Please download our referral form here and email it to kkakar@childrenshearing.ca to reach out to our SLP
 

Private Speech & Language Program

 
Children’s Hearing and Speech Centre offers private speech and language services that are open to the public. Individual assessment and therapy services are provided by a registered speech-language pathologist. Our experienced team is dedicated to supporting your child’s individual communication needs, implementing a collaborative family-centered approach and using evidence-based intervention.
 
We support children from birth through 13 years of age with the following:
 
  • Hearing loss
  • Developmental Language Disorder (difficulties in understanding and/or using language)
  • Language delay (“late talkers”)
  • Stuttering/Fluency Disorder
  • Developmental Delay
  • Genetic syndromes and neurological conditions
  • Pragmatic/Social Communication Needs
  • Pre-literacy skills (phonological awareness)
  • Speech Sound Delay/Disorder (unclear speech, lisps, articulation, phonology, Childhood Apraxia of Speech)
  • Services can be provided in Hindi and Punjabi
*We do not currently provide autism assessments or services for children who have RASP autism funding.

Private Speech & Language Program FAQs

 

How do I get started?

Please download our referral form here and email it to: kkakar@childrenshearing.ca. Our speech-language pathologist will get in touch to offer a free 15 minute phone consultation to discuss your needs, the services that we offer and our pricing. 

When and where do sessions take place?

Typically sessions are conducted in-person at the Centre however, accommodations can be made for virtual services if preferred. SLPs are also able to travel to meetings and observations in daycares and preschools. Sessions are currently offered on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays.

Do caregivers join sessions?

Yes, caregivers are present for sessions. Therapy for children includes caregiver coaching so that caregivers are able to support the child’s progress at home. Follow through in between sessions is one of the most essential components for progress in therapy. 

When should I seek help for my child and when should I “wait and see”?

We don’t recommend a wait and see approach for young children as early intervention is critical for children who are showing delays or differences with their language development. If you are unsure if your child needs to see a speech-language pathologist, then give us a call and we are happy to discuss any questions you have. 

If you are pursuing private speech and language services for a child who is not yet in elementary school, we do also recommend that you self-refer to your local public health speech-language pathologist. Often, families will see a private speech-language pathologist while on public waitlists. 

First words typically appear around 12 months, children use a minimum of 20 words by 18 months and many children use 100-150 words by 2 years. By two years old children are using many two word phrases. By 18 months, children are able to independently follow many simple 1-step directions and by 2 years old they can follow directions with 2-steps. 

Children are able to be understood more than half the time by 2 years old and are able to be understood most of the time (75% of the time), even by strangers, by around 3 years old. By four years old they should be understood 100% of the time by strangers.  

Click here for more information about milestones.
 

 

 

Meet the SLP

Meet the SLP

Konika Kakar, Registered Speech-Language Pathologist
 

Konika Kakar, M.Sc. Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology, Reg. CSHBC, has been working with infants and children with different abilities for over 7 years as a Speech-Language Pathologist. She worked as an Assistant Professor at Bangalore University and as a Visiting lecturer in Delhi, India, where she taught subjects, Childhood Communication Disorders, Fluency Disorders, Anatomy & Physiology of Neurogenic Language disorders to Bachelor students. She headed various clinical research projects and was the head of the Clinical Speech OPD department in her time at the university. Her paper titled “Effect of Musical Experience on Cochlear Frequency Resolution: An Estimation of PTCs, DLF and SOAEs” was published in The Journal of International Advanced Otology · 2021.

 
In her work with Swar Sai Educational and Welfare Trust and Swar Clinic, Delhi, since 2013, she has been the Lead S-LP, providing family-centered therapy services (in Hindi, Punjabi, and English) to infants, and young children diagnosed with Hearing Loss, Stuttering, Speech Sound Disorders, Language delays, Autism, Apraxia and/or other speech and language disorders. Her goal is to always educate and empower parents/caregivers to be an effective part of intervention. She worked as the coordinator for Neonatal Hearing Screening Program across North India, screening over 1000 babies and worked with 100s of families, hospitals, and nursing homes.
 
She has done additional training in rehabilitation and education of children with Hearing loss by AG Bell Academy for Listening and Spoken language, and a Certification course in "Facilitating Language through Natural Activities" {Listening Together LSL-StEP). She is certified by Hanen to offer: It Takes Two to Talk®
  • The Hanen Program® for Parents of Children with Language Delays.
  • Her other interests and passion include entrepreneurship, marketing, spending time with family and pets, playing soccer, meditation, and fitness.
 
Preferred Contact Information
 
Designation: Speech-Language Pathologist (Private Speech and Language Program, First Words, CHSC)
 
 
Work Phone: 604-437-0255