Nichie Lessard , MS , CCC-SLP/L

Licensed Speech-Language Pathologist

Nichie provides assessment and intervention in a number of basic areas including: speech production (the way the children move their mouth and articulate sounds to form words and sentences as well as their voice and fluency), receptive language (this is what the child is understanding when we speak with them) and expressive language (this includes what the child says and how they interact). Throughout the treatment sessions, she invites participation from parents and caregivers always gaining additional insight into the individual child’s strengths and challenges.

Although techniques may be modified to suit the most optimal learning environment for the child and his/her family, Nichie utilizes treatment processes including: adaptations of ABA , The Hanen Program® (certified), PROMPT (trained), Rapid Prompting Method, and adaptations of Relationship Development Intervention (RDI). She specializes in interdisciplinary clinical networking. Patient age range has varied from approximately 11 months through adult but primarily with preschool through elementary aged children. Nichie has worked with patients that have had a range of diagnoses:

  • ADD/ADHD
  • Articulation or speech production disorders
  • Asthma
  • Autism Spectrum Disorders (Autism, Aspergers, high functioning autism, PDD-NOS)
  • Cerebral palsy
  • Chromosomal and genetic disorders (Angelman Syndrome, Turner Syndrome, Dandy-Walker Syndrome, Goldenhar Syndrome, Pierre Robin Syndrome)
  • Cortical Vision Impairment
  • Developmental Speech and Language Disorders
  • Dysarthria
  • Oral motor difficulties
  • Recurrent and chronic ear infections
  • Seizures
  • Stuttering or fluency disorders
  • Vocal Nodules/Vocal Polyps

Nichie has attended multiple continuing education courses that continue to shape the way she conducts her evaluations and treatment sessions in the following areas:

  • ADD
  • Augmentative and Alternative Communication
  • Autism Spectrum Disorders
  • Developmental Apraxia
  • Developmental Disorders
  • Feeding
  • The Hanen Program® (It Takes Two to Talk® and More Than Words®)
  • Memory
  • Oral Motor Therapy
  • Pediatric Brain Injury
  • PROMPT: Prompts for Restructuring Oral Muscular Phonetic Targets (first two courses)
  • Sensory Integration
  • Voice Disorders