Speech and Language Therapy for Children in Central Massachusetts
Specializing in Speech Sound Disorders & Delays, Fluency, and Early Intervention
Offering in-home speech therapy to children of all ages in Worcester and Middlesex counties in Massachusetts. Virtual speech therapy is available throughout the states of MA & CO.
Where personalized, family-centered speech therapy happens in the comfort of your own home.
At Play on Words Pathways LLC, speech therapy sessions are not only fun and effective, but are safe, supportive, and natural spaces for your child to connect and discover their own unique path to confident communication.
Not knowing if your child has a communication delay or disorder can be scary and overwhelming.
Maybe you’re here…
because of a pediatrician’s referral
or
your child’s teacher mentioned communication is tough at school
or
your gut is simply telling you that your child needs help
Regardless of what brought you here, you’ve come to the right place.
Hi! I’m Ashley, a licensed pediatric speech-language pathologist in Grafton, MA. I’ve worked with hundreds of families who have been in your shoes and I know firsthand how overwhelming this process can feel.
With compassion as my foundation and communication expertise as my compass, I’m here to guide you every step of the way.
About
Play on Words Pathways LLC is a pediatric private practice offering speech and language therapy services in the comfort of your own home, either in-person or virtually.
Play on Words Pathways LLC is independently owned and operated by Ashley Hamill, MS, CCC-SLP, a licensed pediatric speech-language pathologist.
A founder-led, solo practice ensures that every child receives highly individualized, consistent, and quality care without having to worry about high turnover rates, cookie-cutter therapy or waiting room woes.
Ashley’s approach to pediatric speech and language therapy is rooted in play-based, fun & engaging sessions that prioritize connection, collaboration, and confidence-building — all within a neuroaffirming, strengths-based framework.
While I offer expertise in pediatric communication, you bring the deepest understanding & knowledge of your child — together, we can support your child in reaching their highest potential.
My goal is to continually collaborate with you in order to create a fun, engaging, and nurturing environment for your child to learn new communication skills & grow into a confident communicator.
What Sets Play on Words Pathways Apart
As the owner and only SLP in my practice, you’ll chat directly with me whenever you need to get in touch. That means:
no busy front desk
or
no constant staff turnover
or
no overstimulating waiting rooms
I aim to keep my caseload small and manageable, so that your child isn’t just a number, but rather is my priority.
Furthermore, you won’t find any ‘one-size-fits-all’ approaches here. I specialize in the areas of speech and language therapy that I am most experienced in and passionate about:
speech sound disorders & delays
fluency
early intervention
By specializing, I am able to offer evidence-based, exceptional services that are uniquely tailored to your child’s strengths, interests, and areas of need.
Specialty Areas
-
Articulation & Phonology
Do you sometimes find it hard to understand your child, almost like they’re speaking their own made-up language?
Does your child have trouble making certain tricky sounds, like their /l/ and /r/ sounds?
Does their lisp seem to stick around, even after some practice or speech therapy? Does it sound slushy and you’re not sure why?
Or maybe your child leans heavily on just a few sound like /t/ or /d/, and isn’t yet sure when or how to use other sounds in words.
These concerns likely fall under the umbrella of speech sound disorders, which includes articulation and phonology. Sometimes these difficulties are a part of typical speech sound development while other times they are not.
-
Childhood Apraxia of Speech
Do you notice your child saying their favorite word in different ways each time? For example, the word cat might sound like kah, cot or kite instead.
Are their vowel sounds a little tricky, or does it seem like they’re working extra hard to get a word out?
Have they started using grunting and/or gestures like pointing, reaching, or shaking their head more often, because it feels easier than talking?
Or maybe your child has been in speech therapy because they are difficult to understand, but you’re not seeing the progress you hoped for.
These concerns likely fall under the umbrella of speech sound disorders, which includes Childhood Apraxia of Speech (CAS). CAS is not considered a part of typical speech sound development and often requires consistent intervention.
-
Fluency
Does your child repeat sounds or words over and over when they’re trying to talk?
Do they sometimes have trouble getting their words out?
Do they ever seem to get ‘stuck’ on certain words or phrases?
Or maybe they’re speaking so quickly that it’s hard to understand what they’re saying and/or they don’t have any idea that others are having trouble understanding them.
These kinds of challenges are often part of what’s called a fluency disorder, which includes stuttering and cluttering. Sometimes a fluency disorder can be developmental in nature, and other times it may persist into adulthood.
-
Early Intervention
Does your child get upset easily when they are unable to tell you what they want? Do they often resort to tears or give up trying, as a result?
Do they use a limited number of words or no words at all?
Do they struggle with early communication skills, such as pointing, observing, or copying you, either when speaking or during playtime?
Or maybe you’ve heard the term late talker and aren’t quite sure what that means.
If your child is speaking less than you expected, it’s natural to feel unsure or even worried. While it can be tempting to wait and see, getting support early makes a big difference in helping children catch up and successfully communicate.
Types of Support
-
Complimentary Initial Consultation
-
Comprehensive Evaluations, Reassessments, & Reports
-
Individualized Speech Therapy Sessions
-
Virtual Parent Coaching Sessions