Pediatric Language Therapy in St. Louis

Little Talkers Speech Therapy provides play-based language therapy for young children in St. Louis County and St. Charles County. We support late talkers and children who have difficulty understanding language, expressing their thoughts and needs, or communicating with others.

Language develops through meaningful interactions, play, and everyday routines. Our approach is individualized, child-led, and neurodiversity-affirming, with support for families and caregivers to help children build communication skills throughout their day.

Speech and Language Therapy for Late Talkers

Is your toddler saying fewer words than you expected? Maybe your child communicates by pointing, gesturing, or leading you by the hand, but isn’t using many spoken words yet. Or perhaps your child uses words but isn’t combining them to express their thoughts and needs. If you’re wondering whether your child’s language development is on track, you’re not alone.

A late talker is typically a toddler who uses fewer spoken words than expected for their age, with language development being an important part of understanding the full picture. Every child develops at their own pace, but differences in language development are worth paying attention to. You don’t have to wait and see if you have concerns.

At Little Talkers, we support young children as they build meaningful ways to communicate. Language therapy may focus on helping your child:

  • Develop new words and expand their vocabulary

  • Begin combining words to express more ideas

  • Understand words, directions, and everyday language

  • Communicate wants, needs, interests, and feelings

  • Use gestures, signs, spoken words, AAC, or a combination of communication methods

  • Participate in meaningful interactions during play and everyday routines

We use your child’s interests, play, and daily activities to create natural opportunities for communication. We also work alongside parents and caregivers to help you recognize and support your child’s communication throughout the day.

You know your child best, and your concerns matter. If you have questions about your child’s language development, an evaluation can help you better understand their strengths and needs and determine whether additional support may be beneficial.

Language Skills We Support

Expressive language

Using words, signs, AAC, and other communication methods to express wants, needs, ideas, and experiences; developing vocabulary and combining words.

Receptive language

Understanding words, directions, questions, concepts, and language used in everyday interactions.

Social communication

Supporting meaningful interactions, shared interests, communication repair, and participation in ways that respect each child’s individual communication style.

I treat the following language disorders: 

Late Talkers/Language Delay

Expressive Language Disorder 

Receptive Language Disorder 

Language-based Learning Disabilities

Social Communication Disorder/Pragmatics

Expressive language refers to the expression of verbal or written language and receptive language refers to the understanding of language. When a child has an expressive or receptive language delay or disorder, they may have difficulty with one or multiple of the five language domains (phonetics, phonology, morphology, syntax, semantics, and pragmatics).  Each domain will be thoroughly assessed during an evaluation to identify areas requiring treatment.

Social communication and pragmatics are the social rules or purposes within a conversation. Treatment will address conversational skills and reading facial expressions.

 

Schedule a free consultation!