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Midsouth Therapy Group
Resources

Information and support for your family.

Guides written by our clinicians to help you make sense of your child's development — plus the foundations and funding programs Memphis-area families turn to most.

Guides from our team

speech-language therapy

Late Talker or Speech Delay? Signs Your Toddler Needs Speech Therapy

Is your toddler a “late talker,” or is it a speech delay worth acting on? How to tell the difference — and when an evaluation makes sense.

Hannah Hutcheson, M.S., CCC-SLP·5 min read

speech-language therapy

Raising a Bilingual Child: Language Development and When to Seek Help

Does growing up with two languages cause speech delays? What's typical in bilingual development, the myths worth letting go of, and the signs that warrant a closer look.

Hannah Hutcheson, M.S., CCC-SLP·6 min read

speech-language therapy

Speech and Language Milestones by Age (Birth to 5)

An age-by-age guide to the speech and language milestones most children reach from birth to five — and what to do if your child isn't.

Hannah Hutcheson, M.S., CCC-SLP·6 min read

speech-language therapy

What Is Feeding Therapy? A Speech Therapist's Guide for Parents

Picky eating or a feeding problem? What feeding therapy is, who needs it, and how our speech and occupational therapy team helps children eat with confidence.

Hannah Hutcheson, M.S., CCC-SLP·5 min read

occupational therapy

What Is Pediatric Occupational Therapy? A Parent's Guide

Occupational therapy for kids isn't about jobs — it's about the everyday “occupations” of childhood. Here's what pediatric OT helps with.

Laken Ellis, MOT, OTR/L·5 min read

occupational therapy

Sensory Processing in Children: Signs and When to Seek Help

Why does my child cover their ears, refuse certain textures, or never stop moving? A plain-English guide to sensory processing — and how OT helps.

Laken Ellis, MOT, OTR/L·6 min read

applied behavior analysis

What Is ABA Therapy? An Evidence-Based Guide for Parents

What ABA therapy is, how it works, and what the evidence actually says — explained in plain language by a board-certified behavior analyst.

Aracelia Mathis, BCBA, LBA-TN·6 min read

applied behavior analysis

Early Signs of Autism in Toddlers: A Parent's Guide

The early signs of autism parents most often notice in toddlers — what they mean, what they don't, and the steps to take if you're wondering.

Aracelia Mathis, BCBA, LBA-TN·6 min read

speech-language therapy

Childhood Apraxia of Speech: Signs, Causes, and How Therapy Helps

Childhood apraxia of speech is more than a delay — it's a motor-planning problem. The signs that set it apart, and how therapy helps.

Hannah Hutcheson, M.S., CCC-SLP·6 min read

speech-language therapy

Tongue-Tie in Babies and Toddlers: Does It Affect Speech and Feeding?

Worried a tongue-tie is behind your child's feeding or speech struggles? What it is, what the evidence actually says, and when to get an opinion.

Hannah Hutcheson, M.S., CCC-SLP·5 min read

occupational therapy

Is W-Sitting Bad for My Child? What Parents Should Know

You've probably heard W-sitting is bad. Here's the nuanced truth from an OT — when it matters, when it doesn't, and what to do.

Laken Ellis, MOT, OTR/L·5 min read

occupational therapy

Fine-Motor Skills: Easy Activities to Build Them at Home

Practical, no-special-equipment activities an OT recommends to build the hand skills behind handwriting, buttons, and utensils.

Laken Ellis, MOT, OTR/L·5 min read

applied behavior analysis

Autism vs. ADHD: How to Tell the Difference

Autism and ADHD overlap and can look alike in young kids. The key differences, why they're often confused, and the steps to take.

Aracelia Mathis, BCBA, LBA-TN·6 min read

speech-language therapy

Echolalia in Children: What Repeating Words Really Means

When a child repeats words, lines from shows, or your questions back at you — that's echolalia. What it means, and why it's often a step toward language.

Hannah Hutcheson, M.S., CCC-SLP·6 min read

speech-language therapy

Receptive vs. Expressive Language: What's the Difference?

Understanding words and using them are two different skills. What receptive and expressive language are, and what a delay in each looks like.

Hannah Hutcheson, M.S., CCC-SLP·4 min read

occupational therapy

What Is a Sensory Diet? A Parent's Guide from an OT

A “sensory diet” has nothing to do with food. It's a personalized menu of activities that helps a child stay calm, focused, and regulated.

Laken Ellis, MOT, OTR/L·5 min read

occupational therapy

Self-Regulation in Kids: Why It's Hard and How to Help

Why some kids melt down over small things — and practical, OT-backed strategies to help children manage big feelings.

Laken Ellis, MOT, OTR/L·5 min read

applied behavior analysis

What Is Stimming? Understanding Self-Stimulatory Behavior

Hand-flapping, rocking, repeating sounds — stimming is self-regulation, not something to simply stop. What it is and when it actually matters.

Aracelia Mathis, BCBA, LBA-TN·5 min read

applied behavior analysis

Autistic Meltdowns: What They Are, What Triggers Them, and How to Help

A meltdown is a response to overwhelm, not a bid for attention. What an autistic meltdown is, how it differs from a tantrum, what triggers it, and how to help.

Aracelia Mathis, BCBA, LBA-TN·5 min read

speech-language therapy

Hard to Understand? Speech Sound & Phonological Disorders

If strangers — or even you — often can't understand your child, a speech sound or phonological disorder may be the reason. What it is and how it's treated.

Hannah Hutcheson, M.S., CCC-SLP·5 min read

speech-language therapy

How Many Words Should a 2-Year-Old Say?

The short answer: about 50 words and starting to combine them. What it means if your two-year-old isn't there yet.

Hannah Hutcheson, M.S., CCC-SLP·4 min read

speech-language therapy

Social Skills Activities for Kids: How to Help at Home

Turn-taking, reading feelings, joining play — practical ways to build social skills at home, and signs a child may benefit from more support.

Hannah Hutcheson, M.S., CCC-SLP·5 min read

occupational therapy

Pencil Grasp Development: What's Normal and When to Help

Pencil grasps develop in stages — and not every “wrong-looking” grip is a problem. What's typical by age, and when to get help.

Laken Ellis, MOT, OTR/L·4 min read

occupational therapy

Sensory Seeking vs. Sensory Avoiding: What's the Difference?

Some kids crave sensory input; others are overwhelmed by it; many are both. How to tell which — and what helps.

Laken Ellis, MOT, OTR/L·4 min read

applied behavior analysis

Positive Reinforcement for Kids: What It Is & How to Use It

Used well, positive reinforcement builds the behaviors you want to see. A BCBA explains what it is, what it isn't, and how to do it right.

Aracelia Mathis, BCBA, LBA-TN·5 min read

speech-language therapy

When Do Babies Start Talking? A Speech Therapist's Timeline

From cooing to first words — when babies typically start talking, and the early signs worth a closer look.

Hannah Hutcheson, M.S., CCC-SLP·5 min read

speech-language therapy

How to Encourage Your Toddler to Talk: 8 SLP-Backed Tips

Eight simple, SLP-backed strategies to coax more words out of your toddler — woven into the play and routines you already do.

Hannah Hutcheson, M.S., CCC-SLP·5 min read

speech-language therapy

Baby Sign Language: Does It Help or Delay Talking?

Does teaching signs delay talking? The evidence says the opposite. How baby sign supports early communication — and how to start.

Hannah Hutcheson, M.S., CCC-SLP·5 min read

occupational therapy

Gross Motor Skills: Fun Activities to Build Them at Home

Playful activities to build the big-muscle strength, balance, and coordination behind running, jumping, and keeping up with peers.

Laken Ellis, MOT, OTR/L·5 min read

occupational therapy

Scissor Skills by Age: What to Expect and How to Help

When kids typically learn to cut, why scissor skills matter more than you'd think, and easy ways to build them safely at home.

Laken Ellis, MOT, OTR/L·4 min read

applied behavior analysis

Toddler Tantrums: Why They Happen and How to Respond

Tantrums are normal toddler development — but they're exhausting. Why they happen and calm, effective ways to respond.

Aracelia Mathis, BCBA, LBA-TN·5 min read

speech-language therapy

What Is AAC? A Guide to Communication Devices for Nonspeaking Kids

Will a communication device keep my child from talking? The evidence says no. What AAC is, who it helps, and how it works.

Hannah Hutcheson, M.S., CCC-SLP·5 min read

speech-language therapy

Stuttering in Children: When It's Normal and When to Get Help

Many young kids go through a stage of bumpy speech. How to tell normal disfluency from stuttering that's worth a closer look.

Hannah Hutcheson, M.S., CCC-SLP·5 min read

occupational therapy

Toe Walking in Children: Causes, Concerns, and When to Seek Help

Lots of toddlers toe-walk sometimes. When it's a passing habit, when it signals something more, and what helps.

Laken Ellis, MOT, OTR/L·5 min read

occupational therapy

Visual Perceptual Skills: What They Are and Why They Matter

Not about eyesight — visual perception is how the brain interprets what the eyes see. Why it matters for reading, writing, and everyday tasks.

Laken Ellis, MOT, OTR/L·5 min read

applied behavior analysis

Autism and Sleep: Why It's Hard and How to Help

Sleep struggles are common for autistic kids — and exhausting for families. Why they happen and practical strategies that help.

Aracelia Mathis, BCBA, LBA-TN·5 min read

applied behavior analysis

Visual Schedules: How They Help Kids (and How to Make One)

A visual schedule turns an unpredictable day into something a child can see and trust — easing transitions, anxiety, and meltdowns.

Aracelia Mathis, BCBA, LBA-TN·4 min read

speech-language therapy

What Is Phonological Awareness? The Pre-Reading Skill Parents Should Know

Hearing rhymes, clapping syllables, blending sounds — phonological awareness is the foundation of reading. What it is and how to build it.

Hannah Hutcheson, M.S., CCC-SLP·5 min read

speech-language therapy

Selective Mutism: When a Child Can Talk at Home but Not at School

A child who chats freely at home but goes silent at school may have selective mutism — an anxiety-based condition, not shyness or stubbornness.

Hannah Hutcheson, M.S., CCC-SLP·5 min read

occupational therapy

How to Improve Your Child's Handwriting: An OT's Guide

Messy, slow, or painful handwriting has fixable roots. Practical, OT-backed ways to help — and the signs it's time for an evaluation.

Laken Ellis, MOT, OTR/L·5 min read

occupational therapy

Bilateral Coordination: Why Using Both Hands Together Matters

Cutting, tying shoes, jumping jacks — they all need both sides of the body working together. What bilateral coordination is and how to build it.

Laken Ellis, MOT, OTR/L·4 min read

applied behavior analysis

First-Then Boards: A Simple Tool for Cooperation and Transitions

“First we do this, then we do that.” A first-then board makes expectations clear and transitions easier — here's how to use one well.

Aracelia Mathis, BCBA, LBA-TN·4 min read

applied behavior analysis

Do Reward Charts Work? How to Use Them Well

Sticker charts work — when they're set up right. A BCBA's guide to using reward charts effectively, plus the mistakes that make them flop.

Aracelia Mathis, BCBA, LBA-TN·4 min read

speech-language therapy

Following Directions: Why Some Kids Struggle and How to Help

When a child doesn't follow directions, it's not always “not listening.” The language skills behind it, what's typical by age, and how to help.

Hannah Hutcheson, M.S., CCC-SLP·5 min read

applied behavior analysis

Social Stories: How They Help Kids Navigate Tricky Situations

A social story is a short, personalized story that prepares a child for a new or tricky situation — reducing anxiety and teaching what to expect.

Aracelia Mathis, BCBA, LBA-TN·5 min read

speech-language therapy

Signs of Developmental Delay: When to Worry and What to Do

The signs of developmental delay by area, when “wait and see” isn't the answer, and the concrete steps to take if you're worried.

Hannah Hutcheson, M.S., CCC-SLP·6 min read

speech-language therapy

Does My Child Need Therapy? How to Know and How to Start

Not sure if your child needs speech, OT, or PT — or how to begin? How to know when to seek help, and the exact steps to get started.

Hannah Hutcheson, M.S., CCC-SLP·5 min read

speech-language therapy

The Benefits of Early Intervention: Why Acting Early Matters

“Wait and see” is the advice parents hear most — and the research says the opposite. Why acting early matters, and what the evidence actually shows.

Hannah Hutcheson, M.S., CCC-SLP·6 min read

speech-language therapy

Sippy Cup vs. Straw Cup: What's Best for Speech and Feeding?

Spouted sippy, straw, or open cup? Why speech-language pathologists usually favor straw and open cups for oral-motor development — and how to switch.

Hannah Hutcheson, M.S., CCC-SLP·4 min read

speech-language therapy

TEIS in the Memphis Metro: Free Early Intervention for Speech & OT

What TEIS is, who qualifies (birth to 3), what it covers, and how Memphis-metro families get started — plus how it works with therapy at MTG.

Hannah Hutcheson, M.S., CCC-SLP·6 min read

occupational therapy

Katie Beckett in Tennessee: Therapy Help Regardless of Family Income

Katie Beckett can help Tennessee families afford therapy for a child with disabilities or complex needs — regardless of income. Who qualifies, and how it works.

Laken Ellis, MOT, OTR/L·6 min read

Support & funding for families

We don’t necessarily endorse all views expressed in these materials — our goal is to empower you with the knowledge to make informed decisions.

John Winn Davis Foundation

A private foundation created by the family of a beloved client who passed away in 2022, providing financial assistance for therapy costs in his memory.

Labeled and Loved

Connective experiences and educational resources for caregivers of children with disabilities — including weekend retreats and Sisterhood Circle meetings.

Katie Beckett Waiver

For families of children under 18 with significant disabilities or complex medical needs who aren't eligible for Medicaid by income — funding services private insurance doesn't cover.

All Children Excel (ACE Consulting)

Helps families, schools, and communities navigate supporting kids with unique needs — connecting families to services, funds, and school advocacy.

Tennessee Early Intervention System (TEIS)

A voluntary program offering therapy and services at no cost to families of infants and young children with developmental delays or disabilities.

Spreading Sunshine

Practical, emotional, and spiritual support for families whose children have critical or chronic illnesses, including care packages sent to children.