Frequently Asked Questions

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Our classes are for families with children developing on a typical trajectory and for those who have developmental delays.  These classes are enrichment classes, not a speech therapy group.  Many have shared these classes are a perfect opportunity for their young ones to socialize, if they are not attending preschool or daycare.      

Everyone can feel welcome and supported within our small group classes (4-6 families depending on the class).  Our adult participants are working parents, SAHM, parents looking for a second income, aunts and uncles, grandparents, babysitters, and nannies.  It takes a village to raise tiny humans-  Let's learn together and support one another during this journey. 

You can expect to learn evidence-based developmental information paired with simple, practical ideas using everyday items and routines.  Class units support the following areas of child development - Cognition, Communication, Motor/Sensory, and Social/Emotional learning.  We will play, talk, sing, move, and learn sign language to help support our little one's communication.  More importantly, you will be empowered and supported with a community that values diverse parental experiences.   

We specialize in working with families and their children 0-6 years old.  We believe that every family and child is unique.  Our services are designed to support and educate parents and caregivers of all kinds who are looking to expand their knowledge for typically developing children, late talkers, or children with medical diagnoses.  We offer Baby & Me/Toddler & Me group classes, 1:1 family consulting, and individualized speech-language therapy. 

We specialize in treating late talkers, speech sound disorders, language disorders, and early childhood stuttering.  Be an active participant by working towards your family's goals and expect consistent, parent-friendly communication about progress and next steps.We believe that families, not insurance companies, should have a say in what therapy should look like to achieve maximum communication success.  We believe that speech-language therapy should be FUN and something your child looks forward to.  Expect a play-based experience focusing on your child's interests and strengths.   If your child is a later talker, behind in their communication skills, or is experiencing delays related to Autism, ADHD, or other neurological differences, speech-language therapy can help. 

At this time, we only accept BCBS commercial plans and do not work with any additional insurance carriers.  We do provide a super bill, up on request, that you can share with your insurance carrier to obtain out of network benefits (depending on your plan).  Contact your insurance directly to review your out of network benefits and learn whether a doctor's authorization is required prior to beginning services.   We have a free insurance phone guide that can help keep you organized during your phone conversation with your insurance company.  

Despite the name sounding super intimidating, a superbill is simply a standard form a private practice uses to collect patient information required to submit health care claims to payers, including billing codes, diagnosis, and description of services.  It also serves as an itemized record of services.  Families use superbills to file for reimbursement from their health plans when they are paying for speech-language therapy and other related medical services out-of-pocket.  No surprise billing here as private pay families will receive an estimate of services before you begin therapy.   

The cost of therapy at Small Talk & Smiles varies based on the type and length of services provided.  Contact   us to receive our fee schedule.  Contact your insurance directly to learn whether a doctor's authorization is required prior to beginning services.  

Ana Wolff has 15 years of experience working with children of all ages and backgrounds.  She worked in the public school, charter school, and private school settings serving children in grades K-12.  While working in private practice, she has treated infants through elementary age students in their home and daycare settings.  She received her degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders from the State of New York- Geneseo and her masters degree in Speech-Language Pathology from Montclair State University in New Jersey.  She is licensed within the state of North Carolina and is certified by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA).  She is life-time learner and participates in continuous continuing education opportunities.  In 2016, she was awarded an ACE award from ASHA to recognize her commitment professional development.   

Online therapy using our HIPAA compliant online platform or participating in our hybrid therapy approach offers a convenient way to provide services to your family in the comfort of your own home.  The benefits are being able to include additional family members, caregivers, and other team members into your child's therapy plan.  By providing education to all team members and focusing intervention on everyone's unique interactions with your child, we can all work together to help build foundational communication skills.  Online therapy might also allow your speech-language pathologist to observe skills, challenges, and behaviors that occur outside of scheduled in-person visits.  In addition, it can reduce cancellations due to weather or minor illness of a family member or your therapist. Online therapy also allows more flexibility in scheduling due to reduced travel time.  Hybrid therapy includes a combination of in person visits and online therapy.