Therapist Feature: Ann Seastrand, SLP

This month we are featuring one of our outstanding speech therapists, Ann Seastrand. Ann is originally from Mapleton, Utah but has lived in Las Vegas for almost three years. She says that she enjoys the friendly people here and the warmer winters the most. However, she is not a fan of our hot summers and is still trying to get used to them. 

Ann found her love for speech therapy while she worked as a tutor for children with dyslexia. It was there that she developed a love of language and literacy. Ann has also had many siblings who have required speech therapy throughout the years. Seeing firsthand the impact a good speech therapist can have on a child’s development and life put her on the path becoming a speech and language pathologist. Ann got her undergraduate degree in Communication Disorders from Brigham Young University and her Master’s degree in Speech Language Pathology from Idaho State University. 

She has been a speech therapist for a little over two years and has worked for Tilton’s Therapy for Tots for about a year and a half. Being a mobile therapist allows her to work with kids in their own environments. She says, “it’s also super nice to be able to work with both parents and other therapists in the home.” Being a mobile therapist has its downfalls though; like having your therapy toys melt in the back of her car. “That’s a whole new level of hot,” she says. (You’re right Ann!)

Before working for Tilton’s, she worked in a sub-acute hospital and skilled nursing facility but has always enjoyed working and playing with kids. Being able to play games such as Mouse Trap and Sorry makes for an awesome workday. (How fun!) Another aspect that she loves most about her profession is

“seeing children be able to communicate better with their peers and families.”

It is rewarding to know how simple changes in communication can have an impact on a child’s quality of life. 

Ann’s primary focus is in childhood speech, language and literacy. Due to her background in tutoring children with dyslexia, she developed a passion for reading and enjoys incorporating it into her treatment sessions with her clients. Knowing that “reading is so critical to a child’s academic success” it empowers her to help them succeed in their academic goals.

Since Ann is a fairly new therapist, she has not had the opportunity to give back to her profession just yet, but is definitely looking forward to the opportunity. “My career has been shaped by many wonderful SLPs who helped me as a student and would love to be able to help another person the same way,” she states. 

When Ann isn’t providing exceptional services to our kids in the community, she enjoys spending time with her family and her husband.  She also really loves to knit, crochet, and watch TV shows with her husband. She also enjoys cooking and eating yummy food. Ann also likes to get out of the city to the cooler temps and explore the mountains. (Yes please! So beautiful and nice).

Tilton’s Therapy for Tots is thankful to have someone who is so passionate about helping children and families be able to communicate and seeing children grow and develop in their independence. Thank you for all you do Ann! We appreciate you!