Speech Therapy in Charlotte
ACT Therapy was created in order to provide child-led speech therapy in Charlotte, NC to children and adolescents. We've seen what can happen when compliance based therapy is used with children, such as their motivation and self-confidence decreasing, so we're taking a different approach for both better results and so the children have fun!
Our speech therapy style is to connect and collaborate with you and your child so intrinsic motivation is higher and your child enjoys therapy, is motivated to participate and they progress across goals. We get how frustrating it is when families and caregivers are not involved in the therapy process — that is why we always want caregivers to be involved in what we do!
Because we understand how sensory integration and communication work together, our team incorporates movement, play and imagination into every therapy session.
We offer two locations to receive speech therapy in the Charlotte area. Our largest location is at 7401 Carmel Executive Park Drive Suite 220 Charlotte, NC 28226.
We also offer speech therapy in our Huntersville office at 9541 Julian Clark Ave Suite 105-A, Huntersville, NC 28078.
Our hours in both offices are 8-5 PM Monday to Friday. Our office is open Monday to Friday from 7:00 AM to 5:00 PM.
Our speech therapy services
In our Charlotte office, our Speech-Language Pathologists treat pediatrics for feeding disorders, AAC, Gestalt Language Processing, articulation, phonology, language and orofacial myofunctional therapy.
With effective Speech and Language Therapy Services, individuals can experience the following:
● Improved communication access
● Stronger self-advocacy and confidence
● Reduced stress around communication
● Growth in functional and meaningful language
● Increased participation in daily life
● Family growth and understanding
● Improved food intake and chewing
● Improved tongue resting posture
● Improved articulation skills and intelligibility
Our speech therapists are fully licensed from the state of North Carolina and nationally, through the American Speech Hearing Association (ASHA). Some of our SLPs are licensed in South Carolina as well. Our Speech Language Pathologists hold various certifications in PROMPT, Qualified Orofacial Myologist, Certified Orofacial Myologist, and GLP through Meaningful Speech Certification, and they hold a Master’s Degree from accredited universities.
Our orofacial myofunctional therapists evaluate and treat airway/breathing, tongue posture, jaw resting/grading, and oral feeding/chewing difficulties. This treatment is utilized to stop tongue thrust, improve articulation / speech intelligibility, improve swallowing / chewing / moving food in the mouth, improve ability to breathe through the nose (with mouth closed), reduce movement of teeth after orthodontic treatment and stop thumb-sucking, pacifier use, or nail biting habits.
Our speech therapists in Charlotte
We have a great team of speech therapists who love working with our clients. Learn more about them and their experience:
Addison Lee MA, CCC-SLP Addison loves serving the pediatric population and has a special interest in Gestalt Language Processing (GLP), language delays and disorders, childhood apraxia of speech, augmentative and alternative communication (AAC), and feeding and swallowing disorders.
Jenna Durham is committed to addressing a wide range of communication needs, with special interests in language delays and disorders, articulation/phonological delays, and augmentative and alternative communication (AAC).
Ashley Hancock specializes in working with gestalt language processors, expressive and receptive language delays, augmentative and alternative communication, multimodal communication, prelinguistic skills, self-advocacy to support pragmatic language, and speech sound disorders.
Demi Oliver has an interest in feeding disorders, tethered oral tissues, Myofunctional therapy, social language, and fluency.
Katie Beman’s interests include early language therapy, myofunctional therapy, speech sound disorders, and augmentative and alternative communication.
Kassanda Hoyt has experience working with feeding, myofunctional, swallowing, augmentative and alternative communication, language, and speech sound disorders.
Kayla Uhl is passionate about supporting children with orofacial myofunctional disorders and helping them achieve functional, lasting outcomes. Kayla's favorite part of being an SLP is uncovering the "why" behind a child's challenges and helping families put the pieces of the puzzle together.
Rebecca Rowe assesses and treats myofunctional disorders in both children and adults. She is passionate about airway health, improved breathing, speech and feeding in all populations.
Dani Shanley (Huntersville) enjoys working with the pediatric population in a variety of settings including home health, daycares, schools, and clinics.
Who do we see for speech therapy?
Our Speech Language Pathologists evaluate and treat children 0 to 18 with diagnoses such as autism, ADHD, Down Syndrome, Hard of Hearing, genetic disorders, feeding disorders, and those using alternative and augmentative communication. We also evaluate and treat articulation, phonology disorders, reading comprehension and expressive/receptive language delays.
Who do we see for myofunctional therapy?
We see both children and adults. Myofunctional therapy begins at age four. Before that, a child should receive feeding and oral motor therapy.
Myofunctional therapy should be sought out if a child has a tongue thrust, a known tongue tie, a low resting/forward tongue posture, open mouth breathing, snoring, airway issues during daytime or nighttime, a pacifier or finger sucking habit or when an orthodontist or dentist refers the child.
Our Myofunctional Therapists are also licensed and skilled Speech Language Pathologists. This means they can treat you or your child for not only myofunctional issues but also for feeding and articulation/phonology. This provides a well-rounded treatment process.
When should a parent seek out speech therapy?
Speech Language Pathology services should be sought out if a child is becoming frustrated when attempting to communicate, is unable to get functional and basic needs met, cannot participate in a preschool, daycare or school classroom effectively, is unable to be understood by others or has difficulty with play and social skills. A child should be treated for speech therapy if he or she also has difficulty chewing, swallowing, or feeding themselves.
Why choose ACT Therapy Services for your speech therapy?
ACT Therapy Services provides a neurodiversity affirming, play-based environment where children lead the sessions! We are completely play-based and follow DIR floortime models for maximum engagement. Our motto is “connection over compliance” which means that we value presuming competence, letting children lead and being flexible.
What is the process for getting started with speech therapy with ACT Therapy Services?
Give us a call to discuss the best clinician and location fit! From there, we will obtain some basic information over the phone such as your doctor’s name, your biographical information and insurance information. We will send an order for services to your doctor on your behalf. From there, the initial speech or feeding therapy evaluation is one hour long. Sessions after the evaluation are typically 30 minutes long and these can be held once, twice or three times weekly. Our front office works with your family to find the best possible schedule.
Our Speech-Language Pathologists will work with a variety of other providers to coordinate your care including pediatricians, psychologists, vision specialists, teachers, tutors, and dentists to ensure holistic care.
How long are sessions?
After the first one-hour evaluation, we typically see our clients for speech therapy for 30 minute sessions once, twice or three times a week. We set the plan of care for three to six months with discharge earlier if all goals are met.
What are the benefits of receiving Speech Therapy treatment at ACT Therapy Services?
ACT Therapy Services utilized a play-based approach, making therapy specific and fun for each client. We strive to operate in a neurodiversity-affirming way, respecting differences in how children communicate. We actively involve caregivers and families in the therapy process, making collaboration a key component.
Children who receive speech therapy treatment with us demonstrate improved communication skills, increased confidence and self-esteem, improved academic performance, improved social interaction/relationships, better access to independence, remediation of feeding/swallowing/oral motor issues. Children also gain support for alternative communication (AAC), improved executive function support and early intervention benefits.