For therapists

Set up your room.

What to buy and where to put it so a child can see your mouth and hear every sound. Two picks per thing, nothing you do not need.

Some links pay us a small commission if you buy. It does not change the price and it does not change the pick.

Microphone

Sound matters more than picture. A child copies what they hear, and a therapist needs to hear the difference between s and sh. A laptop mic cannot do that.

GoodSamson Q2UUSB and XLR, plugs into any laptop, rejects room noise. The standard first mic.See it
BetterShure MV7+Broadcast-grade voice, USB, auto level, a touch panel to mute. Sounds finished with no work.See it
AlsoAudio-Technica AT2020USB-XClearer top end for speech sounds; needs a quieter room.See it

Headphones

Closed headphones stop the child hearing an echo of themselves and let you hear their speech sounds precisely.

GoodAudio-Technica ATH-M20xClosed, light, cheap, honest sound.See it
BetterSony MDR-7506The studio standard for hearing exactly what is there.See it

Camera

Your face is the therapy. A sharp camera at eye level, above the screen, so the child sees your mouth.

GoodLogitech C920sSharp, reliable, works everywhere.See it
BetterElgato FacecamCrisp, no autofocus hunting, good in low light.See it

Light

One soft light in front of you, slightly above eye level, and the window behind you closed. Light is the difference between a clear mouth and a shadow.

GoodElgato Key Light AirSoft, dimmable, sits on the desk.See it
BetterElgato Key LightBigger and softer for a full-body play space.See it

Stand and boom

Keep the mic near your mouth and off the desk so typing and toys do not thump through.

GoodRØDE PSA1+A boom arm that stays where you put it.See it

Internet

Wired beats wireless. A cheap USB-to-Ethernet adapter and a cable to the router removes most frozen-video sessions.

GoodAny USB-C to Ethernet adapterPlug in, forget WiFi.See it

Background

Plain, calm, uncluttered. A bookshelf or a plain wall. Toys out of frame until you bring them in. A blanket over the window that echoes.

The five-minute check

  1. Camera at eye level, above the screen.
  2. Light in front of you, window behind you closed.
  3. Mic a hand's width from your mouth, off the desk.
  4. Headphones on, echo gone.
  5. Cable to the router, WiFi off.