Set Your Sights on Communication Goals in 2026

Written By Jody Vaynshtok

A New Year’s Guide to Clearer Speech, Stronger Language, and Confident Connection

At Sound Speech and Hearing Clinic, we believe that the new year is the perfect time to reflect, reset, and set meaningful goals. And when we think goals, we can't help but think about communication. Whether you or your family is working on clearer speech, stronger language comprehension, more confident expression, or improved listening in noise, 2026 can be the year you see real progress. Here’s how to kick off the year with intention and stay on track with your communication goals:

1. Choose Goals That Are Personal, Practical, and Positive

Not sure where to start? Try identifying areas that affect daily life. Think about where you have challenges during a typical day or week with communication and picture what it would look like with more clear communication. From articulation to fluency or voice, our team is always here to help you define what matters most.

2. Break Big Goals Into Small Weekly Wins
Once you have a direction, it’s helpful to create short-term, achievable steps. This is one of our main roles as speech language pathologists, working on taking a big goal (e.g. clear S sounds) and turn them into bite size goals (e.g. produce S on it's own, produce it in words, sentences, etc). If you are working with a speech therapist, ask what the next small goal is, and make sure to celebrate when you achieve it! 

3. Build Goals Into Daily Routines
The best way to stick with communication goals is to make them part of what you already do. This can be practicing sounds on your walk to work, turning your child's bath time into language time, or making sports practice a great time for back and forth communication. 

You don’t have to do this alone! Our team of speech-language pathologists and audiologists are here to help you determine, define and keep you sticking to your goals! Let others know about your goals and allow them to celebrate your wins with you as well.

Here's to an amazing 2026!

Jody Vaynshtok
Jody is a California-licensed speech language pathologist with eight years of industry and clinical experience. She has worked with both adult and pediatric populations during her time at private practice, birth-to-three, and hospital facilities. She is experienced in the assessment and treatment of a variety of communication and cognitive disorders. In addition, Jody has a passion for working with adults looking to achieve clearer communication. Jody received her BS in Speech and Hearing Sciences and MS in Medical Speech-Language Pathology from the University of Washington. She was a part of the Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital at Stanford’s cleft and craniofacial clinic participating in the multidisciplinary assessment and treatment of children born with craniofacial abnormalities. She holds a staff position at UCSF and is the lead speech language pathologist for the department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery’s Hearing Loss Clinic. When she's not busy having fun with her clients Jody enjoys spending time with her husband, Anton, friends and family. And if she's not headed out somewhere fun for dinner, you might find her at Bar Method working out!
www.soundshc.com
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