The blog

Free resources for every family

Plain-language articles on gestalt language processing and other speech topics — open to everyone, always.

7 Everyday Ways to Build Your Child's Language at Home

No flashcards required — seven research-backed habits that grow language during meals, bath time, car rides, and play, from a pediatric speech therapy team.

2026-08-18

Is Echolalia Normal? Why Repeating Phrases Is a Good Sign

Echolalia — repeating words or phrases — worries many parents. In most cases it is a meaningful stage of language development, not a red flag. How to understand and support it.

2026-08-18

Late Talker: When to Wait and When to Get Help

Your toddler isn't talking yet. When is waiting reasonable, and when should you see a speech-language pathologist? A practical guide for parents of late talkers.

2026-08-18

My Child Talks in Movie Quotes — What Scripting Really Means

When a child communicates in lines from movies and shows, it's called scripting — and it's usually meaningful language, not random repetition. How to decode and build on it.

2026-08-18

Signs of Childhood Apraxia of Speech — and How DTTC Helps

Childhood apraxia of speech (CAS) is a motor speech disorder that is often missed or mislabeled. The signs parents notice first, and what evidence-based treatment looks like.

2026-08-18

Speech and Language Milestones by Age: What to Expect from 1 to 5

A parent-friendly guide to speech and language milestones from age one to five — what's typical, what varies, and when to check in with a speech-language pathologist.

2026-08-18

How to Get Speech Therapy Covered by Insurance in Michigan

A practical guide for Michigan families — what to ask your insurance plan, what in-network means, how superbills work, and what Sunny Speech accepts.

2026-08-18

What Happens at a Pediatric Speech Evaluation?

Worried about your child's first speech evaluation? Here's exactly what to expect, how to prepare, and how we evaluate the whole child — not just test scores.

2026-08-18

What Is Gestalt Language Processing? A Parent's Guide

Some children learn language in chunks — movie lines, songs, favorite phrases — before single words. What gestalt language processing is, how to recognize it, and how to help.

2026-08-18

Will AAC Stop My Child From Talking? (No — Here's Why)

Many parents fear that giving their child an AAC device will discourage speech. The evidence says the opposite. What AAC is, who it helps, and how to start.

2026-08-18

The Problematic Nature of Standardized Tests (Part 2)

Part two examines the test questions themselves — how speech sound difficulties and confusing caregiver questionnaires can distort a child's scores.

2024-02-12

The Problematic Nature of Standardized Tests (Part 1)

Standardized speech and language assessments carry inherent bias — and why they should never be the sole marker of a child's communication skills.

2024-02-11

Take a Pause

One of the best tips for encouraging your child's communication at home costs nothing at all — a strategy called expectant waiting.

2023-10-17

Reward Charts… Do they really work?

New research on the brain's response to rewards suggests predictable reward charts may not be the most effective approach — and what to do instead.

2023-06-01

Tips and Tricks for AAC

Five practical strategies for supporting your child's AAC device at home — modeling, wait time, and honoring every form of communication.

2020-08-06