About

I am Bernette Downs, a licensed speech-language pathologist in Maryland and Washington, DC with over 20 years of experience working with children and families across a range of communication needs.

Through this service, I provide consultative guidance and speech-language evaluations for families who want clarity around their child’s communication development. I help families understand what they are seeing, interpret patterns, and decide what steps make sense nextwithout pressure to enter ongoing therapy.

I work with families from a range of cultural and linguistic backgrounds and approach communication concerns with care to distinguish development, difference, and disorder.

Services include communication consultations and formal evaluations. Ongoing therapy is not provided through this practice.

My goal is not to sell services, it is to support understanding and confident decision-making during moments that can feel unclear or overwhelming.