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I believe that co-regulation is one of the most underappreciated skills in childhood development today.   We so often look to first target skills like: attention, focus and behaviors of compliance.   Instead, one of the first skills that should be focused on is – co-regulation with another person!  Coregulation is an important stepping stone and the… Continue reading Supporting Coregulation: Why It’s Important & Practiced in Neurodivergent Affirming Speech Therapy in New York City

May we remember the brave first responders who lost their lives to help others. May we remember the loved parents who lost their lives to provide for their families. May we remember the helpful service workers who lost their lives to support the city. May we remember the bright young people whose lives and dreams… Continue reading My Message of Remembrance & Hope on the 25th Year Anniversary of 9/11.

Throughout my childhood and academic career I received glowing teacher reports and high grades while often receiving perfect marks.  My parents would often hear from teachers at our parent-teacher conference nights that “they wished all their students were as studious,  conscientious, and as hard working as Heather.”   All those things were true – I was… Continue reading Why Masking Can Lead to Burnout in Neuro Divergent Girls & Women: A NYC Speech Therapist’s Personal Perspective

Once upon a time there was a little girl named Sally.  One day Sally’s mom was in the kitchen crafting her favorite brownie and ice cream dessert – she’s a fantastic baker!  But she was dismayed – she could not find her special cinnamon spice blend!   Well – out of a hundred spices – little… Continue reading What Is Hyperlexia? How a Neurodivergent Speech Therapist in NYC Supports Different Learning Styles

Johnny’s mom was shocked when she learned during the first parent-teacher conference night of the third grade that Johnny was not talking during the school day. Johnny was not talking in class. And Johnny was not talking in the lunchroom. Johnny was not even talking on the playground. Nope. Not a single word. He was… Continue reading How a NYC Speech Therapist Uses Neuro-Affirming Care to Improve Communication Confidence in Selectively Mute Children

In today’s blog, I will share a personal story about how I became a speech therapist, why I created Chatty Child Clinic, and why I offer speech therapy for children in NYC. I discuss what inspires me daily, empowering the children in my care to be agents of change and successful communicators in their own… Continue reading A NYC Speech Therapist’s Personal Story: Creating Voices & Empowering Children Through Meaningful Care

Allow me to paint a picture for you. His name is Tommy. Tommy is a little 6-year-old boy who just started a new school. He has curly brown hair that likes to fall in front of his face, tiny freckles sprinkled along his cheeks, and a set of blue glasses that cover his large and… Continue reading Traditional vs Holistic Speech Therapy: Why Neurodiversity-Affirming Speech Therapy Matters in NYC For Highly Sensitive Kids

Gestalt language processing is a hot topic in the speech-language pathology world these days. As a speech therapist in NYC, I thought I would take a moment to explain all the important facts about Gestalt Language Processing and why it is gaining attention now. Who is ready to put on their learning caps? Let’s dive… Continue reading What Is Gestalt Language Processing? Speech Therapy in NYC Supporting Different Communication Styles

As a pediatric speech therapist in NYC, I love using oral motor and sensory activities to improve focus and engagement with all my sensory seekers. These are activities I implement in speech therapy sessions at Chatty Child. Oral motor and sensory activities not only improve focus and engagement but also improve a variety of important… Continue reading A Pediatric Speech Therapist in NYC Shares Oral-Motor Activities to Improve Focus and Engagement

As a speech therapist in NYC, feeding specialist, neurodivergent person, and picky eater myself, I have a long list of nutritious snacks to choose from that I am excited to share with you today. In fact, my family, friends, and clients alike know my affinity for squirreling and consuming clean and healthy snacks. When I… Continue reading A Highly Sensitive Speech Therapist in NYC Shares Clean, Nutritious Snacks for Picky Eaters