4-Year-Old Found “Right Fit” with Expressable—And Grew Speech to 500 Words
Abby Barnes, M.S., CCC-SLP
From the time Anslee was 16 months old, her mother, Stacey, knew that she needed speech therapy. Anslee was only saying “Mama” and seemed behind with talking. Over the years, they tried a few different in-person speech therapists, but meaningful progress just wasn’t happening. Stacey was determined to find the right fit for Anslee. That search brought her to Expressable.
Hopeful that this could be the missing piece in Anslee’s communication journey, her family committed to attending weekly sessions and practicing regularly at home. Within a few months, 4-year-old Anslee began making incredible gains each week. Here’s her story.
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Screener for childrenMaking progress with upbeat speech therapy sessions
When Anslee began speech therapy at Expressable, she wasn’t using many words to communicate. Her mom describes her as a “very happy girl,” but she had a hard time expressing what she wanted, and she couldn’t join in conversations.
Anslee was matched with speech therapist Vicki Einbinder, M.S., CCC-SLP. She easily engaged with Vicki’s fun, upbeat personality. In fact, Stacey says that getting to see Vicki on the computer was motivating for Anslee—it felt like interactive screen time tailored just for her. “We love our Miss Vicki!” Stacey says. “She really cares. It’s not just a job to her.”
Anslee loves animals and music, so during sessions, Vicki follows Anslee’s lead in order to get the most out of their time together. “One day she was excited about talking about butterflies,” Vicki says. “We read The Very Hungry Caterpillar, listened to butterfly songs, and worked on a butterfly hand signal so she could request it in the future.” Both Anslee’s mom and dad were there for that session, and everyone had a blast!
Worried your young child won’t pay attention to a screen for speech therapy? They don't need to! Here’s how online speech therapy really works.
Learning to use more words
Anslee is currently working on using words to make requests, growing single words into phrases, and following directions. She has made incredible progress in the past eight months, increasing her total vocabulary to at least 500 words. She is consistently saying “more” and “all done” to express what she wants. Anslee is also starting to say some phrases like “more drink,” “more music,” “great job,” and “where are you?”
“It’s changed our lives, honestly. And hers, too.”
In the past, Stacey wasn’t sure what learning to speak would look like for Anslee. She’s amazed at how far her daughter has come. “Anslee’s actually talking now. We can have mini conversations, and we can play differently than before. I can see how much it boosts her self-confidence,” she says. “It’s changed our lives, honestly. And hers, too.”
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Get startedThe partnership between parent and speech therapist
One of the biggest factors in a child’s progress is when their family and speech therapist communicate and work together. Online speech therapy makes it easy for caregivers to attend sessions, learning directly from the speech therapist how to help their child at home.
In addition, Vicki provides home practice for Anslee through the Expressable patient portal. The portal offers learning paths, home practice activities, and educational videos, making it easy for families to practice what they’re learning in sessions.
Stacey helps Anslee complete these assignments each week. She also asks Vicki for other ways to incorporate their speech therapy techniques. This consistent practice has been a big factor in Anslee’s growth.
Anslee especially loves anything with music, so Vicki tries to give her practice activities that use songs. For example, Anslee might fill in the blanks for songs like “Twinkle Twinkle Little Star” or “BINGO.” These fun games keep her motivated while she’s learning to say new words. This is just one of the many activities Anslee’s family has used to support her progress.
Discover how Expressable’s portal makes it easy to practice speech therapy at home, with expert tools, tips, videos, and lessons.
A child finds her voice
It can be normal to feel a little hesitant about online speech therapy. Can it really work? Is it as helpful as in-person therapy? For Anslee and so many others, the answer is a resounding “Yes!” Online speech therapy makes it easier for parents to be involved, and the speech therapist gets to see the child in their natural environment. There’s no commuting to or from a clinic, and at Expressable, evening and weekend time slots are available. When speech therapy is convenient, it’s easier to attend regularly and see results like Anslee’s.
Vicki is beyond proud of what all Anslee has done. “Anslee has made such amazing progress over the past eight months,” she beams. “It’s been so much fun watching her find her voice and use it to talk about the things she loves. I’m really proud of how far she’s come and grateful to be part of her journey.”
If you think your child might need speech therapy, contact us here at Expressable. Our team of experts is waiting to help your child find their voice, too. Click here to get matched with a speech therapist who’s right for your family.
How Expressable Can Help
Concerned your child isn't reaching age-expected milestones? Looking for communication support from a professional? Expressable is a national online speech therapy practice serving children and adults. We treat all major areas of communication and feeding, offer flexible hours including evenings and weekends, and accept most major health insurance plans. We’re proud to have earned more than 3,000 5-star reviews from our clients (4.9/5 average).
Our therapy model is centered on parent and caregiver involvement. Research proves that empowering caregivers to participate in their loved one’s therapy leads to better outcomes. That’s why we combine live, 1-on-1 speech therapy with personalized education and home practice activities for faster progress.
Communication is more than words. It’s how we share how we feel and show who we are. We’re here to help you or your child do just that.
