Swanson Speech Therapy

09/15/2026

A common question we hear is, “How long does speech therapy take?”

There’s no single answer.

Some children need short-term support for a specific speech sound. Others benefit from longer-term therapy for language, fluency, social communication, or complex communication needs. Progress depends on the child’s age, goals, consistency, home practice, underlying needs, and how often therapy occurs.

A therapist should be able to explain what progress they’re watching for. That might include
clearer sounds, more words, longer phrases, fewer communication breakdowns, more confidence, stronger comprehension, or greater participation in daily routines.

Therapy shouldn’t feel like an endless process with no explanation. Goals should be reviewed, updated, and connected to what the family sees outside the session.

If you have any questions or want to schedule an evaluation for your child, head to swansonspeechtherapy.com/contact.

09/09/2026

"He was actually sad to graduate" might be the best thing an SLP can hear. Going from barely understandable at 4 to speaking clearly and age-appropriately by 5 is huge. And knowing he looked forward to coming every Monday afternoon means everything to us! If you're considering speech therapy for your kiddo, head to swansonspeechtherapy.com and connect with us.

09/07/2026

Choosing the right speech therapist for your child can feel overwhelming. The SST team recommends that parents consider more than location alone.

We also suggest looking for an SLP who:

✅ Has experience with your child’s age and area of need
✅ Explains things clearly
✅ Includes parents in the process
✅ Builds rapport with your child
✅ Uses therapy approaches that fit your child’s communication goals
✅ Offers practical home strategies
✅ Communicates openly about progress
✅ Understands the difference between school-based support and private therapy
✅ Makes your family feel respected, not rushed

It’s also reasonable to ask about scheduling, insurance, superbills, network gap exceptions, virtual options, cancellation policies, and how goals are set. Families should understand what they’re committing to before therapy begins.

09/03/2026

We're growing, and we're looking for the right person.

Swanson Speech Therapy is hiring a part-time pediatric SLP who's passionate about neurodiversity-affirming, family-centered care. We're clinician-owned and operated, and we built this practice around meaningful connections — with our community, our clients, and each other.

If you're looking for a workplace that prioritizes work-life balance and fosters strong, lasting relationships with the families you serve, we'd love to hear from you.

Hybrid schedule, competitive pay, real benefits, and a team you'll actually want to work with. Find all the details at swansonspeechtherapy.com/careers/ 💙

09/01/2026

Parents are often told not to compare their child to anyone else’s. That advice is well-meaning, and it’s partly true. Children do develop on different timelines. One child may use sentences early. Another may spend more time pointing, gesturing, and watching before words take off.

But “every child is different” shouldn’t mean “ignore your concern.”

Speech and language development includes many different skills. A child isn’t only learning how to say words. They’re learning how to understand language, use sounds, take turns, make requests, answer questions, play, imitate, tell stories, follow directions, and connect with other people. When one of those areas feels harder than expected, speech therapy can help identify what’s happening.

Head to our blog for developmental milestones handouts that could be helpful for parents wondering whether or not to seek out speech therapy services: https://swansonspeechtherapy.com/parent-resources/

08/27/2026

This is something that doesn't get talked about enough — when therapy actually fits into real life. Most families don't have hours to dedicate to speech exercises. We get that, and we do our best to accommodate all kinds of busy schedules. So, when a parent tells us that home practice feels approachable and easy to work into their day, that means we're doing our job. Shoutout to Andrea for this speech therapy win!

08/24/2026

We're proud to be sponsors of this year's Seattle Walk for Apraxia! The event is Apraxia Kids' largest annual fundraiser — supporting groundbreaking research, equipping SLPs with better tools, and making sure families aren't navigating childhood apraxia of speech (CAS) alone.

Every year, about 1 in 1,000 children are diagnosed with CAS, a motor speech disorder where the brain struggles to coordinate the movements needed for talking. These kids work incredibly hard, and they deserve every resource available to help them find their voice.

Come walk with us on Saturday, September 19th from 9–11am.

Register at act.apraxia-kids.org/event/seattlewalk, and please share with anyone who'd love to show up for these kids!

We are so excited to bring our community together this fall to celebrate all of our Apraxia Stars. Please follow the Walk for Apraxia on Facebook and check back to this website often for updated information as it relates to Walk Day.

08/21/2026

Do we love our clinic space? Absolutely. Do other settings unlock fun new ways of learning? Also yes! We're more than happy to get creative with where speech therapy happens, and sometimes that means venturing outside for a nature walk or strolling to the neighborhood playground. There's something about stopping to smell the flowers (literally) that gets kids thinking and talking in different ways. New textures, new sounds, new things to notice and name. 🌻

08/10/2026

Speech therapy at school is an important part of life for many kiddos, but sometimes children need more or different types of support. If you've ever wondered whether school speech therapy is enough (or whether private therapy makes sense alongside it) our latest blog post is for you! We've broken down how these two systems work, why they're different, and how to figure out what your child actually needs:

School speech therapy and private speech therapy serve different roles. Learn how Seattle parents can decide whether their child may benefit from added support.

08/07/2026

Speech therapy apps can supplement therapy, however they shouldn’t replace therapist-guided treatment or caregiver interaction. Ask your SLP for specific app recommendations for your child’s goals and try to reduce excessive passive screen viewing when using apps. (And don't beat yourself up if there's a screen-heavy day here and there... we're only human!) 🫶