Services | talk-to-me

Services Provided

Preschool Speech & Language Screening

Get a quick, professional snapshot of your child’s communication skills. Our screening is designed to identify early signs of speech and language challenges—so you can take the next step with confidence.

In just 10–20 minutes, we assess key areas such as:

Speech sound development
Understanding and answering questions
Following directions
Voice quality

This screening helps answer an important question: Should we take a closer look?

Ideal for children ages 3–6, this brief screening is a simple, proactive way to support your child’s communication growth. (Older children typically require more in-depth evaluation due to the complexity of their language skills).

Speech and Language Evaluation

A comprehensive evaluation provides an in-depth look at your child’s communication skills, tailored to your specific concerns.

We assess areas such as speech sounds, understanding and using language, vocabulary, processing, and oral motor skills—helping you clearly see your child’s strengths and areas for growth compared to peers.

Evaluations typically take 1–2 hours and are available for children of all ages, with a primary focus on those age 2 and older.

Hearing Screening

A hearing screening is a test of your child's ability to hear different tones. The results are given as "pass" or "fail". A "fail" does not necessarily mean that your child has a hearing loss, but that further evaluation is needed by an audiologist or their physician.

Speech and Language Therapy

A therapy session typically last 30 minutes for young children and occurs once or twice weekly. The goals are chosen based on the child's needs. Activities to target these goals are fun and engaging. The child will also be given tasks to practice at home, this is crucial for their progress. Therapy is usually one-on-one or small groups of 2-3 children with similar goals. Caregivers are encouraged to observe and/or participate in the therapy session, if they wish.

Feeding and Swallowing Therapy

We can provide a full evaluation and therapeutic interventions for pediatric feeding disorders. We provide therapy in transitioning to solids and/or a variety of textures, including liquids. We look at different feeding tools and bottles/cups that can help your child be successful. When it is a sensory-based feeding disorder, we investigate taste, temperature, texture, and type of foods to help your child overcome limitations. If a child has a feeding tube, we can work as part of the child’s interdisciplinary team to transition to oral feeding. We can help provide treatments and strategies for safe oral feeding if your child has been diagnosed with any stage of dysphagia.

Testimonials:

“Teresa Ahrens provided speech therapy for 2 of my children over the course of several years.

Over the course of those years, my children's speech improved greatly and we definitely noticed a positive change in the way they talked.

Teresa was very good at providing weekly updates after every session. She would provide homework for the children to do and to practice between sessions. She made speech therapy fun and I know that both of my children looked forward to their time with her. She quite often did games or scavenger hunts and the kids didn't even know they were working on their speech. Teresa would also go into the classroom and listen to the kids as they did public speaking or reading aloud. This gave her a good sense of how the kids were progressing.

At the end of each school year, Teresa would provide us with a report on how our children had progressed and if she felt that further therapy was necessary. I feel that she was very thorough and professional and I am very thankful for her services at our school.

I would highly recommend Teresa as a speech and language therapist.”

Emily Z.

“I am pleased to write this letter of recommendation for Teresa Ahrens as an exceptional speech and language therapist. Teresa has been working with my 5 year old son for 6 months and has helped him make outstanding progress in speaking more clearly. She creates exercises that are fun and age-appropriate, this allows my son to enjoy going to his speech therapy lesson. Teresa invites the parents into her sessions so I am better able to help my son with practicing his speech in between lessons. She also does a great job of following up the session with a communication email to inform the parents what she focused on in the past session and ideas to help practice before the next session. Teresa is great with kids and comes into the lessons very prepared and professional.

I highly recommend Teresa Ahrens as a very successful speech and language therapist. Teresa has been a pleasure to work with. I am very thankful for the progress she has helped facilitate in my son’s speech. She has made an outstanding difference in my son’s speech in a fun and enjoyable experience.

Amy S.