The NOVA Experience: A Mother's Journey with AI-Assisted Speech Therapy

Today, we're sitting down with Sarah Thompson, mother of 3-year-old Ethan, who has been using NOVA to support her son's speech development. Sarah shares her experience transitioning from traditional speech therapy to AI-assisted intervention, and how it has transformed their approach to Ethan's language skills.

Spectrum Boom: Hi Sarah, thank you for joining us. Can you tell us how you first heard about NOVA?

Sarah: Of course! It was actually through a friend at a playgroup. Her daughter had made incredible progress with her speech delay, and when I mentioned our struggles with Ethan's therapy, she immediately recommended NOVA.

Spectrum Boom: What were those struggles you mentioned?

Sarah: Well, Ethan was receiving traditional speech therapy, but it was only for 30 minutes once a week. It felt so limited, and progress was slow. We were feeling pretty discouraged, to be honest.

Spectrum Boom: So, what made you decide to give NOVA a try?

Sarah: Desperation, really (laughs). We were willing to try anything that might help Ethan. The idea of having constant access to strategies and support was really appealing.

Spectrum Boom: Can you walk us through your initial experience with NOVA?

Sarah: Sure. We started with a consultation, which was surprisingly thorough. NOVA asked questions about Ethan's interests, his daily routine, our family dynamics – things I hadn't even considered relevant to speech therapy.

Spectrum Boom: And what happened after the consultation?

Sarah: That's when the magic happened. NOVA started generating strategies and games tailored specifically for Ethan. For example, it suggested a game called "Dinosaur Dig" because Ethan loves dinosaurs. We'd pretend to dig up bones and had to name each dinosaur part we found. Ethan was so engaged, and I could see how it was encouraging him to use new words.

Spectrum Boom: That sounds fun! Were there other strategies that stood out?

Sarah: Oh, many! There was this brilliant idea for bathtime where we'd make up silly songs about body parts as we washed. It turned a routine task into a language-rich experience. NOVA even suggested ways to incorporate speech practice into his favorite TV shows.

Spectrum Boom: It seems like NOVA provided quite a comprehensive plan. How did this compare to your previous therapy experience?

Sarah: It was night and day. Instead of trying to cram everything into that weekly 30-minute session, we had strategies we could use all day, every day. And they were all things Ethan enjoyed, so it never felt like work.

Spectrum Boom: That's fantastic. Did you encounter any challenges along the way?

Sarah: Well, initially, I didn't realize we could keep asking NOVA questions after the consultation. I thought it was a one-time thing. But once I figured out I could continually interact with NOVA, it was a game-changer.

Spectrum Boom: How so?

Sarah: I started sharing Ethan's weekly daycare syllabus with NOVA. It would then suggest modifications to incorporate speech therapy into his daily activities at daycare. For instance, if they were doing a unit on animals, NOVA would suggest specific animal-themed language games or songs that focused on the sounds Ethan was working on.

Spectrum Boom: That's incredible. How did the daycare respond to these suggestions?

Sarah: They were thrilled! Ethan's teachers were so impressed with the ideas that they started implementing some of them for the whole class. It made Ethan feel special, and it helped other children with their language skills too.

Spectrum Boom: It sounds like NOVA has had a significant impact. How would you say Ethan's progress has been?

Sarah: It's been remarkable. In just a few months, his vocabulary has exploded. He's stringing together longer sentences, and his pronunciation has improved dramatically. But beyond that, he's more confident in communicating. He's not frustrated like he used to be.

Spectrum Boom: That's wonderful to hear. Any final thoughts you'd like to share with other parents who might be considering NOVA?

Sarah: I'd say don't hesitate. The personalized approach and the ability to integrate speech therapy into everyday life have been invaluable. And don't be afraid to keep engaging with NOVA – it's like having a speech therapist on call 24/7. It's not just about the exercises; it's about transforming your daily life into a language-rich environment. For us, it's been life-changing.