You can help them talk more.

Six simple things families do that make the biggest difference.

Someone you love uses SpeechBuddy — an app that helps them communicate. The app matters, but you matter more. Speech-language research is clear: how their family talks with them is the single biggest factor in whether they keep using their voice. Here's what actually works.

1Wait longer than feels comfortable.

After you ask a question or say something, count silently to ten before you help, repeat yourself, or move on. Their brain and body need extra time to find the words and tap the tiles. Most people quit waiting after 2-3 seconds. Ten feels like forever. It's the right amount.

Try this You: "What do you want for lunch?" Then wait. Really wait. Count in your head. Watch for their eyes to land on the app, or a finger to move. Let them get there.

Practice this ›

Ten seconds sounds short. It isn't. Feel how long it really is:

Press Start, then don't touch your phone.

2Talk with them — don't quiz them.

Instead of "What's this? Say 'ball'!" try "Look, a ball. I want to throw the ball." Show them how you'd say it. People learn language by hearing it in real situations, not by being tested. Quizzing feels like a test and puts pressure on. Modeling feels like a conversation.

Try this Watching a show together? Instead of "What is he doing?" try "Wow, he's running fast." Now they've heard the sentence they could say, without being put on the spot.

Practice this ›

Read each pair. Notice how much less pressure the good version has:

Quiz"What color is the car?"

Model"That car is bright red!"

Quiz"Say milk. Say it. Milk."

Model"I'd love some cold milk right now."

Quiz"What's the dog doing?"

Model"Look, the dog is chasing his tail!"

3Say what's happening around you.

When you're just being together — cooking, driving, watching TV — narrate what you see. "That car is loud." "The soup smells so good." "Grandma's coming Sunday." You're giving them the vocabulary they need to talk about their world. They can't say things they've never heard.

Try this Comment three times for every question you ask. If you catch yourself asking a lot of questions, switch to commenting for a while.

Practice this ›

Look around wherever you are. Type one thing you see:

4Add one word to what they say.

When they say "cookie," you say "chocolate cookie" or "yummy cookie." When they say "I want juice," you say "I want cold juice." You're showing them the next level — one step richer — without correcting them. This is how children (and adults) grow their vocabulary. Don't overload. Just one step.

Try this Whatever they say, echo it back plus one word. If they say "go store," you say "go to the store." Then keep the conversation going.

Practice this ›

Imagine your loved one just said something short. Type it here (one or two words):

5Every attempt is communication.

If they tap a tile that doesn't quite make sense, or say a word that sounds garbled, respond to what they probably meant — not what they literally said. Getting it "wrong" isn't a mistake. Trying is the whole point. If you correct or dismiss every attempt, they'll stop trying.

Try this They tap "hungry" but it's not mealtime. Instead of "you just ate," try "you want a snack? Let's find something." Meet them where they are.

Practice this ›

Scenario: It's 10 AM on a Saturday. You just finished breakfast together an hour ago. Your loved one taps "hungry" on the app. What do you say?

6Use SpeechBuddy yourself sometimes.

Pick up their tablet or phone and tap through a sentence yourself, out loud, in front of them. "I want" (tap) "coffee" (tap). "Play." Model that this is how people talk. When they see you use it, it becomes normal — not a special thing only they do.

Try this Once a day, use the app to say something short to them. "I love you." "Good morning." "See you soon." Their app becomes a shared way to talk, not just their assignment.

Practice this ›

Tap the chips in order to build a sentence — like the app they use. Then press Play:

That's the pace your loved one is working at. Now go pick up their real app and try one sentence out loud with them today.

A few things to try to avoid

Don't finish their sentence for them. Wait, even if it takes a while.
Don't quiz them on words they know. ("Say ball. Say it. Say ball.")
Don't talk about them like they aren't there. Assume they understand everything — they usually do.
Don't hand them the app and walk away. Communication is together, not solo.
Don't only use it in "practice." The app is for real conversation, all day.

Why this works

These six habits aren't guesses. They come from decades of speech-language research on augmentative communication (AAC):

Light (1989) — original framework for communication-partner skills in AAC
Kent-Walsh & McNaughton (2005) — meta-analysis showing that partner instruction produces the largest single effect size in AAC outcomes
Van Tatenhove (2009) — practical framework for Aided Language Stimulation

The person you love is doing hard work. These small habits from you make that work go somewhere.

Your practice so far

Practice each habit above. Then try them for real this week with the person you love. That's when the change happens.

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