Speech with Wit

03/10/2026

Does your child say...

“-nana” for banana
“-tar” for guitar
“puter” for computer?

Tapping or clapping with each syllable can help!

ba👏na👏na👏
mo🥁tor🥁cy🥁cle

If you tried this and your child is having difficulty with syllables,
contact an SLP.

03/04/2026

If your child says...
"otay" for OK
"tar" for CAR
"bite" for BIKE..try modeling these words with your mouth open!

Opening your mouth will help show that this sound comes from the back of your tongue, not the front. It will also help prevent the /t/ sound.

You can have your child say these words with their mouth open. It will feel very silly, but it can help figure out how to make the sound.

This tip doesn't work for all kids. If your child has difficulty producing the /k/ sound, reach out to an SLP.

Note: The wide open mouth posture is temporary! This helps teach placement, then it should be faded.

03/02/2026

I am excited to announce that I will be accepting clients for this summer! I will be taking weekly clients and intensives. At this time, services will be for summer only (not continuing through the fall).

Services will take place in your home (within 20 minute commute), virtually, and/or in a public space (such as a park or library).

If you're interested, please complete the intake form at speechwithwit.com

*reposting because apparently, I was working too fast and had a silly spelling error*

02/28/2026

Did you know?

Parent involvement with speech therapy is crucial for progress and generalization!

“Given the number of hours per day a child spends with family versus therapist, opportunities for practice are multiplied when parents encourage speech practice outside of therapy sessions. Extending therapy targets into the child’s home environment promotes motor learning that goes beyond acquisition of motor skills.”
-Dr. Ruth Stoeckel

“A study by Willingham (2002) compared massed practice vs. distributed practice and the effect on student achievement. Massed practice is defined as studying new material in one long session, commonly referred to as “cramming”. Distributed practice refers to learning material in short sessions over several days. The results of this study demonstrated that distributed practice was more effective than massed practice for retention of new information.”
-Sexton & Seth (5 Minute Kids)

“More intensive intervention, as characterized by the number sessions, resulted in greater phonological change than did a shorter intervention program.”
-Cummings, Hallgrimson & Robinson (2019)

So... that home program that your SLP is sending you this is not just busy work, but a very important part of the treatment plan.

02/24/2026

Does your child say...
“-nake” for snake
“-top” for stop
“-nack” for snack?

Add a gesture to bring attention to the sound!

Draw an S in the air with your finger while you say “sssssnack”
Make the sound a bit longer than typical and point it out.

Have your child try to put the ‘snake sound’ on the word with you.
“ssswing”
“-wing”
“oh no, we forgot the ‘snake sound’! ssswing!”

Of course, this doesn’t work for all kids. If your child is having difficulty with getting the /s/ in blends like “star” and “spoon”, contact an SLP.

Note: These exaggerated words are temporary.

05/29/2025

Our dreams came true. 💙
Friendly reminder that I will be on leave until August. The intake form on my website speechwithwit.com can be used to get added to the waitlist for fall.

02/27/2025

Iowa friends and families, Tom is amazing!

02/17/2025

I've been very quiet lately, and here's why...
Our family will be expecting our little IVF miracle this May. 🖤

I am not currently taking any new clients and will resume intakes in August 2025.

02/13/2025

Check this out! Kelsey from Nourish Pediatrics is amazing!

Join us in-person or via Zoom this Friday, Feb. 14, from 12 p.m. to 1 p.m. for the next lecture in our "Commemorating the Lasting Impact of the Wendell Johnson Speech and Hearing Center" seminar series! This week will feature Kelsey Norris of Nourish Pediatrics.

For more information: https://bit.ly/4jSSYuf.

02/07/2025

A great list of books to read with kids.
http://growingbookbybook.com/101-books-read-kids-kindergarten/

02/06/2025

A disability label is never the whole story. IEP teams may assume that a “speech-only” student’s needs are limited to mispronounced sounds, but a new meta-analysis adds to the evidence of a link between speech sound disorders and language and literacy deficits.

Our research review “What do speech sound disorders mean for language and literacy?” breaks it all down, including the one critical skill that ties them all together. Check it out for FREE at https://www.theinformedslp.com/review/What-do-speech-sound-disorders-mean-for-language-and-literacy

The research: https://doi.org/10.1044/2024_JSLHR-24-00170

[Visual description: Image text reads, "Is it ever really speech-only?"]

01/23/2025

Cool event!!! 🖤

Family Game Night!
Join us for AAC Family Game Night [Valentine's Edition]
February 12 at 7pm EST

USSAAC's AAC Awareness Committee is excited to host its next AAC Family Game Night. We welcome children who are emergent AAC users and their families, including siblings. This is a great opportunity for families to play games and have conversations while making new friends and meeting other AAC users.

Registrants will receive a confirmation email. A Zoom link will follow within a week.
Register here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSefrmuGkXnRKQ5hY4N1yevCFfEoWcot20F8L9H7X1B5E-i-yw/viewform

Image/text: Join us for AAC Family Game Night [Valentine's Edition]
February 12 at 7pm EST
Designed for children who are emergent AAC users, this virtual event will include fun games, dance parties and conversation.
Meet new friends, including adult AAC users
Siblings are welcome to attend.
Advance online registration required.
Register here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSefrmuGkXnRKQ5hY4N1yevCFfEoWcot20F8L9H7X1B5E-i-yw/viewform
Image description:
Colorful illustrations of an AAC device, low tech AAC and Valentine's illustrations including roses, hearts, envelopes and candy box and USSAAC logo