Speech Buddies Speech Therapy System

Frequently Asked Questions:

• What is an articulation (speech sound) disorder?
• How are articulation disorders treated?
• Can Speech Buddies help my child?
• Are Speech Buddies easy to use?
• How much does it cost to treat a speech or articulation disorder without a Speech Buddy?
• Is speech therapy covered by insurance?
• How much money can Speech Buddies save me?
• Can parents help their children effectively?
• What if my child has more than one problem sound?
• What if my child is under four years old but has a speech delay?
• Can my child use her Speech Buddy by herself?
• Sounds good, but how do I know that Speech Buddies really work?
• Can I read reviews from clients who have used Speech Buddies at home or in therapy?

What is an articulation (speech sound) disorder?

An articulation disorder is present when a child or adult has difficulty pronouncing speech sounds. These problems are characterized by substitutions, omissions, additions, or distortions of speech sounds which make it difficult for people to understand. Many young children often make errors while learning to speak (saying “theal” instead of “seal”), but are not considered to have an articulation disorder unless these errors persist beyond a certain developmental age. The age at which a child should master a sound is different depending on the difficulty of the sound. For instance, most children learn to pronounce the B-sound by the time they are three years old, where the R-sound is generally mastered around five or six years old. A good guide to see the age range for speech and articulation development is the Talking Child’s speech chart.

How are articulation disorders treated?

When a speech disorder is diagnosed, it has traditionally been treated through one-on- one or group speech therapy sessions with a certified Speech-language pathologist (SLP). Speech therapy is offered in public schools, but many recent state budget cuts have decreased or eliminated the availability of this service. If your child is enrolled in private school or is not treated in the public school, you have a few options:

• Enroll in private speech therapy at a local clinic. In a private speech therapy clinic, your child will need treatment for an average of four months (ranges based on the severity of the disorder). You may be able to use Speech Buddies with private speech therapy to speed-up treatment time. Speech Buddies will reduce total treatment time – often by as much as 40-50%.¹
• Treat your child at home using Speech Buddies. This is the most cost-effective option for speech therapy. You may use Speech Buddies to practice producing the correct sound with your child. Our Quick Start Guide, included with every Buddy, shows you the correct positioning and offers practice words so you and your child can begin speech therapy at home right away.

Can Speech Buddies help 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. We provide 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 speech therapy right away.

If you are having difficulty at home, we can offer a complimentary training session with a speech therapist.  Contact us for more information.

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 usually 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.^2,3,4
  • 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.

Is speech therapy covered by insurance?

Sometimes.

Some insurance providers will  cover private speech therapy costs, but others do not since it is offered in public schools. If they do 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.

The good news is that Speech Buddies are eligible for FSA reimbursement under most plans.

How much money can Speech Buddies save me?

Speech Buddies may save you thousands of dollars in private speech therapy costs, making them an affordable option for helping your child.

• Speech Buddies at home

  • You can use a Speech Buddy with your child to improve his articulation at home without having to go to a speech therapist. We provide you with all of the tools you need including training videos and online word games to try and overcome your child’s disorder without expensive speech therapy bills and hours waiting in a clinic.

• Speech Buddies in speech therapy

  • Speech Buddies have been scientifically proven to reduce speech therapy time. By asking your speech therapist to use a Speech Buddy, you can save thousands of dollars by reducing the number of speech therapy sessions your child must attend to overcome his disorder.

• Speech Buddies with school speech therapy

  • Speech Buddies are a great way to accelerate your child’s path back to the classroom. 71% of speech therapy sessions occur during classroom hours, pulling your child away from other subjects. Using a Speech Buddy at home will help your child get out of speech therapy faster and back to the classroom.

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.⁵ 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.

What if my child has more than one problem sound?

Our Professional Set includes all five Speech Buddies.  This is the most cost-effective solution if your child needs help with more than one sound.

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. If your child is under four years of age 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 feel free to email our in-house speech therapist at gordy@articulatetech.com.

Can my child use her Speech Buddy by herself?

With only a little bit of training, kids can learn to use Speech Buddies by themselves. 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.)

Sounds good, but how do I know that Speech Buddies really work?  

First, read more about the rigorous clinical trials that show that Speech Buddies make a big difference in speech therapy treatment.  As well, check-out testimonials submitted by parents who have used Speech Buddies with their children. What a difference parents can make in the lives of their little ones!

Our 30-day satisfaction guarantee makes it easy to give them a try. 

More questions? 

Download our full instruction booklet.

Contact us at: info@articulatetech.com or (415) 997-9038.