Every language sample begins before you transcribe a single word. It begins in the room, with the hum in the background, the voices around the table, and the space between a child and the microphone. A speech therapist asked Lois Brady how to record a good language sample, and her answer is gentle and practical: a clear recording does half your work for you.
In this Ask MySLP short, Lois shares three habits, each shown on real EASI screens. Find a quiet spot, because background noise makes words harder to identify. Use just two voices when you can, because extra speakers make speaker labels less certain. Keep the microphone close, because clear, close audio means less transcript correction later. She also shares how much to collect: aim for 25 to 50 utterances, with seven to fifteen minutes about right and thirty minutes the most.
One more kindness to yourself and the families you serve: keep recordings off your personal phone. You can record live in EASI, which is HIPAA and FERPA compliant. EASI is sold through Northern Speech Services. Learn more at easi-as.com or see how EASI language sample analysis works.