(301) 592-7244

Speech and Language Pathologist

Welcome to our practice. I’m Sierra, a Licensed Speech and Language Pathologist who works extensively with children and adults of all ages to assess and treat a variety of communication disorders. If you or your child has a potential speech, language, social communication, cognitive-communication, and/or swallowing disorder then I’m your person. I also provide sessions for people who don't have speech, language, or swallowing disorders but want to learn how to communicate more effectively (e.g., work on accent modification or other forms of communication enhancement).

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My passion for helping others find their voice, whether verbal or non-verbal, started very early on. I majored in Communication Disorders at North Carolina A&T University, and went on to receive an advanced degree in Speech and Language Pathology in Washington D.C. 

During my advanced studies I had the privilege of co-authoring a children's book entitled Simple Strategies for Improving Communication Skills in Young Children with Speech and Language Delays. I love children and have extensive experience working with the school-aged population. I also provide virtual speech therapy sessions, which are convenient and enable clients to receive the help they need in the setting of their choice. My work will provide a clear structured path to help resolve:  

Speech disorders

These occur when a person has difficulty producing speech sounds correctly or fluently (e.g., stuttering is a form of disfluency) or has problems with his or her voice or resonance.

Language disorders

These occur when a person has trouble understanding others (receptive language), or sharing thoughts, ideas, and feelings (expressive language). Language disorders may be spoken or written and may involve the form (phonology, morphology, syntax), content (semantics), and/or use (pragmatics) of language in functional and socially appropriate ways.
 

Social communication disorders

These occur when a person has trouble with the social use of verbal and nonverbal communication. These disorders may include problems (a) communicating for social purposes (e.g., greeting, commenting, asking questions), (b) talking in different ways to suit the listener and setting, and (c) following rules for conversation and storytelling. All individuals with autism spectrum disorder have social communication problems. Social communication disorders are also found in individuals with other conditions, such as traumatic brain injury.
 

Cognitive-communication disorders

These include problems organizing thoughts, paying attention, remembering, planning, and/or problem-solving. These disorders usually happen as a result of a stroke, traumatic brain injury, or dementia, although they can be congenital.
 

Swallowing disorders (dysphagia)

These are feeding and swallowing difficulties, which may follow an illness, surgery, stroke, or injury.

Other services I provide:
Aural rehabilitation for individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing.
Augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) systems for individuals with severe expressive and/or language comprehension disorders, such as autism spectrum disorder or progressive neurological disorders.

Our integrative approach provides the highest level of care for those we serve. I work collaboratively with other school or healthcare professionals to make sound decisions for the benefit of my clients. Schedule an initial consultation or appointment with me If you are a person or provide care for someone who is struggling with:

Dysphagia & Swallowing Issues (a sensation of food becoming stuck in your baby’s chest or being regurgitated)
Odynophagia (pain in your child’s throat when they swallow)
Ankyloglossia (tongue tie)
Chronic Open Mouth Positioning/Breathing
Chronic thumb sucking
Speech distortion
Tongue thrust
Dental abnormalities
Dysarthria
Pediatric dysarthria (a disorder where the muscles in your child’s face are difficult to control. This can result from neuromuscular weakness, muscular paralysis, or an issue with the part of your child’s brain that controls these muscles)
Childhood Apraxia of Speech (a child has trouble forming certain speech sounds due to difficulties in motor planning and coordination. It stems from an issue with the part of your child’s brain that controls their speech muscles)
Selective Mutism (an anxiety disorder where children are unable to speak in certain social situations, but may be fine in others)

SIerra sees children, teens and adults who reside in D.C., Maryland and Georgia. Patients are 4 years or older.