Echo Me aims to help prevent the development of speech disorders in young children through the use of guided play. Echo Me will design and sell plush toys that target difficult speech sounds through auditory bombardment*: moving the toys will trigger a speech sound such as “sss,” “zzz,” “rrr,” etc. that many kids struggle with in early child development. These toys will provide tailored speech exposure, as well as develop strong motor skills during play. The design concept involves plush toys that represent objects like animals, vehicles, etc. Each toy’s corresponding sound (a “sss” for a snake or a “vvv” for a vacuum) will encourage sound associations and speech learning. This design takes strategic speech development to a new level of independence and offers an age-appropriate approach to speech play, especially between the ages of 0-2. Echo Me will work with community partners such as the UIUC Child Development Lab to gain insight and feedback throughout the development of our toys. Working with community partners and child development experts, Echo Me will also run workshops designed to teach caregivers the best strategies for play that promote proper speech development.

*Auditory bombardment is a speech therapy method by which a sound, word, or phrase is repeated to help assist those with speech difficulties.