Pediatric Occupational Therapy and Speech Therapy Services
6120 St. Giles St. Suite 260
Raleigh, NC 27612
Phone
919-238-9473
PEDIATRIC SPEECH THERAPY
Little Oaks Therapy Center - Raleigh, NC
Helping children find their voices and connect with the world.
What is Speech Therapy?
Speech therapy supports children who experience challenges with communication, language, or feeding. Speech language pathologists (SLPs) are experts in helping children to communicate more effectively. Speech language pathologists evaluate how a child understands and uses language, then design a personalized plan to help them grow as communicators and build confidence along the way. Therapy typically involves fun and engaging activities that build skills in the context of play.
Areas We Support
Speech and Articulation
Helping children speak more clearly so they can be understood by the people around them.
Expressive Language
Supporting children in learning to express their thoughts, needs, and ideas — whether through words, sentences, or alternative means of communication.
Receptive Language
Helping children understand what is being said to them, follow directions, and make sense of the language around them.
Fluency and Stuttering
Providing strategies and support for children who stutter or experience disruptions in the flow of their speech.
Social Communication
Supporting children in using language in social situations — taking turns in conversation, understanding context, and connecting with peers.
Gestalt Language Processing
We have a particular interest in and experience with gestalt language processors — children who learn language in chunks or scripts rather than single words. We provide neurodiversity-affirming support that honors each child’s natural communication style.
Oral Motor Skills
Helping children build strength and coordination of the tongue, lips and jaws, so that they can more effectively speak and eat. These skills are an important aspect of feeding therapy - helping children to bite, chew, and swallow effectively.
Augmentative Alternative Communication (AAC)
Providing evaluation, recommendations, and training for children who benefit from communication supports such as speech-generating devices or picture-based systems.
Who We Work With
We support children of all ages and abilities, including those with:
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Speech or language delays
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Autism
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Apraxia of speech
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Phonological disorders
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Down syndrome
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Stuttering or fluency disorders
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Social communication challenges
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Feeding difficulties
We take a neuroaffirming, strengths-based approach — meaning we start by seeing your child’s strengths first, and build from there.
Meet Our Speech Therapist
Emily Voliva MS, CCC-SLP
Speech-Language Pathologist
Emily earned her B.A. in English and Theatre from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and later returned to graduate school after time away for parenting. She completed her M.S. in Communication Sciences and Disorders at East Carolina University and has been a practicing Speech-Language Pathologist for over nine years.
Emily’s clinical experience spans private practice, hospitals, and public school settings, including evaluation and treatment of a range of communication disorders. Emily believes in celebrating the many ways kids communicate successfully and recognizes that meaningful progress looks different for every individual. A lifelong learner with an investigative personality, Emily enjoys helping children discover their unique strengths and build on those to become more confident communicators. Emily has many clinical interests, including gestalt language processing, social communication, and phonological disorders. Outside of the therapy room, Emily enjoys life with her busy family of five (plus many pets), and can often be found reading, gardening, or diving into her next learning adventure.