I'm a certified M.S. CCC-SLP Pediatric Speech-Language Pathologist (SLP) who specializes in treating young children with communication delays and disorders. I strive to provide family centered services that improve the lives of children by addressing their total communication needs in their natural environment.
I have over a decade of experience working with families to imbed newly learned communication skills into everyday activities, making speech therapy natural, playful, and fun.
If you have concerns about your child’s development I can provide an initial phone or video consultation to determine if your child’s needs would be best addressed under my care. During your consultation I will discuss initial recommendations, what to expect in the treatment process and answer any questions you may have. Please don’t hesitate to contact me to discuss your concerns.
Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy (OMT) is the treatment of Orofacial Myofunctional Disorders (OMDs). The primary goal for this type of therapy is to correct or restore the resting posture of the tongue, lips, and jaw. Depending on the individual, therapy goals can include: teaching nasal breathing, training chewing and swallowing patterns, eliminating sucking habits and more. OMT can assist with achieving your speech therapy goals and goals you have with other medical professionals such as dentists, orthodontists, and ENTS. It is important to obtain a functional assessment by a trained specialist to evaluate how a tongue is possibly playing a role in the issues your child is having.
Childhood Apraxia of Speech (CAS) is a label for a specific type of speech disorder that presents as difficulty with planning movements necessary to speech. If your child is suspected to have CAS, it is important to seek out specialized treatment that focuses on their speech motor system. Children with motor speech disorders need to receive therapy that is dynamic in nature and specific to their individual needs. I have undergone advanced training in evidence-based methods to diagnose and treat children with motor speech disorders. I have completed training in techniques such as DTTC (Dynamic Temporal and Tactile Cueing), ReST Rapid Syllable Transition Treatment and PROMPT (Prompts for Restructuring Oral Muscular Phonetic Targets).
The best outcomes for improved functional skills occur when intervention is implemented early. The earlier you start to address the issues, the smaller the gap you will see in their abilities compared to their peers. I offer early speech- language therapy and caregiver coaching that is designed to empower families and give voices to little ones. Using a variety of evidence-based therapy tools I craft therapy plans to address delays in every stage of speech, language, play, and feeding development. My mission is to provide a warm and loving environment where children love to play, play to learn and where parents and caregivers learn strategies to carryover skills outside of the therapy sessions.
Teletherapy visits, aka remote visits may be available for therapy visits, evaluations, consultations, and coaching sessions. Remote therapy feels very much the same as an in-person session. Through video, voice and screen sharing, I am easily able to present the same materials to my clients that they would use in person. Virtual sessions are a great option for after-school, weekend, and summer visits.
www.apraxia-kids.org
A Beginner’s Start Guide to Childhood Apraxia of Speech (CAS)
www.promptinstitute.com
A motor based approach that uses touch to facilitate control of the speech muscles for intelligible verbal speech output.
www.asha.org
The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association is committed to ensuring that all people with speech, language, and hearing disorders receive services to help them communicate effectively.
www.cdc.gov
The Center for Disease Control and Prevention “Milestones” site provides a developmental milestones checklist for your child’s age.
www.aomtinfo.org
Learn more about Myofunctional Therapy and benefits.
www.healthychildren.org
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) wesite
Every child develops at a different rate. As the parent, you know your child best. If you suspect your child has a problem with his or her speech-language development, I suggest seeking the opinion of a speech-language pathology professional.
To ensure that your child receives high-quality, evidence-based treatment, you should look for a therapist with a Masters-level degree or higher in speech-language pathology or communication disorders. To work with clients, the therapist should also have received their Certificate of Clinical Competence, indicated by the “CCC” after their name. Ideally, your therapist should have experience treating the disorders or impairments that your child has been identified as having. Your therapist should also be friendly, knowledgeable, and eager to collaborate with you on a treatment plan for your child.
If you are interested in speech-language services, please contact me for a free initial phone consultation. This consultation will be used to gather information about your child including biographical information, speech-language development/concerns, prior evaluations/therapy and services in which you may be interested. Consultations typically take 20-25 minutes. Following the consultation, you will be asked to complete the necessary forms including a therapist-patient agreement which will outline policies, procedures and fees. Once the forms are received, an appointment for an evaluation will be scheduled. Therapy sessions are planned and scheduled as indicated by the evaluation.
I specialize in early intervention (birth to 5 years old). However, I also have extensive experience with school-aged children and treat children through the high school years. Myofunctional therapy services are available for both children and adults.
Yes. Most scheduled sessions with clients take place in the home. Sessions can also take place in your child’s daycare, pre-school, or private school if needed.
I offer different types of therapy sessions as well as different session lengths. Fees vary depending on type, length, and location of therapy. Please call to get the most updated rates.
I accept cash, checks and credit cards (VISA, Mastercard and Discover). Flex Spending/Health Savings Account (FSA/HSA) debit cards with VISA or Mastercard logos are also accepted. Speech Therapy is a qualified medical expense for health savings accounts.
At this time I do not accept or work with insurance companies, including Medicare and Medicad. However, I will make every effort to provide you with the necessary documentation for reimbursement including itemized invoices after each treatment session. Make sure to check with your insurance company prior to beginning treatment. If you plan on seeking insurance reimbursement, please let me know in advance what requirements, if any, your insurance company has for pre-authorization.
Home based services are provided in and around the greater Houston Metro area. Clinic based services are provided on a case-by-case basis. Please contact me for details.
Please use the information below to send me your question or comment and I will get back to you with a response or next steps.
The best way to contact me is via email.
Kim Garcia
Speech-Language Pathologist
Houston, TX
