Speech-Language · ST

Communication is bigger than talking.

For kids with developmental delays and medical complexity, the earliest signs show up long before first words — in feeding, in play, in the back-and-forth of pre-verbal interaction. ST helps your child connect with their family and their world, one skill at a time.

Start the conversation →

Adult pointing at an illustrated board book with a toddler, warm home setting

What this looks like at TP.

Common reasons families reach out for pediatric ST. If any of these sound like your child, ST might be a fit.

Feeding is hard.

Your baby or toddler struggles with breast- or bottle-feeding, resists textures, gags on food, or has trouble transitioning to solids.

Words are slow to come.

First words are late, vocabulary isn't growing, or your child isn't combining words the way you'd expect for their age.

Understanding feels off.

Your child doesn't consistently respond to their name, follow simple directions, or track what's being said around them.

Connection looks different.

Back-and-forth interaction, pretend play, or social engagement aren't unfolding the way you expected — the early building blocks of communication feel missing.

Who we help.

TP's ST team works with children from birth through the teen years, with the heaviest concentration in babies and young children — including children with feeding challenges and pre-verbal developmental needs.

Age range

Birth → teens

Heaviest focus 1–5. For children under 3, ST may be delivered through the Early Steps program.

Common referrals

Developmental & medically complex

Speech and language delay, feeding and swallowing, autism, Down syndrome, apraxia of speech, cleft palate, prematurity, genetic conditions, hearing loss.

Where sessions happen

Home, daycare, school

Language develops in conversation and routines. We work where your child eats, plays, and engages with the people around them.

How we approach it.

The clinical philosophy that runs through every TP ST session.

Natural environment

Language is learned in conversation, not in a clinic chair. We work at mealtimes, in play, and in the routines where communication actually happens.

Family-centered

Parents are the primary language model. We coach you on strategies that work between sessions — because 90% of your child's communication happens without us there.

Play is the medium

Children build communication through shared play. Our sessions look playful because that's what engages a child — and engagement is what creates the back-and-forth.

How do I know if my child actually needs ST?

You don't have to be sure before reaching out. A lot of families start with "shouldn't they be talking more by now?" or "feeding feels hard" — not a diagnosis. We'll talk through what you're noticing and help figure out whether an ST evaluation makes sense.

What does an ST evaluation look like?

The evaluation happens in your home, not a clinic. The SLP spends time with you and your child — observing, playing, running structured assessments, and asking about development, feeding, and routines. It usually takes one or two sessions. You'll leave with a clear picture of where your child is and what sessions would look like.

How long does ST last?

It depends on the goals. Some children need a few months of focused work around a specific challenge. Others — especially children with ongoing developmental needs — benefit from long-term ST that evolves as they grow. We re-evaluate regularly and adjust the plan.

Is ST covered by insurance?

Most major Florida payers cover pediatric ST. For children under 3 enrolled in Early Steps, we bill your approved insurance first; if your plan isn't approved for billing, Early Steps covers services directly. Private pay and superbill options are also available. We'll walk through specifics based on your coverage before we start.

Do I need a referral from a pediatrician?

For some insurance plans, yes. For Early Steps, your child is referred into the program and services follow. If you're not sure, call us — we'll help figure out what paperwork is actually needed for your specific situation.

What's different about TP's ST compared to a clinic?

The setting, mostly. Language grows in context — mealtime, playtime, bath time, bedtime routines. Clinic ST pulls those contexts out; home ST lives inside them. Communication skills built where they'll be used actually stick.