Parents rarely get a straight answer to the therapy questions that keep them up at night: Is this normal? Should I be worried? Am I doing enough?
At Aaris Therapy, we understand how you feel. Which is why in this spotlight blog, you’ll hear directly from one of our own speech-language pathologists, serving families across the Mahoning Valley, who brings years of experience to the conversation. For honest answers to exactly those questions, like when to worry about a child not talking and what the real signs of speech delay look like, we sat down with Tiffany Hurlbut, M.A., CEO and Speech-Language Pathologist at Aaris Therapy Group, whose work has long centered on kids with special needs.
Meet Tiffany Hurlbut, M.A. CCC-SLP
Tiffany Hurlbut, M.A. CCC-SLP, is CEO, founder, and a Speech-Language Pathologist at Aaris Therapy Group, serving families across the Mahoning Valley. “I have been a speech-language pathologist for 29 years and have loved every minute,” she says, and even as CEO, she still keeps a small caseload of her own because, as she puts it, “I am passionate about helping others, particularly children with special needs.” Outside the office, she says her values come down to “education, growth, truth without harm, loyalty and dedication.”
Below, Tiffany answers the questions parents ask us most.
The Small Signs of Speech Delay Parents Miss
A toddler who doesn’t turn around when their name is called. A child who plays near other kids but never quite with them, missing the parallel play that usually comes before real social interaction. A child who echoes what everyone else says but rarely comes up with something new to say on their own. None of these look like a crisis, but Tiffany says they’re exactly the signals worth paying attention to:
“Many parents may not be aware that when their toddler does not respond to their name, does not participate in parallel play, or expressively repeats others but doesn’t create new, novel messages, these are big indicators of needing a speech-language evaluation.”
Together, these small signs are often the clearest early case for a speech language evaluation.
“They’ll Grow Out of It” Isn’t the Safe Bet Parents Think It Is
It’s the piece of advice Tiffany still hears more than any other, usually from a well-meaning relative or even a pediatrician:
“‘They will grow out of it!’ We are unfortunately still hearing this. Many parents who are waiting until their child is 3 or 4 years old to seek an evaluation typically report that they’ve had concerns since their child was 2, but their pediatrician or others said they would grow out of it.”
It’s often why families wait to figure out when they should really worry about their child. Tiffany is direct about what actually happens most of the time:
“Sometimes children may ‘grow out of it’; however, that is not the norm. We believe that every parent has the right to have peace of mind about their child’s development. This is why we offer consultations if they are unsure about getting an evaluation.”
Every parent deserves that peace of mind, which is exactly why Aaris offers consultations for families who just want clarity before deciding what’s next.
This lines up with guidance from the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA): if a child is missing several milestones for their age, isn’t picking up new skills, or is losing skills they’d already gained, ASHA recommends checking in with a pediatrician and a certified speech-language pathologist rather than waiting to see what happens. If that sounds like your child, our team can walk you through what a speech language evaluation actually involves.
The Moments That Make 25+ Years Worth It
A child says “mom” and, for the first time, truly understands who that word belongs to. A child who once refused most foods starts eating a wider variety, and family dinners and restaurant outings stop being a source of stress. A child sounds out their first words and then starts actually understanding what they’ve read. After a quarter-century in the field, these are still the moments that make Tiffany light up:
“In my 29 years as an SLP, I am fortunate to have experienced many rewarding moments working with students, families, and schools. The intrinsic reward we receive as therapists when a student meets a goal or crosses a milestone is the most rewarding feeling we can ask for. Some of my favorites include: when a young child says ‘mom’ and truly understands who that is for the first time; when a child expands their diet and food preferences for balanced nutrition, in addition to better family dynamics around mealtime and eating out; when a child begins to read and their language grows to understand what they’ve read.”
And there’s one line she tells every student she works with:
“When you can read, you can do anything!”
The One Habit That Beats Any Worksheet
Talk. That’s it. Tiffany’s top recommendation for parents isn’t a program or a set of drills, it’s simply narrating everyday life, starting well before a child says their first word:
“The best thing parents can do to help their child’s language, cognitive, and social development is provide them with a wide range of daily experiences and talk about them. Even as a young toddler, even if they’re not talking yet, talk to them about what you see, hear, and touch. If you’re at the grocery store, talk about the foods, the fruits and vegetables. If you’re at the playground, talk about the equipment and the actions they’re doing: running, jumping, sliding, swinging, and encourage them to play alongside or with the other children who are there. Read to your child with books that are on their level, and start reading to them even when they’re an infant.”
Wondering if your child’s development is on track? Aaris Therapy Group offers consultations for families in the Mahoning Valley who want real answers, not a wait-and-see approach. Contact us to get started.