Speech First, LLC

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Philadelphia, PA
Speech First, LLC

📍 Wayne, PA: Private in-home and in-school speech therapy. Providing services to children and families throughout the Main Line and beyond for over 16 years.

Speech First, LLC is owned and operated by Lindsay Petersen, a Pennsylvania State licensed and nationally certified Speech-Language Pathologist who provides private, in-home speech therapy to the greater Philadelphia region. Lindsay has extensive experience assessing and treating clients with receptive/expressive language impairments, articulation and phonological disorders, fluency disorders, feeding delays and disorders, and communication delays and disorders associated with developmental delays, Autism Spectrum Disorder, Childhood Apraxia of Speech, hearing loss, and neurological impairments. She is trained in the Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS), American Sign Language, and Auditory Verbal Therapy strategies and techniques. Lindsay believes in a multidisciplinary team approach to therapy and thus encourages collaboration with parents, caregivers, teachers and other professionals to provide the most optimal and successful treatment plan for her clients. Her practice is based on providing the highest quality of service to her clients and their families while working to achieve their speech and language goals.

09/01/2026

Lateral lisps can be tricky! They occur when air escapes over the sides of the tongue, giving sounds like /s/, /z/, “sh,” “ch,” and “j” a “slushy” or wet quality.

Unlike other speech errors/error patterns, lateral lisps are not developmental in nature and therefore unlikely to resolve on their own. Correcting them requires precise tongue placement and airflow and the right therapeutic approach is key!

I loved my time with this family and seeing this little girl’s eyes light up when she finally “got it” was simply the best! 🤩

08/25/2026

Language Bombardment: A simple, powerful, low-demand strategy - and one of my favorites!

Why is it so effective?
- children need MANY exposures to a word before they understand it and add it to their vocabularies.
- exposure AND varied contexts facilitate learning
- we are typically narrating or responding to a child’s natural play, which means it has their attention and interest
- we can provide rich language input without the pressure to imitate or answer questions

In the example of my session, I received that text from mom about 10 minutes after I left! We didn’t hear him say the word cookie once during the session, but clearly he was LISTENING and LEARNING! 🥰

toddler

08/12/2026

Same child, same place ➡️ 12 months apart.

There is a BIG developmental jump between 1-2 years old.

Take my son for example. Video 1: he is newly 1 year old, just learned to walk, very few words, communicating mostly through babbling, pointing, and gestures.

Video 2: he is newly 2 years old, labeling what he sees, and starting to use some 2-word combinations (i.e. “big shark!”).

This is why we start looking a bit more closely at language development between these ages. There’s still PLENTY of room for individual variation. My son didn’t hit his stride/show that language “burst” until closer to 18-20 months. However, we always want to see some forward movement as the months progress.

As children move through the second year of life, language development typically begins to accelerate, and we don’t want an early gap to quietly become a wider one!

And for many parents, this is around the time when the “wait and see” approach may just not be sitting right with you. An evaluation by a speech-language pathologist can provide reassurance OR guidance for the best next steps!

07/24/2026

This crew brought the laughs and energy every week! Thank you for your kind words, your trust, and for making every session so much fun 💛

07/16/2026

When toddlers start asking questions!

It often begins with 1-2 words + rising intonation:
🗣️ “Mama?”
🗣️ “Ball?”
🗣️ “Dada go?”

Before “what” or “where,” they use their voice to show they’re asking—and that’s huge!

✨ Why it matters:
• Shows curiosity
• Builds problem-solving + conversation skills
• Helps toddlers learn how to get information, not just needs met

📅 Timeline:
18–24 months: simple question tone (i.e. rising intonation)
2–3 years: “What’s that?” “Where Daddy go?” “Why?”

And when the “WHY??” questions come… get ready - they never end!! ☺️

07/07/2026

I came across this photo from my graduate school graduation (18 years ago 😱), and it made me smile.

At the time, it felt like grad school would never end. I watched friends start their careers, earn paychecks, and move on to the next chapter while I was still studying, completing clinical rotations, and wondering when it would finally be my turn.

Looking back now, that season was such a small part of my story. It reminds me of the families I work with every day.

Whether we’re together for a few months, a year, or longer than anyone expected…whether we’re celebrating first words, working through a new diagnosis, or taking progress one small step at a time…it can feel like therapy will last forever when you’re living it.

But one day, you’ll look back and realize this chapter was just that—a chapter. The hard seasons don’t always feel short while you’re in them. But they don’t last forever.

I’m grateful to be invited into that part of your family’s story, however long it may be, and I never take that privilege for granted! 🤍

06/29/2026

It is easy for us as adults to take for granted speech and communication. The reality is: speech is an incredibly complex, fast-paced, fine motor process. And that is only the TIP of the iceberg 🧊.

Beneath the surface are the skills that make communication possible: 
- Motor Planning
- Coordination
- Attention
- Listening
- Processing
- Understanding language
- Memory
 When one or more of these underlying skills are challenging, communication can be too.

While we may be targeting speech sounds or language, we’re also strengthening the many foundational skills that support successful communication.

Sometimes the most important progress is happening beneath the surface!

06/22/2026

I hope everyone had a lovely Father’s Day Weekend!

As the husband of a pediatric SLP, this one has graciously endured endless reminders to “model, don’t ask!!,” “follow his lead!,” “wait time!” etc. etc.

Ok, Ok, I wasn’t THAT bad! 😂

He’s taken it all in stride and has learned way more about speech & language development than was ever necessary! And even without my language coaching, he’s simply the best dad.

Happy Father’s day to all the dads out there — the everyday heroes in eyes of the little ones who love them most 💙

06/12/2026

“My child isn’t talking much today.”

“I’m worried, but everyone keeps telling me my child is fine and will catch up.”

“I feel like I should have started speech therapy sooner.”

“My child is shy/silly/wiggly/high energy/strong willed (insert any descriptor here!)”

“We have too much screen time some days.”

“My house is a mess.” (Honestly, same!)

We don’t need perfect circumstances to seek support nor do we need to have all the answers. You just need someone who will meet you and your child where you are!

06/05/2026

A short & sweet course of speech therapy for an adorable little boy!

Address

Philadelphia, PA

Website

http://www.speech-first.com/

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White Cleaning Service LLC
54 Westbury Drive, Berlin
SYNERGY HomeCare of Philadelphia
525 S. 4th Street