phrases during child-led activities, and then expand on the child’s utterances to promote more complex language use. For instance, if a child says “car,” the SLP might say, “Yes! The red car is going fast!” This gives children a meaningful and context-rich example of how to build on their own communication.
Structured Skill Building: In addition to play-based learning, we use clear, goal-oriented activities that target specific milestones – such as following multi-step directions, answering questions, or naming categories. These tasks help strengthen receptive and expressive language in a measurable, focused way.

Each tool and strategy is selected with intention – based on the child’s developmental level, sensory profile, and individual learning style. We continually assess and adapt our methods to support steady, functional communication growth that extends into home, school, and social settings.

Partnering with Families in Autism Speech Therapy

Parent and caregiver involvement is essential to the success of autism communication therapy. At BYS, we believe that families are not just part of the support system – they are active collaborators in each child’s growth. This partnership allows children to make meaningful progress both during and beyond therapy sessions.

From the very beginning, our speech-language pathologist team engages families through direct coaching and consistent communication. Caregivers are taught practical, easy-to-use strategies that can be implemented at home, such as giving structured choices to support language development, expanding on a child’s words to model more complex language, or encouraging turn-taking during play. These strategies help reinforce communication across daily routines – whether during mealtime, bath time, or playdates.

Home carryover is essential for meaningful progress – without reinforcement outside of therapy, new skills may remain limited to the clinic setting. However, when parents apply these strategies in the child’s natural environment, they strengthen neural connections and create meaningful opportunities for generalization. BYS therapists help families integrate these techniques seamlessly into everyday interactions so children can use their skills where it matters most.

We also prioritize parent input at every stage. Our team values your observations, questions, and insights. Regular check-ins and progress updates allow caregivers to voice concerns, celebrate milestones, and contribute to evolving therapy goals. Your knowledge of your child enriches every session.

Family education sessions are a built-in component of every child’s therapy plan. These sessions provide deeper context around communication challenges and teach families how to frame growth in speech and language skill sets over time. They also foster confidence and empowerment, giving caregivers the tools they need to advocate for their child across all settings.

We know that speech therapy doesn’t end when a session concludes – it lives on in the everyday moments shared between children and the people who care for them most.

Speech Therapy Within a Multidisciplinary Model

Speech therapy is part of a highly collaborative, multidisciplinary model designed to support the whole child. Our SLPs work closely with other specialists – including those in applied behavior analysis (ABA) therapy, occupational therapy, and feeding therapy – to create a coordinated, comprehensive plan of care.

This team-based approach allows for open communication and co-planning between providers. For example, a child working on behavior regulation in ABA may also be developing expressive language goals that are incorporated into both therapy plans. Similarly, an occupational therapist addressing sensory sensitivities can align strategies with a speech therapist’s communication disorder treatment.

The benefit of this integration is holistic progress: children are supported not just in isolated skill areas, but across their full range of needs – emotional regulation, social interaction, daily functioning, and communication. With each therapist reinforcing and building on the others’ work, therapy becomes more consistent, targeted, and impactful for the child and their family.

We are dedicated to helping every child find their voice, connect with others, and thrive through meaningful communication. If you’re ready to explore how our team can support your family, contact us to learn more or schedule a consultation.

“My son started speaking at age 7 ½ years after moving beyond a PECS book and Dynavox device. It is all thanks to BY YOUR SIDE.”

Jen Ivey