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Services

One-on-one therapy and evaluation for children with delayed speech-language

Give your child the support they need to comprehend and communicate in more meaningful ways.

For Children Ages 0-6 Years Old

  • Developmental delay (12-15 months)

  • Late talkers (18-24 months) 

  • Language gaps (3-5 years old)

  • ASD or neurodiverse learners

At-Home Or In-School Sessions

We come to your home or to your child’s school in North Brooklyn & Woodstock, NY

How it works

1. Screening or evaluation

We begin with a screening to better understand your child’s needs, identifying their strengths and areas for improvement. If necessary, we’ll move on to a detailed evaluation.

2. Treatment plan development

Our treatment plans focus on your child’s unique developmental gaps, not their age. Goals are tailored, with continuous assessment and adjustment for progress.

3. Personalized therapy sessions

We meet your child weekly for 30-45 minute sessions. Each session is designed to meet your child’s specific needs, fostering their growth in a safe and supportive environment.

Continuous collaboration

We maintain an active partnership with both you and your child's educators, therapists, and caregivers. Our goal is to ensure everyone involved is equipped with the knowledge, strategies, and confidence needed to support your child's development every day. 

Watch your child grow in all areas of their development

Comprehension and expression

Understand questions and follow directions

Improve vocabulary

Articulate thoughts and feelings

Social skills

Initiate play with others

Make and respond to requests appropriately

Negotiate with peers

Executive function

Manage emotions

Expand attention

Stay on task longer

  • How do I know if my child needs speech-language therapy?
    Let's chat with a complimentary phone call or Zoom session. This initial conversation, lasting 15 to 20 minutes, gives us a chance to learn about your child's language skills, address your concerns, and guide you on what to do next. This might mean setting up an in-person meeting or planning an evaluation.
  • What if my pediatrician says to “wait and see”?
    If you're worried about your child's language development and your pediatrician recommends a "wait and see" approach, it's still beneficial to seek a consultation. Early intervention is key in language development, as skills build progressively. Speech-language therapists can give you clear answers as well as ways to help your child now — and have a significant positive impact on your child's long-term language abilities.
  • How often and for how long will my child attend sessions?
    How often and how long your child will need speech-language therapy varies based on their unique needs and challenges. After evaluating your child's language abilities, we typically recommend therapy sessions ranging from once to three times a week, with each session lasting up to 45 minutes. The overall duration of therapy is influenced by several factors, including the nature and severity of your child’s language challenges, additional support services they might be receiving (like other therapies or tutoring), and how consistently language strategies are reinforced at home. For instance, children on the autism spectrum might require ongoing support, whereas those with specific articulation delays could see improvement within a shorter time frame.
  • What’s the difference between a screening and an evaluation?
    A screening is an abbreviated assessment of your child's speech, language, and communication skills. Conducted in a relaxed setting, often through playful interaction, it involves talking with you and watching how your child communicates naturally. From this screening, we decide if further evaluation is needed or if your child's language development is on track. In cases of mild delays, we recommend therapy sessions and at-home strategies. However, if we spot anything concerning, we'll suggest a thorough evaluation, with the cost of the screening going towards this next step. An evaluation, on the other hand, dives deep into your child’s abilities to listen, speak, and interact. It starts with you providing a rich picture of your child's history and development. We use a mix of standardized tests, scales, and observations, along with input from caregivers, therapists, and teachers when possible. After the evaluation, you'll receive a detailed speech-language report within two weeks. This report breaks down everything from performance scores to language abilities, highlighting strengths, challenges, and specific recommendations for moving forward. It outlines clear treatment goals and offers advice on techniques and strategies to help your child improve.
  • What if we’ve already completed an evaluation?
    If you already have a recent evaluation (within the last 6 months) that details your child's strengths, challenges, and goals, we can certainly work with that. This allows us to jumpstart the process, building on the insights and recommendations already identified.
  • What is the cost? Do you accept insurance?
    Session rates vary from $175 to $300, depending on session length and travel distance. We do not accept insurance. If you have out-of-network coverage through your carrier, we supply the documentation you need for insurance submissions. Before you book with us, we recommend speaking with your insurance carrier to understand your coverage and any potential out-of-pocket expenses.

Frequently Asked Questions

Hear from parents like you

“Unlocked part of our son’s brain—and changed his life”

Arefa changed our son's life. At 2.5 our otherwise healthy/intelligent/happy child only said a handful of words and single consonant sounds and used made up signs to communicate. After a couple months of visits several times a week, he was putting multiple words together. It's like she unlocked that part of his brain. She opened the floodgates and months later he is speaking normally in full sentences. We had tried two other speech practices beforehand with no success and with one of them, a lot of frustration and fear. She came to our home for each visit, and our son would run to the door so excited when he heard her voice. To him it was an hour playdate with his toys and this fantastic, outgoing, warm friend. I cannot recommend her enough.

 

- Katie T

“Our son’s speech improved
by leaps and bounds”

When we first met Arefa we were very concerned about our son’s speech delay. Arefa put us at ease with her warm manner and expert knowledge. She worked with our son for a year during which we enjoyed close, clear communication and saw leaps and bounds in our son’s speech. Arefa also gave us wonderful insights into his behavior and went above and beyond in working with his teacher and OT. We still talk about Arefa at home and miss having her in our lives. While our son continues to have speech therapy now offered in his school, we miss the consistent communication and how much Arefa enjoyed celebrating and unpacking our wins and advances. She is so engaged and good at what she does that we strongly recommend her for any age child, for any speech therapy needs. Arefa is an absolute gem.

 

- Amy Lipkin

“Within no time, my daughter was saying words and communicating”

Arefa worked with my daughter starting at under 2 years old, as she was not speaking at all. First thing to know about Arefa is that she is wonderful at helping a child feel comfortable. My daughter did not separate from me at that time except for a select few trusted adults, Arefa being one. Regarding her therapy, Arefa learned quickly what games my daughter responded best to and adjusted on the fly to keep her attention. From there, Arefa’s actual techniques to teach my daughter her sounds were, in short, effective. Within no time, my daughter was saying sounds and communicating. That was the beginning of a wonderful experience for my daughter facing and overcoming a challenge because of the right support. I am indebted to Arefa and highly recommend her services.

 

- Shara Mendelson

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