Frequently Asked Questions

Speech Buddies At Home

• I don’t have a speech therapist, can I still use Speech Buddies?

  Yes! Many parents across the country have done just that with great success. See some of their testimonials. Your Speech Buddy will arrive with detailed instructions and Speech Buddies University is your online resource for practicing with your child.

• Can parents help their children effectively?

  Absolutely. Parents can and should help. A compilation of 13 clinical trials show that trained parents can be very effective in helping their child overcome speaking problems.¹⁰ Additionally, helping your child overcome her speech disorder quickly will allow her to regain confidence in speaking and free up time in your already busy schedule. Check out Stacie and Isaiah's story about how they corrected his lisp at home.

• Do you have any practice guides to help me work with my child?

  Yes! All Speech Buddies come with a detailed instruction and placement guide. This guide will explain how to use Speech Buddies and suggest "Speech Buddy friendly" words to use for exercises and games with your children.

  In addition, Speech Buddies University is a multi-level online resource where you can do exercises and games with your child and track his progress easily. It's fun for kids and easy for you!
  
  

• Can my child use Speech Buddies by herself?

  Yes! With only a little bit of training, kids can learn to use Speech Buddies on their own. Imagine your child practicing correct pronunciation while watching her favorite television show and having fun in the process! (This approach is only recommended for ages six and older and under direct adult supervision.)

  Also, using the online exercises at Speech Buddies University is fun, easy and engaging for a child to practice after correct training.

Speech Buddies in Therapy

• My child is already working with a speech therapist, why do we need Speech Buddies?

  Speech Buddies have been clinically proven to correct speech disorders nearly twice as fast as traditional therapy. And using Speech Buddies with a speech therapist is the fastest and most effective method of correcting speech disorders on the market today. By correcting your child's speech difficulties faster, he will get out of therapy and back to the playground or classroom where he belongs! 

• My child's speech therapist has not heard of Speech Buddies, what should I do?

  If your speech therapist has not heard of Speech Buddies, you should refer her to our website to learn more.  If you or your speech therapist have additional questions about our product or whether Speech Buddies are right for your child, please contact us. We can send you brochures to share with your speech therapist and answer questions about Speech Buddies.

• My speech therapist sent me a Speech Buddies recommendation - what does that mean?

  If you received an e-mail notifying you that your speech therapist has recommended an exercise or Speech Buddy for you, simply follow the link. Log-in or create an account at Speech Buddies University and go to the Recommendations tab. This dashboard will allow you to follow your speech therapist's recommendation for your child. 

Using Speech Buddies

• Are Speech Buddies right for my child?

  If your child is over four years old, has a mild to severe speech or articulation disorder, and has trouble with the R, S, SH, CH, or L sounds, Speech Buddies may help your child. Speech Buddies work quickly to help your child speak clearly and gain confidence. We stand behind our products 100% and offer a 30-day satisfaction guarantee.

• Are Speech Buddies easy to use?

  Speech Buddies are simple to use. Each tool provides consistent and accurate tongue placement feedback that even a highly effective speech therapist cannot give in speech therapy lessons. Through a few simple illustrations or by watching our online training video, Speech Buddies take only minutes to learn how to use correctly. Our Quick Start Guide, included with every Buddy, shows you the correct positioning and offers practice words so you and your child can begin practicing right away.  

  Speech Buddies University includes online word exercises to use at home or in speech therapy lessons to perfect proper articulation. 

  If you ever have any difficulty, please contact us and we will respond within 2 business days or sooner. 

• Do Speech Buddies really work?

  First, check out both parent and expert testimonials from people who have used Speech Buddies with their children and students.  Next, you may read more about the rigorous clinical trials that show evidence that Speech Buddies make a big difference in speech therapy treatment.  What are you waiting for? Our 30-day satisfaction guarantee makes it easy to give them a try. 

• When will I see results with Speech Buddies?

  Getting results from Speech Buddies will vary between children.  Some see results right away as a child has an "aha" moment and understands how to produce the sound correctly. Others take a bit more time and practice and have a more gradual improvement. We suggest using your Speech Buddy 3 times a week for about 10-15 minutes.  After a couple of weeks, you should start seeing the results!

• What if my child has more than one problem sound?

  Our Speech Buddies Set includes all five Speech Buddies (R, S, CH, L and SH). This is the most cost-effective solution if your child needs help with more than one sound.

• How should I clean my Speech Buddies?

  To wash your Speech Buddies, use mild soap and water or dip quickly in 70% isopropyl alcohol. Rinse thoroughly with water.

• Can Speech Buddies help children with hearing loss?

  Yes! Hearing difficulty can have a significant impact on speech intelligibility for two main reasons. First, hearing problems may interfere with a child's ability to perceive correct pronunciation as they are listening to others and trying to learn. Second, hearing problems may make it difficult for a child to monitor their own speech, making it difficult for others to understand what they are trying to say.

  Speech Buddies allow children with hearing problems to enable another sense for learning - the sense of touch. This allows children with hearing problems to achieve correct pronunciation without relying so heavily on the sense of hearing, as well as to better self-monitor their speech as they make progress. 

• What if my child is under four years old but has a speech delay?

  It is strongly encouraged that parents proceed with a course of intervention for any speech delay. Speech Buddies are recommended for children age 4 and above, however, if your child is younger and has trouble with any of the sounds covered by the Speech Buddies system, a parent-driven course of therapy may be appropriate.  If you have further questions, please contact us. Learn more about Speech Delay.

• Will my child be able to speak with a Speech Buddy in his mouth?

  The best way to learn with Speech Buddies is to practice with the Buddy using simple syllables and words. We include words lists in the Speech Buddy practice guide included in your order. Also, the exercises on Speech Buddies University are tailored to be used with your Speech Buddy and utilize many common words and phrases to help your child practice. 

• Will Speech Buddies trigger my child's gag reflex?

  No, Speech Buddies will not trigger your child's gag reflex. Speech Buddies' placement is far enough forward in the mouth to avoid this.   

Costs and Ordering

• Are Speech Buddies covered by insurance?

  First, the good news is that Speech Buddies are eligible for FSA reimbursement under most plans.

  Insurance coverage is more variable depending on your plan. Some insurance providers will cover private speech therapy costs and if your plan does cover the cost of speech therapy lessons, then it is likely that Speech Buddies will also be covered. Even if your insurance does not cover therapy, make sure to ask about diagnostic assessments. Some insurance will cover speech disorder assessments even if they do not cover private speech therapy costs.

  If you are unsure whether your provider will cover Speech Buddies, call your insurance representative to learn more. If they do cover Speech Buddies, find out what is the necessary information and documentation they need to do so. If they require documentation from us, please contact us. We have some great resources on the Speech Buddies blog that discuss the intricacies of insurance coverage and questions to ask your provider.

• How much does it cost to treat a speech or articulation disorder without a Speech Buddy?

  Treating an articulation disorder without a Speech Buddy may cost upwards of $3,000 in private speech therapy.

  If your child is eligible for speech therapy through a public school, you will not be responsible for speech therapy costs. However, speech therapy demand is often very high, so your child may receive minimal one-on-one treatment, limiting her ability to overcome her speech disorder. As well, recent economic budget cuts have eliminated many public speech therapy offerings.
  
  If your child does not have access to public speech therapy, you may choose to seek private speech therapy for your child. Private speech therapy sessions cost between $90-$140 per hour. On average, it takes 20-30 treatment hours to treat an articulation disorder, bringing the total treatment cost to around $3,000.^20,21,22,23

  
  As well, many speech therapy clinics have waiting lists which may delay the start of treatment for your child. Others may have a minimum number of speech therapy sessions that you must commit to weekly. If you are considering private speech therapy, you should understand treatment commitments and how long you will have to wait before scheduling your first appointment.

• I’m an international customer, can I buy Speech Buddies?

  If you are located in Canada or the EU, you can purchase Speech Buddies directly from our website. If you are located outside of these markets, please contact us for more information.

Speech Buddies University FAQs

• What is Speech Buddies University?

  Speech Buddies University is the first ever online, social speech therapy network. It can be used with or without a Speech Buddy and provides multi-level practice guidance for you and your child. If your child is working with a speech therapist, you can connect with her via Speech Buddies University and get customized recommendations and homework for your child. 

• How do I sign up for Speech Buddies University?

  Go to the login page. Enter your information and create a password. The next page will allow you to add your child and your speech therapist (if you have one). If you have a speech therapist that is not listed, tell her about Speech Buddies University and ask her to register. If you do not have a speech therapist, just leave it blank.

  After that, you are ready to begin! In accordance with our privacy policy, we will never share your contact information with a third party. 

• I am having trouble signing-in to Speech Buddies University.

  If you are having trouble signing-in to Speech Buddies University, the first thing to do is reset your password. Go to this page and select the “Forgot Password? Retrieve it” button. Click the link that is sent to your email account to change your password. 

  If this doesn’t work, contact us at 415-997-9038 between the hours of 9AM-5PM PST Monday-Friday. You can also reach us at info@articulatetech.com.

• How do I connect with my speech therapist?

  Connecting with your speech therapist on Speech Buddies University allows her to view your child's account, make homework recommendations and track her progress. This helps make every session count and move your child forward! 

  To do so, ask your speech therapist to join Speech Buddies University, then add her to your child's account by "linking" her as your therapist.

  As we want to be sure this relationship is approved by you, we will notify you via email and have you approve this "link." It takes a little longer, but we want to insure the safety of your and your child’s account information.  If you have any questions, please contact us.

About Speech Disorders

• Does my child have a speech problem?

  If you are worried that your child has a speech problem, it is important to be informed about what kind of speech disorders exist and at what age children reach speech and articulation milestones.  Visit our Educate page for more information.

• When is a speech error considered a speech disorder?

  Even though all children make errors in the learning process, there are developmental guidelines to inform parents about which learning errors are normal by the age of your child. Visit our Educate page to learn more or view a handy sound guide under Articulation Disorders.

• What are the different types of speech and language disorders?

  Visit our Educate page for to learn more about various types of speech and language disorders. Once you know the challenge, it may be easier to know exactly what you can do to help your child.