Language Up Games

Home
United States
Royal Oak, MI
Language Up Games

Hello there! I'm Hayden. I'm a speech-language pathologist and AAC specialist, and I create games f

10/03/2026

Working within the constraints of human memory and attention? 🤔

Aren’t we ALL?! 😅🤣

That’s why sticking to about 3-5 visual pieces of information on screen or within a given submenu is a great way to enhance design for memory.

Most people naturally attend to human face, starting with the eyes and then perceiving the face as a whole (not sure if this extends to anime but maybe). We also easily memorize facial perceptual differences.

Using visual supports like symbols further aids quick comprehension and memorization of even dense information (balance between coded information like colors/shapes, direct correlation like pictographs and text).

The truth is, it’s much harder to understand information without strong formatting, not only lists but visual hierarchies like diagonals and stacks.

As a clinician my focus is on maximizing learning and high impact sessions. As a developer and UX designer, it’s important to build usable tech that everyone can access.

Those two goals are two sides of the same coin 😉

Of course I have to throw in some UI analysis from my favorite recent releases too 🤩

Be sure to check out “Trails in the Sky: 2nd Chapter” on Switch 1/2, PS5 and PC via Steam.

Images courtesy of Nihon Facom and GungHo Online Entertainment. Source: Johnson, J. (2021) Designing with the Mind in Mind (Ch 7)

09/16/2026

Do we perceive everything we see? 👀

Not at all! 😊

Let’s take a LOOK at some UX perception examples from an upcoming video game release!

Don’t go against the perceptual grain 💪 Arrangement, color and movement can make a huge difference in how naturally the player is able to identify pertinent information and manage large amounts of info as they play 😎

09/03/2026

You can take part in the process of too!

As a speech therapist, I began to accept the flaws and failings of AT as something I couldn’t possibly change. But now that I’m also in grad school for User Experience Design, learning more about things like interaction design and usability studies, I can see that it’s critical for clinicians in the field to set up lines of communication with app developers like me.

I’ve been thinking more recently about how to design a way for clinicians to communicate the issues and successes they have with things like AT and AAC, so that I can better understand how to improve them and make them more effective for everyone.

Hang tight for now but I just wanted to get y’all thinking about this and I’ll prepare a way to receive this feedback soon! ☺️

08/06/2026

If you give an SLP a cookie… 🍪😅

Sometimes having a simple recipe, or flow, to use for something cognitively demanding, like AAC, is a great way to reduce the brain fizzle (“what the heck was I even saying?!”) and focus on what counts: expression, empowerment and education! 💪

All you need for this is: an activity, the AAC, and what you want to say (i.e. which word(s) to model) 🙌

Get to modeling using this simple formula and keep repeating it (using the same activity is okay too!) for expanded access to communication through technology!! 🥳

(Repost: I’m BUSY! 😤 🤣)

aac

08/04/2026

This summer, let’s make communication as cool as ice cream 😎🍦

Modeling AAC helps children learn that their device/boards work, and that their words can make things happen. 📱✨

No “wait until they press it” moments needed. Just model often, naturally, and with confidence!

Summer AAC Modeling Tips (aka: easy wins) ☀️
- Narrate your day in AAC: “Uh-oh,” “more,” “help,” “open,” “again!” during snacks, walks, and even vacation adventures. 🫶
- Follow their lead: If they reach for the beach bag, model what it’s for: “go,” “outside,” “sand.” 🏖️
- One message at a time: Start with key words/phrases (more, help, stop, want, all done) and repeat them often. 🔁
- Model during transitions: Car seat → sunscreen → splash time. AAC is perfect for “First/Then” moments. 🚗🧴🏊
- Make it fun: Pretend characters “need” the AAC message, then model it for them: “Oops!” “Uh-oh!” “We did it!” 🎭💬

Because when you model AAC, you’re not just teaching a system, you’re teaching POWERFUL SELF-ADVOCACY. 💪🗣️

(And honestly? Summer is the perfect season for lots of modeling fun in the sun.) ☀️ 💖

08/03/2026

Curious about my composition process? 🤔 🎶 🎧

😌 Well first I think about how the track is going to sound in that particular moment and in this case, I thought modal music would do better than tonal.

🎹 Next, I pick an instrument that matches the vibe and then I use the Music typing feature to map out which notes I’m going to use

🎤 From there, I start improvising and when I have something I like I record it.

👂 I like to treat the tracks as I go, so I use an equalizer to take away some of the high and low pitch frequencies from the synthesizer (easier to listen to for longer periods and less fatiguing on the ear)

🫶 Next, I’ll add some more tracks to fill out the sound like a pad, bass and percussion.

😙 Tune in next time to hear how this track continues!

07/05/2026

Happy 250th Anniversary USA from Ann Arbor, Michigan 🎆 🇺🇸 💖

(Had to stop by for a customary carillon visit and pay my respects 🫡)
The United States is the birthplace of and I am so proud to be an American and proud of all of us for making it to 250! 😊🇺🇸❤️💙🤍

What does America represent?

democracy

These are the ideals I learned as a boy, and ones I hold dear to my heart.

I think we all know the US has a long way to come, when it comes to upholding and defending those ideals.

That’s why I don’t say I’m “fighting” or use such antagonistic terms anymore. Because I believe in “healing” more than anything 🫂 🌏

America has a long road ahead of us, and I fear we may not make it to 300, unless we can find deeper unity, through local, community connections, as well as national and international exchanges of ideas.

That’s why I work as a speech pathologist and app developer to create new tools for people to use to do precisely that! 😄 It’s through communication, listening with open mindedness, and responding with candor and care, that we can learn to heal.

We have to first believe it’s possible 😎 I won’t be giving up on those anytime soon.

But for tonight, we can celebrate America’s ideals and keep healing for what we believe in 😊 🇺🇸

Address

Royal Oak, MI

Website

http://languageupgames.com/

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Language Up Games posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.