My name is Heidi Hanks and I’ve been a practicing Speech-Language Pathologist since 2000. Most importantly I am the mother of four wonderful kids, Samuel (14), Sophie (11), our red-headed tornado Sawyer (8) and last but certainly not least, my little Scarlet Rose (5). I have enjoyed every minute of watching them learn, and discover the world around them.
That’s us in the picture above, enjoying one of our favorite hikes in amazing Zion National Park here in our beautiful home state of Utah. My husband is the one behind the camera. 😉
One of my favorite parts of being a mom is hearing my little ones say their first words and getting some insight into what goes on in their little heads. They grow up so fast and they are just as entertaining and fun when they’re older! I’m sure my fascination with their language development is in part because I am a Speech Language Pathologist, but becoming a mother has also magnified my desire to give them every opportunity to learn and grow.
The reason I named this blog “Mommy Speech Therapy” is because as parents we have the greatest impact on our children’s language development. No one can make a bigger difference than you!
My goal is to share some tips and techniques I have learned over the years in working with my clients and my own kids, and hopefully give you the information you need to be successful in helping your little ones become the very best communicators they can be.
My Education and Experience
I went to school at Utah State University where I completed both my Bachelor’s and my Master’s degrees. After I graduated I started my first job at Kids on the Move, an early intervention program in northern Utah. I worked there until my first child, Sam, was one year old and then I decided it was time to spend a little more time at home with him.
I’ve been doing private therapy from my home ever since and it’s been a great transition. I love it! It gives me an opportunity to be a Mom, and still help children. It’s an adventure working with every child and my goal is to continue to learn more and improve my skills as a Speech Therapist so that I can see more of these kids progress and grow in their language development.
My hope is that you will find some helpful information on this site and that you might share this blog with other parents that would find this information helpful as well.
Heidi Hanks
M.S.CCC-SLP
