Leigh Cohen, M.S. CCC-SLP
Assistant Clinical Professor Northwestern University Speech, Language, and Learning Program. The Roxelyn and Richard Pepper Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders School of Communication, Northwestern University.
1. Can you tell us a bit about yourself and what inspired you to become a speech-language pathologist, and to work with pediatric patients?
My journey into speech-language pathology began unexpectedly in an American Sign Language class in college. When I asked a classmate about her major, she smiled and said, “Leigh, you don’t understand. You’re going to get paid to talk.” That lighthearted comment sparked my curiosity, and soon I was all in. What I didn’t know then was how deeply meaningful this work would become.
One of the most formative moments came during graduate school at a HealthSouth facility in Pittsburgh. I was working with a young woman recovering from a brain tumor. She looked at me during therapy and said, “This makes me feel more like myself.” That moment showed me the true power of our work, not just restoring communication but helping people reclaim their identity.
After graduation, I moved to Chicago and began working in adult neurorehabilitation across the continuum of care. At the Shirley Ryan Ability Lab, I had the privilege of serving diverse populations. One of my favorite experiences was leading a pediatric yoga group for dysphonia, blending movement and breath to support voicing. It was a beautiful intersection of creativity and clinical care.
Everything changed in 2021 when I became a mother. My son started speech therapy at 18 months and was diagnosed with a significant language delay. I remember longing for the day he would call me “Mama.” Watching him struggle to communicate was heartbreaking and deeply motivating. After two years of speech therapy, he graduated, and I felt a renewed sense of purpose: I wanted to give that same gift to other families.
Recently, a parent told me her son now calls her “Mama” because of our work together. It was a full-circle moment, one that reminded me why I do this. Every child deserves to be heard, communicate and feel connected to those most important in their world.
2. How did you get started with LSVT LOUD for KIDS, and what drew you to pursue certification in this specialized therapy?
When I transitioned into a clinical supervisor role at Northwestern in the summer of 2024, I was encouraged to pursue advanced training to strengthen our dysarthria caseload. LSVT LOUD was my first training, and it immediately resonated. As a former yoga and fitness instructor, I appreciated its structured intensity and integration of motor learning principles to drive communication outcomes.
Discovering the pediatric course, I saw a clear need and opportunity. I connected with Jill Rabin M.S. CCC-SLP/L IBCLC, my son’s former feeding therapist, who works closely with families at Gigi’s Playhouse. With support from my graduate students, we built relationships with Gigi’s and the LSVT team. By winter 2025, we welcomed our first pediatric client.
This work blends my clinical expertise, personal experience, and passion for serving families and I am excited to keep growing it.
3. Can you describe how you have incorporated LSVT LOUD into your university clinical setting with your students? Please share a few creative activity ideas that you and the students have come up with as a part of your sessions.
At Northwestern, we certify five graduate students each year in LSVT LOUD for KIDS. Each student works with two clients over a 10–12 week clinic quarter, allowing for meaningful clinical experience and continuity of care. Every other quarter, we also host community outreach events, virtual or in-person, to educate families and support recruitment.
Our sessions are play-based, especially for younger clients. We integrate gross motor activities like parachute games and crash pad jumps to encourage voicing. During speech tasks, we implement music, stomping, clapping, coloring, and swaying to support syllable segmentation and engagement. Microphones are used to help clients model and match vocal intensity in real time.
These creative approaches make therapy fun, functional, and effective while giving students hands-on experience with evidence-based practice.
4. What impact has LSVT LOUD for KIDS certification had on your clinical approach and outcomes? Have you noticed any changes in your confidence, techniques, or patient progress since becoming certified?
LSVT LOUD for KIDS has transformed both my clinical approach and my connection to the work. As a clinician and a parent, I have come to deeply appreciate the importance of treating the whole child, supporting sensory regulation, emotional connection, and communication together. Before therapy begins, I meet with families via Zoom to understand their child’s communication and sensory profile, and to introduce them to the LSVT approach. This helps us create a therapeutic environment that is not only evidence-based, but also engaging, motivating, and tailored to each child.
My confidence has grown with every client we welcome. I have seen children, from age 3 to 18, move from limited verbal output to spontaneously communicating full sentences across settings. The structured intensity of LSVT LOUD, paired with personalized, sensory-informed techniques, has helped me become more flexible and responsive as a clinician.
Watching a child’s confidence, initiation, and comfort grow week by week is extraordinary. Their world opens up, not just in speech, but in connection and that is the heart of this work.
5. Are there any memorable success stories or feedback from families and clients that stand out to you? Could you share examples that capture the difference LSVT LOUD has made in children’s lives?
Absolutely. There are so many moments that stay with me, but a few truly capture the heart of what LSVT LOUD can do.
One unforgettable story is of a 6-year-old boy who had been largely unintelligible. After completing LSVT LOUD, he looked at his mother and clearly said “Mama” for the very first time. Her expression said everything. It was pure joy, disbelief, and love. He soon began naming his family members, something he had never done before. It was as if a door had opened.
Another powerful moment came from a 4-year-old boy who had limited verbal output at the start of therapy. By the end of the program, he was singing full songs out loud. “Happy Birthday” became his favorite. His voice filled the room, and so did his pride.
Then there was a 3-year-old girl who had been spending less time with her mother after the arrival of a new sibling. During a session her mom was finally able to attend, the little girl surprised everyone by imitating the phrase “Hug Mama.” It was heartfelt and deeply moving.
A 5-year-old client began using clear yes and no responses for the first time, giving her a new sense of agency and independence. That simple ability to make choices changed how she interacted with the world.
I will never forget our 18-year-old client who ended her intensive program and then next week delivered a graduation speech that was clear, with confidence, and entirely on her own. It was a moment of self-expression and empowerment that brought the room to tears.
These are not just developmental milestones. They are breakthroughs in connection, identity, and joy. They remind us that communication is more than speech. It is the foundation of human connection. That is the power of this work.
It has been such a joy to get to know Leigh and experience her passionate energy and enthusiasm for our profession and her students. Leigh has fully embraced her LSVT LOUD training and tackled challenging cases in her pediatric implementation at her university clinic. She has proven to be fearless, innovative, creative, and always knowledge-seeking to improve outcomes for the children and families she treats. She has a deep understanding of the importance of communication—not just as “speech,” but as human connection and a basic human right. We are fortunate to have Leigh working with us as we continue to learn and grow in our pediatric applications of LSVT LOUD. Thank you, Leigh, for your passionate commitment to your students, clients, and their families. We are so fortunate to get to work with you! – Dr. Cynthia Fox, CEO LSVT Global