Speech Therapy in Huntsville, AL: Helping Your Child Find Their Voice

Does Speech Therapy Work for Autism?

Yes, speech therapy is highly effective for children with autism. Research shows that speech and language therapy significantly improves communication skills, social interaction, and quality of life for children on the autism spectrum. Speech-language pathologists use evidence-based techniques tailored to each child's unique needs, addressing challenges such as:

• Limited verbal communication - Building vocabulary and expressive language skills
• Articulation difficulties - Improving clarity and pronunciation
• Social communication - Teaching conversation skills, turn-taking, and understanding social cues
• Nonverbal communication - Incorporating gestures, picture systems, or assistive technology when needed
• Echolalia and repetitive speech - Redirecting patterns toward functional communication



At Everything On The Spectrum in Huntsville, AL, our speech therapy integrates seamlessly with ABA therapy, providing a comprehensive approach that accelerates progress. Children benefit from coordinated care that addresses both behavioral and communication goals in a safe, play-based environment.

What Is Speech and Language Therapy?

Speech and language therapy helps children overcome communication challenges so they can express themselves clearly and connect meaningfully with others. A speech-language pathologist (SLP) works with children to improve skills in several key areas:

Speech therapy focuses on how your child produces sounds and words—addressing articulation, pronunciation, and fluency issues like stuttering.

Language therapy targets how your child understands and uses language—building vocabulary, sentence structure, following directions, and conversational skills.



For children with autism or developmental delays, speech therapy also addresses social communication, including understanding facial expressions, taking turns in conversation, and using appropriate greetings. Our goal is simple: help your child communicate confidently in ways that work for them, whether through spoken words, gestures, or assistive communication tools.

Signs Your Child May Need Speech Therapy

As a parent, you know your child best. If you've noticed any of these signs, a speech-language pathologist near me can help:

• Limited vocabulary for their age or difficulty putting words together into sentences
• Trouble being understood by family members, teachers, or peers
• Difficulty following directions or answering simple questions
• Frustration when trying to communicate, leading to tantrums or behavioral challenges
• Repeating words or phrases without functional communication (echolalia)
• Avoiding social interactions or difficulty engaging with other children
• Speech sound errors that persist beyond typical developmental stages
• Stuttering or hesitations that interfere with communication

If your child is on the autism spectrum, speech therapy can be especially beneficial—even if they're already receiving ABA therapy. Many children benefit from both services working together to address communication and behavioral goals simultaneously.

When in doubt, trust your instincts. Early intervention makes a significant difference in your child's progress.

How Speech Therapy Helps Children with Autism

Speech therapy provides children with autism the tools to communicate more effectively, reducing frustration and opening doors to meaningful connections. Here's how it helps:



Builds functional communication skills - Whether your child is nonverbal, minimally verbal, or has difficulty with conversation, speech therapy meets them where they are and helps them progress at their own pace.

Improves social interaction - Children learn how to initiate conversations, interpret body language, make eye contact, and navigate social situations with confidence.

Reduces challenging behaviors - Many behavioral issues stem from communication frustration. When children can express their needs effectively, meltdowns and outbursts often decrease significantly.

Enhances language comprehension - Understanding what others say is just as important as speaking. Speech therapy strengthens receptive language skills so children can follow directions and engage in back-and-forth communication.

Supports alternative communication methods - For nonverbal children, speech therapists introduce tools like picture exchange systems (PECS), sign language, or speech-generating devices to give them a voice.

At Everything On The Spectrum, our speech therapy works hand-in-hand with ABA therapy, creating a powerful combination that accelerates your child's progress across all areas of development.

Our Play-Based Speech Therapy Approach

At Everything On The Spectrum, we believe that playing is learning—and learning should be fun. Our speech-language pathologist, Kelsi Johnson, uses a play-based therapy approach that helps children develop communication skills naturally and joyfully.

Why play-based therapy works:

Play is how children explore the world, practice new skills, and make sense of their experiences. During play-based speech therapy sessions, children don't feel like they're in "therapy"—they're simply having fun while building critical communication skills.

Through games, toys, songs, and interactive activities tailored to your child's interests, Kelsi creates meaningful opportunities for your child to practice speaking, listening, and engaging with others. This approach reduces anxiety, increases motivation, and leads to faster, more lasting progress.

As Kelsi says: "My favorite part of being an SLP is watching children discover their ability to communicate effectively—and seeing the joy and confidence that comes when they realize their voice matters."



Your child deserves therapy that feels safe, engaging, and empowering. That's exactly what our play-based approach delivers.

Meet Our Speech-Language Pathologist

Kelsi Johnson, MS, CCC-SLP

Kelsi Johnson is a licensed and certified Speech-Language Pathologist with seven years of experience helping children find their voice and build confidence in communication.

Originally from Neosho, Missouri, Kelsi moved to Huntsville in November 2021 and has been serving families across Northern Alabama ever since. She earned both her Bachelor of Science in Communication Disorders and her Master of Science in Communication Disorders from the University of Arkansas.

Kelsi's passion for working with children shines through in every session. She is a strong believer in play-based therapy because it allows children to grow, explore, and communicate in meaningful and natural ways. Her patient, caring approach creates a safe environment where children feel comfortable taking risks, making mistakes, and celebrating every breakthrough—no matter how small.

"My favorite part of being an SLP is watching children discover their ability to communicate effectively—and seeing the joy and confidence that comes when they realize their voice matters."



When you choose Everything On The Spectrum for speech therapy in Huntsville, AL, you're choosing a professional who genuinely cares about your child's success and wellbeing.

Speech Therapy Services We Offer in Huntsville

Everything On The Spectrum provides comprehensive speech and language therapy services designed to meet your child's unique communication needs. We serve children from preschool age and up across Northern Alabama.

Our speech therapy addresses:

• Articulation and phonological disorders - Helping children produce sounds correctly and be understood clearly
• Expressive and receptive language delays - Building vocabulary, sentence structure, and comprehension skills
• Social communication challenges - Teaching conversational skills, turn-taking, and understanding social cues
• Autism-related communication difficulties - Supporting nonverbal children and those with echolalia or limited functional language
• Fluency disorders - Addressing stuttering and speech flow concerns
• Augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) - Introducing communication devices and systems when appropriate

Convenient, coordinated care:

Our speech therapy is available at our Huntsville clinic location, with plans to expand to surrounding communities soon. Because we also provide ABA therapy services, your child can receive both therapies in one trusted location—creating seamless coordination between providers and faster progress toward goals.

Why Choose Everything On The Spectrum for Speech Therapy

When you're searching for a speech-language pathologist near me in Huntsville, you want more than just credentials—you want a team that truly cares about your child's progress and your family's peace of mind.

Here's what sets Everything On The Spectrum apart:

Integrated ABA and Speech Therapy - We're one of the few providers in Northern Alabama offering both services in-house. This means your child's speech therapist and behavior therapist work together, creating a coordinated treatment plan that addresses communication and behavioral goals simultaneously.

Experienced, licensed professionals - Our speech-language pathologist brings years of expertise and a genuine passion for helping children discover the joy of effective communication.

Play-based, child-centered approach - We meet children where they are and make therapy engaging, fun, and developmentally appropriate.

Safe, supportive environment - Since 2020, Everything On The Spectrum has been a trusted name in Northern Alabama for providing compassionate, high-quality care that helps children reach their fullest potential.

Convenient Huntsville location - With our clinic in Huntsville and expansion plans for surrounding areas, accessing expert speech therapy has never been easier for families across the region.



Your child deserves a team that believes in their potential. That's exactly what you'll find here.

Getting Started with Speech Therapy in Huntsville, AL

Taking the first step toward speech therapy for your child is easier than you might think. At Everything On The Spectrum, we make the process simple and stress-free.

Here's what to expect:

1. Schedule a consultation - Contact our team to discuss your child's communication challenges and goals. We'll answer your questions and determine if speech therapy is the right fit.

2. Initial evaluation - Our speech-language pathologist will assess your child's current communication skills through play-based activities and observations, identifying specific areas where therapy can help.

3. Personalized treatment plan - Based on the evaluation, we'll create a customized therapy plan tailored to your child's unique needs, strengths, and interests.

4. Begin therapy sessions - Your child will start regular speech therapy sessions in our safe, supportive Huntsville clinic, where they'll build communication skills through engaging, play-based activities.

5. Ongoing progress monitoring - We'll keep you informed every step of the way, celebrating milestones and adjusting the treatment plan as your child grows.

Ready to help your child find their voice? Contact Everything On The Spectrum today to schedule your consultation.

Our experienced speech-language pathologist is here to support your family's journey toward confident, effective communication.

Schedule Your Speech Therapy Consultation Today

Help your child develop the communication skills they need to thrive. Contact Everything On The Spectrum in Huntsville, AL to learn more about our play-based speech and language therapy services.