Speak to Jess
Speak to Jess

Pediatric speech & language guidance

Little words.
Big questions.
Let's talk.

When the words are slow to come, start with someone who listens.

Jessica Bescos is a certified, licensed speech-language pathologist and a mom of two. She helps families understand speech delays, use everyday routines to build language, and walk into evaluations or IEP meetings prepared.

Talk to Jessica Find your starting point

Based in Palos Verdes. Here for South Bay families.

Jessica Bescos with her two children beside a lake
Jessica BescosSpeech pathologist. Mom of two.
Qualified guidance
Certified & licensed SLP
Made for real life
Practical parent coaching
Close to home
Palos Verdes & the South Bay

What sounds most
like your week?

You do not need to know the right clinical term. Start with the sentence you have already been saying at home.

01My toddler isn’t talking much.Toddler speech delay supportFirst words, slow vocabulary, two-word phrases, unclear speech. Understand what to notice at home and when an evaluation is worth asking for.02I want ideas that fit our actual day.Parent coachingLanguage strategies for meals, bath time, books, the car, and the grocery store. No flashcards and no turning the evening into homework.03There’s a school meeting and I’m lost.IEP preparation and supportEvaluations, reports, goals, minutes, and services—translated into plain language and useful questions you can ask out loud.
A child sharing a well-loved picture book with an adult
Language grows in the moments you already share.

A conversation
before a program.

Good guidance should make the next week feel clearer, not add another impossible routine.

  1. 1

    Tell me what you see

    Start with the words, gestures, routines, and moments that have you wondering.

  2. 2

    Make sense of it together

    We look at the whole child—not only a word count—and decide what deserves attention.

  3. 3

    Leave with a next step

    Try a short, realistic plan at home or move forward with an evaluation or school question.

Parents usually
notice first.

Noticing is not overreacting. These signs are not a diagnosis; each is simply a useful reason to ask a speech-language question out loud.

Ask about what you are seeing
12 months
No babbling, pointing, or waving.
13–18 months
Few words or gestures to share what they want.
2 years
Not putting two words together yet.
Any age
Hard to understand—or giving up on being understood.

Children develop at different rates. Missing several milestones is a reason to ask about an assessment. See ASHA’s communication milestones. If your child loses skills they previously used, contact their pediatrician.

Jessica Bescos, certified and licensed speech-language pathologist
Jessica Bescos · Palos Verdes, CA

Meet Jessica

A speech pathologist.
A parent, too.

I am a mom of two and a certified, licensed speech-language pathologist. Most families I meet have already spent a few late nights reading milestone charts. They arrive with the same two questions: is this normal, and what do I do tomorrow morning?

So that is where we start. We look at what your child already does to communicate, choose a couple of moments in your week worth using, and get honest about whether an evaluation belongs on the list.

You don't need a perfect home program. You need three good moments a day.
Have a question for me?

The parent library

For the 11pm search.

25 plain-language guides on toddler speech, everyday language, evaluations, and school meetings.

Browse all 25 guides
Toddler Speech Delay

Speech Delay vs. Autism: What Parents Notice

Learn how speech delay and autism can overlap, what differences parents may notice, and which evaluations can help clarify a toddler’s needs.

Read the guide
Toddler Speech Delay · 9 min read

Does Bilingualism Cause Speech Delay?

Learn why bilingualism does not cause speech delay, how to count words across languages, and when a multilingual toddler may need an evaluation.

Getting Started · 9 min read

Early Intervention vs. Private Speech Therapy

Compare Early Start and private speech therapy, including eligibility, cost, timing, and how South Bay families can use both.

Toddler Speech Delay · 9 min read

Receptive vs. Expressive Language Delay

Learn the difference between receptive and expressive language delay, what it can look like in toddlers, and when an evaluation may help.

A few things
you may be wondering.

Straight answers about getting started, the support available, and where Jessica works.

When should I contact a speech therapist for my toddler?

Reach out when you are concerned about your child’s sounds, gestures, words, understanding, or frustration with communication. Missing several milestones in an age range is a reason to ask about an assessment. If your child loses words or other skills they previously used, contact their pediatrician.

Do you offer parent coaching or direct speech therapy?

Speak to Jess focuses on practical parent coaching, early language help, and family-centered ideas that fit into daily routines. The best next step depends on your child, age, goals, and current support system.

What areas do you serve?

Support is designed for families in Palos Verdes, Rancho Palos Verdes, Rolling Hills, Torrance, Redondo Beach, Hermosa Beach, Manhattan Beach, and nearby South Bay communities.

Can you help with IEP meetings?

Yes. IEP help can include reviewing reports, preparing questions, clarifying speech-language goals, helping parents understand recommendations, and identifying what to ask for in writing.

A personal reply from Jessica

Let's start with
what you're noticing.

Share what you are noticing, what you have tried, and what feels confusing. Jessica will help you sort through it and choose one practical next step.

jess@speaktojess.com

Your note goes to Jessica. Please keep it brief and leave out medical records or other sensitive documents.

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