Sarah Huben

Where it started

Sarah has spent her career working directly with patients — children struggling to form their first words, adults rebuilding communication after a stroke, people whose voices simply weren't being heard. She loves the work. What she grew to resent was everything that got in the way of it.

Families waited months for a first appointment while SLPs in private practice were turning people away not because they were full, but because potential patients couldn't find them, couldn't afford an initial evaluation, or didn't know where to start. The system was broken at the very first step.

Why AI, and why now

When large language models and speech recognition reached clinical-grade reliability, Sarah saw an opportunity that hadn't existed before. For the first time, a patient could complete a structured speech screening from their phone — guided by an AI trained on clinical frameworks — and receive a domain-by-domain report before ever speaking to a clinician.

That changes everything about the first touchpoint. A patient arrives at their first appointment already screened. A clinician spends their time treating, not gathering basic intake data. And because the report is shareable, a family doctor, a school, or a referring specialist can forward it with one click.

A platform built for other SLPs

Songbird Speech isn't just a tool for patients. Sarah built it specifically to help other speech-language pathologists grow their practices in ways that weren't possible before.

• Reach patients who can't find you

  Your profile in the Songbird recommended directory puts your name in front of patients the moment they complete a screening — when their need is top of mind and they're ready to book.

• Lower the barrier to a first appointment

  When a patient can complete an AI screening for less than $20 and share the results instantly, the friction between 'I think I need help' and 'I have an appointment' drops dramatically.

• Arrive prepared, not blind

  Shared assessments give you a six-domain acoustic baseline before the first session. No more starting from zero. You can focus the intake on the nuances the AI flagged, not on gathering the basics.

• Let your patients share their story

  Patients can share their Songbird report with family, schools, or other providers — which means more informed referrals coming your way, and better-prepared families arriving at your door.

What she believes

Sarah is adamant that AI should support clinical judgement, not replace it. Songbird Speech produces a screening report, not a diagnosis. Every result is designed to start a conversation with a qualified SLP — and to make that conversation easier to have sooner.

She built this for every clinician who has ever had to turn away a patient because the waiting room was full, and for every patient who gave up before they ever made the call. She is genuinely convinced that the right technology, built thoughtfully, can help more people get the help they need — and help the clinicians who want to give it find the people who are looking for them.