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Maureen Niklaus, MS Ccc-Slp Pediatric Speech-Language Pathologist

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Maureen Niklaus, MS Ccc-Slp Pediatric Speech-Language Pathologist

A Private Practice for Children with Speech and Language Impairments Maureen Niklaus, M.S.

CCC-SLP is a Speech-Language Pathologist in private practice in Williamsport, PA. Maureen specializes in pediatrics and is dedicated to providing thorough diagnostic evaluations and personalized therapy for children in the Williamsport area. In addition to private practice, previous work experience at Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh and at UPMC Susquehanna Health. Areas of specialty include: preschool language disorders, Autism spectrum disorder, articulation and phonological disorders, childhood apraxia of speech, and stuttering. Licensed by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and Certified by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association.

02/17/2026

A MUST Have Word, Right?

I asked her this afternoon if there were any words she was struggling with... any words SHE wanted to say more clearly.

"Yes!" She said, and she stated the word.

I had no idea even after she repeated it a couple of times.

"Mo, it's like ketchup but white."

"Oh," I said, "mayonnaise?"

"No the other white stuff."

"Oh Ranch!"

We aren't working on the "R" sound yet, but given how much I love Ranch, I understood her desperation.

So I showed her how to try it, and gave her some prompts for the "ch" at the end, and low and behold, out comes what sounds like "Ranch!"

No human being should have to go through life not being able to clearly request the best condiment in the entire world! 😍

02/12/2026

I truly NEVER would've imagined it.
But you just can't predict where a child will go!

When I first met him nearly 10 years ago, he was one of about 25 children in the WORLD with a rare genetic disorder, a hallmark symptom of which was very severe Apraxia of Speech (a rare neurological disorder that impairs the brain’s ability to plan and execute the motor skills needed for speech.)

Most children with this genetic mutation are considered functionally “nonverbal,” relying on alternative means of communication. And that holds true for his peers with this genetic mutation today.

But this young man? Not only does he communicate in short phrases/sentences, but his speech intelligibility has improved MARKEDLY in recent years.

How overjoyed was I to receive an early morning text today to let me know that he had just successfully “argued” with Alexa over breakfast and made the voice recognition software CHANGE her warning message of “Two minutes left” to “Two MORE minutes!” He had spoken his command so CLEARLY that the software understood him!

Wow! Such technology is challenging. How far he has come. Not only is he verbal, but I never would have imagined he'd be able to say words so CLEARLY!

What a hard working and amazing young man he is and I feel blessed to be a witness to his growth as a successful communicator. I won't pretend to know where his road leads, but let's go!

01/31/2026

Watch Out World.
Here She Comes!

Sweet Avery is the absolute poster child for treating EARLY. When she came to me at a bit under 2 1/2 years old, she wasn't saying ANY words- not even "mamma" or "dadda."

Despite being smart as a whip, she tried to communicate with what I can only call "nasal snorts," using her voice and making noises through her nose. (Honestly? I'd never seen anything like it.)

Fast forward to today. This sweetheart is now a little over three. Just 31 sessions after we started, her expressive language skills test WELL above average for her age, and I was able to quickly treat some sound error patterns that appeared when she started to speak in words.

I will deeply miss you Avery. You have been a challenge and an absolute joy to me!

Now go take on the world my girl, because I know YOU HAVE A LOT TO SAY!

01/29/2026

Childhood Apraxia of Speech (CAS) is a neurological impairment of motor planning. It is relatively rare, thankfully, but intensive treatment is recommended and the earlier the better.

I have treated a number of cases over the course of my career and have found parents often recognize the early signs only AFTER a diagnosis has been made.

So here are a few things to look for.

Questions? Feel free to reach out anytime!

01/25/2026

My office will be closed Monday, 1/26. Stay safe, warm and enjoy the snow!

01/23/2026

You Want WHAT Song??
(I needed this laugh at the end of a Friday!)

He is on the Autism Spectrum and is becoming more and more verbal, but will sometimes just shut down in sessions for no apparent reason and simply refuse to engage in ANYTHING.

It happened last Friday, so tonight Dad and I agreed he could have a few goldfish crackers while listening to his favorite Bruno Mars on my phone in between our activities (all of which I had placed on the floor for him to pick from).

But he didn't like the Bruno song I chose, and indicated a different choice on my screen. The song he picked?

"The Lazy Song"

"Today I don't feel like doing anything,
I just wanna lay in my bed..."
"Leave a message at the tone
'Cause today I swear I'm not doing anything."

Lol, it worked like a charm and he did great with all of the activities.

But I swear he smiled and smirked a little every time I put that song on! 😂😂😂

01/10/2026

Technology.
Communication.
And Young Children.

Children learn from doing, from play, from feelings, and from experience. A lack of it most likely explains why my field has been seeing more and more children with communication impairments in recent years.

"No, there is no App for that," I had to answer once again this week to a well intentioned inquiring parent mind, whose young child is not yet saying much.

Please, parents, just put the phones, tablets, gaming systems....down.

Just put them down.

And if you've introduced your young child to such devices? Well, put it up on a shelf for a while. DO it.

Nothing (including seeing me once or twice a week) will substitute for YOU talking with your child, talking about EVERYTHING you do together. Talking and engaging while you get breakfast around, grocery shop, get them dressed, give them a bath, rake leaves, clean the bathroom, walk the dog, drive through town, or play together.

Just live and narrate the world around your beautiful children! It is truly the only thing that leads to the MAGIC. The magic of language and communication with others.

There simply is no App for that.

12/23/2025

Merry Christmas, Dad!

When I was a child, or even a young adult home from college or graduate school, my Dad would often leave little poems on the kitchen counter, early in the morning, before he left for work. Usually, they were a funny take on “Roses are red, violets are blue…”

But as Christmas approached, they were usually a hilarious take on “The Night Before Christmas, and All Through The House…” with some potty humor thrown in for good measure.

As I got older, his poems “evolved” into somewhat complicated, and certainly controversial, remakes of Christmas carols (think spicy versions of “Chestnuts roasting on an open fire…”). They were usually written with such creative flair that they most certainly couldn’t be appreciated (meaning repeated) outside of the immediate family.

My Dad? Well, he turned into quite a kid at Christmas.

The lights had to be perfect. The presents wrapped with way too much tape. And his insistence on waking us up crazy early on Christmas morning by running around the house ringing a bell? Well, that was not at all appreciated by my sister and me by the time we were teenagers.

So when my future daughter-in-law recently shared how my son so very much loves Christmas, and how excited he becomes to decorate and celebrate, my heart skipped a beat.

“He just LOVES Christmas!” she said smiling. “He turns into a little kid!”

In that split moment, I felt him. I felt my Dad smiling down on us as she said it. Smiling down with oodles of Christmas Spirit, left for us to share with each other as we celebrate this first one without him seated around the table and the sparkling tree.

Thank you, Dad, for being you. Thank you for passing on your glorious Christmas Spirit.

As we miss you this Christmas, know that your heart and spirit live on in me, and now in your grandchildren.

With a special Christmas nod, wink (and inappropriate song lyric), Merry Christmas from my family to yours!

Enjoy and cherish each and every moment.

All my love,
Mo

12/10/2025

Keeping it REAL!

I often work on communication with kiddos who act out inappropriately when frustrated, instead of communicating their needs in the moment. And ideally, I use real life frustrations to start with.

Good news here? Not only did she stop yelling and hitting after a couple of such activities with her coat, but she "blew" her frustration away, told me she was "frustrated" and needed "help," and somehow along the way learned how to put her coat on correctly?

Lol! Guess I'll have to find another "real life" situation for her as we work on expanding this goal!

12/08/2025

When I am working on formulating questions, what is the easiest and fastest way to elicit questions from my little people?

Show them pictures of my crazy little tiny dog... and hint at all the silly things he does! (After asking his name, the second query is usually why his ears are so big lol!)

Thank you, Remy, for being you. All whopping 4 pounds of you are loved beyond measure!! 🥰

11/25/2025

Families! Please be aware!

If you come to me via the Basin Street exit and Fourth Street, please be careful as that section of Fourth up to my office on Mulberry Street is now TWO WAY traffic and no longer one way!

11/23/2025

Families and Friends!

My office will be closed next week as I thoroughly embrace some special time with my children and family. Wishing everyone the same and a very Happy Thanksgiving!

Address

59 East 4th Street
Williamsport, PA
17701

Telephone

+15703603413

Website

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