Every child develops communication skills at their own pace. Speech therapy may be helpful if your child is experiencing challenges in any of the following areas, but it’s important to remember that each child’s needs and strengths are unique: Difficulty making speech sounds or being understood – If your child has difficulties pronouncing words clearly or others often struggle to understand them. Struggling with understanding or following directions – If your child has difficulty grasping or remembering instructions, which affects their ability to participate in conversations or activities. Stuttering or trouble speaking smoothly – If your child exhibits signs of stuttering, such as repeating words or sounds, or struggles to speak fluently. Difficulty eating or swallowing certain foods – If your child has challenges with chewing, swallowing, or managing food, which can impact their overall health and nutrition. Limited vocabulary or difficulty forming sentences – If your child's vocabulary is limited, or they have trouble creating sentences or expressing thoughts clearly. Challenges with social communication – If your child has difficulty with social interaction, such as joint attention, initiating interactions, and engaging in back-and-forth conversations. If you notice any of these signs or if you're concerned about your child’s communication development, it’s a good idea to consult a speech-language pathologist. Speech therapy can be a positive way to support your child’s communication journey, embracing and building on their unique ways of expressing themselves.

Early intervention is crucial for the best outcomes! If you’re concerned about your child’s speech or language development, it’s a good idea to consult a speech therapist as early as possible. Therapy can begin in infancy if there are feeding or swallowing concerns. For speech or language delays, early therapy is often recommended around age 2 or 3, but it can be helpful at any age if there are noticeable struggles with communication. The earlier the support, the more effective it can be in helping your child reach their full potential.

It’s common for parents to wonder if their child will eventually outgrow a speech or language delay. While some children may catch up on their own, it’s not always predictable. Every child develops at their own pace, and speech or language delays can have various causes. Even if you feel your child might outgrow the delay, it’s always best to consult a speech-language pathologist for an evaluation. They can assess your child’s development and provide guidance on whether intervention is needed to help them reach their communication potential. Early support can make a big difference in the long run.

Yes! We use a variety of strategies, including: Expanding expressive language through play and daily routines Using AAC (e.g., speech-generating devices or communication boards) Supporting gestalt language processors in moving from scripts to original language

Accent differences are not disorders, but if a child has difficulty being understood, speech therapy can help with clarity. We also support bilingual children with strategies that respect and build on their language skills.

We provide strategies tailored to your child's needs, such as: Expanding on their language during daily routines Using books and storytelling to build vocabulary Encouraging play-based learning for social and communication skills Practicing specific speech sounds in fun, engaging ways

Yes! We help children with: Phonological awareness (hearing and manipulating units sounds in words) Phonemic awareness (hearing and manipulating the smallest unit of sound - phonemes) Vocabulary Sentence structure and grammar for writing Reading comprehension

No, speech and language services are not covered by the Medical Services Plan (MSP). Please see the Funding section of our website for more information about funding options.

Yes, but on a case-by-case basis. Our primary focus is pediatric speech and language therapy, but we may provide services for adults depending on their specific needs and our availability. If you are looking for support with speech clarity, stuttering, voice therapy, accent modification, or communication challenges due to a neurological condition, please reach out to discuss whether we’re the right fit for you. If needed, we can also recommend other specialists.

You can contact us through our website or email us at info@allthingsspeech.ca. Before your child’s first session, we require a completed intake form, completed consent form, and payment setup. If your child has previous assessments or reports, sharing them with us can help guide therapy.

Each session is tailored to the child's needs and may include: Play-based activities for younger children Speech sound practice for articulation challenges Language-building exercises for understanding and expressing ideas Social communication support for conversational improvement Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) for nonspeaking children

The length of therapy depends on factors such as the child’s age, readiness for therapy, nature of communication challenges, and consistency of practice at home/educational settings. Some children see improvement after a few sessions, while others may need ongoing support​.

Parents are encouraged to stay for the duration of the session. As we're only working with each child for a short amount of time each week or so, it's important for parents or family members to be present in the session so they can carry out homework and apply strategies at home. If you feel that your child would engage more on their own, we can figure out a plan together.

A Speech-Language Pathologist (SLP) has a master’s degree and is licensed to diagnose, assess, and treat communication disorders. A Speech-Language Pathology Assistant (SLPA) has a relevant degree and works under the supervision of an SLP to provide therapy based on a treatment plan. At our clinic, the first session is always carried out by an SLP in order to set therapy goals in collaboration with the family. SLPAs conduct most therapy sessions, while the SLP oversees progress, adjusts goals as needed, and conducts review sessions every 3–6 months, or as needed.

Our therapy model primarily uses SLPAs for therapy sessions, with regular check-ins by the supervising SLP. This approach ensures that therapy is consistent and effective while making services more accessible. You can, however, request for a Registered SLP but there is a minimum wait of approximately 4-6 months.

An Inclusive Communication Assistant (ICA) is a therapy assistant who provides 1:1 support to neurodivergent preschoolers and young children in daycare or community settings. Under the guidance of Speech-Language Pathologists (SLPs), they implement individualized, communication-focused strategies to foster speech, language, and social inclusion. Their role emphasizes creating supportive, inclusive environments that help children succeed in everyday interactions — reducing barriers that could lead to exclusion from group settings. Why We Created This Role We saw a growing need for specialized communication support in early childhood settings. Some of our clients were at risk of being excluded from, or had already been excluded from, their childcare programs due to communication-related challenges, while others struggled to interact with peers in community spaces. Many families felt their only option for additional support was behavioural intervention in childcare settings, even when their child's primary need was communication. Additionally, some families were forced to reduce the frequency of therapy sessions in order to afford 1:1 support within these settings, further limiting their child's progress. ICAs were introduced to fill this gap by providing hands-on communication support where children need it most. For families using funding, this option has also made it more feasible to supplement individual therapy with ongoing support in natural environments, ensuring better carryover of skills. ICAs work in collaboration with SLPs and SLPAs, reinforcing strategies introduced in direct therapy sessions.

Yes! We will be running our next set of groups right after Spring Break, so get in touch if you're interested! Follow us on social media to stay updated!

We are excited to be able to offer Hanen's More Than Words Program in the near future! Please get in touch if interested. We hope to post more information on our website and on social media soon. We are also planning to host additional workshops with a range of topics related to communication development. Follow us on social media for the latest updates.