Speech & Language Therapy at Mary Free Bed Kids
At Mary Free Bed Kids, our pediatric speech-language pathologists (SLPs) provide evaluation and treatment services to individuals from infancy through adolescence. Our goal is to build essential communication, cognitive, voice and swallowing skills. Whether a child is recovering from a neurological injury, managing a developmental condition or working to improve feeding and swallowing, our team is here to support their growth, independence and confidence.
Children have distinct therapeutic needs, so our program combines clinical expertise with a supportive, developmentally appropriate environment. This approach ensures that therapy is both effective and engaging, helping children build meaningful skills to support daily participation and long-term growth.
Who We Serve
Our pediatric speech and language therapy services support children with a wide spectrum of diagnoses and needs, including but not limited to:
- Brain injury or post-concussion
- Spinal cord injury and neurological disorders
- Stroke (pediatric stroke)
- Developmental conditions or delays
- Cerebral palsy and similar neuromotor disorders
- Feeding difficulties or swallowing (dysphagia)
- Speech and language difficulties such as articulation, expressive/receptive language, fluency or voice disorders
- Children needing assistive communication supports like augmentative and alternative communication—AAC
- Orthopedic or amputation-related conditions where adaptive communication or swallowing support is needed
- Post-surgical recovery affecting speech, swallowing or voice
These services reflect Mary Free Bed Kids’ commitment to pediatric rehabilitation care. Whether a child is new to therapy, transitioning from inpatient care, or initiating outpatient services, our team provides individualized, high-quality care to support ongoing progress.
Why Speech & Language Therapy Matters for Kids
Speech and language are the building blocks for communication, social interactions and learning. When children have challenges communicating, it can impact their development, self-expression, confidence and relationships with their peers. Trouble communicating can also impact a child’s school performance and their nutrition.
When a child experiences a neurological injury, like a traumatic brain injury or a spinal cord injury, these challenges can appear suddenly while also impacting their daily life. When this happens, therapy helps your child adapt, relearn or build alternative ways to communicate more independently. Therapy can also teach your child how to swallow safely.
In cases of developmental delay or congenital conditions, early and targeted intervention can dramatically influence a child’s long-term progress. We’re here to help them build the skills they need to thrive at home, at school and with their peers.
With a thoughtful, child-centered therapy plan, we aim to:
- Improve clarity of speech and language development.
- Support comprehension and expressive language—enhancing social and academic engagement.
- Help with safe, efficient and comfortable swallowing and feeding.
- Offer alternative communication options, like AAC devices, when needed.
- Build self-confidence, independence and self-care skills.
Our Approach: Personalized, Child-Centered Care
Every child’s journey is unique. Our speech therapy begins with a comprehensive evaluation tailored to your child’s age, diagnosis, developmental stage and family goals. From there, we create a personalized therapy plan crafted to address the child’s specific needs and support meaningful progress.
We use a multi-disciplinary, team-based approach—collaborating with pediatric physiatrists, occupational therapists, physical therapists, behavior analysts, dietitians, neuropsychologists (as needed) and other specialists.
Mary Free Bed Kids embraces a family-centered approach to care. Parents and caregivers are actively involved in sessions and supported with strategies to carry progress into daily life.
Therapy takes place in a welcoming, child-friendly outpatient space designed for kids. The therapy gym is full of child-sized equipment to make therapy less intimidating and more engaging.
Common Needs We Address
We support children experiencing a wide variety of communication, cognitive and swallowing challenges, including:
- Speech and language delays or disorders like articulation, expressive/receptive language, fluency or voice).
- Cognitive-communication difficulties following brain injury, stroke or neurological conditions that impact memory, attention, processing or comprehension.
- Swallowing or feeding difficulties, including dysphagia, feeding aversions or oral-motor difficulties.
- Neurological-related communication impairments—especially after TBI, spinal cord injury or other neurologic events.
- Need for augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) when verbal speech is difficult or delayed.
- Voice disorders or airway issues after surgery or due to structural or neuromuscular conditions.
- Support after injury, surgery or conditions affecting the mouth, neck, airway or neuromuscular control.
Our Services & Special Programs
Mary Free Bed Kids offers a robust set of services tailored for children’s unique needs. These may include:
- Comprehensive speech, language and cognitive evaluations.
- Individualized therapy sessions addressing articulation, language, voice, fluency or cognition-related therapy (memory, attention, comprehension).
- Swallowing and feeding therapy, including oral-motor support.
- Voice, breathing and myofunctional therapy.
- Cognitive-communication therapy for children recovering from brain injury, stroke, or concussion—supporting memory, problem-solving, attention and language comprehension.
- Continual monitoring of ongoing progress, including adjusting therapy plans, family or caregiver education and home-practice guidance.
What to Expect: Evaluation & Treatment Process
- You’ll ask your child’s physician for a referral. Once we receive the prescription and verify insurance coverage, we’ll schedule your child’s initial evaluation.
- We’ll provide a comprehensive evaluation. Pediatric SLPs perform a thorough assessment including speech, language, cognitive-communication skills, oral-motor function, swallowing and feeding. We’ll also discuss augmentative/alternative communication needs.
- We’ll develop a personalized therapy plan. We’ll tailor the plan with short-term and long-term goals based on the evaluation results.
- Therapy will begin! Some children may need a few sessions over weeks; others may benefit from ongoing therapy over months. Sessions involve hands-on therapy, caregiver training and regular progress reviews.
- We’ll provide you with family and caregiver education. We’ll teach you how to practice at home and fit therapy into everyday routines.
Locations & Convenient Care Options
Mary Free Bed Kids provides outpatient speech and language therapy services at our kid-friendly facility in downtown Grand Rapids. Additionally, for families outside Grand Rapids or with transportation challenges, other Mary Free Bed outpatient locations across Michigan may offer pediatric therapy services. If you don’t see a location near you listed, please don’t hesitate to give us a call.
How to Get Started
If your child could benefit from speech, language, cognitive, feeding or swallowing therapy, we’d love to help. To begin:
- Ask your child’s physician for a referral / prescription for pediatric speech-language therapy.
- Once we receive the referral and confirm insurance details, our team will reach out to schedule an initial evaluation.
- From there, your child’s pediatric SLP will work with you to build a personalized plan.
Contact us today to schedule your child’s first appointment—and take the first step toward clearer communication, safer feeding and greater independence.
