Watching your child struggle to communicate is heartbreaking. Maybe your three-year-old isn’t talking yet while other kids their age are chatting away. Perhaps your kindergartener gets frustrated because classmates can’t understand them. Or your child might avoid speaking altogether because they’re embarrassed by how they sound.
At Dolce Therapies, we specialize in helping children throughout Los Angeles find their voice and communicate with confidence. Our founder, Marie A. Dolce, M.A., CCC-SLP, has dedicated her practice to pediatric speech and language development. We understand that every child develops differently, and we create personalized therapy that meets them exactly where they are.
Why Choose Dolce Therapies for Pediatric Speech Therapy
Specialized Pediatric Expertise
Marie holds her Certificate of Clinical Competence from ASHA and focuses specifically on childhood communication disorders. She’s worked with children from infancy through the teenage years, addressing everything from late talkers to complex childhood apraxia. Pediatric speech therapy requires specialized training in child development, and we bring that expertise to every session. Children aren’t just small adults, and their therapy shouldn’t treat them that way.
Play-Based, Child-Centered Approach
We don’t make kids sit at a table doing boring drills. Our therapy happens through play, which is how children naturally learn best. Whether we’re building towers, playing with toy animals, or creating silly stories, we’re targeting specific speech and language goals in ways that feel fun and engaging to your child. They look forward to sessions instead of dreading them.
Family Involvement and Support
Parents are the most important part of a child’s therapy. You spend far more time with your child than we do, which means your involvement makes a massive difference in progress. We teach you strategies to use at home, answer all your questions, and provide support throughout your child’s journey. Early intervention works best when families are actively involved.
Evidence-Based Treatment for Children
Our methods are grounded in research about what actually works for children with speech and language disorders. We stay current with the latest studies and best practices in pediatric therapy. For conditions like childhood apraxia, we use evidence-based motor speech approaches. For language delays, we incorporate naturalistic intervention strategies that research shows are most effective.
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“I can’t say enough good things about my family’s experience working with Marie. She is patient, kind, and phenomenal at her job. Her attention to detail and expertise is unmatched. She worked wonders for our son and I recommend her any chance I get.” – Christie M.
Understanding Children’s Speech and Language Development in Los Angeles
Los Angeles families come from incredibly diverse backgrounds, with over 200 languages spoken throughout the county. That diversity affects how we assess and treat children’s speech and language development. What’s typical varies across cultures and languages, and good therapy respects those differences.
The Los Angeles Unified School District serves over 600,000 students, making it the second-largest district in the nation. While schools provide speech services, caseloads are often enormous. Speech therapists might see 60-80 children, which means limited individual attention. Private pediatric speech therapy offers something different: intensive, personalized care focused solely on your child’s specific needs.
Where LA Families Find Pediatric Support:
- Children’s Hospital Los Angeles – Leading pediatric medical facility with comprehensive speech services
- UCLA Mattel Children’s Hospital – Academic medical center with specialized programs
- LAUSD Special Education Services – School-based speech and language programs
- Regional Centers – Serve children with developmental disabilities throughout LA County
- California Early Start Program – Critical services for infants and toddlers birth to three
California’s Early Start Program provides free or low-cost early intervention services for babies and toddlers showing developmental delays. If you’re concerned about your baby’s development, don’t wait. The earlier intervention begins, the better the outcomes.
Pediatric Speech Therapy Services We Provide
Articulation and Speech Sound Disorders
Your child leaves out sounds, substitutes them, or can’t produce certain sounds correctly. Other kids might tease them about how they talk, or adults constantly ask them to repeat themselves. We work on teaching correct sound production through fun, engaging activities. Kids practice sounds in games, songs, and play rather than boring drill sheets. Clear speech helps children succeed socially and academically.
Language Delays and Disorders
Language is more complex than just talking. It includes understanding what others say (receptive language) and expressing thoughts and ideas (expressive language). Some children struggle with vocabulary, putting sentences together, following directions, or understanding questions. We address all aspects of language development through activities that feel like play but target specific language goals. Strong language skills are the foundation for reading success and social relationships.
Childhood Apraxia of Speech
CAS is a motor speech disorder where children have difficulty planning and coordinating the precise movements needed for speech. It’s not a muscle weakness problem. Their brain struggles to tell their mouth how to move to produce sounds and words. This condition requires intensive, specialized therapy using specific motor-based approaches. With consistent treatment, children make real progress developing clearer, more consistent speech.
Autism Spectrum Communication Support
Many children on the autism spectrum benefit tremendously from speech therapy. We work on functional communication, whether that’s verbal speech, sign language, or augmentative communication devices. Social communication and pragmatic language skills are often goals too. We help children learn to initiate conversations, take turns, understand nonverbal cues, and navigate social situations more successfully.
Feeding and Oral Motor Therapy
Some children have difficulty eating, drinking, or managing food safely. Feeding problems can stem from oral motor weakness, sensory issues, or behavioral factors. We offer feeding therapy that addresses both the physical and emotional aspects of eating. Mealtime shouldn’t be a battle, and we help families find solutions that work.
Fluency Therapy for Stuttering
Stuttering is common in young children as language develops. Most kids outgrow it, but some don’t. If stuttering persists beyond age three, causes frustration, or includes tension and avoidance, therapy can help. We use evidence-based fluency techniques tailored for children, helping them speak more smoothly while also addressing any anxiety or negative feelings about communication.
Common Childhood Speech and Language Disorders
Late Talkers and Expressive Language Delay
Your toddler isn’t talking much or at all while other kids their age are using lots of words. Late talkers have fewer than 50 words by age two or aren’t combining words into phrases. Some late talkers catch up on their own, but many don’t. Research shows early intervention produces better outcomes than waiting to see what happens. We work with toddlers and their families to boost language development through natural, play-based strategies.
Phonological Disorders
Phonological disorders involve patterns of sound errors rather than trouble with individual sounds. Your child might leave off all ending sounds, simplify consonant clusters, or substitute entire groups of sounds. These patterns make speech difficult to understand. Treatment focuses on helping children recognize and correct these error patterns, typically producing faster improvement than working on individual sounds one at a time.
Receptive and Expressive Language Disorders
Some children struggle to understand language (receptive) or express their thoughts (expressive), or both. They might have trouble following directions, understanding questions, learning new vocabulary, or putting sentences together grammatically. These disorders affect academic success and social relationships. We work on building language skills through engaging activities that target your child’s specific areas of difficulty.
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“Marie is amazing! She truly has a special gift to connect with children and you can tell this isn’t just a job to her, but a calling. She truly takes time to not only help the kiddos with their speech, but you can tell she really cares about them.” – Chevy H.
Childhood Apraxia of Speech
CAS affects about one or two in 1,000 children. It’s a serious speech disorder that doesn’t resolve without intensive intervention. Children with CAS know what they want to say but struggle to coordinate their mouth movements to say it. They might be inconsistent in their errors, have difficulty with longer words or sentences, and show unusual prosody or rhythm. Treatment requires specialized training and frequent sessions, often multiple times per week initially.
Speech Delays in Children With Other Diagnoses
Down syndrome, cerebral palsy, hearing loss, cleft palate, and other medical conditions often affect speech and language development. These children benefit from speech therapy addressing their specific needs. Treatment might include oral motor exercises, augmentative communication, or specialized approaches depending on the underlying condition.
Social Communication Difficulties
Some children struggle with the social aspects of communication. They might not make eye contact, have trouble taking turns in conversation, miss nonverbal cues, or not adjust their language for different situations. These pragmatic language difficulties affect friendships and social success. We teach specific strategies and provide practice in natural contexts.
What Pediatric Speech Therapy Looks Like
Children’s speech therapy should never feel like punishment or another chore. We make therapy something kids actually look forward to.
We start with a comprehensive evaluation to understand your child’s current abilities and identify specific areas of concern. This includes standardized testing when appropriate, but also observation of your child in play and natural communication. For young children or those who are anxious, we might complete the assessment over multiple sessions to get accurate results.
Treatment sessions are typically 30-45 minutes for younger children and up to 60 minutes for older kids and teens. Frequency depends on the severity of the disorder and your child’s needs. Some children come once weekly, others need intensive treatment multiple times per week. We design sessions around your child’s interests and learning style, using their favorite toys, books, and activities to target speech and language goals.
Parent involvement is essential. We teach you strategies to support your child’s development at home during everyday activities. You’ll learn how to model language, create communication opportunities, and practice specific skills throughout your daily routine. Progress happens fastest when therapy techniques extend beyond our sessions into your child’s natural environment.
We monitor progress closely and adjust treatment as your child develops. Goals evolve as skills improve, and we celebrate every milestone along the way.
The Importance of Early Intervention
The research is clear: earlier is better when it comes to speech and language intervention. Young children’s brains are incredibly responsive to therapy during critical developmental periods.
California’s Early Start program serves children from birth to age three who show developmental delays or have conditions likely to result in delays. These services are provided at no cost to families who qualify. Studies consistently show that children who receive early intervention achieve better outcomes than those who start therapy later.
Even if your child doesn’t qualify for Early Start, private speech therapy can make a significant difference. Don’t listen to people who say “wait and see” or “they’ll grow out of it.” If you have concerns about your child’s communication development, those concerns are valid and worth evaluating.
For information about developmental milestones and warning signs, visit the CDC’s developmental milestones tracker.
When to Seek Children’s Speech Therapy
Parents often wonder whether their child’s speech development is typical or cause for concern. Here are signs that evaluation is warranted:
For Babies and Toddlers:
- Not babbling or making many sounds by 12 months
- No words by 15-18 months
- Fewer than 50 words by age 2
- Not combining words into two-word phrases by age 2
- Loss of previously acquired language skills at any age
For Preschoolers:
- Difficult to understand by age 3 (strangers understand less than 75% of what they say)
- Not using sentences by age 3
- Limited vocabulary compared to peers
- Difficulty following simple directions
- Frequent frustration trying to communicate
For School-Age Children:
- Articulation errors that persist beyond the age when most children produce sounds correctly
- Difficulty understanding or following instructions at school
- Trouble expressing thoughts and ideas
- Problems with reading or writing related to language difficulties
- Stuttering that includes tension, avoidance, or emotional distress
Red Flags at Any Age:
- Regression or loss of language skills
- No eye contact or social engagement
- Not responding to their name
- Extreme frustration around communication
- Oral motor weakness or feeding difficulties
Trust your instincts. You know your child best. If something feels off about their communication development, get an evaluation. It’s always better to check early than wait until problems become more entrenched.
California Licensing and Pediatric Expertise
California requires speech-language pathologists to hold state licensure through the Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology and Hearing Aid Dispensers Board. All practitioners must meet rigorous educational and clinical standards.
Marie holds both California state licensure and ASHA’s Certificate of Clinical Competence. The CCC-SLP requires a master’s degree in speech-language pathology, extensive supervised clinical experience across ages and settings, and passing a comprehensive national examination. But credentials alone don’t make someone good with children.
Pediatric speech therapy requires understanding child development, knowing how to engage young children therapeutically, and having the patience and creativity to make therapy effective and enjoyable. We’ve dedicated our practice to working with children because that’s where our passion lies.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long will my child need speech therapy?
Duration varies tremendously based on the disorder, severity, and how quickly your child progresses. Some children need a few months of therapy. Others require ongoing support for a year or more. We’ll give you realistic expectations based on your child’s specific situation and what research shows for similar cases.
Will speech therapy work?
Speech therapy is highly effective for most childhood communication disorders when delivered consistently by a qualified therapist with family involvement. Success rates are excellent, particularly with early intervention. Some disorders resolve completely, while others improve significantly even if some challenges remain.
Should I wait to see if my child outgrows speech problems?
For very young children showing mild delays, a brief wait-and-see period might be reasonable. But if you have significant concerns or your child is falling further behind peers, don’t wait. Early intervention produces better outcomes. Even if your child might eventually catch up on their own, therapy accelerates progress and prevents frustration, social difficulties, and academic struggles in the meantime.
What’s the difference between speech and language?
Speech refers to producing sounds correctly and clearly. Language is understanding and using words to communicate ideas, including vocabulary, grammar, and sentence structure. Many children need help with both areas.
Can you help my bilingual child?
Yes. Bilingualism doesn’t cause speech or language disorders. Bilingual children develop at similar rates to monolingual children, just in two languages. We assess whether your child’s difficulties are typical for bilingual development or represent a true disorder requiring intervention. We respect and support bilingualism throughout therapy.
Do you provide teletherapy for children?
Yes, we offer both in-person and teletherapy options. Many children do very well with online sessions, particularly older preschoolers and school-age kids. Teletherapy provides more flexibility and eliminates commute time. Some young toddlers or children with significant attention difficulties may progress better with in-person treatment.
How can I help my child at home?
We’ll teach you specific strategies based on your child’s goals. Generally, talk to your child frequently, read books together daily, follow their lead in play, and create lots of opportunities for communication. Home activities don’t have to feel like formal practice. Incorporating speech and language goals into everyday routines works best.
Will my child’s speech disorder affect learning to read?
Speech and language skills are closely connected to literacy development. Children with language disorders are at higher risk for reading difficulties. That’s why addressing speech and language challenges early matters. We can also work on pre-literacy skills during therapy to support your child’s future reading success.
About Dolce Therapies and Pediatric Speech Services
Dolce Therapies was founded on the belief that every child deserves to communicate confidently and effectively. We’re passionate about helping children find their voice and supporting families throughout the journey.
Our founder, Marie A. Dolce, M.A., CCC-SLP, earned her Master of Arts degree in Speech-Language Pathology and has focused her practice on pediatric communication disorders. She holds the Certificate of Clinical Competence from ASHA, the highest credential in our field, and maintains California state licensure with ongoing professional development in pediatric therapy techniques and child development.
We believe therapy should be joyful, not stressful. Children learn best through play, and that’s how we approach every session. Our core values of kindness, creativity, inclusivity, and innovation guide everything we do. We celebrate every success, no matter how small, and we’re genuinely invested in your child’s progress.
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“My daughter was a preemie with serious oral issues due to the many ‘tubes’ while she was in the NICU and on an NG tube for 8 months. Marie was able to work with total empathy and patience and help my daughter overcome her oral phobias.” – Tim A.
Whether your child is a toddler just starting to talk, a preschooler with unclear speech, or a school-age child struggling with language, we’re here to help. We serve families throughout Los Angeles, from Brentwood to Santa Monica to the San Fernando Valley and beyond.
Important Los Angeles Resources for Children’s Speech Development
Children’s Hospital Los Angeles Speech-Language Pathology
Comprehensive pediatric speech services
4650 Sunset Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90027
UCLA Mattel Children’s Hospital Speech Pathology Clinic
Evaluation and treatment for all pediatric needs
200 Medical Plaza, Los Angeles, CA 90095
Los Angeles Unified School District Special Education
School-based speech and language services
333 S. Beaudry Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90017
Harbor Regional Center
California Early Start Program and developmental services
21231 Hawthorne Blvd, Torrance, CA 90503
Westside Regional Center
Services for children with developmental disabilities
5901 Green Valley Circle, Culver City, CA 90230
Los Angeles County Office of Education
Special education resources and parent support
9300 Imperial Hwy, Downey, CA 90242
CHIME Institute
Inclusive education and therapy programs
18938 Vanowen St, Reseda, CA 91335
Schedule Your Free Consultation
If you’re concerned about your child’s speech or language development, don’t wait. Early intervention makes a real difference in outcomes, and every day matters when it comes to your child’s ability to communicate and connect with others.
At Dolce Therapies, we combine specialized pediatric expertise with genuine compassion and child-centered care. We understand how worried parents feel when their child struggles to communicate, and we’re committed to supporting your family throughout this journey.
Contact us today for your free consultation.
We’ll discuss your specific concerns, answer your questions, and help you understand whether speech therapy might benefit your child. We offer flexible scheduling and both in-person and teletherapy options to fit your family’s needs.
Your child deserves to be heard and understood. Let’s work together to help them find their voice and communicate with confidence. The sooner we start, the sooner you’ll see progress.
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“Marie Dolce is incredibly helpful. She’s knowledgeable, patient, and truly cares about her clients. Her expertise in speech and language pathology made a huge difference for me, and I can’t recommend her highly enough.” – Heather Ireland
