MORE SUPPORT FROM KUTEST KIDS:

Kutest Kids

Speech Therapy in Philadelphia & surrounding counties · Ages birth – 18 years

Your child has so much to say.

Let’s help them say it.

Expert Speech Therapy for children who are struggling with communication, language, feeding, or social connection — at any age.

In-network with most insurance providers
Roxborough & Northeast Philadelphia clinics
IS YOUR CHILD UNDER 5? They may qualify for FREE Speech Therapy through Early Intervention — no diagnosis needed. Ask us about it when you call, or visit our Early Intervention page.

25,000+

kids supported

185

licensed, certified therapists

51,000+

play sessions at our sensory playground

You watch other kids and wonder,

‘Is this normal?’

When your child is struggling to communicate, it affects their behavior at home, at school, with friends — everywhere. Frustration, tantrums, defiance – so much of negative behavior might be as a result of being unable to express themselves or understand your instructions.
Girl

Speech therapy

can help.

Expressive Language
Expressive Language

Your child has difficulty putting their thoughts into words. They may know what they want to say but struggle to find the words, form sentences, or tell a story in a way others can follow.

Receptive Language
Receptive Language

Your child has trouble understanding what’s said to them — following directions, answering questions, or grasping the meaning behind words and sentences.

Language Processing
Language processing

Your child can hear fine, but seems to take longer to process spoken information, loses the thread of a conversation, and struggles when too many instructions come at once.

Late Talking
Late talking / language delays

Your child isn’t saying words or phrases when you’d expect — or their language has stalled and isn’t progressing the way it should.

Unclear Speech
Unclear speech (articulation)

Others can’t understand your child, even when you can. You’d have thought that by this age they’d have ‘caught up’.

Stuttering and fluency

Speech that’s halting, repetitive, or interrupted in a way that’s affecting your child’s confidence or willingness to communicate.

Social Communication
Social communication

Your child struggles to take turns in conversation, read social cues, understand tone and context, or connect with other kids the way they want to.

Feeding and swallowing
Feeding and swallowing

Difficulty latching (for babies), chewing, managing textures, or swallowing safely. Our speech therapists support the whole mouth, not just words.

Autism Related
Autism-related communication

From building first words to navigating complex social language — we have deep experience supporting children with autism across the full spectrum of communication.

 Not sure if speech therapy is right for your child?
Call us. We’ll ask the right questions and give you an honest answer.

What does Speech Therapy at Kutest Kids

look like?

It looks like a kid who couldn’t string a sentence together last spring, reading aloud to their class in June. A child who used to shut down at the dinner table, finally telling you about their day. It looks different for every child — but the “You did it!” moments are the same.

Your child’s therapist gets to know their personality, preferences, what makes them light up — because that’s what turns a session into a breakthrough. The plan is custom-built for your child. And we work closely with teachers and caregivers, so wins spill over from the therapy room.

How it works

Reach out

Call us or send a message. We’re waiting to hear from you.

We sort the insurance

We check your benefits and explain exactly what’s covered.

Your child is evaluated

A speech therapist assesses their needs and builds a personalized plan.

Therapy begins

With a consistent therapist your child will look forward to seeing.

You’re never left
guessing 

We track progress, adjust the plan, and keep you in the loop throughout.

Support doesn’t stop when the session’s over.

When your child needs extra support, the whole family feels it — the relief when things click, the weight when it’s hard. Which is why our support extends beyond the clinic.
Kids

at Play

Indoor sensory playground in Roxborough, open to all families

Parents as
Teachers

Free parenting coaching and resources, for parents that want to get this right

Kids at Play
Foundation

Free essentials: diapers, clothing, toys, and more, no questions asked

Social work
support

Whatever your family is going through, get help managing it all

Every child deserves to be understood

Tell us what you’re seeing, we’ll check your coverage and get back to you fast. No complicated intake, no long wait. Just a conversation with someone who wants to help.

FAQs

Getting Started

How do I know if my child needs speech therapy?

Trust your instincts. If something feels off about how your child communicates — whether they’re not talking yet, hard to understand, struggling to follow instructions, or having trouble with schoolwork or socially — it’s worth getting an assessment. You don’t need to wait for a diagnosis or a referral. Just give us a call and we’ll help you figure out whether speech therapy is the right fit.

Does my child need a referral or diagnosis to start?

No referral is needed to contact us. Some insurance plans do require a referral from a pediatrician before therapy begins — we’ll check this when we verify your benefits, so you know exactly what’s needed before you commit to anything.

What happens on the first call?

We’ll ask a few simple questions about your child — their age, what you’re noticing, how it’s affecting them — and we’ll give you an honest, clear picture of what speech therapy at Kutest Kids looks like and what the next steps are. No pressure, no complicated forms.

What does the initial assessment involve?

Your child’s SLP will conduct a standardized evaluation covering their specific areas of concern. This typically includes norm-referenced assessments of expressive and receptive language, articulation, and phonological processing, alongside clinical observation and a parent interview. The results identify whether a delay or disorder is present, at what severity, and what the intervention goals should be. You’ll receive a clear explanation of the findings and the recommended plan of care.

How quickly can we get started?

Once insurance is confirmed and an initial assessment is scheduled, we move as quickly as possible. We know that every week matters — especially for younger children — and we work to get your child seen without unnecessary delays.
Insurance & Cost

Is speech therapy covered by insurance?

Yes — speech therapy is covered by most major insurance plans. We’re in-network with most providers, and we’ll check your benefits, explain exactly what’s covered, and handle the authorizations before you start. No surprises.

Is there any free speech therapy available for young children?

Children under 3 may qualify for free Speech Therapy through Pennsylvania’s Early Intervention program — no diagnosis required. In Philadelphia, we also provide Early Intervention services for children aged 3–5. Give us a call and we’ll help you determine which route is the right starting point for your child.

What if I’m not sure what my insurance covers?

That’s what we’re here for. Give us a call and we’ll look into it for you. We’ve done this thousands of times and can usually get you a clear answer quickly — so you can focus on your child, not the paperwork.
The Therapy Itself

What does a speech therapy session look like?

Sessions are 1-on-1, engaging, and tailored to your child’s specific goals and personality. For younger children, therapy often feels like play. For older children, it might involve conversation, games, or activities built around what they’re working on. Your child’s therapist will take the time to understand what motivates them.

How long is a session?

Sessions are typically 30-45 minutes.

Where do sessions take place?

Sessions are held at our Roxborough (7201 Ridge Ave, Philadelphia PA 19128) or Northeast Philadelphia (1917 Welsh Road, Philadelphia PA 19115) clinics. Both locations have on-site parking. 

Can your Speech therapists come to my kid’s school or home?

If you opt for private-pay Speech Therapy, therapists can come to you. Call us for more details.

How long does speech therapy last?

It depends on your child’s needs, age, and goals. After an initial assessment, your therapist will give you a picture of what progress might look like and over what timeframe. Plans are reviewed regularly and adjusted as your child grows and hits new milestones.

Will my child see the same therapist every time?

Yes — and this matters more than it might seem. Building a consistent relationship with one therapist is where real progress happens, especially for children working on communication and social skills. Our therapists are passionate and committed, and we invest in our therapists so they’re proud to be a part of our team.

What if my child refuses to talk or cooperate?

Completely normal, especially at the start. Our therapists are experienced at building trust gradually — meeting your child where they are, finding what makes them comfortable, and working from there. Most children who are reluctant at first end up genuinely looking forward to sessions.

My child only struggles in certain situations — is that still worth addressing?

Yes. Selective or situational communication challenges are common and very treatable. Whether your child shuts down at school but talks freely at home, or struggles in groups but not one-on-one, a speech therapist can identify what’s driving it and build targeted support around it.
For Parents

What’s my role as a parent?

An important one — and a supported one. Your child’s therapist will keep you updated on what’s being worked on and show you simple ways to reinforce progress at home between sessions. 

What if I don’t feel like the therapist is the right fit?

Tell us. The relationship between your child and their therapist is central to the work — if something doesn’t feel right, we’ll work with you to find a better match.

My child has autism. Does Kutest Kids have experience with that?

Yes — we have deep experience supporting children with autism across the full spectrum of communication needs, from building first words to developing complex social language. If your child also receives ABA therapy, we can coordinate care across both services so everything is working in the same direction.
About Speech Therapy

What is speech therapy, and what does a speech-language pathologist actually do?

Speech-language pathologists (SLPs) are licensed clinicians who assess and treat disorders of communication, language, fluency, voice, and feeding. The scope is broader than most parents expect. SLPs work across four main domains: articulation and speech intelligibility, expressive and receptive language, pragmatic (social) communication, and oral-motor function including feeding and swallowing. At Kutest Kids, our SLPs work with children from birth through 18.

What’s the difference between a speech delay and a language disorder?

These are related but distinct. A speech delay means a child is developing communication skills more slowly than expected but following the typical sequence — they’ll likely catch up, especially with early support. A language disorder (expressive or receptive) involves a more fundamental difficulty with how the brain processes or produces language, which may persist without targeted intervention. During assessment, your SLP will determine whether your child is presenting with a delay, a disorder, or a specific diagnostic profile such as childhood apraxia of speech (CAS), dysarthria, or a fluency disorder like stuttering.

What is expressive vs. receptive language?

Expressive language is your child’s ability to communicate their thoughts, needs, and ideas — through words, sentences, gestures, or alternative means. Receptive language is their ability to understand what’s being said to them: following directions, answering questions, and processing spoken information. Children can have difficulties in one area, both, or a mixed profile, and treatment targets each separately.
Beyond Speech

What if my child needs more than speech therapy?

We offer OT, PT, and Mental Health therapy all under one roof. If your child’s speech therapist identifies needs in other areas, we can coordinate additional services without you having to manage multiple providers or travel to multiple locations.

My child is under 5. Should I look into Early Intervention first?

If your child is under 5, they may qualify for free Speech Therapy through Early Intervention — no diagnosis needed. Give us a call and we’ll help you figure out whether EI or insurance-based therapy is the right starting point for your child.