Who we are
At HY 5 Speech, our mission is to empower children with the tools they need to thrive through compassionate, fun, and individualized therapy. We are committed to providing high-quality care tailored to each child's unique needs, fostering confidence and growth in an engaging and supportive environment. Our goal is to create a welcoming, inclusive space where every child feels valued and has the opportunity to succeed.
Mairin Batten, MA, CCC-SLP (ShE/HER)
Speech-Language Therapist/founder
Mairin has over 10 years of experience as a pediatric speech therapist. She is a mom of two and a Hyattsville resident. A graduate of the UMD Hearing and Speech Program, Mairin has been offering speech services to kids in the Route 1 area for many years. Mairin has experience in language development, articulation, autism, parent training, executive functioning skills, and pre-reading skills.
Mairin has completed numerous trainings regarding articulation, language development, and feeding, including "PROMPTS for Restructuring Oral Muscular Phonetic Targets" (PROMPT), The AEIOU Systematic Approach to Pediatric Feeding, A Sequential Oral Sensory (SOS) Approach to Feeding, Language Acquisition through Motor Planning (LAMP), and The Picture Exchange Communication System. Mairin is certified in two parent training programs from the Hanen Centre, "It Takes Two to Talk" and "More Than Words". She is also certified in Mental Health First Aid.
Mairin is licensed to practice in both DC and Maryland and is a member of the American Hearing and Speech Association (ASHA).
Candace Nuzzo Michiels, MA, CCC-SLP (She/Her)
Speech-language therapist/Administrator
Throughout her career, Candace has worked with clients from infants through young adults in the home, daycare, clinic, and school settings. Her clinical background includes the assessment and treatment of articulation and phonology, receptive, expressive, and pragmatic language, fluency, dysarthria, executive functions, self-advocacy, and problem-solving skills. Candace is passionate about offering neurodivergent-affirming and child-centered care, and she enjoys collaborating with families and other professionals—including educators, Occupational Therapists, Physical Therapists, Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) therapists, and Mental Health Professionals—to best meet children’s needs and support the carryover and generalization of their skills. Candace lives in Hyattsville with her spouse and their two young children.
Candace is licensed to practice in both DC and Maryland and is a member of the American Hearing and Speech Association (ASHA)
ASIA Ferrell, MS, CCC-SLP (She/Her)
Speech-language therapist
Hailing from Gorgeous Prince George’s, Asia is a speech-language pathologist with nearly a decade of experience in pediatric speech therapy. After earning her degree from the University of the District of Columbia in 2017, she began her career in private practice, gaining extensive experience in expressive and receptive language, articulation and phonology, and the development of social–pragmatic skills. Asia later transitioned to working in school settings, where she has spent several years supporting children from pre-K through fifth grade. While she has worked with a wide range of communication needs, she is especially passionate about supporting children with Autism Spectrum Disorders and other forms of neurodivergence that impact language development.
Asia is licensed to practice in both DC and Maryland and is a member of the American Hearing and Speech Association (ASHA)
LAURA CARLSON, MA, CCC-SLP (She/Her)
Speech-language therapist
Laura is a dedicated speech-language pathologist with over 15 years of experience in pediatric speech therapy. She has spent the last 12 years working with Montgomery County Public Schools, where she provides speech and language support to elementary students with a variety of communication needs. Her clinical expertise includes the assessment and treatment of articulation and phonology disorders, receptive and expressive language delays, fluency disorders, apraxia of speech, cleft palate, and social communication challenges. Laura earned her degree in Hearing and Speech Sciences from the University of Maryland. She is a mom of two boys and lives in Germantown, MD.
Laura is licensed to practice in Maryland and is a member of the American Hearing and Speech Association (ASHA)
