A female speech therapist in a white coat working with a young girl at a desk, helping her with reading or writing exercises from an open book.

Pediatric Speech Therapy

When your child needs support communicating or feeding, OSF HealthCare Children’s Hospital of Illinois provides specialized care tailored to their stage of development. From toddlers to teens, our pediatric speech pathologists help your child build the skills they need to communicate, eat and interact with confidence.

What is pediatric speech therapy?

Pediatric speech therapy, also known as pediatric speech and language therapy or pediatric speech pathology, helps your child improve communication, language, social interaction and oral-motor skills. A speech therapist for kids evaluates how your child understands language, makes sounds, forms words, communicates their needs and safely swallows or feeds.

A female speech therapist sits across from a young boy at a small table, touching her face to demonstrate mouth positioning while the boy watches her reflection in a mirror.

What to Expect at Your Appointment

Your first visit will be a one-on-one appointment with a pediatric speech therapist. A parent or guardian must attend the first appointment to provide pertinent history and collaborate on the treatment plan and goals. You and your child will meet in a comfortable, kid-friendly space where the therapist will:

  • Ask questions about your child’s medical history, behavior and communication or feeding concerns.
  • Complete age-appropriate assessments to understand your child’s current abilities.
  • Discuss your family’s goals and how they align with the therapist’s evaluation.
  • Create a collaborative plan of care tailored to your child’s needs.

The therapy team works closely with your child’s referring provider, pediatrician and specialty teams – including neurodevelopmental, pulmonary, gastrointestinal and congenital heart programs – to make sure your child receives coordinated care.

A young girl in a plaid shirt sits at a desk, looking at flashcards while a speech therapist in a white coat guides her on pronunciation.

Meet Your Care Team

Your child is supported by a multidisciplinary team that includes pediatric speech pathologists, physical therapists, occupational therapists and other pediatric rehabilitation specialists. These experts communicate regularly, ensuring your child receives consistent, coordinated therapy, especially if they need multiple services.

Your family may also benefit from our equipment loan program, funded through grants, which allows you to try adaptive communication devices with no cost.

See Our Providers

Conditions Treated with Speech Therapy for Kids

Your child’s hospital speech therapy team evaluates and treats a wide range of communication and feeding challenges, including:

Pediatric Speech Therapy Services We Provide

We offer a wide range of pediatric speech therapy services to support your child’s development, including:

  • Articulation and speech sound training
  • Augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) evaluations with access to loaner devices
  • Cognitive-communication therapy
  • Feeding and swallowing evaluations
  • Oral-motor therapy
  • Pediatric language therapy to improve understanding and expression
  • Social communication therapy
  • Speech therapy for toddlers, children and teens

Preparing for Your Child’s Speech Therapy Appointment

To schedule an evaluation, your child will need a referral from their provider. At your first visit, please bring:

  • Insurance card and photo ID
  • Any adaptive equipment your child uses
  • Relevant medical documents
  • A copy of your child’s IEP if they receive school-based therapy

If your child has a feeding therapy appointment, also bring a few preferred foods, bottles or cups they use and any formula or thickening products.

Please arrive about 15 minutes early to complete registration. A parent or guardian must attend the initial appointment.

Loading component...

Loading component...

Featured Providers

  • Savannah Andrews
  • Carly Cheatham
  • Louise Otte
  • Abigail Vandenbergh
  • Daphne Voorhis

Loading component...

Loading component...