Speech Therapy

Helping every child find their voice.

Communication looks different for every child. Some children with Autism Spectrum Disorder use spoken words; others communicate through gestures, pictures, signs, or a communication device. At ACT, our Speech-Language Pathologists (SLPs) meet each child where they are, building individualized plans so every child can express, understand, and connect more fully in daily life.

📞 Call (855) 528-8476 or Register Your Child — no waitlist, most insurance accepted, and Medicaid accepted in Illinois.

 

Why speech therapy matters

Children with autism may face challenges with speech clarity, language, social communication, or expressing wants and needs. Speech and language therapy is a well-established, evidence-based approach for building these skills, and it can make a real difference in how a child learns, connects, and moves through daily routines with less frustration.

 

What our programs focus on

Our SLPs work on speech clarity and pronunciation, receptive language (understanding directions, questions, and conversation), and expressive language (putting thoughts, needs, and feelings into words). We also support social communication — turn-taking, staying on topic, reading social cues — and nonverbal communication, including gestures and body language. For children who benefit from it, we introduce AAC (Augmentative and Alternative Communication): picture systems, communication boards, or electronic devices that support or replace spoken language. When clinically appropriate, we also address feeding and swallowing support.

 

How speech therapy works at ACT

Every child begins with a comprehensive evaluation covering speech clarity, language, social communication, play skills, and AAC needs. From there we build an individualized plan with realistic, measurable goals, delivered through one-on-one sessions that use play, conversation practice, and functional communication built around your child's interests. When appropriate, children also join small group sessions to practice turn-taking and peer interaction. Throughout, we provide family coaching, and when your child receives more than one ACT service, our SLPs coordinate directly with the ABA and OT teams so goals stay consistent across the board.

 

Signs your child may benefit from speech therapy

Watch for limited vocabulary for their age, difficulty following directions or answering questions, frustration when trying to communicate, limited eye contact or social engagement, speech that's hard to understand, or a need for AAC support. If you're unsure, an evaluation is the clearest way to find out.

📞 Start today: (855) 528-8476 or Register Your Child

 

Frequently Asked Questions

Is speech therapy only for children who don't talk? No — it helps non-speaking, minimally speaking, and speaking children who are working on language, pronunciation, or social communication.

What is AAC? Augmentative and Alternative Communication — tools like pictures, communication boards, or electronic devices that support a child's communication.

Can speech therapy help reduce frustration? Yes. When a child can communicate more effectively, frustration tied to being misunderstood often decreases.

Does speech therapy coordinate with ABA and OT? Yes — at ACT, our teams collaborate whenever a child receives multiple services, for a more consistent care plan.