Help Me Speak, LLC

Help Me Speak, LLC Oromyofunctional, Communication, & Learning Skills
Improving BESST skills for all clients
(Breathing, Eating, Swallowing, Sleep, & Talking)

Our SLPs are trained in the latest and most effective evaluation & therapy techniques, such as: *PROMPT*, *Orofacial Myology*, Talk Tools, *Complete Speech--SmartPalate*, Beckman stretches, Kaufman techniques, *Help Me Eat* (Food Chaining, SOS Approach to Feeding, AEIOU), Interactive Metronome, REI, Sign language, *iPad apps* for therapy, & more. We treat clients with a variety of genetic diagnoses, Tongue Tie, oral swallowing difficulty, Autism, Apraxia, Down syndrome, dyslexia, language learning difficulties, tongue thrust, articulation errors, hearing impairment, & others.

11/22/2025

If your child chews briefly, swallows whole bites, or smacks their lips, the mouth muscles that support speech aren’t working properly.

Since I focus on jaw, lip, tongue and chewing & swallowing skills, my clients’ speech clarity improves & lasts.

Encourage mature chewing: “slow chewing, use the tongue to push the food to the back teeth, & alternate sides.” Practice control over speed.

Many parents hesitate to seek help because they fear it’s “too late” or worry their child can’t make progress.The truth ...
11/21/2025

Many parents hesitate to seek help because they fear it’s “too late” or worry their child can’t make progress.
The truth is: with the right support, children of all ages can improve speech clarity, oral motor function, swallowing, and confidence.
At Help Me Speak, we guide families step by step so they never feel alone or unsure. 💛
If you’re wondering whether your child can improve, they can!!

11/19/2025

“Wait it out” is one of the most outdated pieces of advice parents still hear. Many doctors and even some professionals simply are not trained in oral motor function, breathing, swallowing, or oromyofunctional factors that affect speech.

And while there is always hope and it is never too late, getting support earlier makes the journey easier and progress faster.

Early evaluation helps us understand what is actually happening so we can address the root cause, not just the symptoms.

If your gut says something is off, you are not imagining it. Early action can make a real difference.

Many parents reach out after seeing how speech struggles begin to affect their child socially. Teasing, difficulty makin...
11/18/2025

Many parents reach out after seeing how speech struggles begin to affect their child socially. Teasing, difficulty making friends, or a drop in confidence often becomes the moment families realize they can’t do it alone.
Speech challenges are not just about pronunciation. They affect connection, belonging, and emotional well-being. With the right guidance, children can build clear speech, stronger confidence, and healthier social interactions.

If you are noticing early signs of frustration or social impact, support can make all the difference.

𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 “S𝗣𝗘𝗘𝗖𝗛” 𝘁𝗼 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗻 𝗵𝗼𝘄 𝗜 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝗵𝗲𝗹𝗽.

11/16/2025

At Help Me Speak, we value confidence over compliance — because real progress happens when kids understand what they’re doing, not when they’re pressured to practice before they’re ready.
We take time to teach both parents and kids:
• What each exercise is
• Why it matters
• How it supports speech, oral swallowing, and oral resting posture
And we only send home exercises once a child is truly beginning to master them.
This keeps practice fun, successful, and frustration-free — which builds confidence and long-lasting skills.
💛 Confident kids make the strongest progress.
💬 Comment “SPEECH” if you want support with at-home practice that actually works.

11/15/2025

Mouth breathing doesn’t just affect sleep or energy. It affects facial growth and speech clarity. When the mouth is open, the tongue can’t rest on the roof of the mouth, so the palate becomes high and arched and the face becomes long. As a result, speech sound clarity can be affected.

I’ve helped many kids improve speech by first improving nasal breathing. It is the ground upon which the jaw, lips, and tongue are built.

Try this: remind your child to “rest with their lips closed and tongue up” while watching TV or reading, or in the car while waiting at stoplights. Start building that awareness early.

Progress in speech and oral motor therapy is never about a magic wand. It is about partnership. When parents understand ...
11/14/2025

Progress in speech and oral motor therapy is never about a magic wand. It is about partnership. When parents understand what we are doing, why we are doing it, and how to support the skills at home, everything changes.

Kids make faster and more lasting progress when families show up, stay consistent, and practice simple exercises between sessions.
Because therapy works best when parents and clinicians work together as one team. 💛

11/13/2025

When the tongue and jaw lack stability, control & independent movements, sounds blur together no matter how much your child “tries.”

I’ve worked with so many kids labeled by others as “lazy”, but once we discovered a tongue tie, addressed breath control, stability, control, coordination, & separated movements, their speech became clear and confident.

Check to see if they can lift & lower their tongue without their jaw moving. Tell us in the comments what you see.

At Help Me Speak, we believe confidence comes before compliance. 💛Speech and swallowing practice shouldn’t feel like a s...
11/12/2025

At Help Me Speak, we believe confidence comes before compliance. 💛
Speech and swallowing practice shouldn’t feel like a struggle; it should feel empowering.

We make sure kids understand what they’re doing and why it matters before sending home exercises.
When children feel capable and supported, progress happens naturally with joy, not pressure.

11/10/2025

If your child can’t repeat a sound in therapy, the issue isn’t effort, it’s coordination & separation of movement of the mouth muscles.

After 34 years as an SLP, I’ve seen it over and over. Speech practice alone won’t work unless the mouth muscles are stable and well-coordinated.

Before practicing words, focus on jaw and tongue stability, then slow, controlled movements instead of attempted word repetition. Check to see if your child can slowly open/close their jaw w/o shifting or sliding.

To the parent who’s been dismissed or told to “just wait”, trust your gut. 💛You know your child best. You know when some...
11/10/2025

To the parent who’s been dismissed or told to “just wait”, trust your gut. 💛
You know your child best. You know when something isn’t right.

At Help Me Speak, we listen, educate, and explain the “why” behind every step, so families feel empowered, not ignored.
Because when you understand your child’s needs, you can help them thrive with confidence and clarity. 🌟

11/09/2025

If your child is mouth breathing, it’s not just a habit — it’s a sign something deeper may be going on. 🚩

It could be linked to:
👃 Enlarged tonsils or adenoids
👅 Poor tongue posture
👄 Tongue tie

Mouth breathing can impact speech, sleep, and learning — that’s why we look at the whole child, not just the sounds.

💬 Comment “TongueTie” if your child mouth breathes and you’d like to learn what might be causing it.

Address

10260 Baltimore National Pike
Ellicott City, MD
21042

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 7pm
Tuesday 9am - 7pm
Wednesday 9am - 7pm
Thursday 9am - 7pm

Telephone

+14104429791

Website

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Barbara Taylor is an SLP & Certified Orofacial Myologist (COM®) & trained in CranialSacral Therapy.

Our SLPs are trained in the latest and most effective evaluation & therapy techniques, such as: level 2 PROMPT, Orofacial Myology, Myofascial release, Talk Tools, advanced Beckman stretches, Kaufman techniques, Help Me Eat (Food Chaining, SOS Approach to Feeding, AEIOU), Interactive Metronome, REI, Sign language, iPad apps for therapy, Complete Speech--SmartPalate, & more.

We treat clients with a variety of complex congenital diagnoses, Tongue Tie, oral swallowing difficulty, picky eaters, Autism, Apraxia, Down syndrome, dyslexia, language learning difficulties, tongue thrust, articulation errors, receptive/expressive language, hearing impairment, & others.