Speech Start provides children a safe, supportive and compassionate environment where they can learn and apply the fundamentals of speech and language skills efficiently. Our experienced clinicians create opportunities for children to cultivate natural language and other developmental and social skills. Through beneficial, caring, and hands-on experience, we employ a variety of strategies and teaching modalities as we work with the child and their family.
Please note that without member information we cannot guarantee that
your specific plan covers these services. We recommend asking the care
provider before beginning services.
Aetna
UnitedHealthcare
Blue Cross Blue Shield (BCBS)
82 Bethany Rd Suite 1,NJ,07730
Get in Contact
(732) 888-3912
speechstrt@verizon.net
Reviews
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Speech start is incredible. They have worked with us since day one. The progress our daughter has made since she started there is nothing short of incredible. We are so grateful to have found them. Anytime anyone asks me for speech recommendations for their children I tell them speech start. Dr. Bern Ms. Shay and Ms. Alex are excellent Our daughter loves going to speech and never gives us a hard time which is huge Thank you Speech Start
Julianne Yetka
17 March 2024
google review
I have been taking my 212 year old son to speech start for the past 6 months for both speech and OT and I can not say enough great things about them From the moment he was evaluated by Dr. Mullen I knew how caring dedicated and knowledgeable they were going to be. My son was nonverbal when he started and he is already saying so many words and phrases The strides he has made working with Shay and Alyssa are phenomenal They are very in tune with his deficiencies and their knowledge level is so impressive They truly take the time to make his experience fun and he absolutely loves going to see them He also sees Michaela for sensory and fine motor issues and she is excellent She is very knowledgeable and comforting and has a lot of great ideas for helping him even when he is at home I am beyond comfortable entrusting my son in their care They always take the time to explain the sessions and answer any questions that I have. They are very responsive accommodating with scheduling and so pleasant to work with I couldnt be happier and more grateful to have found speech start
Laura A
03 March 2024
google review
Love the speech start family - especially Dr. Bern Shay Kara and Alyssa. They are so invested in the success of our kids and my son has made amazing progress. They respond to textsemailscalls day and night and go above and beyond to support all their patients. Highly recommend
Colleen Levin
03 March 2024
google review
Im A mother of a 23 year old with autism mixed receptive expressive language disorder and ocd.I have never seen a more caring and knowable group of speech therapist.They never give up. Hope is what they practice.It is so important to manage your expectations as parents.Speech therapists are also people so they get sick and sometimes have to cancel. It is so unfair to be so disappointed when it takes an extra day or two to get a return call report or eval. I speak from experience and you will never find a more flexible caring and skilled group of professional speech therapist.
Maxine Selim
17 October 2023
google review
Dylan Moschella
17 October 2023
google review
Absolutely love this place Every single person there is so friendly and the place is immaculate. Love Dr. Bernadette
Tara R
17 September 2023
google review
Raquel Ruggiero
17 March 2021
Frequently Asked Questions
Speech therapy is almost always recommended for autistic children since many people with autism have difficulty with social communication. Even if a child is very verbal and says a lot of words, they might need to work on communication skills like:
responding to questions
starting or ending conversation
changing conversation topics
using gestures like pointing
understanding other people's body language
Speech therapy is a big focus in early intervention for autistic children and is usually the starting place for recently diagnosed kids. There is a critical period in the brain for language development and so, it's really important to teach language and communication skills as early as possible, especially if there are any delays in that area. Your child will learn effective ways to communicate which will help them grow into more independent and confident individuals.
It might be obvious when a child struggles with speaking —they are very quiet, say only a few words, or don't speak at all.
Spot speech and language delays like a doctor here.
The goal of speech therapy is to help your child communicate effectively with other people across all environments. This may take the form of using gestures, simple signs, verbal speech, and Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC).
Some other common things speech therapists can help with:
Nonverbal skills, such as signs or gestures
Forming speech in a clearer way
Communicating thoughts and feelings clearly
Understanding and responding to questions
Discerning facial expressions and their corresponding emotions
Noticing and understanding body language
Feeding and swallowing
Stuttering
Your pediatrician might be able to administer screenings, but most general doctors are not trained to formally diagnose autism. They might refer you to a qualified diagnostic clinician which include:
Developmental Pediatricians
Child Psychologists
Child Psychiatrists
Pediatric Neurologists
Pediatric Neuropsychologists
Your experience might look different depending on the type of clinician you choose. Many families prefer working with developmental pediatricians. Others might work with a psychiatrist or another specialist to get a different perspective.
A formal ASD diagnosis, or a medical diagnosis, helps you get the support your family needs, especially within the context of accessing medically necessary therapies and services.
Insurance Coverage for Therapies: Medically necessary therapies for ASD are often covered by insurance including, but not limited to, speech therapy, ABA therapy, and occupational therapy.
Financial Support: A diagnosis is required when applying for social security or disability benefits.
Plan for Care: A diagnosis helps identify your child’s support needs. For example, your child might need to develop social communication and self-regulation skills.
Future Research: The more data we gather through evaluations, the more we can improve services for autistic children and adults.
The occupational therapy process includes an OT evaluation before care starts. Here are the four steps your family can expect when starting occupational therapy:
Complete OT evaluation. An occupational therapist first identifies your child’s strengths and needs through a thorough OT evaluation, also known as an OT assessment or screening. You’ll answer questions about your child’s skills, and your child will most likely demonstrate their skills via hands-on activities with the therapist. Evaluations can last 30 minutes to a few hours.
Approve OT plan. The therapist develops a care plan with individualized goals and customized interventions based on your child’s needs. You can also share any specific goals or concerns before approving the OT plan.
Start therapy sessions. The therapist works directly with your child and your family, using various strategies and exercises to systematically improve areas of limitations and to build upon a child’s strengths. Some exercises your child might participate in are animal walks, obstacle courses, and therapy swing activities. Your family may learn strategies for supporting your child’s individualized needs at home, such as ways of supporting emotional regulation and sensory processing. The therapist may also recommend tools and techniques to use at home, in the community, or in the classroom to help your child succeed.
Monitor your child’s progress. Parents and caregivers can expect ongoing progress monitoring and communication to ensure the child is achieving their short and long-term goals.
Occupational therapy can also be provided virtually via telemedicine. Virtual therapy is a great option for families in rural areas who may not have access to in-person services, or for families who prefer to have therapy in their child’s home.
Virtual OT allows the opportunity for increased caregiver participation and understanding of a child’s strengths, areas of improvement, and generalization of skills in the child’s home environment. Virtual therapy also provides increased opportunities for caregiver and family education to support the child and the family based on each family’s needs.