Pediatric speech evaluation in Northridge, at home or on video
Northridge is in our home-visit area. A licensed speech-language pathologist visits your home, or meets your family on video. Once the school says yes and you give written consent, a visit at school is possible.
Children up to age 18
Your home, video, a school with its agreement and your written consent, or a private Westlake Village office on request
Evaluation inside 3 business days of your free call
Maybe your child's teacher or doctor brought up speech. Maybe you noticed something yourself, and it keeps coming back to you. No diagnosis or referral is needed. A pediatric speech evaluation in Northridge is play with a purpose. A licensed speech-language pathologist watches and listens for how a child understands words, talks, and says sounds.
Where would the evaluation happen, and how soon could we start?
We visit homes in Northridge, and a video call works too. Once you have had the free 15-minute call, the evaluation takes place within three business days.
Only with your written consent, and only if the school agrees, can a school host the visit. In Westlake Village, on Townsgate Road, a private office is available if you ask. Plan on 60 to 90 minutes, which can vary with age, how much is covered, and how your child's day is going.
A call on Monday, for example, can mean an evaluation on Wednesday. As of October 2026, starting in-home or telehealth therapy with us does not mean joining a waiting list. Talk it through first: book a free 15-minute call.
Something about your child's talking stayed with you?
A licensed therapist reads each message. A reply comes within one business day. Add your child's age if you can.
We visit homes in Northridge, and video calls work too. A school visit needs the school's agreement and your written consent. In Westlake Village, a private office is another place to meet, if you ask.
What does the therapist do during a pediatric speech evaluation in Northridge?
First you tell the therapist what worries you and share your child's history, including birth, ear infections, and milestones. Then the therapist plays with your child, with tests matched to your child's age woven into the play.
The therapist watches small things. Does your child follow a direction, ask for something wanted, and take turns in a game? Your child's age and your worries decide which areas the therapist looks at.
Nita Anavim, M.S., CCC-SLP, will lead the evaluation. She is licensed as a speech-language pathologist and is a founder of Therapy Clubhouse. The Westlake Village page on speech evaluation has more.
What happens after the visit, and what if therapy is not needed?
After the evaluation, the written report follows in 14 business days or fewer. A therapy plan is attached only if therapy is recommended.
In everyday words, the report names your child's strengths and ends with a clear recommendation. If therapy is not recommended, it says that directly and lists what to watch for. Whether to pass it to your pediatrician or your child's school is up to you.
A first session can take place before the report is finished. Five days after you call is the earliest it can happen. If therapy is recommended, speech therapy in Northridge shows how sessions run.
Can a baby or toddler have a speech evaluation?
Yes, babies are welcome, and so are teens up to age 18. A toddler's visit may come in shorter stretches, with breaks between.
For Northridge, our town page names the regional center as North Los Angeles County Regional Center. Los Angeles County Public Health says Help Me Grow LA supports families with questions or concerns about their child's development.
Northridge Early Education Center's own website carries a statement from its educators, administrators, and support staff. They say they are committed to supporting children's learning through experiences that are developmentally appropriate, culturally enriching, and inclusive of all children, including those with special needs.
What does the school district say about speech and language help?
LAUSD's Language and Speech services page cites California Education Code section 56333. It says students with speech or language disorders may qualify for special education and related services.
The page ties this to whether a student's communication needs significantly impact their educational performance.
On its special education page, Andasol Avenue Elementary lists a Special Day Program called Preschool for All Learners (PAL). It serves children eligible for special education services due to moderate to severe needs. Speech and language services are embedded in its daily classroom routines.
What do the Northridge library and Napa Street Elementary offer?
The Los Angeles Public Library's Northridge Branch page lists Book Bundles To Go under Resources & Services. Each bundle has five books built around an interest level, a theme, or a type of book.
Napa Street Elementary calls its drama program comprehensive. Its classes strive to strengthen basic life skills such as concentration, cooperation, imagination, and verbal expressiveness.
Napa also lists a Dual Language Spanish/English program on its programs page. The school says it offers a 50/50 self contained Dual Language program.
Can insurance be used, and how do payments work?
You can use insurance through Village for the evaluation, a clinical service. Coverage depends on the plan.
Village bills your plan, and your share is a copay or deductible, plus Village's fee for each visit. Village's insurer list includes PPO plans from several major insurers. TRICARE is on it too.
When you pay privately, a superbill comes from us. Use it to ask your insurer about possible reimbursement. Coverage questions are welcome on a free 15-minute call.
Anything else before you book?
Do we need a referral from our pediatrician first?
No. You can start without a referral or a diagnosis, whenever you are ready.
How soon will someone answer after I send a message?
A licensed therapist reads each message. An answer comes within one business day.
Does it cost anything to call first?
The call costs nothing, and it is separate from the evaluation. We check your coverage on it, before you commit to anything.
Nearby Reseda, Winnetka, and Granada Hills each have a speech evaluation page of their own. Wondering about hands, movement, or senses? The OT evaluation in Northridge covers those, and the Northridge page brings both services together.
Not sure if your child needs therapy?
Start with a free 15 minute consultation. No commitment, just clarity on whether your child would benefit and what the next step looks like.
Speech therapy and occupational therapy for children ages 0 to 18.
“An audiologist, who is an expert trained to test hearing, will do the full hearing test.”
CDC says this about hearing tests in general.
You know how your child sounds on an ordinary day, and that is where this begins.
Request your free 15-minute consultation
Tell us what you are noticing about your child. A licensed therapist and our team read every message. Within one business day, our team calls to learn what you need and check insurance, then sets up a free call with Nita, Rachel or both. The consultation is free, lasts about 15 minutes, and carries no obligation. There is no waiting list. If you would rather talk now, call (805) 702-3427.
A licensed therapist reads each message. A reply comes within one business day. Add your child's age if you can.
