INTRODUCTION
What is Pediatric Speech Therapy?
Speech-language pathologists (SLPs) are trained professionals who support development across many essential areas, including language, articulation, fluency, social communication, AAC, and cognitive skills like problem-solving and planning.
Pediatric speech therapy offers specialized, individual support to help kids and teens achieve their communication goals At Blume, our SLPs work with clients to effectively express their wants, needs, ideas, and questions; participate meaningfully in daily activities; build confidence as communicators; and feel understood by others.
We lead with a collaborative, neurodiversity-affirming approach. We recognize that neurodivergent individuals have diverse and meaningful ways of expressing themselves, and we honor all forms of communication.
AREAS OF FOCUS
How Speech Therapy Can Help
Our SLPs support your child across a wide range of communication and language goals, designed in collaboration with your child and your family.
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Expressive Language
Supporting your child in sharing their thoughts, ideas, wants, and needs through communication methods that feel most accessible to them.
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Receptive Language
Helping your child process, understand, and make sense of language, including vocabulary, concepts, and stories.
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Articulation
Increasing the formation of clear, distinct sounds and improving overall speech intelligibility and communication clarity.
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Fluency
Supporting confident speech flow and providing strategies for managing stuttering, cluttering, and other disruptions in speech rhythm.
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Authentic Connection & Self-Advocacy
Supporting identity exploration, emotional identification, building meaningful friendships, and communicating their boundaries with confidence.
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Augmentative and Alternative Communication
Introducing and supporting augmentative and alternative communication (AAC), including low-tech and high-tech options, to support your child’s ability to communicate effectively and confidently.
A CLOSER LOOK
What our SLPs Work On
Here's a deeper look at what each area of focus involves in practice.
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Expressive Language
Our SLPs support your child in developing the building blocks of expressive communication, including:
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Labeling vocabulary and using grammar and sentence structure accurately
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Expanding phrase and sentence length
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Describing, comparing, and contrasting
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Answering questions and retelling stories
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Using a variety of communicative intents, including requesting, commenting, and protesting
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Transferring thoughts into written language
OUR APPROACH
Affirming Speech Therapy
At Blume, our approach to Speech Therapy is strengths-based and child-led.
What that looks like in practice:
We honor all forms of communication.
We actively support and value all methods of communication, including verbal speech, sign language, gesturing, gestalts/scripts, AAC, writing, etc.
We validate all communication attempts.
Comprehensive communication includes self-advocacy and the ability to express “no.” We respect your child’s boundaries and choices, including refusals and silence.
We encourage authentic social communication.
We support your child in building genuine friendships where they can show up as their authentic selves. We provide the space and guidance to explore their identities to understand their thoughts, ideas, and needs.
We model without expectation.
We communicate and use communication tools alongside your child to demonstrate what’s possible.
SPOTLIGHT
Supporting All Communicators with AAC
For kids and teens who are nonspeaking or minimally speaking, our SLPs may introduce and support the use of augmentative and alternative communication (AAC).
AAC is a powerful, valid communication modality that opens doors for self-expression, relationship-building, and meaningful participation in the community.
Our SLPs support AAC by:
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Identifying the right tools for your child's individual needs and communication profile
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Educating clients and families on how to use AAC effectively across environments
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Supporting language development through AAC use in daily life
If you have questions about whether AAC might be right for your child, we'd love to talk.
