FAQ
Common Questions
Answers about the app itself. For questions about AAC — readiness, modeling, core words, speech development — the articles answer them with sources.
The App
Is Effara a therapy service?
No. Effara is a communication tool — not a therapy service, diagnosis tool, medical treatment, or cure.
Do we need a speech-language pathologist to start?
No. Work with a good SLP when you have access to one — Effara is built so your family can begin without waiting.
What if my child taps randomly or tries to edit everything?
Speaking always stays available. Editing is locked behind an adult passcode, so the board can't be rearranged by accident.
Can we add our own words?
Yes. Custom buttons with your own photos and recorded family voices take under a minute to add.
Will it look childish for older kids?
No. No babyish visuals, badges, or game mechanics — a calm interface meant to be carried without embarrassment, from toddlerhood through the teenage years.
Speech, Voice, And Privacy
Does Effara work offline?
Yes. Speech is generated on the device — no connection is ever needed for your child to speak.
What leaves the device?
Nothing. The app has no accounts, ads, analytics, or Effara server. Apple services you may use around it — iCloud backups, TestFlight — are governed by Apple's own terms and your settings.
Will the voice sound like my child?
Apple's on-device voices don't include true child voices, so licensed child-voice packs are a planned follow-up rather than a launch promise. Recorded family voices work today — a sibling saying a word can be that word's voice.
Do you track progress or generate reports?
No. Nothing about your child's use of Effara ever leaves the iPad.
Pricing And Availability
How much will Effara cost?
The board and the voice are free — the complete core vocabulary, offline speech, and backup, with no time limit. A one-time $99.99 purchase adds custom buttons with your photos, recorded family voices, and the coaching. No subscription.
Will insurance cover Effara?
Probably not. Dedicated speech-generating devices can be funded as medical equipment; a family-owned iPad with a consumer app usually cannot. Effara makes no reimbursement claims.
When will Effara be available?
Effara is in a private beta (Apple TestFlight) on iPad ahead of its App Store launch. The app page has a launch waitlist; beta invitations currently go out personally by email from it.