Meet your speech therapist
Shiri Diamond, MA, CCC-SLP Owner, Speech-Language Pathologist
Hi! I’m Shiri, an ASHA certified, pediatric speech-language pathologist with over 20 years of experience. I created Diamond Speech and Language because I am passionate about providing specialized and family-centered care to children and their families. I believe that communication, connection, and confidence grow together. I put my whole heart into helping my clients achieve their goals. It’s a joy for me to help children develop their communication skills and confidence, and to nurture the power of connection through communication.
I use a play-based approach to make speech and language therapy fun! My areas of specialization include speech and language development, Childhood Apraxia of Speech, speech sound disorders, and stuttering. I hold a Master’s degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders from the University of Pittsburgh’s School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, a Bachelor’s degree in Elementary and Kindergarten Education from Penn State (We Are!!), and I completed my Clinical Fellowship at The Kennedy Krieger Institute in partnership with Johns Hopkins University.
As a passionate lifelong learner, I continue to actively seek out and participate in a variety of specialized speech and language trainings, particularly those focused on speech and language development, Childhood Apraxia of Speech, and stuttering. I am proud to be a Hanen Certified Speech Therapist, and provide trainings and workshops to educators in local preschools. I am listed on the Apraxia Kids Speech-Language Directory, have Advanced Training in Dynamic Temporal and Tactile Cueing (DTTC), and am PROMPT Bridging trained. Additionally, I was awarded the Ally of Stuttering Seal by Spero Stuttering.
I absolutely love supporting children in finding their voices. It's a joy to watch their speech, language, and confidence blossom! I look forward to partnering with you in supporting your child!
Sincerely,
Shiri Diamond, MA, CCC - SLP
Frequently asked questions
How long is a speech therapy session?
The length of a speech therapy session is tailored to meet your individual child's needs. For example, when working on language and/or stuttering, 45 minute sessions are provided, so that we have ample time for parent and caregiver coaching in addition to direct therapy time. For young children who are working on motor speech skills, shorter more frequent sessions are offered ranging anywhere from 20-30 minutes.
What does a session look like?
Once again, this will vary depending on your child's needs and learning style. For children with Childhood Apraxia of Speech who are working on motor speech skills, sessions will include targeted motor speech practice using the DTTC method, with a variety of multisensory cues. Although this is hard work, the sessions are fun because the kids feel proud of their successes. I provide ample encouragement and support to help the kids build their motor speech skills while having fun in the process, incorporating the child's interests, play, music and books to infuse the sessions with fun. You'll see a lot of play in stuttering and language based sessions for little ones, and for older kids, you'll see a lot of the child's interests and motivators incorporated into our sessions.
Do you accept insurance?
Diamond Speech and Language does not accept insurance and is private pay only. This allows me to focus my time and energy on providing you and your child with the best care possible.
some of my favorite resources for parents and caregivers
The Hanen Center's "How Do Language Skills Support Children's Mental Health?" by Lauren Lowry.
This is a wonderful article from The Hanen Center, discussing how language skills can support children's mental health, as well as providing tips for parents and caregivers to nurture and support emotional skills through language development. Click on the link below to learn more.
ASHA's Communication Milestones Resource
This short video from ASHA provides an overview of childhood communication milestones, from Birth to age 5. Click on the link below if you'd like to learn more.
Apraxia Kids
Apraxia Kids is an amazing organization dedicated to helping kids find their voice. Click on the link below to learn more.
Friends: The National Association of Young People Who Stutter
Friends is a wonderful organization. They are dedicated to empowering kids and teens who stutter. Click on the link to learn more.
