Speech therapy, connecting your child to the world with play.
Play-based, one-on-one pediatric speech therapy in Asheville from licensed, ASHA-certified therapists. Start with a free 15-minute phone call — no referral needed.
- Most major insurance plans and NC Medicaid accepted
- Nine CCC-SLP therapists — toddlers through school age
- Neurodiversity-affirming, parent-partnered care
Request your new-patient phone call
Pick a time that works for you. We'll answer your questions and get your child's evaluation on the calendar.
- 1 Choose a call time — online, about 2 minutes
- 2 Tell us a little about your child — no referral needed
- 3 Our office confirms within one business day
Prefer to talk now? (828) 656-5188
Every therapist is ASHA-certified. All of our speech-language pathologists hold the CCC-SLP, a master's degree, and a North Carolina license.
+ NC Medicaid
Getting started is simple
Three steps from "I've noticed something" to weekly sessions with a therapist your child looks forward to seeing.
Insurance doesn't have to be a hassle
We'll support you through every step of your care journey — starting with checking your benefits on the first call.
Out-of-network or private pay? We accept HSA, FSA, and NC ESA+ funds, and we'll give you what you need to submit for reimbursement. Not sure what your plan covers? Ask us on your free call.
Why Asheville families choose Play Talk & Grow
Therapy built around who your child is — not a one-size-fits-all program.
Play-based, proven methods
Kids learn best when they're having fun. Sessions follow your child's interests while targeting real clinical goals.
Neurodiversity-affirming
We meet your child where they are, honor sensory needs, and support every way they communicate — speech, signs, or AAC.
Parents as partners
You're part of every session. We coach you on simple strategies so progress keeps going between visits.
Local, in-person clinic
A warm, kid-friendly space at 18 Regent Park Blvd in West Asheville. Real therapists your child gets to know.
What we help with
Specialized pediatric speech-language therapy for toddlers through school-age kids.
What Asheville parents say
"5 stars really doesn't even begin to cover how much we appreciate this practice… the difference in individualized care and attention to child-specific needs and interests is noticeable here."
"Through his work with Ms. Chrissy, his vocabulary has grown, he is able to engage in back-and-forth conversation… We are so thankful for Ms. Chrissy and her team!"
"Mrs. Julie is so kind and patient. She truly is a neurodiversity-affirming SLP who takes the time to meet the child where they are."
"The therapists are top-notch, educated, informed… There is always a smiling face at the door and the biggest cheerleader for your kid (and you too!)."
The best care starts with the best therapists
Play Talk & Grow is led by Chrissy Thompson, MA, CCC-SLP, and staffed by a team of nine speech-language pathologists. Every therapist holds a master's degree, ASHA's Certificate of Clinical Competence (CCC-SLP), and a North Carolina license.
- Licensed & certified: master's-level, ASHA-certified, NC-licensed SLPs
- Specialty training: PROMPT, DIRFloortime, Spelling to Communicate, LAMP, Gestalt Language Processing, feeding
- Matched to your child: we pair you with a therapist experienced in your area of need
- Bilingual support: conversational Spanish available for bilingual families
Insurance doesn't have to be a hassle
We're in-network with most major plans and NC Medicaid, and we'll walk you through your benefits on the first call. Out-of-network? We'll give you what you need to submit for reimbursement.
We also accept HSA, FSA, and NC ESA+ funds.
No surprises or hidden fees. Cancel anytime. Insurance copays vary by plan.
You noticed something. Let's talk about it.
A free 15-minute call with our team — no pressure, no referral needed.
Questions parents ask us
Answered by our speech-language pathologists.
It depends on three things: how significant the delay or disorder is, how engaged and motivated your child is in sessions, and how much practice happens at home between visits.
Some children work on a single sound for a few months. Children with receptive language difficulties, or an underlying condition such as autism, generally need longer. After the evaluation your therapist will set clear goals and review progress with you regularly, so you always know where things stand — and you’re never locked into a package.
There isn’t one “right” age, because speech therapy covers so many different skills. Some things — early babbling, eye contact, responding to your name, first words — are best supported in infancy and toddlerhood. Others, like a lisp, R sounds, or stuttering, are typically addressed once a child is a bit older and has the listening skills and motor control to work on them.
The short answer: if you’ve noticed something, now is the right time to ask. A free call will tell you whether to act or simply keep watching.
Pediatricians do a great job with your child’s overall health, but a well-child visit is short and milestone screening is brief — and a child who is quiet or shy in the exam room can look fine on paper. Speech and language is our whole specialty.
Signs that are easy to miss by about 9–12 months: not responding to sounds or their name, not understanding simple words, and not pointing to show you things. Later on: no first words by 12–15 months, no two-word combinations by 21–24 months, or speech that strangers can’t mostly understand by age 4.
You don’t need a referral to talk to us. If your gut says something is off, a free 15-minute call is a no-risk way to check.
Children reach language milestones at different times, and some late talkers do catch up on their own. But a speech-language pathologist can often tell which children are at higher risk of a lasting delay — and early intervention is far more effective (and often low-cost or free) than waiting. Ruling out a bigger problem early is worth a phone call.
Growing up with more than one language is a benefit for most children and does not cause speech or language delays. If your child isn’t meeting milestones, the cause is something else — so talk with your pediatrician and get an evaluation. We count words across all of your child’s languages, and we have a therapist who offers conversational Spanish for bilingual families.
There isn’t a proven direct link, but children with a history of frequent ear infections are considered at greater risk and should be monitored closely. Fluid in the ears can muffle hearing during the months when children are learning sounds and words, so if your child has had several infections, it’s worth checking in.
Development varies widely, even within one family, so comparing siblings isn’t a reliable measure. Track your child against general milestones instead, and talk with your pediatrician or a speech therapist if you have concerns.
Start by noticing how your child communicates now, then model simple comments about what’s happening around you. Ask fewer questions, take turns in conversation, and praise every attempt to communicate — gestures, pointing, eye gaze, and words all count. In therapy we coach you on strategies like these so progress happens all week, not just in session.
Have a question that isn't here? Book your free call.
Yes — most plans cover speech therapy
We're in-network with these plans and NC Medicaid. Request your free call and we'll verify your benefits before you talk to a therapist.
- Out-of-network? We'll give you what you need to submit for reimbursement.
- Private pay is simple: $215 evaluation, $90 per session. HSA, FSA and NC ESA+ accepted.
Or call (828) 656-5188 and we'll check for you.