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Maureen Niklaus, MS Ccc-Slp Pediatric Speech-Language Pathologist

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Williamsport, PA
Maureen Niklaus, MS Ccc-Slp Pediatric Speech-Language Pathologist

A Private Practice for Children with Speech and Language Impairments Maureen Niklaus, M.S.

CCC-SLP is a Speech-Language Pathologist in private practice in Williamsport, PA. Maureen specializes in pediatrics and is dedicated to providing thorough diagnostic evaluations and personalized therapy for children in the Williamsport area. In addition to private practice, previous work experience at Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh and at UPMC Susquehanna Health. Areas of specialty include: preschool language disorders, Autism spectrum disorder, articulation and phonological disorders, childhood apraxia of speech, and stuttering. Licensed by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and Certified by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association.

11/11/2025

I'll let you in on a big little "secret."

Two- and three-year olds HATE being told what to do. (And I do mean absolutely, to their core, HATE it!) If you need proof, just stop by my office anytime! 😊

SO... my suggestion?

Stop TELLING your child to say words when they are trying to let you know they want something! Instead think, "say it myself."

If you can break the habit of "telling" your child what to do, and simply SAY the word yourself a few times BEFORE you give them the beloved object... "Oh, cookie! Cookie! You want a cookie. Here's a cookie!" Honestly, you might just be amazed!

Instead of causing tension and frustration, you have given "control" to your toddler and they are now much more likely to try to say the word after you! By modeling the wonderful MAGIC of language for them, you are much more likely to watch it grow and unfold in front of your eyes!

10/30/2025

Autism...
Stuttering...
Articulation Impairments...
Down Syndrome...
Language Disorders...
Childhood Apraxia of Speech...
Developmental Delays...
and....
my plea this time of year!

Friends, PLEASE be understanding if you can't fully understand a little one at your front door this Halloween. Trick or Treating might be a much bigger feat than you realize for that child, AND for their family.

So please be patient with children who don't say "Trick or Treat" clearly, or not at all, as they may be unable to do so. Might I suggest that instead of putting them on the spot, we simply help such children by smiling and saying it for them?

Thank you everyone and Happy Halloween!

10/28/2025

The Language "Explosion!"

Yes, at this tender age, the AVERAGE 18-month old is using 50 different words (on their own) and is adding new words to their expressive vocabulary each week. Do some children this age use fewer? Of course.

But some little ones are using even more!

In typical language development, 18-months marks the beginning of the "language explosion" so that by the time they turn 2-years of age, children are putting 2- and occasionally 3-words together!

Questions or concerns about your little one? PLEASE do not panic! I am more than happy to answer your questions and give some suggestions. Feel free to reach out any time!

10/15/2025

Here’s to many more years and children!

Although I’ve been practicing for more than 30 years (can I really be THAT old?), I made my dream a reality six years ago today when I opened my very own office space.

Thank you to all the families that have crossed my threshold and graced me with their children. You are all just the best to work with and it is you, who have kept me here, doing the things I love!

10/08/2025

Because it is how little human beings learn language!

Joint attention is the ability to share a common focus on something with another person. It is how things in this big, crazy world become "salient" to young children as we adults talk about them... helping children "pair" objects and concepts with the "words" they hear from us.

Examples? Baby looking at the plane in the sky as you point to it and say, "Look! Plane!"

A young child looking and paying attention to where you show them to fit that puzzle piece.

Or a child turning to look at the dog after you turned towards it and said, "No barking!"

Joint attention, coupled with the words we are saying like "plane," "in" or "barking," are what open the door to the amazing world of language.

Joint attention with your child matters. Questions or concerns? Reach out anytime!

09/30/2025

He NAILED it!
Part II
(Using what you HAVE)

He is a Kindergartner with significant Autism, learning how to use words and combine words. He did better than I expected in the language expansion activity, adding on the "shoes" he wanted without my prompting for it at all.

"I want green pants...red shoes" he stated to my delight. As I excitedly said, "Yay!" and handed them to him, he pushed the puzzle piece back at me.

"Try again," he said. "Try again!"

I was perplexed. "You want to try again?" I asked, thinking he wanted, for some reason, to change the words he had used (he does amazingly self-correct sometimes).

But he got a little frustrated with me, swatting at my hands holding the two choices. "TRY AGAIN!" he sort of yelled at me.

Then it hit me. He didn't like the choices I had offered! He wanted to choose something else and wanted me to offer him others!

How much I LOVE when my littles who are new to language and communication use ANY and ALL that they've got available to them to communicate their wants and needs. Not to mention when they persevere, stick it out in a "communication breakdown," not have a melt down... but wait for Mo to figure out their message! Wow. That's progress that makes my heart happy!

09/29/2025

He NAILED it!
Part I.

My last client late on Fridays is a delightful kindergartner on the Autism Spectrum who struggles with speech production and language, along with significant behaviors. He can become seriously self-injurious at home, but thankfully has not been so with me.

I have tried to incorporate emotion words into our activities as much as possible, in the hopes that having "words" to express emotions will decrease such concerning behaviors.

In this language expansion activity on Friday (see post II regarding that goal...) he had to choose an emotional "face" for each Bear in the family. He knew the words for "sad," "sleepy," "mad," "sick" and "happy..." but when showed "surprised," gave the most spot-on novel answer I've ever heard.

"Oh NO!" he said, replicating the face himself as he labeled the facial expression.

Hah. I think he nailed the emotion depicted a little bit better than my "surprised!" Love it!

09/25/2025

Yes there is a name for it!
"Cluttering."

Treatment involves techniques to decrease speaking rate and increase breath support for speech, along with strategies to tackle the underlying language difficulties that result in poor language organization. Not easy, for sure. But possible with treatment!

Questions? Reach out any time!

09/12/2025

For Mom...
But Really?
For YOU!

He will be 8 years old in November, and for the last 18 + months, has been in treatment with me for a very, very severe phonological impairment. So severe, that my trained ear often couldn't understand him in connected speech until recent months... and so severe, that I had to make up my own treatment approach to tackle the unusual speech patterns he exhibited that deviated significantly from typical (and known atypical!) development. (Knock on wood... it seems to have worked.)

Fast forward to today. My goal now is for him to use what he's learned so far in "less structured" and more spontaneous speech. So we played "Candy Land" and "Bingo" today (both games I Ioaded with words containing his target sounds in all word positions). His challenge today?

Make your percentage HIGHER than last week when we first tried this!

His numbers jumped so high! And he was SO thrilled, and so very proud!

Since Dad brought him today, I told him I would write his "scores" from last week and this week on his parents' weekly receipt so he could show his Mom. After sharing with Dad in the waiting room, I asked this sweetheart if I should put it in his homework folder so as not to lose it "No," he said, smiling, as he proceeded to open up the folded paper in his hands as he turned to go. Apparently he just wanted to look at the numbers by himself on the car ride home!

What a sweet and unbelievably hard working, dedicated 7 year old. He amazes me and I am SO glad our paths have crossed. So yes, Mom and Dad, this progress is for YOU! But most importantly, as you know, it is for him! And he knows it.

09/10/2025

When a thoughtful Mom, whose child you discharged over a year ago, texts you a photo and an update on how fabulous her smart daughter is doing in her last year of preschool!! I am just so lucky for such smiles!

09/04/2025

I do have a few openings, if you or someone you know might be interested. Thank you in advance for spreading the word my friends!

08/27/2025

When children are young, it is completely normal for parents to struggle at times... and for strangers and extended family ("unfamiliar listeners") to struggle even more. But by age 3, the majority of a child's speech should be understood by everyone.

Questions about your little one? Feel free to reach out any time!

Address

59 East 4th Street
Williamsport, PA
17701

Telephone

+15703603413

Website

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