Does My Child Need Speech Therapy? Everything Moms Need to Know About Signs, Airway Issues & Therapy Options with Kim Gray [Ep 42]

Speech Therapy 101 for Moms: Signs, Timing, School Services, and Airway Links Host Michelle Barnett introduces the Mommin’ Together podcast and interviews licensed speech language pathologist Kim about what speech therapy is and when kids may need it. Kim shares her background, describes pediatric domains including articulation, receptive and expressive language, social language, stuttering (developmental vs. persistent), and feeding/swallowing, and highlights early signs such as limited babbling or vocabulary, not responding to sounds or name, hearing issues, and communication-related frustration. They discuss “late talkers,” developmental sound norms (most sounds by age five), and how airway issues (sleep apnea signs, palate shape, mouth breathing, snoring, teeth grinding, bedwetting) can affect attention, growth, and speech, sometimes addressed with scans, expanders, and tie revisions. Kim compares private vs. school-based therapy eligibility and models, notes homeschool/private-school access to public services in Texas, explains variable therapy duration, suggests at-home language-building strategies, and provides ways to connect via Teach Speech ETX resources.00:00 Welcome to Mommin Together00:48 Meet Kim the SLP01:15 Kim’s Path to Speech Therapy04:06 What Speech Therapy Covers07:29 Stuttering and Feeding Basics11:03 Early Signs to Watch14:58 Late Talker or Delay17:09 Cute Mispronunciations and Norms20:06 Airway Issues and Oral Exam26:08 Airway Resources and Growth30:49 Starting Early vs Later33:22 Private vs School Services33:43 Private Therapy Options34:52 School Eligibility Cutoffs37:17 Group Versus One On One38:49 Services Without Enrollment40:24 Requesting Evaluations Right43:04 Homeschool Outpatient Programs45:03 How Long Therapy Takes49:11 Home Language Routines54:35 When To Get Evaluated56:12 Apps Tools And Contact01:01:14 Mom Mindset And Presence01:04:52 Final Encouragement OutroConnect with KimKim Gray, a licensed and certified speech-language pathologist through the Texas State Board of Examiners and the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA). I have extensive experience over the last 15 years with supporting children ages 2–18. I specialize in articulation, language development, social communication, identification of orofacial myofunctional disorders, family-centered therapy, and advocacy for school based services. I am a wife, and a mom to two beautiful children, and an avid dog lover/ rescuer and foster. Teach Speech ETX Website http://teachspeechetx.comTeach Speech Phone: 903-521-5368Resources: Free Developmental Milestones Checklist: https://www.facebook.com/teachspeechetxGet Speech Therapy Through a School - Texas Project First: https://texasprojectfirst.org/Speech Therapy Apps: For articulation:1. Speech tutor 2. Articulate it 3. Articulation station hive.4. Articulation games 5.  Speech box For language: Speak easy Speech blubsPok pokMy words For visual schedules: Choiceworks ReadysetEast Texas Airway Specialists:Beyond Pediatrics DentistryEast Texas Orofacial MyologyDr. Tad MorganDr. Evans - Healthier SmilesMosaic DentistryDr. Capps OrthodontistAirway Educators on Instagram:Oral Motor InstituteBreathe_instituteRestorateive_myoAskthedentistConnect with Michelle:Instagram: ⁠@Mommin_Together @Michelle_Barnett_ Join our ⁠Mommin’ Together Facebook Community⁠