Speech, Language & Social Skills Support for Children
Watching a child struggle to communicate can leave parents searching for answers. Finding a provider who understands speech, language, and social skills makes all the difference. Enrichment Therapy & Learning Center has worked with families in the Des Moines area and Iowa City area, in person at our Johnston and North Liberty, IA, offices or virtually, to help children grow the communication tools they need.
Individualized Speech, Language, & Social Skills Support Tailored to Your Child
Seeing a child fall behind on communication milestones or struggle in school is hard for any parent to watch. Not having answers only adds to that worry. Partnering with our team of speech-language pathologists gives families a path toward identifying and treating the root issue holding a child back.
Our therapists treat a range of areas, including:
- Dyslexia
- Feeding and Swallowing Disorders
- Executive Functioning
- Social Skill Development
- Speech Sound Disorders
- Stuttering
What Makes Progress Possible
Real growth happens when therapy extends beyond the clinic walls. Our specialists design each plan around practical strategies families can weave into daily routines, turning everyday moments into learning opportunities. A few ways this shows up include:
Practicing target sounds during car rides or mealtime conversations
Using visual schedules to reinforce new vocabulary at home
Encouraging social interactions during playdates or family gatherings
Celebrating small wins to keep motivation high
Consistency between sessions and home life often speeds up progress. Children who practice regularly outside of therapy tend to reach their goals sooner, and parents gain tools that last well beyond the treatment plan itself.
When to Seek an Evaluation
Recognizing early signs of a communication delay can feel overwhelming, especially when unsure what falls within typical development. Some indicators worth discussing with a specialist include:
Difficulty being understood by unfamiliar listeners
Trouble following multi-step directions
Limited vocabulary compared to same-age peers
Avoiding conversations or social interactions with other children
An evaluation offers answers rather than guesswork. Our team walks families through the process step by step, explaining findings clearly and outlining what an individualized plan might look like moving forward. Waiting rarely helps, and early answers often open the door to faster progress.
Why Choose ETLC?
What Families Are Saying
"Since our son started Enrichment, he improved his speech sounds, reading, and writing enormously. His confidence is growing every day. We are so proud of his hard work to achieve all the goals."
"We have seen so much growth in our son's confidence when it comes to school. He's pronouncing words better and reading better!"
"Our daughter has been working with Mallory on her speech-language skills for the last few years and always looks forward to her time with her. The balance of hard work with play during their sessions keeps her engaged and focused on making progress. Throughout our years at Enrichment, she has grown in many areas. Most importantly, she's learned perseverance and her confidence has flourished, never letting a challenge interfere with her spunky personality! We're so grateful for the support she receives."
"Our son has been making strides with his confidence and reading skills! He looks forward to every session with Kaylie. I love hearing his excitement working with her from the waiting room. He is proud of himself and working very hard to accomplish his goals, and seeing him blossom these past few months has been amazing as his parent. We are grateful for all of the help Enrichment Therapies has provided for him."
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How Do I Get Started?
1. Start The Conversation
The first step is to reach out if you have a concern. We start with a conversation to learn about your child, answer your questions, and help guide your family toward the best next step, whether that is a screening, consultation, or evaluation.
2. Schedule A Consultation
Once scheduled, families complete an online intake so our team can tailor the evaluation to your concerns. After the evaluation, we meet with you to review the results and recommendations and answer your questions.
3. Receive An Individualized Plan
Your child receives a custom treatment plan with specific, measurable goals based on their unique needs. Depending on the provider, your insurance may cover our services. If it does not, we are transparent about cost.
4. Build Skills & Confidence
Through personalized one-on-one sessions, we help your child build skills and confidence. The length of treatment depends on your child's age, challenges, and progress, and we adjust the plan as your child grows.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does speech and language therapy involve?
Sessions target areas like articulation, vocabulary, grammar, and social communication. Therapists use play-based activities and structured exercises tailored to each child's specific goals, making progress feel natural rather than forced.
At what age should my child see a speech-language pathologist
Children can benefit from evaluation at any age once a parent notices a delay. Earlier evaluation often leads to faster progress, though older children and teens see meaningful gains as well.
How is a treatment plan created for my child?
An evaluation identifies specific areas needing attention. From there, therapists design a plan around measurable goals, adjusting activities and strategies as the child progresses through sessions.
Can I just work on speech and language at home?
Practice at home matters, but a speech-language pathologist first finds the exact skills underneath the difficulty and teaches them in order. Home practice then reinforces what your child is learning in sessions. Many parents tell us practice gets easier once they know exactly what to do.
Should we wait until the next school year to start?
Waiting rarely makes a speech or language difficulty smaller, and a school year is a long time in a child's development. Starting now means progress during the months you would have waited. A first conversation can show whether now is the right time for your child.
Ready to Help Your Child Thrive?
You saw something, and you are acting early. That matters. Reach out today, and our speech-language pathologists and learning specialists in Johnston and North Liberty, IA, will guide you to the right next step, with virtual services also available.