The Speech Path Buffalo

12/24/2025

Happy Holidays from all of us at The Speech Path 💙

Thank you for being part of our community, we’re so grateful for each and every family we get to support.

12/22/2025

MYTH MONDAY: "Reading to children who can't talk yet is pointless" 🚫

Some parents think there's no benefit to reading to nonverbal children since they can't respond!

✔️ THE TRUTH: Reading to nonverbal children is one of the MOST beneficial activities for language development, regardless of their verbal output!

WHY READING HELPS NONVERBAL CHILDREN:
• Exposes them to vocabulary they wouldn't hear in daily conversation
• Teaches story structure and narrative concepts
• Builds understanding of how books and print work
• Creates positive associations with language and learning

WHAT THEY'RE LEARNING EVEN WITHOUT TALKING:
• Cause and effect relationships in stories
• Emotional vocabulary through character experiences
• Sequencing and prediction skills
• Turn-taking through page turning

HOW TO READ TO NONVERBAL CHILDREN:
• Point to pictures and name them
• Use animated voices for different characters
• Pause and wait for any response (looking, pointing, sounds)
• Let them turn pages and explore the book
• Repeat favorite books multiple times

SIGNS THEY'RE ENGAGED:
• Looking at pictures you point to
• Reaching for the book or pages
• Making sounds or movements during exciting parts
• Bringing books to you
• Sitting still longer during reading time

REMEMBER: Comprehension comes before expression, they're absorbing everything!

What's your nonverbal child's favorite book? How do they show interest? 👇

Comment "SPEECH TIPS" for more reading strategies for nonverbal children!

12/17/2025

Speech therapy shouldn’t feel like a checklist. ✔️

It should feel like connection. 🫶

At The Speech Path, we focus on functional, engaging, family-centered therapy that supports the whole child, and empowers families along the way.

💬 Real communication
🧠 Real understanding
🏡 Real-life carryover

12/15/2025

MYTH MONDAY: "Quiet, calm children don't need support" 🚫

Society often praises quiet, passive children as "good kids," but silence isn't always golden!

✔️ THE TRUTH: Some quiet children may be struggling with communication challenges, social anxiety, or other underlying issues that need support!

DIFFERENT TYPES OF QUIET:
• Selective mutism: Speaking in some settings but not others
• Processing delays: Needing extra time to formulate responses
• Hearing difficulties: Not responding because they can't hear clearly
• Social communication challenges: Difficulty knowing how to join conversations

RED FLAGS FOR CONCERNING QUIET:
• Not speaking at school but talking at home (or vice versa)
• Sudden changes in communication patterns
• Avoiding social situations entirely
• Appearing frustrated when trying to communicate

WHAT QUIET MIGHT REALLY MEAN:
• "I don't know how to join this conversation"
• "I need more time to think of what to say"
• "I'm overwhelmed by all the noise and activity"
• "I want to communicate but don't have the words"

WHEN TO BE CONCERNED:
• Significant differences between home and school communication
• Regression in previously developed skills
• Signs of frustration or withdrawal
• Limited communication across multiple settings

REMEMBER: Every child deserves to have their voice heard and supported!

Have you ever worried about a child being "too quiet"? 👇

Comment "SPEECH TIPS" for more information about supporting quiet children!

12/12/2025

👋Hi! I'm Jillian Lenhard, M.S.Ed., CCC-SLP/L, TSSLD.

I’m the owner and founder of The Speech Path SLP, PLLC, a pediatric private practice built on connection, compassion, evidence-based care, and a whole lot of play.

After more than 13 years in the field, my passion remains the same: helping little learners and their families feel supported, empowered, and understood.

My clinical work spans birth through school age, but I especially love supporting early language development, late talkers, speech sound disorders, and neurodiverse learners.

My therapy style blends structure with silliness, grounded in research, but always individualized to what keeps a child regulated, engaged, and growing.

I built The Speech Path to be a warm, supportive space for families and a joyful one for therapists. Celebrating first words, growing confidence, and empowering parents are the moments that fuel me.

Outside the therapy room, you’ll usually find me with my husband and two boys, reading, cheering on sideline sports, or creating new resources for families and SLPs.

Fun fact: I’m the kind of person who starts “one quick idea” and suddenly it’s a full-blown project.

A phrase I come back to often is: “Connection first, communication second.” Because when a child feels safe and supported, everything else follows.

I’m endlessly grateful for every family that trusts us and for the incredible clinicians who bring The Speech Path to life each day.

12/11/2025

Meet Brooke! One of our amazing SLPs known for her gentle style, playful energy, and the way she helps children grow with confidence.

👋Hi! I'm Brooke Einstman, M.S.Ed., CCC-SLP/L, TSSLD.

I am passionate about supporting children as they develop their first words, new sounds, and meaningful ways to communicate. Helping individuals find their voice and empowering families to support their child’s communication journey is one of the most rewarding parts of my work as a Speech-Language Pathologist. Nothing compares to the joy and pure excitement that comes with hearing a communicator produce their first sound or word.

While I am fortunate to work with clients across a wide range of ages, I especially enjoy working with young children. My professional interests include articulation, phonology, stuttering, and supporting Gestalt Language Processors.

Play-based therapy is at the heart of my sessions. You can always find bubbles, Pop the Pig, peek-a-boo farm animals, or a puzzle in my therapy bag. No session is complete without laughter, engaging activities, and plenty of opportunities to learn through play. I love getting creative to design motivating, meaningful interactions that tap into each child’s individual interests.

Outside of work, I enjoy crafting with my Cricut, playing UNO with my family, discovering new lunch spots with friends, and eating plenty of ice cream. A fun fact about me: I love to travel, and I recently got married in Italy!

A quote I often remind myself of is, "everything happens for a reason".

I am incredibly thankful for all the families and clients that trust me with their care, journey and progress.

12/10/2025

Meet Olivia, one of the incredible SLPs on our team! She brings so much heart, playfulness, and expertise to every session, and our little learners absolutely adore her. 💙

👋Hi! I’m Olivia Rizzo, M.A., CCC-SLP, TSSLD.

I’m a speech-language pathologist who loves working with children of all ages, but toddlers and preschoolers, especially those between 1 and 5 years old, truly have my heart. My favorite areas of practice include speech sound disorders, early language development, and gestalt language processing. I’m passionate about creating therapy experiences that are fun, meaningful, and child-centered.

I became a SLP because I valued the privilege of supporting children, advocating for their needs, and empowering parents throughout their communication journey. Some of my favorite therapy materials include interactive books, anything from Learning Resources, and Goliath Games!

A fun fact about me is that I also work with The University at Buffalo Motor Speech Disorders Lab as a research assistant/manager, where I get to dive deeper into the science behind the work I do every day.

Outside of my work, I love walking my dog, reading, and spending time with friends and family. On the weekends, you can also find me trying new coffee shops (this SLP definitely runs on coffee).

My favorite mantra is: “Don’t count the days, make the days count.”

12/08/2025

MYTH MONDAY: "Crying babies don't need language input" 🚫

Many parents think there's no point talking to a crying baby since they're "not listening."

✔️ THE TRUTH: Crying babies are actually in a heightened state of attention and can still benefit from calm, soothing language input!

WHAT'S REALLY HAPPENING:
• Crying is communication—babies are trying to tell you something
• Your calm voice can help regulate their nervous system
• They're learning that communication gets responses
• Narrating what you're doing helps them understand routines

HOW TO PROVIDE LANGUAGE DURING CRYING:
• "I hear you crying. You sound upset. Let me check your diaper."
• "You're hungry! I'm getting your bottle ready."
• "I know, I know. This is hard. Mommy's here."
• Use a calm, soothing tone even when describing what you're doing

WHY THIS MATTERS:
• Builds early communication patterns
• Teaches cause and effect
• Models emotional regulation through language
• Shows that their communication attempts matter

REMEMBER: Even crying babies are learning from your words and tone!

Have you noticed your baby responding to your voice during fussy times? 👇

Comment "SPEECH TIPS" for more ways to support early communication!

12/03/2025

https://www.thespeechpathbuffalo.com/post/real-life-speech-language-concerns-parents-ask-about-all-the-time-and-why-you-re-not-alone

If you’ve ever found yourself lying awake at 2 AM Googling, “Is it normal that my child still can’t say that sound?"...hi, you’re in good company. I work with families every single day who are navigating the same questions, worries, and “I swear he said this yesterday but now he won’t sa...

12/01/2025

MYTH MONDAY: "Speech therapy should show results immediately" 🚫

This unrealistic expectation sets families up for disappointment and therapists up for failure!

✔️THE TRUTH: Language learning is a complex process that takes time, practice, and patience!

WHY SPEECH THERAPY TAKES TIME:
• Children need to hear new words 50-100 times before using them
• Motor patterns for speech sounds require thousands of repetitions to become automatic
• Confidence building happens gradually through positive experiences
• Brain pathways for communication develop over months, not days

WHAT "PROGRESS" ACTUALLY LOOKS LIKE:
• Increased attention and engagement during activities
• More attempts at communication (even if unclear)
• Using gestures or sounds in new situations
• Showing interest in books or songs
• Reduced frustration during communication attempts

REALISTIC TIMELINES:
• First month: Building rapport and baseline skills
• 2-3 months: Emerging new skills and increased attempts
• 6+ months: More consistent use of new skills
• 1+ year: Generalization to different settings and people

WHY PATIENCE MATTERS:
• Rushing creates pressure that can slow progress
• Each child's timeline is unique to their needs and learning style
• Small steps forward are still meaningful progress
• Consistency over time leads to lasting change

MY ADVICE: Celebrate the journey, not just the destination! Every small step forward is building the foundation for bigger breakthroughs.

REMEMBER: Speech therapy is a marathon, not a sprint!

What small progress have you celebrated recently with your child? 👇

Comment "SPEECH TIPS" for more!

11/29/2025

🎄💚 Two little Whos stopped by The Speech Path today and helped turn our office tree into Grinchmas magic.✨

Feeling extra festive (and only slightly Grinchy) over here!