Seattle Speech Therapy
Early Language Development Support
At Swanson Speech Therapy, we specialize in early language development support to help children build strong communication skills from infancy through preschool age. Our expert team provides play-based, engaging therapy designed to enhance speech, language, and social communication in young learners.
- Serving Ballard & Surrounding Areas In-Person
- Virtual Sessions Available Throughout Washington
What is Early Language Development?
Early language development is the foundation of communication. It includes skills such as:
- Pre linguistic skills such as responding to the environment, responding to people, sharing and shifting attention, and playing with a variety of toys
- Comprehending words and sentences
- Understanding & following directions
- Expressing thoughts & needs
- Expanding knowledge of words and meanings
- Engaging and initiating in early conversations and play with others
If your child struggles in any of these areas, early speech intervention for late talkers is key to ensuring they develop strong communication skills.
Signs Your Child May Need Early Language Development Support
Is your child:
Not meeting speech milestones?
Having trouble being understood?
Struggling with social communication?
- Limited or No Words by 15 Months
- Difficulty Following Simple Instructions
- Frustration When Trying to Communicate
- Not Pointing, Gesturing, or Making Eye Contact
- Struggles with Imitation or Play-Based Communication
- Has a Small or Limited Vocabulary for Their Age
How We Support Early Language Development
Comprehensive Evaluations
Personalized assessments to determine your child’s strengths and areas for growth. Our evaluations include:
✔️ Parent consultation and goal-setting
✔️ Play-based observation of speech and language skills
✔️ Professional recommendations for therapy and at-home strategies
If your child struggles to understand or communicate clearly, learn more about our Receptive & Expressive Language Therapy services.
Flexible Therapy Options
Convenient therapy settings that enable you to choose the option that best fits your family’s needs:
✔️ In-clinic sessions for structured learning
✔️ In-home, daycare, or school visits for natural learning environments
✔️ Virtual therapy for families across Washington
Concerned your child may need extra support? Check out our targeted Speech Therapy for Late Talkers program.
Proven Therapy Strategies for Early Language Growth
Expert Pediatric Therapists
Specialized in early language development and intervention speech therapy for toddlers with delayed speech.
Fun & Play-Based Approach
Making learning enjoyable for young children.
Parent-Integrated Strategies
Supporting caregivers in reinforcing speech and language skills at home.
Testimonials
“Natalie and the team at Swanson Speech Therapy has been a godsend. Natalie and team are the greatest empaths that creates a positive and safe environment for the kids to learn and grow. Thank you so much!”
“Swanson Speech Therapy is fantastic! My son’s improvement was night and day. He went from being barely understandable at age 4, to speaking clearly and age appropriately by 5! The teachers are super supportive and make learning a fun environment.”
– Samantha Bowerman
“We had a fantastic experience with Swanson Speech Therapy for my daughter. The location was convenient and very comfortable and quiet. We could not have been more happy with the time we spent with Swanson Speech Therapy!”
– Amy Betz
Rates and billing
- Consultation: Free 15-minute phone consultation
- Evaluation: $339 per 60-90 minute evaluation
- Therapy: $163 per 40-minute session
- Travel Fee: $26.50 per visit
In-network with Premera Blue Cross. Out-of-network for other insurances: We provide a superbill for potential reimbursement, but you’ll be responsible for the full amount upfront.
What You Can Expect from Our Speech Therapy
Here’s how we make a difference:
Individualized Speech Therapy Plans
Every child’s journey is different. We create customized therapy plans that address your child’s specific needs, from articulation and phonological processing to pragmatic language and social communication.
Experienced & Caring Speech Therapists
Our speech therapists are not only highly skilled but also passionate about helping children succeed. We create a nurturing environment where your child feels safe and encouraged to grow.
Flexible Scheduling & Location
Understanding the demands of family life, we offer both in-office, virtual therapy, and in home visits to accommodate your schedule. Our goal is to provide timely support to help your child progress as quickly as possible.
Our Speech Therapy Goals
Improve Speech Clarity
Whether it's helping with articulation, reducing lisps, or supporting children with more complex speech sound disorders, our primary goal is to make your child's speech clearer and more understandable.
Support Social Communication
We work on pragmatic language skills, helping children navigate social interactions with greater ease and confidence.
Build Confidence
Through therapy, we aim to boost your child’s self-esteem, making communication a positive experience that they are eager to engage in.
Prepare for the Future
Whether it's getting ready for school or enhancing everyday communication, our therapy is designed to equip your child with the skills they need to succeed in their next steps.
Discover Virtual Speech Therapy Services
Explore our convenient and effective virtual speech therapy options, providing expert care from the comfort of your home. Start the journey to improve your child’s communication skills today!
Early Language Development FAQ's
What age should my child start speech therapy?
Early intervention is key. If your child is showing signs of speech and language delays, such as limited pointing and gesture use, difficulty imitating others, limited words by 15 months or difficulty following directions, an evaluation can help determine if therapy is needed.
What happens during a speech therapy session?
Sessions include engaging, play-based activities tailored to your child’s developmental level. We focus on a variety of speech and language skills including pre linguistic skills, how to communicate for a variety of reasons, building vocabulary, sentence structure, and communication confidence.
How long does speech therapy take to show results?
Every child is different but treatment plans are written and updated every 6 months. We recommend families expect to participate in therapy for at least that amount of time.
Do you offer virtual speech therapy?
Yes, we provide virtual speech therapy across Washington, offering the same high-quality, engaging sessions from the comfort of your home.
How do I get started?
- Click here to complete our inquiry form and/or email us to set up a 15-minute consultation call.
- After you have completed the inquiry form, we will reach back out to you with a therapist that best fits your needs and preferences
- Schedule an evaluation and complete intake forms
- Start your speech therapy journey!
Where does speech therapy take place?
We provide a variety of different treatment settings including our clinic space, virtual, your home, and or community settings such as your child’s school or daycare (in limited neighborhoods in Seattle)
Do you accept insurance?
We accept Premera insurance and are considered an in-network provider for Premera. For all other insurance companies, we are considered an out-of-network provider and families pay directly after each session. Many families that we work with are able to bill insurance themselves with the invoice we provide.
Learn more about your out of network speech therapy insurance options here.
What is expected of me as a parent?
We ask that you play an active role in your child’s speech and language therapy, although that may look different for different clients. Ways that parents have engaged in their child’s therapy in the past include: getting on the floor and playing with the SLP and their child, actively observing and trying strategies used in the session at home, helping their child to play speech “games” at home that have been discussed and played during therapy. If it works out best for your family to have therapy provided at a school or daycare setting, we will put a plan in place to have open communication about strategies used during each session.
Looking for Speech Therapy in Seattle?
Swanson Speech Therapy provides pediatric speech therapy in Seattle for toddlers, preschoolers, school-age children, and teens. Families visit our Ballard clinic for speech and language evaluations, articulation therapy, support for late talkers, stuttering therapy, autism-related communication support, AAC, and more.
