Speech Therapy

Pediatric speech therapy focuses on helping children become effective communicators — whether through spoken words, gestures, devices, or safe and functional feeding skills. We support children in developing language, speech sounds, social interaction, and oral motor coordination. Therapy may also address challenges with feeding, swallowing, and picky eating using evidence-based strategies tailored to each child’s developmental stage and needs.

A woman and a young boy sitting on the floor and using a touchscreen device together, surrounded by various tools and electronic components.

Signs Your Child
Could Benefit

Children develop communication skills at different rates, but if your child is having difficulty expressing themselves, understanding language, or eating safely, speech therapy could help. Early intervention can make a big difference in building skills and confidence.

🔹 Limited vocabulary or difficulty combining words
🔹 Trouble following directions or understanding questions
🔹 Difficulty being understood by others
🔹 Stuttering or interrupted speech flow
🔹 Challenges with chewing, swallowing, or feeding
🔹 Avoidance of certain food textures or extreme pickiness
🔹 Limited use of gestures, eye contact, or social interaction
🔹 Delays in using words, sentences, or sounds
🔹 Nonverbal communication or need for alternative communication methods

A young girl with curly hair, white bow, and pink glasses is using a tablet at a table, with an adult woman leaning over her, observing her.

What To Expect

Speech therapy sessions at SPT are tailored to your child’s needs and interests. Each visit may involve play-based activities, movement, visual supports, and structured practice — all designed to build communication skills in a natural and meaningful way. For feeding therapy, we work closely with you and your child to ensure safety and progress, whether we’re targeting oral-motor strength, picky eating, or swallowing function. Therapy might look like games, songs, food exploration, or using assistive technology — and always includes collaboration with families.

A young girl and a woman look at a computer screen together, appearing interested and engaged. The girl has light brown hair, and the woman has dark brown hair. They are sitting at a bright green table with some pens and sticky notes on it.

How We Help

Our speech therapy team brings together evidence-based practices and creativity to meet children where they are and help them move forward with confidence. We don’t just focus on what your child says — we look at how they connect, how they’re understood, and how they feel during those interactions. For feeding and swallowing concerns, we offer specialized tools and procedures (like FEES) to make sure care is effective and personalized.

Some of our speech services include:

Childhood Apraxia of Speech – Helping with motor planning for speech production

Fluency & Stuttering – Reducing speech disruptions and increasing confidence

Social Communication – Building conversational and interaction skills

AAC (Augmentative & Alternative Communication) – Devices, visuals, and signs for nonverbal communication

Oral Motor & Feeding Therapy – Strengthening muscles for safe and effective eating

Dysphagia Therapy – Addressing difficulties with swallowing safety and function

Oral Motor & Chewing Development – Improving mechanics of eating

Picky Eating & Food Aversions – Expanding food choices through sensory-informed strategies

FEES (Fiberoptic Endoscopic Evaluation of Swallowing) – In-office assessment of swallowing using a small camera for a closer look inside

Learn More

Request an Appointment

Do you have specific concerns or think your child could benefit from therapy? Fill out the form in the link below to get started with us.

Request an Appointment

  • “Southern Pediatric Therapy is amazing! From billing to therapist and everyone in between, it has been a pleasure to work with them all. My son's speech therapist is the first one to even look and say he has a tongue tie. She told us that he would need it clipped. He is 12 and has been in speech since before he was 3 years old. He got his tongue clipped and is now really starting to move forward in his speech. Now he also has confidence when meeting new people.”

    Ashley W

  • “From the first day we have loved Southern Pediatric Therapy and knew it was a great choice! Our daughter has improved so much in the past year! Emily is so sweet and our daughter looks forward to seeing her every visit. Highly recommend!”

    Kelly T

  • “I can’t recommend Southern Pediatric Therapy enough. My little boy just turned 2, and what Abbey Sandidge has been able to get him to do in just a short amount of time is absolutely phenomenal. He was barely talking when we started, and now he’s putting 3 words together. My little boy asks to go and see Abbey, and when we get there, he goes right on in to see her, with no tears! Southern Pediatric Therapy has been a Godsend for my little boy (and his mommy and daddy too)! They get 5 stars, hands down!”

    Ashley F

  • “I would recommend Southern Pediatric Therapy. Emily Williams is very professional and a fantastic speech therapist.”

    Jason W

  • “Southern Pediatric Therapy is a wonderful resource for babies and kids. Emily Williams is the best, best Speech Language therapist!! I'm a Neonatal Nurse Practitioner so many of my babies need follow up with SLP at discharge...none better that Emily Williams.”

    Bobby B

  • “I would highly recommend this therapy team to anyone. As a fellow therapist, I’ve seen Emily bring the passion needed to help each and every patient.”

    Brandon W