Speech Therapy & Evaluation Services
From childhood apraxia of speech to dyslexia to late talkers and language delays, Cheerful Chatter offers proven approaches that help kids speak more clearly, learn more easily, and feel more confident.
Speech & Language Therapy
Childhood Apraxia of Speech
Childhood apraxia of speech (CAS) is a motor speech disorder where the brain struggles to plan and coordinate the precise muscle movements needed for clear speech. Ellen is trained in DTTC (Dynamic Temporal and Tactile Cueing) and PROMPT (Prompts for Restructuring Oral Muscular Phonetic Targets), the gold-standard approaches for treating apraxia.
Dyslexia, Spelling, & Reading Challenges
Dyslexia is a language-based learning difference, which means it’s best treated by someone who specializes in language. Using SPELL-Links and other speech-to-print strategies, therapy strengthens core literacy skills like phonological awareness, spelling, decoding, and reading comprehension. But this isn’t just extra reading practice or tutoring using a fixed program. It’s structured, personalized therapy designed to support lasting changes in how your child processes sounds and letters—so they can feel confident, capable, and more in control of their learning.
Late Talkers & Early Language Delays
If your toddler isn’t talking yet—or isn’t using as many words as expected—it’s natural to feel concerned. The good news is that early intervention can make a big difference. Ellen draws on over 20 years of clinical experience and specialized training in Hanen’s “It Takes Two to Talk” to help toddlers build strong communication foundations. Therapy sessions are engaging and focused not just on your child’s progress, but on empowering you with tools to support language development at home, during everyday moments that matter most.
Session Costs for Speech Therapy
Reserve a Weekly Spot
$130/week - 40-minute private sessions with Ellen, including time for direct therapy and parent coaching.
Same day & time every week (Up to 43 sessions per year)
Free make-ups for timely cancellations
Weekly automated subscription payment
Cancel anytime with 15 days’ notice
Book As You Go
$157 per session - 40-minute private sessions with Ellen, including time for direct therapy and parent coaching.
Self-schedule as needed via the online calendar
Pay at the time of service
Cancel in advance to avoid charges
Must maintain 85% attendance to remain eligible
Speech, Language, and Literacy Evaluations
Whether you're exploring one skill or several, our evaluation options are built to meet your child’s needs and your family’s goals.
Targeted Evaluations
$500
Targeted evaluations use only medically necessary protocols; typically only one is used. These evaluations determine general levels of function in order to develop initial therapy plans. This is the most insurance carriers will cover.
Options include (pick one):
Speech Clarity/Articulation
General Language Level
Recommended for: Children with poor speech clarity or suspected language delays.
Extended Evaluation of Listening & Speaking Skills
$1000
This deeper evaluation is designed to assess how your child speaks and processes spoken language. We may explore areas such as:
Vocabulary, grammar and sentence structure
Understanding and telling stories
Conversational skills
Clarity of speech and motor-speech skills
Recommended for: Children with language disorders, children who struggle socially, and those who may have childhood apraxia of speech (CAS).
Extended Evaluation of Listening, Speaking, Reading & Spelling Skills
$2000
This in-depth evaluation will reveal the areas in which your child excels and those in which they may be struggling. We may explore areas such as:
All components of the Listening & Speaking Evaluation
Phonological processing and phonemic awareness
Alphabet knowledge and sound-symbol correspondence
Word-level reading and spelling
Reading fluency and comprehension
Recommended for: Children with concerns about dyslexia, written language disorders, or broader language-based learning challenges. If your child has not had prior cognitive testing, that may be required as well (additional cost).
Get Started With Us
Schedule a
Meet & Greet ($80)
In this 40-minute session, Ellen will explore your child’s goals, communication style, and energy. Together, we’ll decide whether evaluation, group enrollment or individual therapy is the best next step. Available in-person or via telehealth.
Follow Your
Custom Plan
Finally, we’ll help you get started right away with the recommendations from your Meet & Greet. We will guide you step by step through enrollment and make sure you’re added to the schedule without delay.
About Our Focus & Specialties
Frequently Asked Questions
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Ellen specializes in:
Social communication (conversation, perspective-taking, peer interaction)
Childhood Apraxia of Speech
Dyslexia and other reading/spelling difficulties
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Difficulty with speech clarity or being understood
Limited word use, shorter than expected sentences
Struggles with reading or spelling
Frequently becomes upset at school
Difficulty making and keeping friends
Therapy Scheduling
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Most families come once or twice per week, depending on goals and schedule.
Sessions are 40 minutes long
Each session includes direct therapy and a few minutes for parent questions and coaching
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Yes — parent collaboration is at the heart of our approach.
Parents may observe sessions in-person or from our parent area
Ellen reviews strategies and progress during the last few minutes of each session
Your questions are welcome, but should be shared at the beginning of the session so Ellen can plan time for them
This partnership ensures therapy strategies carry over into daily life.
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Morning appointments: Cancel by 7:00 pm EST the night before
Afternoon/evening appointments: Cancel by 9:00 am EST the same day
Reservation clients: Free make-up sessions are available for timely cancellations as long as your subscription remains active.
Pay-per-session clients: Late cancellations or no-shows are charged at the full appointment rate.
About Evaluations
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We offer three types of evaluations, depending on your child’s needs:
Targeted Evaluation – $500
Focuses on articulation or general language skills.In-Depth Oral Language Evaluation – $1000
Best fit if Childhood Apraxia of Speech is suspected, as it assesses multiple areas needed for diagnosis.In-Depth Oral + Written Language Evaluation – $2000
Includes literacy assessment in addition to oral language.
We’ll guide you to the best option based on your concerns. Evaluations are designed to give you clear, actionable answers.
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No — we do not provide IEEs for school-based disputes or due process cases.
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Yes. For families seeking insurance coverage for social groups, we offer an indirect evaluation ($300) that uses parent/teacher questionnaires (and self-report for 19+). This provides standardized scores needed for insurance claims.
⚠️ Please note: This option is only for group enrollment to allow for curriculum individualization and insurance billing.