Within a month, her stuttering had completely stopped
“We started seeing a difference almost immediately, and within a month, her stuttering had completely stopped.”
— Shanen
Read the full storySpeech-Language Support · Toddler & Preschool Years
Help your child communicate in the moments you already have.
Calm, practical guidance for parents who want to help their child communicate through everyday routines and real play — while you wait for services or alongside them — from a licensed speech-language pathologist with 30+ years of experience.
BEFORE THE WORDS™
Find your child’s starting point
Answer 18 quick observations about your child. In about two minutes, you’ll get their starting stage, three strategies to try this week, and a visual support matched to where they are.
Find My Child’s Starting Point“Parents should not have to feel alone or helpless during the waiting period.”
— Kim Koch, M.S. CCC-SLP
30+ years in direct pediatric speech therapy
Why Parents Choose to Work With Me
Hi, I’m Kim.
Kim Koch, M.S. CCC-SLP · Licensed Speech-Language Pathologist
1 / 8
Before the Words™: for toddlers who understand more than they can say
Build communication in the routines you already have: real toys, real moments, no screens for your child.
See how it worksWhich path is right for my child?
Pick what sounds most like your child right now.
Most families start hereNot using many words yet — reaching, pointing, or making sounds insteadHas some words but isn’t putting them together or using them muchHard to understand: people outside the family often can’t follow, endings get dropped (“ca” for cat), or errors show up across many sounds (Phonology)Generally easy to understand, but struggles with a few sounds (Articulation)Repeats questions back instead of answering, or struggles with who/what/whereI’m worried it might be apraxia
Phonology: a pattern
Many young children simplify speech in predictable ways, like “tat” for “cat,” “ba” for “ball,” or “poon” for “spoon.” Your child may say a sound in one word but drop or swap it in another. The challenge is how the brain organizes the sound system, so we teach the rule behind it, and when one pattern clicks, several sounds often improve together.
May be a good fit if:
- Strangers understand less than half of what your child says
- Errors affect many sounds, not just one or two
- Your child leaves off the ends of words or shortens clusters (“top” for “stop”)
- Your child can say a sound sometimes but not consistently
Articulation: a specific sound
Choose the Articulation Path if your child is generally easy to understand but struggles with a few sounds. Here the work is about learning to move the mouth to make those sounds, then using them in words and conversation.
My goal for families
Helping overwhelmed parents feel supported, informed, and empowered.
Guided
Not just cheered on — walked through exactly what to do, step by step, by someone who’s done this for 30+ years.
Equipped
Leaves with strategies they can actually use today, not just information to file away.
Confident
Trades second-guessing every interaction for a clear sense of what to say and when.
Connected
Part of a community of parents on the same road, plus direct access to Kim, not just other worried parents.
Free for parents
The Communication Starting Point™ Finder
Answer 18 quick observations about your child. In about two minutes, you’ll get their starting stage, three strategies to try this week, and a visual support matched to where they are.
Find My Child’s Starting PointConnect · Communicate · Copy · Vocalize · Sound · Approximate · Words
