Welcome

The ability to communicate is essential to human connection. We use nonverbal gestures, eye contact, facial expressions, and our voices to communicate a wide range of information to the people around us; however, developing age-appropriate speech and language is not always easy.

Through my practice, I have seen how early diagnosis and treatment of speech and language deficits can change the trajectory of a child's life. Expanding a child's vocabulary, helping them to articulate sounds like /s/ and /r/, and teaching them to form clear sentences does far more than improve their speech and language. Speech therapy can help build a child's confidence, teach them to regulate their emotions, improve their academic performance, and so much more!

As a pediatric speech-language pathologist, I aspire to enhance not just the speech and language of my patients, but their lives and the lives of their families, too.

Screenings

Not sure if your child needs speech services? A screening is a quick and easy way to detect a possible delay or disorder. It doesn’t give a definite diagnosis, but it helps to determine if more testing is needed. Screenings typically take 10-20 minutes, yield a result of either “pass” or “fail,” and indicate when a full assessment may be necessary.

Assessments

An assessment is used to determine the presence of a speech or language delay or disorder. Typically, standardized tests, speech samples, child observations, and/or parent interviews are used in speech and language assessments. These take about one to two hours and result in a formal diagnosis, recommendations, and treatment goals. An assessment is recommended if your child has failed a screening, is not meeting developmental milestones, or if a parent, teacher, or doctor has suggested an evaluation.

Treatment

Once a child has undergone an assessment and received a formal diagnosis, then treatment is designed to address their specific speech or language challenges. Sessions are tailored to the child's age, interests, personality, attention span, and speech and language goals. For younger children, therapy is play-based and incorporates toys, games, books, imaginative play, songs, and movement. For older children, therapy may involve more structured tasks, like storytelling, reading, or conversational practice. Regardless of the child's age, therapy sessions will always include positive reinforcement such as praise, rewards, stickers, favorite toys and games to ensure that every child remains engaged and excited throughout their speech therapy journey!

Hello, I’m Christy Hack, M.S., CCC-SLP, a licensed speech-language pathologist and the owner of Outreach Speech Therapy. My work focuses on early language development, school-age language, and speech sound disorders in children.

I’ve worked in various settings including clients’ homes, preschools, public and private schools, clinics, and telehealth. Working in these different environments has taught me how to adapt my methods to suit each child’s needs, ensuring they receive personalized support wherever they are.

Originally from San Luis Obispo, I have lived in San Francisco for ten years and am excited to serve the children in this community. If you’d like to learn more about me, my services, and whether or not I am the right fit for you and your child, then please feel free to call or email me. I look forward to speaking with you soon!

• What is pediatric speech therapy?

• What are the signs that my child needs speech therapy?

• What types of speech and language disorders do you treat?

• How often will my child attend speech therapy?

• How long will my child need speech therapy?

• Will I be involved in the therapy sessions?

• How can I support my child’s speech therapy progress at home?

• Where do you provide services?

• Do you take insurance?

• What forms of payment do you accept?