Pediatric Speech Therapy Services

Sunshine Center^® Provides Pediatric Speech Therapy to:

• Toddlers
• Children up to age 18

Our speech therapists will help your child strengthen the following areas:

• Feeding & Swallowing
• Fluency (stuttering)
• Articulation
• Oral Motor Skills
• Social-Pragmatic Communication (social language)
• Executive Functioning
• Receptive Language (understanding language)
• Expressive Language (using words to communicate)
• Augmentative & Alternative Communication (AAC) (e.g., communication devices)

Sunshine Center locations offering speech therapy services:

• Manalapan, NJ (Monmouth County)
• Edison, NJ (Middlesex County)
• Brick, NJ (Ocean County)
• West Windsor, NJ (Mercer County)
• Lawton, OK (Comanche County)

Individual evaluations are completed with your child and our speech therapist at the Sunshine Center.

Most private medical insurance accepted. Call us now to schedule an evaluation:

1-866-987-8669

 

Hours for Manalapan, NJ: Mon - Fri: 9:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. | Sat: 8:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. | Sun: 9:00 a.m. - noon

Hours for West Windsor, NJ: Mon - Fri: 9:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. | Sat - Sun: Closed

Hours for Brick, NJ: Mon - Sat: 9:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m. | Sun: Closed

Hours for Edison, NJ: Mon - Fri: 8:30 a.m. - 7:30 p.m. | Sat: 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. | Sun: Closed

Hours for Lawton, OK: Mon - Fri: 8:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. | Sat - Sun: Closed

About Our Speech Therapy Services: 

Sunshine Center’s licensed and certified speech-language pathologists (SLPs) assess, diagnose, and treat disorders related to speech, language, communication, cognition, and feeding/swallowing.

We incorporate age-appropriate activities into our sessions, and our therapists are adept at encouraging and motivating children to reach their goals.

Pediatric Speech Therapy Evaluations

Families play an integral role in pediatric speech therapy evaluations. One of our SLPs will ask you questions about your child’s health history and daily communication. The play-based evaluation will determine your child’s ability to make eye contact, take turns, ask for a desired object, and more.

These tests allow us to determine your child’s capacity to understand language, speak, articulate, and socialize at an age-appropriate level.

After the evaluation session, the therapist may suggest goals and recommend that your child participate in speech therapy. You will receive a full, written report of the evaluation session.

How Do I Know if My Child Needs Speech Therapy?

If your child displays any of the following challenges, we recommend scheduling a speech and language evaluation:

• Uses only a few words or has a limited vocabulary
• Does not imitate sounds, words, or gestures
• Has difficulty following simple directions
• Struggles with clear speech or age-appropriate sound development
• Has trouble understanding simple language or questions
• Avoids interactions or struggles to engage in social interactions or conversations
• Becomes frustrated when trying to communicate or when not understood
• Has difficulty with listening, comprehension, or early reading skills
  
  

How Do I Know if My Child Needs Feeding Therapy?

If your child displays any of the following challenges, we recommend scheduling a feeding therapy evaluation:

• Difficulty transitioning to purees or solid foods
• History of latching or feeding difficulties during infancy
• Open-mouth breathing
• Noisy or labored breathing during sleep
• Frequent snoring
• Unsafe oral habits (e.g., nail biting, chewing or eating non-food items, prolonged pacifier or bottle use, teeth grinding)
  
  

What Kind of Progress Can I Expect?

Progress in speech therapy isn’t linear, and many factors–such as age, development level, and time spent practicing at-home exercises–influence the rate at which a child gains new speech and communication skills.

Over time, your child will learn new skills and then later be able to perform the skills without cues.

It is normal to experience progress plateaus; this is a point at which new skills acquisition stalls or improves at a slower pace.

Progress with feeding therapy follows a path similar to that of speech therapy, however the primary goal is to help children become comfortable and competent with food consumption while also reducing stress and difficulty at mealtime.

Credentials & Licensing

All speech therapy services at Sunshine Center are provided by licensed and certified speech-language pathologists (SLPs). Our clinicians hold a Master’s degree in Speech-Language Pathology, maintain state licensure, and possess the Certificate of Clinical Competence (CCC-SLP) from the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association.

Our therapists engage in ongoing continuing education to stay current with evidence-based practices and provide the highest quality care.

Speech Therapy FAQs

How long will my child need speech therapy?

Most therapists suggest that a child’s need for therapy be re-evaluated every three to six months of consistent appointments. There is no definitive duration for speech or feeding therapy.

Do children who attend speech therapy “catch up” to their peers?

Many children do catch up to the speech and language capabilities of the other children in their class, while others show practical improvements which help them communicate.

Why is my child playing during speech or feeding therapy sessions?

Play is work for children, and play is how children learn. We use play-based therapy at the Sunshine Center because this is the best way to support a child’s learning and skill development.

Is my child a picky eater? Or is this a medical issue?

We classify picky eaters as those who will eat 30 or more different foods, while problem feeders (those for whom feeding therapy is recommended) will eat fewer than 20 different foods and commonly experience strong negative emotions when asked to try a new food. Feeding therapy is also an option for children with limited nutrition intake as a result of their difficulties with food.

Is feeding therapy safe?

Safety is the top priority during feeding therapy. Sunshine Center’s feeding therapists are trained in oral-motor mechanics and do not introduce foods and textures that are not yet appropriate for your child. We also teach proper posture and positioning for eating, along with pacing for taking bites, chewing, drinking, and swallowing.

Do I need a referral for speech or feeding therapy?

In many cases, a referral is not required to begin an evaluation. However, some insurance plans may require one. Our team can help guide you through the process and verify your benefits.

Will my insurance cover speech or feeding therapy?

Coverage for speech and/or feeding therapy varies depending on your insurance plan. We recommend contacting your insurance provider to confirm benefits, and our office can assist with verifying coverage and explaining your options.

What happens during an evaluation?

During the evaluation, our speech-language pathologist will assess your child’s communication and/or feeding skills through play-based activities, observation, and standardized assessments (when appropriate). We will then review the results with you and discuss recommended next steps.

How can I support my child at home?

Parent involvement is key to progress in building communication and feeding skills. Your therapist will provide strategies, activities, and guidance to help you reinforce skills at home and in everyday routines.

How often will my child attend speech therapy?

Speech therapy frequency is individualized based on your child’s needs, but most children attend therapy 1–2 times per week. Your therapist will recommend a schedule after the evaluation.

What if my child is nonverbal?

Speech therapy can be highly effective for non-verbal children. We support communication in many forms, including gestures, sign language, and Augmentative & Alternative Communication (AAC), to help your child express their wants and needs.

Do you have experience working with children with developmental delays or autism?

Yes. Our therapists have experience supporting children with a wide range of developmental needs, including autism, ADHD, and other communication challenges. Therapy is individualized to meet each child where they are.