Small Talk Speech Language Therapy
Private Speech, Language, and Swallowing Therapist
***Insurance Accepted***
Small Talk Speech Language Therapy provides private speech, language, and feeding therapy for infants, toddlers, and children with speech, language, and swallowing disorders. We are centrally located in Westchester County and offer treatment at our office in Thornwood, NY and in home services. We are equip at providing treatment across a wide range of disorders and severity.
Small Talk Speech Language therapy was founded and is led by Rita M. Ricciardella an ASHA certified speech and language pathologist. At Small Talk, our goal is successful functional outcomes. We will build a custom plan that combines specific therapy approaches and techniques tailored to each clients needs and goals. We specialize in speech and language disorders, swallowing and feeding disorders, AAC, and language based learning disabilities for children of all ages.
Education/Training
Education:
St. John's University B.A. Speech Language Pathology & Audiology
St. John's University M.A. Speech Language Pathology
New York Medical College Advanced Certification in Pediatric Dysphagia
Specialized Training in:
PECS
PODD
TalkTools
Oral Placement Therapy
PROMPT
LAMP
Pediatric Feeding & Swallowing Disorders
Bio
Rita M. Ricciardella is a nationally certified Speech Language Pathologist (SLP) with the American Speech & Hearing Association. She is licensed in both New York and Connecticut state. She obtained her undergraduate and graduate degree with St. John’s University. Her career has focused on evaluation and treatment in the pediatric population. She has experience in treating children with development delays, mild language and speech delays, language-based learning disabilities, childhood of Apraxia, augmentative and alternative communication (AAC), chromosomal disorders, genetic disorders, and dysphagia. Her work experience has given her an opportunity to work with the most severe of cases leading her to be a critical thinker in her approach to treatment and therapy.
Rita takes pride in her efforts to be a life-long learner, staying up to date with cutting edge evidence-based therapy. She was an ACE award recipient from the American Speech and Hearing Association in 2017. Some areas of continued study include PECS, PODD, TalkTools, Oral Placement Therapy (OPT), PROMPT, and LAMP. She was accepted into the ASHA Leadership Development Program in 2018, where she completed a year long leadership project on Assistive Technology implementation in the school setting. Rita is currently obtaining an advanced certification in pediatric dysphagia with New York Medical College.
What set’s Rita apart is her compassion and empathy for children and their families as they develop into independent adults. Maintaining relationships with each family she works with is of up most priority and critical to the success of each child.
Memberships
American Speech and Hearing Association (ASHA)
Westchester Speech Hearing Language Association (WSHLA)
Connecticut Speech and Hearing association (CSHA)
Payments Accepted
Private pay, soon to be credentialed with aetna, bluecross blue shield, and cigna
Helpful Links
Practice Areas/Issues Treated
 Speech-Language Therapy
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Online / Video / Teletherapy
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Apraxia
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Orofacial Myofunctional Disorders
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Autism Spectrum Disorders
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Raspy Voice / Muscle Tension Dysphonia
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Child Speech/Language Disorders
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Selective Mutism
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Developmental Delays
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Speech Sound Disorders
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Language-Based Learning Disabilities
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Stuttering
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Learning Disabilities
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Swallowing Difficulties / Dysphagia
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Motor Speech Disorders
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Vocal Coaching for Singing and Performing
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Licenses/Certifications
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ASHA Certified Speech-Language Pathologist (CCC-SLP)
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