Speech Therapy in Manhattan & Brooklyn
If your child is hard to understand, struggles to find the right words, or gets frustrated trying to communicate, we're here to provide support! We don't want caregivers to have to to figure it out by themselves. Saltwater Speech provides individualized, evidence-based speech therapy for children.
What Is Speech Therapy?
Speech therapy is a broad term! "Speech" alone covers more than many parents might expect. Sessions with Saltwater Speech can target:
Speech sound production (articulation and phonology): Trouble being understood by unfamiliar listeners
Expressive and receptive language: Building vocabulary, sentence structure, and comprehension
Executive function: Attention, planning, task initiation, and flexible thinking, which show up constantly in how kids communicate and learn
Social/pragmatic language: Using language appropriately in conversation, reading social cues, and navigating peer interactions
Signs Your Child May Benefit From a Speech or Language Evaluation:
Family members or teachers frequently ask your child to repeat themselves
Your child is behind same-age peers in vocabulary or sentence length
Your child has difficulty following multi-step directions or staying organized with tasks
Your child has frustration or avoidance around talking, reading aloud, or group activities
You’ve had a recommendation from a pediatrician, teacher, or another provider
Why Choose Saltwater Speech?
Nicole brings over a decade of clinical experience to every session, including time at UCLA's Center for Autism Research and Treatment where she worked alongside leading researchers in child communication. This valuable, unique background shapes how Nicole practices. Client’s goals are specific and measurable, methods are evidence-based, and sessions are intentional. We treat the whole child, not just the surface-level symptoms!
A lot of speech and language difficulty is driven by skills under the surface, such as attention, regulation, motor planning, which standard therapy may overlook. We build those into the plan from day one, striving to produce progress that holds up outside the therapy room. Every session ends with a detailed conversation so that you'll hear exactly what was worked on, how your child responded, and what to work on before the next therapy session.
Frequently Asked Questions
What ages do you work with?
Saltwater Speech works with children across the pediatric age range, from toddlers through school-age kids to children in their late teens.
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Our UCLA-trained background and focus on the underlying skills behind speech and language mean therapy is built around your child specifically, with detailed feedback after every session so progress is visible and actionable. Our therapy methods are not widely used in NYC.
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What makes your approach different?
What if I think my child needs speech therapy?
If you're noticing any of the signs above, or a teacher or pediatrician has raised a concern, the best next step is a conversation. Reach out for a consultation and Nicole can help you figure out whether an evaluation makes sense.
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Where are sessions held?
Sessions are currently held in-home and in-clinic on the Upper East Side, as well as across Brownstone Brooklyn: Boerum Hill, Brooklyn Heights, Carroll Gardens, Cobble Hill, DUMBO, Fort Greene, and Park Slope.
Get in touch to discuss speech therapy for your child or to set up an evaluation.