Speech Therapy Clinics in Des Moines, IA
Speech Therapy Clinics in Des Moines, IA
- 1200 Pleasant St, Floor 1, Des Moines, IA 50309
- (515) 241-8550
- unitypoint.org
- Childhood apraxia of speech, feeding and swallowing therapy (SOS method), and support for autism and atypical development
- What they're known for: The flagship pediatric therapy site at Blank Children's Hospital, the hub of UnityPoint Health's children's services in central Iowa. Care is delivered in the clinic in roughly 12-week treatment blocks paired with home programming — a strong choice for families wanting hospital-level coordination or whose child has complex or co-occurring medical needs.
- 6800 Lake Dr, Suite 270, West Des Moines, IA 50266
- (515) 225-6212
- unitypoint.org
- Speech and language therapy and feeding therapy for children
- What they're known for: A suburban Blank Children's location that brings the same UnityPoint pediatric therapy team closer to families on the west side, with both clinic-based and in-home services for added flexibility.
- 2701 SE Convenience Blvd, Suite 8, Ankeny, IA 50021
- (515) 963-7924
- unitypoint.org
- Speech and language therapy for children
- What they're known for: Blank Children's northern-suburb clinic, convenient for Ankeny and northern-metro families, offering clinic visits plus in-home therapy through the UnityPoint pediatric network.
- 1750 48th St, Des Moines, IA 50310
- (515) 280-5332
- childserve.org
- Speech-language pathology, feeding therapy, and autism-related communication support
- Accepts Iowa Medicaid, private insurance, and private pay
- What they're known for: A respected central-Iowa nonprofit with an interdisciplinary, play-based model, ChildServe is a go-to for children with developmental and complex needs — and its broad acceptance of Iowa Medicaid alongside private insurance makes care accessible for many families.
- 3100 100th St, Urbandale, IA 50322 (additional locations in Ankeny and Ames)
- (515) 207-9655
- risepediatricspeechtherapy.com
- Speech and feeding therapy, infant feeding, and a neurodiversity-affirming, play-based approach
- In-network with the majority of major insurances
- What they're known for: A neurodiversity-affirming practice offering both in-clinic and teletherapy services across the metro and Ames, with strength in early feeding and a play-based style many families of young children appreciate.
- 5000 Westown Pkwy, Suite 370, West Des Moines, IA 50266
- (515) 402-4000
- speechdsm.com
- Speech therapy in English and Spanish, feeding and swallowing therapy, myofunctional therapy, and lactation support
- What they're known for: One of the metro's bilingual options, offering individualized therapy in English and Spanish along with myofunctional and feeding expertise — useful for Spanish-speaking families and for tongue-thrust, oral-motor, and infant-feeding concerns.
- 8230 Hickman Rd, Suite A, Clive, IA 50325 (serves the Des Moines metro)
- 143speechtherapy.com
- Pediatric speech and language therapy with a neurodiversity-affirming, child-led and play-based approach
- What they're known for: A Clive-based clinic serving the broader Des Moines metro with a warm, child-led philosophy — a comfortable fit for young or sensory-sensitive children who do best when therapy follows their lead.
- Serving the Des Moines area (based in Ankeny; no street address listed)
- (515) 216-0091
- homegrownkidstherapy.com
- Speech therapy, infant and feeding therapy, myofunctional therapy, thumb-sucking elimination, and early intervention
- What they're known for: A small clinic with a strong early-intervention and feeding focus, including myofunctional therapy and habit elimination — a helpful resource for families of infants and toddlers in the northern metro.
- 105 Valley West Dr, West Des Moines, IA 50265
- (515) 223-4368
- iowaentcenter.com
- Pediatric articulation and language therapy, speech-sound disorders, and resonance and voice disorders
- Accepts most major insurance plans (some services require preauthorization)
- What they're known for: An ENT-affiliated SLP practice that pairs speech-language care with medical ear-nose-throat expertise — particularly relevant for voice, resonance, and speech-sound concerns. In-office and telehealth visits are both available.
- Serving the Des Moines area (based in Ankeny; no street address listed)
- (515) 344-4011
- dsmpediatricspeech.com
- Play-based, child-centered speech and language therapy
- What they're known for: A focused pediatric speech practice with a play-based, child-centered style, serving families across the Des Moines metro from its Ankeny base.
What Does a Speech-Language Pathologist Treat?
Three things that are often collapsed into one. Speech is the sounds — articulation, clarity, stuttering. Language is the meaning — understanding what is said, and getting ideas out, whether in words, gestures, signs or a device. Feeding and swallowing is the mouth's other job, and speech-language pathologists assess and treat that too. Most toddlers referred for speech therapy have a language question rather than a speech one, and the therapy for that looks nothing like drilling sounds.
Conditions Speech Therapy Can Help With
Speech-language pathologists work with late talking and language delay, articulation and phonological disorders, childhood apraxia of speech, stuttering and fluency, social and pragmatic communication, autism, hearing loss, augmentative and alternative communication, and pediatric feeding and swallowing. Many clinics also offer evaluations for children whose difficulty has not yet been named.
How to Choose a Speech Therapist in Des Moines
The "best" speech therapist is the one who fits your child's specific needs, your schedule, and your budget. Here's what to weigh:
- Check credentials. Look for an SLP who holds ASHA's Certificate of Clinical Competence (CCC-SLP) and a current Iowa license. For specialized needs, ask about extra training (for example, feeding approaches like SOS, or myofunctional therapy).
- Match the specialty to the need. A practice that excels at feeding therapy or myofunctional work may differ from one focused on articulation or language. Ask whether the therapist regularly treats your child's specific concern.
- Confirm insurance and cost up front. Verify in-network status, copays, visit limits, and whether prior authorization is required — and ask whether the practice accepts Iowa Medicaid or Hawki, or can provide a superbill if it is private-pay.
- Consider the setting. Some children thrive in a clinic; others do better with in-home therapy or teletherapy. Several Des Moines providers, including the Blank Children's suburban clinics and Rise Pediatric Therapy, offer more than one option.
- Ask about caregiver involvement. Strong programs coach parents so progress continues between sessions, and several local clinics pair treatment blocks with home programming. Ask how they'll keep you involved and how they measure progress.
- Trust the rapport. Your child should feel comfortable. Many practices offer a brief consultation — use it to gauge fit before committing.
Questions to ask during a consultation
- What is your experience with my child's diagnosis?
- How will you set and track goals?
- How often will sessions be, and for how long?
- How do you involve parents?
- What happens if we don't see progress?
Speech Therapy Resources in Des Moines
- Early ACCESS Iowa The state's free early-intervention program offering developmental support and speech evaluations for children from birth to age three.
- Iowa Medicaid & Hawki State coverage programs that can fund medically necessary speech therapy for eligible children.
- UnityPoint Health – Blank Children's Hospital Pediatric evaluations, multidisciplinary clinics, and developmental resources for families across central Iowa.
- ChildServe A central-Iowa nonprofit offering therapy, evaluations, and family support for children with developmental and complex needs.
- Your child's school district (Des Moines Public Schools / Heartland AEA) Public schools and Iowa's Area Education Agencies provide speech-language services for eligible students through IEPs.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does speech therapy cost in Des Moines, Iowa?
Out-of-pocket speech therapy in the Des Moines area typically runs about $100–$180 per session for private practices, while hospital-affiliated programs may bill higher rates. Many Des Moines providers accept commercial insurance and Iowa Medicaid (including Hawki), which can reduce your cost to a copay or to $0 for covered, medically necessary services. Always confirm rates and coverage directly with the provider.
Does insurance cover speech therapy in Iowa?
Many Iowa health plans cover speech therapy when it is medically necessary, and Iowa Medicaid and the Hawki children's program cover speech therapy for eligible children. Coverage limits, prior-authorization rules, and visit caps vary by plan, so verify benefits before starting. Some Des Moines practices do not state which plans they accept, so call ahead, and ask about a superbill if a practice is private-pay or out-of-network.
How long are typical speech therapy sessions?
Most pediatric speech therapy sessions in Des Moines last 30 to 60 minutes, with younger children often starting at 30 minutes. Evaluations usually take 60 to 90 minutes. Frequency commonly ranges from once to twice a week, and some Blank Children's programs are delivered in roughly 12-week treatment blocks paired with home programming.
At what age should my child start speech therapy?
There is no age that is too early. Iowa's Early ACCESS program serves children from birth to age three with free early-intervention support, and many Des Moines practices evaluate toddlers, preschoolers, and school-age children. If you have concerns about your child's speech clarity, vocabulary, feeding, or social communication, an evaluation can be done at any age.
Do Des Moines speech therapists offer teletherapy or in-home visits?
Yes. Several Des Moines-area providers offer teletherapy or in-home care — including Rise Pediatric Therapy and Iowa ENT Center, which provide telehealth, and the UnityPoint Health – Blank Children's suburban clinics in West Des Moines and Ankeny, which offer in-home services in addition to clinic-based care.
What conditions do pediatric speech therapists in Des Moines treat?
Des Moines speech-language pathologists commonly treat articulation and phonological disorders, language delays, childhood apraxia of speech, feeding and swallowing concerns (including the SOS and Get Permission approaches), myofunctional and tongue-thrust issues, and social/pragmatic language difficulties, including for autistic children. Bilingual English/Spanish services are available at some clinics.
How long is the wait for a first appointment?
It varies by practice rather than by city, so it is worth asking when you call — a clinic with a long wait for weekly therapy will often book an evaluation much sooner, and some hold cancellation slots. Because of that, most families contact more than one practice on this page rather than waiting on the first. If your child is under three, your state's early intervention program runs on its own timeline and is worth starting in parallel.
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Medical disclaimer. This directory is for general informational purposes. A listing is not an endorsement, referral, or recommendation, and inclusion does not mean we have verified a provider’s credentials, licensure, or insurance. Confirm those directly with the provider before booking. DrSensory is not affiliated with the practices listed.