Speech Therapist Addresses Neurodiversity in Armenian Community

Lusine Balian, a licensed speech-language pathologist, founded Harmony Speech Therapy & Diagnostics in California to serve neurodivergent individuals while addressing cultural stigmas prevalent in Armenian communities. The practice uses evidence-based methods including dynamic assessment and augmentative and alternative communication tools to support children and families navigating speech delays and developmental differences.

Balian, who has over a decade of clinical experience, emphasizes that early intervention combined with family-centered coaching produces better outcomes. She works to distinguish natural bilingual language development from clinical disorders—a common challenge in multilingual households.

In an interview with The Armenian Weekly, Balian discussed how Harmony Speech Therapy conducts grassroots outreach through community forums and parent coaching classes to reduce stigma. She shared a success story of a minimally verbal autistic child who, after three years of therapy, developed improved communication skills and reconnected with her years later.