As the last beach days fade and school supply lists start showing up in inboxes, many families begin preparing for the fall routine, new teachers, new schedules, and for some children, new academic challenges.

But what if your child’s biggest barrier isn’t in the backpack, but in the way they process what they hear?

At Sound Speech & Hearing Clinic, we work with many families who start the school year with a big question:
“My child seems smart—but they’re still struggling. Why?”

For some children, the answer lies in how their brain interprets spoken information. That’s where Central Auditory Processing Disorder (CAPD) evaluations come in.

The preschool years (ages 3–5) are a time of rapid communication growth, and each child develops at their own pace. Still, there are key milestones that help us determine if a child is building the foundational skills they’ll need for school and social success. Learn more in our most recent blog post.

At Sound Speech & Hearing Clinic, we know that communication thrives when care is connected. That’s why we place a high value on collaboration, not just with families, but with the entire team of professionals supporting a patient’s development.

From pediatricians and ENTs to teachers and mental health providers, we believe that speech, language, and hearing care works best when everyone is on the same page.

Not every missed sound or moment of forgetfulness is a sign of a deeper issue, but sometimes, those small signs are worth paying closer attention to. At Sound Speech & Hearing Clinic, we often hear parents say:

“I wasn’t sure if this was normal—or if I should be concerned.”

If you’ve ever had that feeling in your gut, this post is for you.

Join us on Thursday, August 28th from 5–7PM at Sound Speech & Hearing Clinic (251 Rhode Island Street, Suite 101) for a pre-festival happy hour where hearing protection is the substance of choice.

At Sound Speech & Hearing Clinic, we believe that communication should reflect who you are, authentically, confidently, and without compromise. For many individuals on a gender journey, that includes exploring and aligning their voice and communication style with their identity.

Whether it’s summer, school season, or any time in between, we’re here to provide affirming, evidence-based voice care that supports safety, self-expression, and confidence.

We have big hearts, big dreams…and one big announcement: We’re hiring a new Speech-Language Pathologist to join our team this fall! We’re ready to welcome someone new into that circle, a warm, curious, collaborative SLP who’s excited to help people make the most of their communication.

If your child has ever struggled to follow directions, stay focused in noisy classrooms, or remember what was just said, it might not just be a behavior, and could be something more. That’s where Central Auditory Processing Disorder (CAPD) comes in. Learn more about Sound Speech and Hearing Clinic’s comprehensive CAPD program.

It’s no secret that reading is one of the most powerful tools for learning, but what many families don’t realize is just how connected reading is to language development. In fact, the foundations for strong literacy skills start long before a child picks up their first chapter book.

At Sound Speech & Hearing Clinic, we’re passionate about helping children build strong communication skills, from talking and listening to reading and writing. These abilities are deeply interwoven, and when one area struggles, the others are often affected.

Summer brings longer days, louder laughs, and often... more yelling. Whether it’s camp cheers, pool parties, or belting out Taylor Swift on a road trip, our voices can get a workout during the warmer months.

But did you know that vocal misuse in childhood and adolescence can lead to long-term strain or voice disorders?

At Sound Speech & Hearing Clinic, we work with kids, teens, and adults to support healthy voice use.

Summer is the perfect time to step away from screens and lean into sunshine, connection, and playful learning. The season is full of simple, fun opportunities to support your child’s speech and language development, and most of them don’t even require leaving your home or backyard!

Summer is a season of fun, but it’s also a time when our ears can face some serious challenges. From loud concerts and fireworks to splashy pool days and noisy travel, the warm-weather months can be tough on hearing health, especially for kids and teens.

At Sound Speech & Hearing Clinic, we believe that protecting your hearing can still be part of the fun. With just a few easy strategies, you and your family can enjoy every summer sound without putting your ears at risk.

Throughout June, the Sound Speech and Hearing Clinic team visited providers across the Bay Area who support gender-diverse patients!

This summer we are making reading a top priority, and embracing the Read 25 Day Today (June 25th). To make this even more fun, we encourage you to support some of San Francisco’s incredible independent bookstores and libraries. Here are a few of our team’s favorites:

Meet Ethan and Mackenzie, this summer’s Sound Interns!

At Sound Speech & Hearing Clinic, we believe in the power of reading, not just as a tool for learning, but as a way to connect, relax, grow, and explore. That’s why we’re excited to share a simple, joyful movement we’re embracing on June 25, 2025 with the Read 25 Challenge by author and happiness expert Gretchen Rubin.

As summer break rolls in and backpacks are tucked away, it’s easy to assume that learning can take a full vacation too. But for many children, especially those with speech, language, or literacy challenges, the summer months can lead to a phenomenon known as the “summer slide.”

The summer slide refers to the learning loss that can happen when children are away from the structure and practice of the school year. And while all kids are vulnerable to some degree of regression, research shows that reading skills are particularly at risk, especially for students who are already working hard to build their reading fluency, comprehension, or vocabulary.