But tonight, she wasn't laughing.
Within a month, Leo’s teacher asked about the app. The school’s speech therapist integrated sound buttons into communication boards. A local retirement home heard about it and created a nostalgia soundboard for residents with dementia — doorbells, old jingles, a train whistle — sparking memories and conversations.
For Leo, the soundboard wasn’t a joke — it was a . The repetitive, predictable sounds gave him a way to express emotions he struggled to name. "Bruh" became confusion. "Sad violin" became disappointment. "Vine boom" became surprise.
And sometimes, that’s the first real conversation starter there is. If you want, I can turn this into a short script, a classroom activity guide, or even a prototype for an accessible soundboard app. Just say the word.