Play-based. Family-centred. Built around your child’s communication.
Children use communication to learn, to express themselves, and to build and nurture relationships. When communication is challenging, it can affect every part of a child’s world; their learning, their friendships, their confidence, and their sense of self.
At Little Buddies Pediatric Therapy, our speech-language pathologists (SLPs) work with children across a wide range of communication needs, from speech sound development and language delays to social communication, stuttering, and augmentative and alternative communication (AAC). Our approach is play-based, family-centred, and grounded in each child’s individual profile and priorities.
We provide speech therapy for kids at our clinics in Burnaby and Richmond, supporting families across Metro Vancouver and the Lower Mainland. Early identification and intervention can make a significant difference, and we’re here to help you take that first step.
What Can Speech Therapy For Kids Help With?
Speech-language pathology addresses a broad range of communication needs. Our SLPs assess, diagnose, and treat the following areas:
Speech disorders
Speech disorders occur when a child has difficulty producing speech sounds correctly or fluently, or has challenges with voice or resonance — including articulation, phonological disorders, and stuttering. Speech therapy helps children develop clearer, more confident communication.
Language disorders
Language disorders affect a child’s ability to understand what others are saying, or to express their own thoughts, ideas, and feelings. These challenges can affect learning, reading, and everyday interaction. Our SLPs build language skills in ways that are meaningful and functional for each child.
Social communication
Social communication is how we use language in social contexts — greeting others, asking questions, adjusting how we speak depending on the listener, and following the rules of conversation and storytelling. Our SLPs support these skills in a way that respects each child’s communication style.
Cognitive communication
Cognitive communication disorders affect a child’s ability to organize their thoughts, pay attention, remember, plan, and problem-solve. These often co-occur with other developmental differences and can significantly affect participation at school and at home.
Augmentative and alternative communication (AAC)
For children who communicate through means other than speech — including gestures, picture systems, speech-generating devices, or other AAC tools — our SLPs provide specialist assessment, device support, and training for families and school teams. Every child deserves a way to communicate, and we support children in finding what works for them.
Signs Your Child Might Benefit from Speech Therapy
You know your child best. If you’ve noticed any of the following, a speech-language assessment may be a helpful next step:
- Your child’s speech is difficult to understand for familiar or unfamiliar listeners
- Your child has a limited vocabulary or is not yet combining words as expected for their age
- Your child has difficulty following instructions or understanding what is said to them
- Your child struggles to find words, express ideas, or tell a story in sequence
- Your child avoids or finds it difficult to interact with other children
- Your child stutters, hesitates, or repeats sounds or words frequently
- Your child has limited or no verbal communication and may benefit from AAC
- Your child has received a diagnosis of autism, a language disorder, or a developmental difference that affects communication
You do not need a referral or a formal diagnosis to reach out to us.
Our SLP Services
Speech-language therapy at Little Buddies is structured around two core service pathways. Whether your child is coming to us for the first time or continuing existing therapy, we have a clear process for getting started.
SLP Assessments
Our SLP assessments give a comprehensive picture of your child’s communication strengths and needs. We offer a Standard Assessment for children beginning therapy, as well as specialist AAC Assessments and AAC Consultations for children who use or may benefit from augmentative and alternative communication. For families with an existing SLP report, a Care Plan pathway is also available.
SLP AssessmentsSLP Treatment
Clinic-based SLP sessions at Little Buddies are 45 minutes of direct therapy, with 10 minutes of parent consultation and 5 minutes of documentation. Goals are developed in collaboration with your family and reviewed throughout the treatment process. We also offer school and daycare consultation sessions, and AAC device support as part of your child’s treatment plan.
SLP TreatmentOur Approach to Speech Therapy for Kids
Little Buddies takes a neuro-informed, family-centered approach to occupational therapy. It respects the whole child and honours neurodiversity at every step. Rather than asking children to simply comply, we meet them where they are and build from there.
Play is the medium.
Our SLPs use play to engage children, build therapeutic relationships, and develop communication skills in a way that feels natural and enjoyable. Sessions are never rigid or scripted; they follow the child’s lead and respond to what captures their attention and motivation on the day.
Every mode of communication is valid.
At Little Buddies, children are supported in expressing themselves using any mode of communication that works for them; speech, gestures, signs, pictures, or AAC devices. We do not prioritize speech above other communication methods. What matters is that your child can connect, express, and participate.
Families are central to the process.
Speech and language goals are developed in collaboration with you, based on your concerns and your child’s individual needs. We share strategies you can use at home and keep you informed throughout the treatment process. We also collaborate with school and daycare teams when it’s helpful, to support consistency across the environments where your child spends their time.
Integrated with occupational therapy when appropriate.
Our SLPs and occupational therapists work closely together. Many children benefit from both disciplines; for example, a child whose sensory regulation affects their ability to communicate, or a child where DIR Floortime® principles are woven through both their OT and SLP sessions. Our interdisciplinary approach means your child’s care is coordinated and consistent.
Funding Options for Speech Therapy
Depending on your child’s profile and eligibility, speech therapy at Little Buddies may be covered through:
- BC Autism Funding (for children with an ASD diagnosis)
- The At Home Program (for children with complex needs)
- Extended health benefits through your employer plan
- MCFD Community-Based Services (in some circumstances)
Funding options vary by family, and eligibility criteria can change. Contact us and we’ll help you understand what may be available.
Contact UsFAQs About Speech Therapy for Kids
What does a speech-language pathologist (SLP) do?
A speech-language pathologist assesses, diagnoses, and treats communication disorders in children. This includes difficulties with speech sounds, expressive and receptive language, social communication, fluency (stuttering), voice, and augmentative and alternative communication (AAC). At Little Buddies, our SLPs work with children from early childhood through adolescence.
What is the difference between speech therapy and speech-language pathology?
They refer to the same field. “Speech therapy” is the common term used by most families, while “speech-language pathology” is the clinical title for the profession. At Little Buddies, our registered speech-language pathologists provide what most families would call speech therapy for kids.
At what age should a child start speech therapy?
Speech therapy can begin as early as infancy and is appropriate at any age. Early intervention is widely recognized as having a significant positive impact; the earlier a communication challenge is identified, the more effectively it can be addressed. That said, it is never too late to seek support, and our SLPs work with children of all ages.
Does my child need a diagnosis to access speech therapy?
No. You do not need a referral or a formal diagnosis to access speech therapy at Little Buddies. If you have concerns about your child’s communication development, at any age and for any reason, we’re happy to talk it through with you and help you determine whether an assessment is the right next step.
How does speech therapy at Little Buddies connect with occupational therapy?
Many children benefit from both SLP and OT services, and at Little Buddies our two teams work closely together. Our SLPs integrate DIR Floortime® principles into their sessions, and collaborate with occupational therapists when a child’s sensory profile, motor skills, or regulatory needs intersect with their communication goals. This integrated approach means your child’s therapy is coordinated rather than siloed.
What is AAC, and does Little Buddies support it?
AAC stands for Augmentative and Alternative Communication; tools and strategies that help children communicate when speech alone isn’t sufficient. This can include picture boards, sign language, speech-generating devices, and communication apps. Little Buddies offers specialist AAC assessments and consultations, as well as ongoing AAC support within treatment. You can learn more on our AAC resources page.