Ultrasound Speech Therapy: New Study Proves It Speeds Up Progress for Kids
If your child has been stuck on tricky sounds like “R,” you’re not alone. Many kids struggle with this sound well past kindergarten, and progress in regular speech therapy can feel slow. But now there’s exciting new research that shows a way to help kids move faster: ultrasound visual biofeedback.
What the New Study Found
Researchers from NYU and other top universities just published a study on how ultrasound can be used in speech therapy. Over 100 children were treated, and the results were clear:
⭐ Kids made faster progress when ultrasound was used.
👅 Seeing their tongue on the screen helped them understand what it should be doing.
🗺️ This visual “map” sped up learning in the early stages of therapy.
In other words, the study confirmed what many therapists suspected — that giving kids a way to actually see how their tongue is moving makes all the difference.
Why the “R” and “S” Sounds Are So Hard
Parents often ask: Why are the “R” and “S” sounds so tough?
Unlike sounds you can see on the lips (like “P” or “M”), these sounds are made inside the mouth. That means kids can’t watch your mouth and copy. They also can’t see their own tongue to know if they’re doing it right.
👉 This is why so many children spend years in therapy trying to get it.
How Ultrasound Biofeedback Helps
Ultrasound biofeedback uses a small handheld device placed under the chin. It creates a moving picture of the tongue on a screen using sound waves.
Kids get instant feedback: “Oh, my tongue is too far back” or “That’s the right shape!”
Therapy stops being a guessing game and becomes something kids can actually see and fix.
Progress happens faster because they know exactly what their tongue should be doing.
Why This Is Rare
Here’s the catch: almost no schools have ultrasound available. Even most private speech therapy practices don’t have it.
That’s why this study is such a big deal. It shows that ultrasound biofeedback isn’t just a cool idea — it’s now backed by high-quality evidence.
Brave Wings Therapy: One of the Few Practices Offering Ultrasound
At Brave Wings Therapy, we’re proud to be one of the only centers nationwide that offers ultrasound biofeedback for speech. Our specialized lab (Brave Speech Lab) gives kids access to this breakthrough tool right here in New Jersey.
If your child is struggling with “R” or other tough sounds, don’t wait years for slow progress. With ultrasound biofeedback, your child can finally see what their tongue is doing — and move forward faster.
👉 Contact Brave Wings Therapy today to learn more about our ultrasound program and schedule a consultation.
