Lynne Alba Speech Therapy Solutions: Services, Costs and How It Works

What is Lynne Alba Speech Therapy Solutions?

Lynne Alba Speech Therapy Solutions is a private speech-language pathology clinic in Torrance, California. Its website, childspeech.net, uses two names: Lynne Alba Speech Therapy Solutions (the page titles and newer pages) and Children's Speech Care Center (older articles, the contact pages and many parent testimonials). The NPI registry lists the business as Lynne Alba Speech Therapy Solutions, P.C. at the same Torrance address. If you see either name, it is the same practice.

The clinic says it specializes only in speech and language disorders, and that this single focus is what sets it apart. It treats children, adolescents and adults. Its About page says it sees more than 200 patients a week and names autism as "one of our major areas of specialty."

The clinical team includes Speech-Language Pathologists (SLPs), Speech-Language Pathology Assistants (SLPAs), clinical fellows, interns and speech-language aides. The operations team handles accounting, scheduling, patient and family support, and facilities. The clinic describes itself as "a family-based treatment center": parents and caregivers are part of the treatment team. It also says it works with a child's other professionals, such as physicians, teachers, psychologists, and occupational and physical therapists.

Its main services are:

• Evaluations for children and adults, from a short diagnostic evaluation up to a full comprehensive evaluation with a formal report.
• Individual (one-to-one) therapy in 30, 45 or 60 minute sessions.
• Toddler Talk, a small parent-and-child group for ages 18 months to 3 years.
• Kid Talk, a social communication group for ages 4 to 18+.
• Adult speech therapy, always one-to-one, in a room set aside for adults.

Who owns and runs the clinic?

The About page says the clinic "has been owned and operated by Lynne and Bob Alba." Their roles:

• Dr. Lynne Alba, Psy.D., M.A., CCC-SLP is the founder and Coordinator of Clinical Services (some pages say Director of Clinical Services). Her biography says she is a licensed speech-language pathologist with more than 25 years of experience. She earned her bachelor's and master's degrees in Communication Disorders at California State University, Long Beach. In 2019 she earned a doctoral degree in psychology from California Southern University. Her doctoral project looked at mindfulness-based interventions for people with autism. Before private practice, the bio says, she supervised adult speech-language services (brain injury, stroke, neurogenic disorders and geriatrics) at Rancho Los Amigos National Rehabilitation Center. Before that she worked at Switzer Learning Center, a nonprofit special education school, where she was Clinical Coordinator of the Speech and Language Department for her last two and a half years. She is trained in PROMPT, a hands-on cueing technique for speech sounds. She has also trained in Links to Language, the Hanen Program "It Takes Two to Talk" for parents, and Visualizing and Verbalizing.
• Bob Alba is Director of Operations and handles the clinic's business and finances. His bio describes more than forty years in business operations and consulting. The site invites families to talk to him about operational and financial questions, including insurance questions.

Office staff named on the staff page include Aurina Bojorquez (Staff Accountant), Paola Franco (Scheduling / Office Manager), Darrell Wang (Front Desk) and Alyssa Kenney (Administrative).

Is Lynne Alba Speech Therapy Solutions legit?

Parents often search this before handing over a child's care. Here is what can be checked:

• Federal provider records. The national NPI registry, run by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, lists Lynne Alba Speech Therapy Solutions, P.C. (NPI 1780068734) at 3521 Lomita Blvd., Suite 201, Torrance, with the same 310-856-8528 phone number. Lynne Alba is its authorized official, with the title President. It also lists Lynne Alba as an individual speech-language pathologist (NPI 1518226505) at that address, with a California license number. Many clinicians on the staff page also have NPI records at this address. An NPI record shows a provider is registered for billing. It is not a quality rating.
• A fixed address and long track record. The clinic has been at the Lomita Blvd. address since at least 2002. An old site page announces an open house at the "brand new location" on 4 May 2002.
• Named, credentialed staff. The staff page lists each clinician with their degree and credential, such as M.A., CCC-SLP or B.S., SLPA. Each name links to a biography.
• Public funding relationships. The clinic says it is contracted with Harbor Regional Center and Westside Regional Center and with Torrance Unified, Palos Verdes Unified and Inspire Charter School. It also says it is an approved Nonpublic Agency (NPA), which means California has certified it to serve public school students. The clinic says its NPA certificate is posted in its lobby. We could not reach the state's NPA directory to confirm this, so ask to see the certificate or ask your school district.
• Parent testimonials. The Testimonials page shows comments from parents and family members, with first names only. These are chosen and published by the clinic itself.

California licenses speech-language pathologists and assistants through the Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology and Hearing Aid Dispensers Board. You can look up any clinician by name on the Department of Consumer Affairs license search before you start.

Who are the therapists?

The staff page listed these clinicians when we checked, with the credentials shown there:

Some background from the published bios: Irma Flores-Condong earned her M.A. in Speech-Language Pathology at San Jose State University. She has practiced since 2000, mostly with school-age children, and is trained in PROMPT. Olivia Starks has a B.A. from California State University, Chico and an M.A. from Iona College. She has worked in preschool and school settings, including with Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC).

The clinic says clinicians meet one to one with their supervisor every week to review cases and reports. It also says they keep learning through continuing education and in-house training sessions. Group programs are led by licensed SLPs with trained assistants. Ask which clinician would see you or your child, and whether that person is fully certified, a clinical fellow working under supervision, or an assistant.

What conditions does it treat?

The Programs page lists the main areas: articulation and phonology, receptive and expressive language, motor speech disorders (such as dysarthria and apraxia), auditory processing, literacy skills, stuttering, voice, social skills, and communication problems after stroke and brain injury. It adds that the clinic specializes in children on the autism spectrum.

The "Diagnoses We See" page goes further. It lists diagnosis (ICD) codes in groups:

• Language and cognition: expressive and mixed receptive-expressive language disorders, auditory processing disorder, aphasia, social communication (pragmatic) delay, delayed milestones, mild cognitive impairment.
• Articulation: phonological disorder, apraxia (verbal dyspraxia), dysarthria, other speech disturbances.
• Fluency: childhood-onset fluency disorder (stuttering) and adult-onset stuttering.
• Hearing: conductive and sensorineural hearing loss and ear infections (otitis media).
• Stroke, brain injury and neurogenic disorders: stroke, epilepsy, Parkinson's disease and related conditions.
• Syndromes and learning disabilities: autism, ADHD, Down syndrome, Fragile X, Prader-Willi, Williams, Kabuki and Cri du chat syndromes, cerebral palsy, intellectual disabilities and developmental delay.
• Medical: conditions such as vocal and laryngeal growths, Bell's palsy, reflux, craniofacial differences, feeding problems and dementia.

The site says it treats "over 100" diagnoses on the FAQ and insurance pages, and "over 200" on the About page. Either way, the list is broad. If your diagnosis isn't named, call and ask whether the clinic has treated it before.

Speech and language evaluations

The Evaluations page describes five kinds of private evaluation. Each is available for children or adults:

Reports. After a diagnostic evaluation, a formal report costs $157.00 per hour of writing time. The page says these short reports usually take 60 to 90 minutes to write. If a written report isn't in your package, the clinic will quote its normal billing rate. Report writing is capped at three hours, and payment is due when the report is delivered.

How the testing works. The clinic starts with a phone call about the referral and your concerns, then sends a history questionnaire to fill in before the visit. For children, the questionnaire also asks about favorite books, toys and activities, so the therapist can use familiar materials to build rapport. Testing may start with an oral mechanism exam (lips, tongue, teeth, jaw and palate). It then looks at articulation and phonology, voice (quality, loudness, pitch, resonance), fluency (stuttering or cluttering), and receptive and expressive language. It may also cover phonological awareness, which matters for reading, and social communication. With young children, the therapist watches how they play and interact. For adults, testing may also cover attention, memory, reasoning and problem solving.

The clinic's "Basic Approach" page says a full assessment usually takes one and a half to three hours, depending on age and issues, and is often play-based for young children. You get a general summary at the end of the visit. A formal report follows, with test results, diagnoses, a profile of strengths and weaknesses, and individualized goals.

Already evaluated? The payment page says Regional Centers and school districts provide free evaluations if you qualify. If you already have a current evaluation from one of them, your insurer or another provider, the clinic can use it to start therapy.

Individual therapy

One-to-one therapy is the clinic's core model. Private-pay sessions come in three lengths. As is usual in medical speech practices, each includes 5 to 10 minutes for parent or patient education, notes and preparation:

The FAQ says most children come one to two times a week, depending on diagnosis, severity and the program recommended. The autism page mentions one to three times a week. The clinic invites parents, and sometimes siblings, to sit in for part or all of a session and sends home activities to practice. It also offers co-treatment, where two patients join with their clinicians for part of a session to practice skills with a peer. Therapy materials include hundreds of toys, games and treatment materials, computers and iPads with speech and language apps, and materials bought or made for a child's interests. The site also describes software-based programs, including Fast ForWord, an intensive 4 to 8 week computer program for language and reading skills.

How long does therapy last? The FAQ says it varies with the diagnosis, severity and rate of progress. The older Methods of Payment page says therapy usually lasts at least six months and can run three years or more. It says children are typically seen for about two years. Toddler Talk and Kid Talk families get progress reports every six months.

Toddler Talk (18 months to 3 years)

Toddler Talk is a small-group early intervention program in a "Mommy, Daddy & Me" format. The published details:

• Ages: 18 months to 3 years, grouped by age, ability and needs.
• Size: three to four toddlers with two adults (a speech-language pathologist and a trained speech assistant or aide).
• Length: once or twice a week, 90 minutes per session: 60 minutes of direct therapy, 15 minutes of parent conferencing and education, and 15 minutes of transition and documentation.
• What it works on: basic communication (pointing, gestures, simple signs and pictures), understanding language, first words and short phrases, clear speech sounds, and social play such as turn-taking and pretend play.
• Methods: a mix of clinician-led practice in play form and child-led play. Activities follow a monthly theme: songs, finger plays, crafts, sand and water play, puzzles, pretend play, books and gross motor play.
• Parents: take part in sessions with coaching, get monthly handouts and home activities, and can talk with the therapist before or after the group.
• Funding: a local Regional Center may pay if your child qualifies. Otherwise it is private pay, sold as a monthly membership. The page says you are billed for all sessions whether or not your child attends.

Outside the group, the Early Intervention page says the clinic usually sees toddlers in individual therapy that involves the parent. It typically starts speech-language services at 18 months, though it may see younger children depending on their needs.

Kid Talk social skills groups (ages 4 to 18+)

Kid Talk is a year-round social communication and play group for children and teens with social-pragmatic difficulties. Examples given include autism spectrum disorder, other developmental disabilities, learning disabilities, language disorders and ADHD. The clinic stresses that it is designed and led by speech-language pathologists.

• Size and length: two to six peers with two adults, once a week for 60 minutes.
• Entry: a free individual interview and trial session to find the right group. Children can start any time of year and move between groups as they grow. Participants must be able to take part in a small group and follow group instructions.
• Skills targeted: greeting, turn-taking and sharing, joining play, making and keeping friends, winning and losing, solving problems with words, talking about feelings, flexibility, and handling teasing and bullying.
• Methods: teaching a skill, then practice through role play (puppet play for younger children), feedback including video playback of sessions, and real play, conversation, snack time and occasional outings.
• Parents: can watch through a one-way observation window and get handouts and carryover ideas. They can also share social situations from the week, which become anonymous group themes.
• Tracking: six-month progress reports, plus rating scales for parents, teachers and therapists.
• Funding: Regional Center funding if your child qualifies. The clinic says Regional Center-funded social skills children are usually 4 to 12. Otherwise it is private pay.

Speech therapy for adults

The clinic says it has treated adult patients for nearly 20 years, and that adult sessions are always one-to-one. It has a private room set aside for adults and says it is near a cluster of medical centers. Adult problems it describes include:

• Speech and language problems after a stroke or brain injury, including aphasia and acquired apraxia.
• Dysarthria from conditions such as Parkinson's disease, MS, ALS or cerebral palsy.
• Stuttering and long-standing articulation differences ("I've always had a speech problem").
• Voice and larynx problems, such as vocal nodules or polyps and spasmodic dysphonia, sometimes alongside an ear, nose and throat doctor.
• Communication changes in older adults, and assistive communication (AAC) devices.

An adult evaluation starts with a phone call and a history questionnaire. It may test speech production, language, reading and writing, social communication, and thinking skills such as memory and problem solving. A doctor's referral is common for adults. The clinic notes that many insurance plans require one, so check your plan.

Where is it, and what areas does it serve?

The clinic is at 3521 Lomita Blvd., Suite 201, Torrance, CA 90505, in the South Bay of Los Angeles County. Its South Bay page lists the communities it serves: Rancho Palos Verdes, Redondo Beach, Torrance, Long Beach, Carson, Lomita, San Pedro, Wilmington, Manhattan Beach, Gardena, Hermosa Beach, El Segundo, Lawndale, Hawthorne and Inglewood. An older page says about 70% of its clients come from the South Bay.

Hours: Monday to Friday, 9:00 am to 5:00 pm, year round. Call for your clinician's holiday schedule.

The facility. The clinic's "Selecting a Clinic" page describes a lobby with seating, worktables and a play area for siblings, eight private treatment rooms, two large rooms for groups and motor/sensory work, a computer lab, a materials room with more than 1,000 children's books, an audio/video room and a kitchen used for real-life practice. The site links to a video tour and a virtual tour. Some of these descriptions are from older pages, so ask on your tour what is current. The clinic offers free tours.

After hours. A clinic blog post says it uses a HIPAA-compliant medical answering service that takes calls 24/7 and offers support in English and Spanish.

Teletherapy. The live site does not describe online or video therapy, so call if you need it.

How much does Lynne Alba Speech Therapy Solutions cost?

The clinic does not publish its session rates. Its payment page says there is "no straight answer" because cost depends on who pays (insurance, a Regional Center, a school district or you) and how much therapy is needed. So it won't quote until it knows your or your child's needs. Another page says the detailed rate schedule, including group rates, is posted in the clinic lobby.

The site's Methods of Payment page also quotes a survey of area therapy rates from summer 2001. That is very old, so don't read it as a current price. To get a real number, call Scheduling at 310-856-8528 ext. 109. Ask for the private-pay rate for the session length and program you need, and what an evaluation package with a report would cost.

Does Lynne Alba Speech Therapy Solutions take insurance?

Yes, for some plans. The payment page lists:

• Health Care Partners (HMO)
• Blue Shield (PPO)
• Blue Shield / ILWU (PPO)
• Easter Seals / Kaiser
• Cigna (PPO)
• United Health Care (PPO)
• Health Net / Tricare

The clinic says it will accept other insurers "if a contract and reasonable fees can be obtained." Its insurance page says the office will check your eligibility and benefits before your first visit. Insurance contracts change often, so confirm that your specific plan is in network when you call.

Some important points from the clinic's insurance pages:

• Billing is a courtesy. If the insurer pays late or denies the claim, you are responsible for paying within the clinic's normal terms.
• Coverage for children can be limited. The clinic notes that many plans cover only "medically necessary" or rehabilitative therapy (restoring a lost skill). Speech and language problems in children are often treated as developmental. It notes that autism and speech problems linked to ear infections are often covered.
• Check for a referral requirement. Some plans need a doctor's referral before therapy.
• Out-of-network help. An older page says families who want to claim from their own insurer can pay the clinic directly. The clinic then provides the reports and codes the insurer asks for.
• Appeals. If a claim is denied, the clinic suggests asking for the denial in writing and using your insurer's appeal process. It points families to the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA), which publishes appeal letters. Bob Alba offers to talk through a case, but the clinic says it is not a legal counselor or parent advocate.
• Tax-advantaged accounts. The site mentions using a Health Savings Account (HSA) or similar plan for therapy costs. Check eligibility with your employer or a tax professional.

Regional Center and school district funding

Many families in the South Bay don't pay for speech therapy themselves. The clinic describes two public routes.

Regional Centers. California's Regional Centers are private nonprofits that contract with the state to serve people with developmental disabilities under the Lanterman Act. They offer free evaluations to children who qualify, usually ages 0 to 3 for speech-language. They don't provide therapy directly but contract it out. The clinic says it works mostly with Harbor Regional Center in Torrance, (310) 540-1711, and Westside Regional Center in Culver City, (310) 258-4000. Its pages also mention children from Lanterman and South Central Los Angeles Regional Centers. To use this route, call the Regional Center, ask for a speech and language evaluation, and if your child qualifies, tell your caseworker you would like this clinic. The clinic invoices the Regional Center. It warns that private therapy spots are limited, while its social skills groups are "more flexible and are forming all the time."

School districts and NPA services. For children 3 and older in public school, therapy normally comes through the school's IEP (Individualized Education Program). The clinic says it is an approved Nonpublic Agency, which lets a district pay for therapy at the clinic when the school can't provide it or a private setting is more appropriate. It has contracts with Torrance Unified, Palos Verdes Unified and Inspire Charter School, and says it will work with other area districts if a contract and reasonable fees can be agreed. NPA placement goes through the IEP process: you request it in writing and the IEP team must agree. The clinic's "How to Apply" page walks through requesting an assessment and an IEP meeting, with the timelines it gives as typical.

Payment terms and financial help

• Accepted: cash, check, Visa and MasterCard. The payment page says the clinic does not accept debit cards.
• Billing: private-pay clients are invoiced monthly at the end of the month. Payment is due on receipt, with a grace period to the 18th, and must be in the office by then, not just mailed. You can also pay at each session and get a "paid in full" statement.
• Late payments: a late fee applies after the 18th (the amount isn't published). If nothing is paid by month end and no arrangement has been made, services are paused until the balance is paid. The page says the clinic is willing to arrange delayed payment if you call.
• Reduced rates: the clinic offers some financial assistance for families with a total household income under $70,000 a year. It depends on the clinic's capacity at the time. It requires a financial statement (a tax return may be requested), is reviewed every six months, and is capped at 15% off the standard rate.

Ask Scheduling for the current billing terms and the late fee when you start, since some of these pages are older.

What happens step by step

1. Call. Phone 310-856-8528 and ask for Scheduling (ext. 109), or use the contact form on the Contact Us page. The form asks for the parent's and patient's names, insurance and main concerns. You can ask for a free phone consult, a free screening or a free tour.
2. Sort out funding. Tell the clinic whether you'll use insurance, a Regional Center, your school district or private pay. For a Regional Center or district, you may need to contact them first.
3. Complete the intake forms. The Intake Forms page offers a Pediatric and an Adult Patient Intake Form, which you request from the clinic. The FAQ asks you to complete them before the evaluation. Expect questions about birth, medical, developmental and school history, plus your child's interests.
4. Evaluation. Usually 1.5 to 3 hours, play-based for young children. You get a general summary at the end.
5. Report and plan. Depending on the package, you get a formal report or a summary of tests and scores, plus a follow-up conference or call with goals and recommendations.
6. Start therapy. Individual sessions (often once or twice a week), Toddler Talk or Kid Talk, with home activities and parent involvement.
7. Progress reviews. Group programs issue six-month progress reports. Insurance-funded therapy may need regular progress notes for your plan to keep paying.

How it compares with other options

Who it suits, and who should look elsewhere

Questions to ask before you book

1. Is my insurance plan in network right now, and do I need a doctor's referral?
2. What is the private-pay rate for a 30, 45 or 60 minute session, and for an evaluation with a written report?
3. Which clinician would see us, and are they a certified SLP, a clinical fellow or an assistant? Who supervises them?
4. How long is the wait for a regular weekly slot, and what times are open?
5. For Toddler Talk: what is the monthly membership fee, and how do missed sessions work?
6. What is your cancellation and missed-appointment policy, and is there a fee?
7. Can you show me your NPA certification, and do you contract with my school district?
8. How will you share progress with my child's school, doctor or other therapists?

How to get started

1. Call 310-856-8528 and ask for Scheduling (ext. 109), or email info@childspeech.net.
2. Ask for a free phone consult, screening or tour, and have your insurance card or Regional Center or school details ready.
3. Request the patient intake form (pediatric or adult) and complete it before the evaluation.
4. Read the Service Funders and Payment page to see which funding route fits you.

Visit Lynne Alba Speech Therapy Solutions

Terms you'll see on the site

• SLP: speech-language pathologist, a therapist who assesses and treats speech, language, voice, fluency, thinking-communication and swallowing problems.
• CCC-SLP: the Certificate of Clinical Competence from ASHA (the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association), earned after a graduate degree, a national exam and a clinical fellowship.
• CF-SLP: a clinical fellow, a new SLP with a master's degree completing a supervised fellowship year.
• SLPA: speech-language pathology assistant, who carries out therapy under an SLP's supervision.
• Articulation / phonology: how clearly speech sounds are made, and patterns in sound errors.
• Receptive / expressive language: understanding language, and using words and sentences to express yourself.
• Apraxia (verbal dyspraxia): difficulty planning the mouth movements for speech.
• Dysarthria: weak or uncoordinated speech muscles caused by a neurological condition.
• Social pragmatics: using language socially, such as conversation, turn-taking and reading body language.
• PROMPT: a technique using touch cues on the face and jaw to help shape speech sounds.
• AAC: augmentative and alternative communication, such as picture systems or speech devices.
• IEP: Individualized Education Program, the public school plan for special education services.
• NPA: Nonpublic Agency, a private provider certified by California to serve public school students at district expense.
• Regional Center: a California nonprofit that coordinates services for people with developmental disabilities, including early intervention for ages 0 to 3.
• ICD code: the diagnosis code used on insurance claims.

Frequently asked questions

Sources

All pages checked on 19 October 2026.

1. Home page: childspeech.net
2. About Us: childspeech.net/about-us/
3. Meet our staff: childspeech.net/staff/
4. Staff biographies: Dr. Lynne Alba, Bob Alba, Irma Rachelle Flores-Condong, Olivia Starks
5. Welcome from Dr. Lynne Alba: childspeech.net/welcome-from-lynn/
6. Programs: childspeech.net/programs/
7. Diagnoses We See: childspeech.net/services/
8. Evaluations: childspeech.net/evaluation/
9. Individual Therapy: childspeech.net/individual-therapy/
10. Toddler Talk: childspeech.net/toddler-talk/
11. Kid Talk: childspeech.net/kid-talk/
12. Adult Speech Therapy: childspeech.net/adult-speech-therapy/
13. Speech and Language Therapy for Adults: childspeech.net/speech-and-language-therapy-for-adults/
14. Speech Therapy for Autism: childspeech.net/speech-therapy-for-autism/
15. Early Intervention: childspeech.net/early-intervention/
16. Treatment Philosophy: childspeech.net/treatment-philosophy/
17. Basic Approach, Phase One (Assessment): childspeech.net/basic-approach-phase-one-assessment/
18. Speech Therapy for the Elderly: childspeech.net/speech-therapy-for-the-elderly/
19. Computer Learning: childspeech.net/computer-learning/
20. FAQ: childspeech.net/faq/
21. Service Funders and Payment: childspeech.net/payment/
22. Methods of Payment: childspeech.net/methods-of-payment/
23. Understanding Insurance: childspeech.net/understanding-insurance/
24. How to Apply for NPA services: childspeech.net/apply-for-npa/
25. Selecting a Clinic: childspeech.net/selecting-a-clinic/
26. Speech and Language Therapy in the South Bay: childspeech.net/speech-and-language-therapy-in-the-south-bay/
27. Pediatric Speech Therapy near Me: childspeech.net/pediatric-speech-therapy-near-me/
28. Mission Statement: childspeech.net/mission-statement/
29. Contact Us: childspeech.net/contact-us/
30. Location of Facility: childspeech.net/location-of-facility/
31. Important News for Parents: childspeech.net/important-news-for-parents/
32. Patient Intake Forms: childspeech.net/intake-form/
33. Testimonials: childspeech.net/testimonials/
34. Answering service post: childspeech.net, HIPAA-compliant answering service
35. NPI Registry (CMS), searches for "Lynne Alba": npiregistry.cms.hhs.gov (NPI 1780068734 and 1518226505)
36. California Department of Consumer Affairs license search: search.dca.ca.gov
37. American Speech-Language-Hearing Association: asha.org