Alexis Irazoque, M.S., CCC-SLP
At almost 4 years old, Amir is full of energy. He loves everything about Christmas, including Santa Claus and singing carols at the top of his lungs. He’s happiest in the water, whether he’s swimming or splashing in the bath. And according to his mom, Akia, “He learns new things very quickly.” He recently mastered his scooter and is already working on riding a bike.
But back in April of 2025, around Amir’s third birthday, Akia began to worry. “He wasn’t really saying anything,” she recalls. “When I compared him to other kids, I felt like he should be saying more.”
Akia trusted her instincts and started researching speech therapy. When she found Expressable, she was curious, but cautious. “I was skeptical about online speech therapy,” she admitted. “But I liked the idea that he could learn in his natural environment at home, where he’s most comfortable.”
That decision marked the beginning of a journey that would change the way Amir (and his whole family) communicates.
Understanding the challenge
When Amir began working with Aly Dosen, M.A., CCC-SLP, his speech-language pathologist, he was diagnosed with a mixed receptive-expressive language disorder. In simple terms, he had difficulty both understanding language and using words to express himself.
“Amir came to speech therapy because he wasn’t using a whole lot of words,” Aly explained. “His receptive and expressive language skills were delayed.”
Amir was shy at first. Because he didn’t speak much, conversations were limited. Like many toddlers with language delays, frustration could build when he couldn’t clearly express what he wanted. But from the very beginning, speech therapy didn’t feel like drills or pressure. It felt like play.
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Find a speech therapistSpeech therapy that feels natural
Aly takes a child-led approach with her clients, and she followed Amir’s interests to spark communication. Cars? They became part of the plan. Christmas songs in July? Absolutely. Water play? A perfect opportunity for language.
“Amir is so fun!” Aly said. “I try to incorporate his interests into every session. He’s active and loves cars. And I love that he loves Christmas.”
At Expressable, speech therapy focuses heavily on caregiver coaching. Akia attends each session, learning strategies she can use with Amir throughout the day, like modeling simple phrases, narrating her own activities (a strategy called self-talk), describing what Amir is doing (a strategy called parallel talk), and creating playful moments that encourage communication.
Amir doesn’t even realize he’s working or learning. He feels like he’s playing.
Akia describes the sessions as “natural.” She says, “Amir doesn’t even realize he’s working or learning. He feels like he’s playing. There’s never any pressure on him to do something he doesn’t want to do.”
That pressure-free environment makes a difference. Aly lets Amir lead, which builds trust and rapport along the way.
“Aly is very patient,” Akia said. “She provides us with tools we can use outside the session, and she lets Amir be his natural self.”
Small shifts, big progress
One turning point came when Akia learned to simplify her language with Amir. Like many parents, she tended to use longer sentences. But Aly coached her to use shorter, clearer phrases so Amir wouldn’t feel overwhelmed.
“When Akia started simplifying her language, that helped Amir progress a lot,” she recalls.
Akia now repeats the types of phrases Aly models during book reading. She practices giving choices to Amir (for example, “Car or truck?”) to reduce frustration and support functional communication. At the park, she intentionally narrates Amir’s actions to boost his language growth: “Down slide!” “Ready, set, go!”
At the end of each day, the family talks about what they did and reads books together, turning everyday routines into language-rich moments.
“In my opinion, online speech therapy is better,” Akia said. “The child is in their natural environment and doesn’t even realize they’re learning. They use things from their everyday life–it’s more valuable and makes sense.”
A more confident communicator
Now, nearly a year into speech therapy, the changes are clear.
Amir’s vocabulary has grown. He’s using more words and meaningful phrases. He’s singing holiday songs with greater clarity and proudly labeling things like “stockings.” At home, he’s more vocal and playful with language. More of his babbles have turned into real words. He’s doing a better job expressing what he wants and needs.
“Amir’s vocabulary has been enhanced,” Akia shared. “He’s not shy to attempt a conversation. He’s more confident in trying to communicate and verbalize what he wants.”
Just as powerful as Amir’s growth is the confidence his family has gained. 'I’ve learned so much about how to help him,' Akia said.
Aly has seen the growth, too. “Overall, his progress has been so fun to watch. He was a little shy at first, but he has progressed greatly. His attention, enjoyment, and ability to accomplish tasks have all improved. And our relationship has blossomed.”
Perhaps just as powerful as Amir’s growth is the confidence his family has gained. “I’ve learned so much about how to help him,” Akia said.
A journey filled with hope
Today, Amir is still the same joyful, Christmas-loving, water-splashing little boy. But now, he has more words to share about his world, and he continues to work on adding more to his vocabulary bank.
His story is a reminder that speech therapy progress doesn’t always happen overnight. It happens through play. Through patience. Through small, consistent moments at home. And through partnership between families and therapists who believe in a child’s potential.
As Aly puts it, watching Amir grow has been a joy. And for Akia, trusting her instincts made all the difference.
Get matched with a speech therapist today
If you’re wondering whether speech therapy could help your child, you don’t have to figure it out alone. If you have concerns about your child’s communication skills, the team at Expressable is here to support you. Our licensed speech therapists work with families right from the comfort of home, helping children build confidence and share who they are with the world. Schedule an evaluation today to get started.
How Expressable Can Help
Concerned your child isn't reaching age-expected milestones? Looking for communication support from a professional? Expressable is a national online speech therapy practice serving children and adults. We treat all major areas of communication and feeding, offer flexible hours including evenings and weekends, and accept most major health insurance plans. We’re proud to have earned more than 3,000 5-star reviews from our clients (4.9/5 average).
Our therapy model is centered on parent and caregiver involvement. Research proves that empowering caregivers to participate in their loved one’s therapy leads to better outcomes. That’s why we combine live, 1-on-1 speech therapy with personalized education and home practice activities for faster progress.
Communication is more than words. It’s how we share how we feel and show who we are. We’re here to help you or your child do just that.
