Pediatric Speech-Language Therapy Services in Nashville
Speech, language, literacy, and social skills
Our speech-language pathologists evaluate and treat communication difficulties in four areas. Communication disorders can include, but are not limited to, the following.
Speech
- Articulation disorders
- Childhood apraxia of speech
- Speech delays
- Stuttering
- Voice disorders
Language
- Late talkers
- Expressive language disorders
- Receptive language disorders
Hanen It Takes Two to Talk® for parents of late talkers (birth to 5 years).
Literacy
- Dyslexia
- Reading comprehension
- Letter names and sounds
- Spelling
We use the structured literacy programs S.P.I.R.E.® and Wilson. No long-term contracts: there is no minimum number of sessions and no prepayment.
Social skills
- Pragmatic language disorders
- Social communication disorders
Also offered seasonally as a Social Skills Small Group.
Not sure where to start? We offer complimentary speech-language screenings to determine if an evaluation is recommended. About screenings
From first call to weekly sessions
Here is how care typically unfolds. Please remember, each child is unique, and the plan follows your child's evaluation.
Complimentary screening
We offer complimentary speech-language screenings to determine if an evaluation is recommended. Our screenings are clinically-validated and standardized, and yield a pass-fail result for children in preschool and elementary school.
Screening detailsInitial evaluation
We will schedule an initial evaluation based on your concerns. If your child has been evaluated in the past 12 months and you provide us with a copy of that evaluation, we can proceed straight to treatment. A new client information form is emailed to you to complete before the evaluation or first session.
Individually tailored therapy
If therapy is recommended, the length and frequency of sessions follow the results of your child's evaluation. We typically recommend therapy 1–2 times per week for 30, 45, or 60 minutes, and the length is matched to the child: a two- or three-year-old is not asked to sit through an hour. There is no minimum number of sessions to commit to and no prepayment.
Session notes and progress updates
After each session, your child's therapist sends you a note through the patient portal, along with individualized home practice activities. Those notes go only to you. With your permission, we share quarterly progress updates with your child's school before parent-teacher conferences, so teachers know the goals we are working on and progress toward them, and goals can adjust to classroom expectations.
School visits, our Green Hills office, or telehealth
Berns Therapy Solutions generally serves the West Nashville community. Therapy sessions are arranged after an initial evaluation and take place at your child's school, at our office, or online. We do not make home visits.
Our Green Hills office
During the summer or after school hours, therapy sessions take place at our office at 4205 Hillsboro Pike, Suite 304, Nashville, TN 37215, just a few blocks from the Green Hills Mall.
Office and directionsSchool visits
During the school year, sessions typically take place at the child's school or daycare (with permission). Each school sets its own policy for outside speech-language support: some welcome us during the school day, some after school only, and some prefer that families see us at our office. Our speech-language pathologists travel to many area private schools within an 8-mile radius of the office without incurring any additional travel fees.
School visit detailsTelehealth
We provide speech-language assessment and therapy through secure video on our SimplePractice patient portal for children in Tennessee. Our fee schedule is the same, and home practice activities and session notes are shared electronically.
Telehealth details
Small group options
Alongside individual therapy, we offer small groups. Offerings vary by season, so ask us which groups are currently forming.
Group offerings
- Reading Support Small Group
- Social Skills Small Group
- Late Talkers Play Group
- Kindergarten Prep Group(early literacy, social skills)
Programs and specialties on our team
Our methods are evidence-based, and our clinicians bring specialized training to specific needs. Examples include the programs and specialties below.
Structured literacy: S.P.I.R.E.® and Wilson
For dyslexia and for children who struggle to read or spell, we use the structured literacy programs S.P.I.R.E.® and Wilson. No long-term contracts: there is no minimum number of sessions and no prepayment.
Hanen It Takes Two to Talk®
For parents of late talkers (birth to 5 years of age). JoAnne is an It Takes Two to Talk® Instructor.
JoAnne Berns, M.S., CCC-SLP · Founder
Auditory-verbal therapy
For children with hearing loss and their families. Emily is a Certified Listening and Spoken Language Specialist, Auditory-Verbal Therapist (AG Bell Academy).
Multilingual and Spanish-speaking students
Mikah specialized in working with multilingual students, especially those who speak Spanish as their first language, during eleven years with Metro Nashville Public Schools.
Insurance and billing at a glance
We currently do not accept insurance. As an out-of-network provider, we are able to provide billing statements for you to submit to your insurance. Additionally, you may be eligible to use funds from a healthcare flexible spending account (HSA/FSA). We highly recommend checking with your health plan administrator to determine whether or not your child's speech-language therapy services qualify.
Invoices every two weeks
Electronic invoices are sent via email every two weeks.
Pay online by card
Invoices can be paid online with most major credit cards. We currently accept Visa, Mastercard, American Express, or Discover.
Telehealth fees
Our fee schedule is the same for telehealth appointments. We do not accept insurance for telehealth appointments.
Concerned about your child's communication?
If you are concerned about your child's communication, give us a call at (615) 200-8289 or send us a message to schedule an initial consultation or complimentary screening.