HACKER Q&A
📣 ts1213

Would You Pay for an AI-Powered Speech Therapy App for Kids?


Hey HN,

I'm working on LingoPaws, an AI-powered speech training app for kids struggling with articulation. Unlike traditional speech therapy, it provides real-time feedback, gamified practice, and AI-generated exercises tailored to each child's speech patterns.

We’re testing whether parents (or even speech therapists) would find value in this before scaling. The biggest problem we’re solving: speech therapy is expensive, limited in availability, and often not engaging for kids.

Would you pay for an app like this?

If you're a parent, would you subscribe for $10-20/month if it helps your child improve faster?

If you're a speech therapist, would you use it as a tool to complement therapy?

Do you think this approach solves a real problem, or is there a better way to tackle it?

We have a basic prototype and a waitlist for early access: https://www.lingopaws.com/en

Would love your feedback, especially from those who have experience in edtech, AI, or speech therapy!

  👤 jareds Accepted Answer ✓
I am a parent but don't currently have a need for this. Looking at your site I would currently not subscribe if I did have a need. It's unclear how much processing will be done on device and how much will be done in the cloud. It's also unclear what data retention policies you have. I don't want to read the privacy policy to figure this out. I'd expect an explanation on the overview of what data will be stored, how long, and how it will be managed since this will involve recordings of my child. I also think a third party audit of your code and privacy practices would be helpful, but I understand this isn't something you may want to do initially while the app is changing significantly in early development.
👤 DigitalSea
No.

Your app might gamify speech practice, but it overlooks crucial elements: nuanced human judgment, emotional rapport, and adaptive interpersonal communication. Speech therapists don’t just correct sounds; they navigate psychological nuances, adjust dynamically based on subtle cues, and foster genuine motivation through trust. AI might imitate, but can’t authentically replicate this.

Parents wary of therapy’s cost and engagement issues might initially bite, but sustained improvement demands personalised professional insight. Edtech and AI thrive as complements, not replacements.

Reframe your positioning clearly as a supplemental practice tool, not a replacement for professional therapy, or risk selling parents a mirage.

👤 JohnFen
It depends on whether or not such a thing would be effective, honestly. I'd want to see some data on that.