At home or daycare
In Richmond and Henrico, and in Chesterfield case by case. Daycare visits need the center's permission.
Speech therapy for toddlers and late talkers
Your friend's toddler is putting words together. Yours points, grunts, and pulls you to the fridge. Maybe the pediatrician said “let's wait and see,” and you're not sure you want to wait.
That's a fair instinct to follow.
Late talker or speech delay?
A “late talker” is a toddler whose words are coming in later than expected, even though other skills look on track. Some catch up on their own. Some don't, and waiting alone won't tell you which group your child is in.
The CDC's milestone list says most children (75% or more) can say at least two words together, like “More milk,” by age 2 (CDC milestones). It's worth calling if your toddler:
- isn't putting two words together by about 2 years old;
- uses mostly gestures, grunts, or pulling you to get what they want;
- understands a lot less than other kids their age;
- gets frustrated or has meltdowns when you can't figure out what they want;
- has lost words they used to say.
You know your child best. If something feels off, that's enough reason to ask.
What happens at a toddler evaluation
It doesn't look like a test. Karlie plays with your child on the floor, with toys and books, while she watches how they communicate. She'll ask you a lot of questions too, because you see things in a day that no one sees in an hour.
You'll leave with a clear picture: whether your child would benefit from therapy, what to work on first, and what you can start doing at home this week.
What toddler speech therapy looks like
Toddler therapy is play. We follow your child's lead, set up moments where they want to communicate, and model the words they're ready for next.
You're in the room for every session. A lot of the progress happens between visits, so we coach you on simple things to try during bath time, meals, and the drive to daycare. That's caregiver coaching, and it's part of every plan.
Where sessions happen
Online
Over Zoom for families in Virginia and Illinois. For toddlers, online sessions focus on teaching you what to do, so the practice carries over into everyday play.
What about early intervention?
Every state runs a free early intervention program for children under 3, and you can call it yourself without a referral. You can find yours through the CDC at cdc.gov/FindEI.
We're not an early intervention provider, and that's okay. Waitlists can be long, and you can see Karlie while you wait. If you're not sure which route fits, ask us on the free call. We'll tell you honestly.
Cost
We're in network with Virginia Medicaid and several commercial plans. Private pay is $250 for the evaluation and $125 for a session.
- Phone consultation, 15 minutes
- Free
- Evaluation, 1 hour
- $250
- Therapy session, 30 to 45 minutes
- $125
Questions families ask
My pediatrician said to wait. Should I?
Don't wait, evaluate. That's Karlie's motto. If your child doesn't need therapy, great: you'll have peace of mind. If they do, that's good news too, because starting early makes a real difference.
Is my toddler too young for speech therapy?
Karlie evaluates children from age 1. Toddler therapy is built around play and around you, so it works at ages when kids can't sit at a table yet.
Will screen time hurt their speech?
Kids learn words from back-and-forth talk with people. If you're worried about screens, we'll help you find small, realistic swaps instead of an all-or-nothing rule.
Start with a free call
Book a free 15-minute phone consultation. Tell us what your toddler is saying, what they understand, and what worries you, and we'll talk through whether an evaluation makes sense now. You don't have to wait and wonder.