Little Ears & Voices

04/13/2026

Regulation before communication. Always. 🧠✨

A child’s brain can’t access speech, language, or learning when it’s in a state of stress. When the nervous system is dysregulated (fight, flight, freeze), the brain shifts resources away from higher-level thinking and toward survival.

That means:
No processing.
No engagement.
No meaningful communication.

Research in neuroscience and child development shows that connection, co-regulation, and supportive sensory strategies can help bring the brain back online. When a child feels safe, supported, and understood, the pathways for attention, language, and learning open up.

So before we support communication, we first need to:
✔️ regulate
✔️ connect
✔️ support the sensory system

04/09/2026

HOLY FRICATIVE!!!

One take, without music. You’re welcome.

In all seriousness 😂 only speech therapists and parents who have been through the THICK of speech delay and language development struggles with their child will understand how GOOD it feels when a child finally communicates effectively, even if we may not always ✨love✨ the actual words they’re saying 🤷🏻‍♀️

Those speech therapy wins and communication milestones really just hit different, it’s hard to stay mad.

Can anyone else relate? Share your stories below!

04/06/2026

POV: You’re a speech therapist with ADHD and you sit down to do documentation…

…but first you need your charger →
so you open the drawer →
but the drawer is a disaster →
so now you have to reorganize it →
so you search for the perfect office organizer →
but nothing fits your vision perfectly →
so obviously you have no choice but to take up woodworking.

…sorry documentation, I cannot hear you over my DeWalt double bevel sliding compound miter saw 🤷🏻‍♀️

Executive functioning skills: pending.
Hyperfixations: forever ✨thriving✨

04/06/2026

Speech is more complex than it seems 👄🗣️🧠

Most people don’t realize just how intricate the speech system really is.

Articulation requires precise coordination of the lips, tongue, jaw, breath, and timing. For many children, this process takes guidance, repetition, and support to develop clearly and confidently.

Honestly, it’s kind of amazing any of us learn to talk without speech therapy 🤷🏻‍♀️

Understanding how speech works is the first step in supporting strong communication skills at home and in therapy!

04/02/2026

03/31/2026

IYKYK.

My fellow neurospicy speech therapists,
I’m looking at you in particular…😅

03/30/2026

💥NEWS FLASH 💥

Supporting communication means supporting ALL communication. We don’t stop at requesting, commenting, and asking for help in speech therapy because that’s not where language development ends.

I truly feel my client’s success when they’re able to not only communicate for a range of functions, but especially when those functions include protesting, rejecting, setting boundaries, and advocating for themselves, which are all core parts of functional communication and self-advocacy skills needed for lifelong communication!

Even when it catches you off guard. Even when it’s not what you expected or wanted to hear….

Even when it hurts your feelings 😂 (kidding)

This is one way success can look in speech therapy💗

Here’s your gentle reminder to stop and appreciate how far your clients (or your child) has come 🫶🏼

every step forward counts in their communication journey, every inch forward MATTERS!

03/30/2026

🤟 Free ASL Classes – Open to the Public!
SPRING CLASSES: April 10 to May 29

The Town of Windermere, in partnership with Mandy David, is offering FREE American Sign Language (ASL) classes for adults and teens. Each 7–8-week course builds week to week, so consistent attendance is encouraged.

📍 Community Conference Room
Town of Windermere Administrative and Police Complex
614 Main Street, Building 100
🗓 Fridays
• ASL 1 (Beginner): 1:00–2:00 p.m.
• ASL 2 (Intermediate): 2:00–3:00 p.m.

Learn, connect, and build new communication skills in our community!

03/30/2026

The “Plus One Rule” ✨

This simple strategy can fit into any part of your day, and it’s such a powerful way to grow your child’s language.

Here’s how it works:
When your child says a word, you repeat it back and add just one more word.

Child: “Ball”
You: “Big ball!” or “Throw ball!”

That’s it. No pressure, no drilling…just natural, meaningful expansion.

By adding one word, you’re helping them:
• Build vocabulary
• Learn new types of words (verbs, adjectives, etc.)
• Hear language that’s just the right level for them to learn from

Simple, doable, and effective 🫶🏼

Follow me for more parent-friendly strategies you can use every day!

03/30/2026

Choosing books for toddlers isn’t just about the story, it’s about supporting language development, early literacy, and communication skills from the very beginning 📚✨

If you’re wondering how to choose the best books for toddlers or preschoolers to support speech and language development, here are a few things to look for:

• Simple – Keep language and text simple, and choose books with clear, uncluttered illustrations that aren’t overstimulating. This helps children make connections between the targeted language and what they see on the page, which supports vocabulary development and concept learning.

• Rhythmic & Repetitive – Choose books with consistent, predictable rhythm or rhyme. These books are often more engaging and naturally support speech and language development by providing predictable intonation patterns. Books with repeated words, phrases, or sentence structures are also powerful for language learning. This makes it easier for children to remember, repeat, and imitate new words and phrases.

• Rich vocabulary – Look for books with clear themes, categories, and targeted language. Books that focus on specific topics (like animals, routines, or daily activities) help support vocabulary growth, concept development, and understanding of the world around them.

• Interactive – Interactive books create more opportunities for engagement and language use beyond the written text. These can support learning of:
– Core words (go, open, like, see)
– Sensory words (touch, feel, soft, bumpy, rough)
– Action words (open, slide, lift, knock, hide, push, move)
– Early concepts and prepositions (on, off, in, out, under)

These added interactions help build functional language skills in a natural and meaningful way.

Books do so much more than prepare children for reading, they help build vocabulary, increase sentence length, support speech development, and strengthen overall communication skills 💬

Comment LIST and I’ll send you my Amazon list of favorite books for supporting language development in toddlers and young children!

03/26/2026

I’m going to be vulnerable here because I know my signing is not perfect. But I also know that showing myself signing (even imperfectly) helps demonstrate two important things:

1️⃣ Sign language is an equally valid communication option to spoken language.

2️⃣ You do not need to be an expert to show effort. It’s okay to not be perfect before you support your kids or encourage its use.

IMPORTANT NOTE: I am NOT fluent in American Sign Language (ASL) and am still learning. Please do NOT use this video to learn signs or ASL. Always refer to Deaf teachers when available. If you’re interested in learning, check out these great accounts:







Because deaf children have been historically forced to speak by speech therapists, this feels especially important to say: when we say a communication method is equally valid, we mean EQUALLY VALID.

If a deaf child communicates using sign language, there is absolutely no reason they need to learn to speak (unless they choose to, of course). And if they receive early and consistent access to language input in the absence of a language disorder, there’s a very good chance they won’t need speech or language therapy at all.

Remember: being deaf does not cause a language disorder or delay. Being deprived of language does.

Many deaf children who come into a speech therapy office have experienced language deprivation, which is very different from a language disorder, due to limited access to language.

There are also many deaf children who do have a language disorder. This is why differential diagnosis matters, as well as meeting each child where they are and providing individualized, family-centered support.

Visual description: A 30-year-old white woman with long, dark brown hair worn down is sitting in a parked car. She is wearing a short-sleeve light brown top and is using sign language while recording the video.