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Speech Therapy Activities for Aphasia

Aphasia is a communication disorder that can occur after a stroke or other brain injury. It affects the ability to process and understand language. A person with aphasia may have difficulty speaking, reading, writing, and understanding others. However, aphasia does not affect intelligence. There are many different speech therapy activities that can help improve communication for people with aphasia. This post will discuss some of these activities.

In this article we will discuss:

What do people with aphasia want?

Types of aphasia, what kind of speech therapy treatments are available, how can i find a speech therapist.

Worrall et al. (2011) interviewed 50 participants with aphasia after stroke in 2011, from Worrall and colleagues’ study. What people with aphasia want the most is to regain the ability to communicate with friends and family. Other important things people with aphasia want are to be able to communicate their needs and wants, improve their understanding of other people, and engage in leisure activities.

Broca’s aphasia

Broca’s aphasia is a language disorder in adults that results to having trouble speaking. People with broca’s aphasia may speak in short, choppy sentences, and often have difficulty finding the right words. Broca’s Aphasia is caused by damage to the Broca’s area, which is located in the frontal lobe of the brain. Broca's aphasia treatment looks at a person's ability to utilize expressive language.

Symptoms include:

Speaking in short, choppy sentences

Difficulty finding the right words

Difficulty with grammar

Slow speech

Difficulty producing words that are meaningful

Get professional help for adults with aphasia

Wernicke’s aphasia

Another language disorder in adults include Wernicke’s aphasia. People with Wernicke’s aphasia often speak fluently, but their speech is jumbled and hard to understand. They may not be aware that their speech is unclear. Wernicke’s aphasia is caused by damage to the Wernicke’s area, which is located in the temporal lobe of the brain.

Jumpled speech that is hard to understand

Speech that sounds fluent but makes no sense

Difficulty understanding spoken or written language

Unaware of errors in speech

Trouble naming objects

Global aphasia

Global aphasia is a language disorder in adults that have the most severe symptoms of all three types of aphasia. They often cannot speak at all, and if they can, their speech is very hard to understand. Global aphasia is caused by damage to large areas of the brain that are responsible for language.

Very difficult or impossible to speak

Cannot understand spoken or written language

May be able to say a few words

There are many different types of adult speech therapy treatments available for people with aphasia. Some common aphasia treatments include:

Constraint-Induced Language Therapy (CILT)

This adult aphasia speech therapy technique aims to inhibit the use of gestures and make the patients use their words by playing a game. The primary goal of CILT is not for the patient to learn or gain new knowledge of language! The main goal is to develop an intentional bias to use spoken language.

CILT is guided by three principles namely:

Massed practice

Inhibit the use of gestures in all context

Verbal communication

Melodic intonation therapy

This adult speech therapy treatment uses melody and rhythm to help people with aphasia produce speech sounds. MIT is a formal language technique that uses an aphasic’s preserved singing ability to sing to improve language expression. It targets the musical element of speech (rhythm and melody). This aids in communication, as it activates the areas of the undamaged right cerebral hemisphere for language processing that is meant for the left cerebral hemisphere.

Speech-generating devices

These adult speech therapy devices allow people with aphasia to communicate by pressing buttons that produce pre-recorded or computer-generated speech. This is an approach to both receptive and expressive aphasia treatment that includes a flexible system of strategies and devices designed to supplement or replace, either permanently or temporarily, insufficient of ineffective communication skills.

Speech-generating devices can:

Provides opportunities for persons with disabilities to meet their communication needs by participating in daily activities.

To compensate for language impairments and facilitate the restoration of language.

To support people with aphasia through adequate functional communication skills necessary for expressing their complex communication needs.

Seeking speech therapy after a stroke can be an important step to recovery. Speech-language pathologists are trained to treat aphasia. If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with aphasia, ask your doctor for a referral to a speech-language pathologist. You can contact us at Better Speech for more information about finding a speech therapist in your area.

There are many different speech therapy activities that can help people with aphasia improve their communication skills at home. Such speech therapy can be particularly helpful for stroke patients or TBI patients. Here are a few examples:

1. Word games

One of the speech therapy activities for aphasia is word games. Word games can help improve vocabulary and word-finding skills! Word games work best if the game is played with a focus on a specific theme (e.g., animals, food, transportation, etc.). They can also be a fun way to practice communication!

Try playing some of these word games with a loved one:

Word Ladder

2. Reading passages for adult speech therapy

Reading passage is another speech therapy activity for aphasia. This activity can help improve reading comprehension and fluency. It is a great way to practice language skills.

Reading passages for adults speech therapy include:

Easy Reader Classics

The Aphasia Reading List

3. Communication boards

Communication boards are a great way to help people with aphasia communicate. They can be used to point to words or pictures to form sentences. They can be used to help with word-finding. Try making a communication board with a loved one. You can use pictures, words, or both.

4. Articulation exercises

Articulation exercises are speech therapy activity for aphasia. These exercises can help improve the clarity of speech.It is a great way to practice using different sounds.

Try doing some of these articulation exercises with a loved one:

Tongue twisters

Articulation cards

5. Life story activities

Life story activities are an important speech therapy activity for aphasia. They can help people with aphasia connect with their past and present. They can even help improve communication skills.

Try doing some of these life story activities with a loved one:

Memory books

Family tree

Timeline of life events

6. Conversation starters

Conversation starters are a great way to help people with aphasia practice communication. They can be used to help break the ice in social situations.

Try using some of these conversation starters with a loved one:

How was your day?

What did you do today?

What are your plans for tomorrow?

7. Social activities

Social activities are speech therapy activity for aphasia. They can help improve communication skills and social interaction. They can be a lot of fun for adults to recall.

Try doing some of these social activities with a loved one:

Going for walks

Playing games

Going out to eat

Speech therapy activities should be tailored to the individual needs of each person with aphasia. Some people may benefit from one or two activities, while others may need a more comprehensive approach that includes several different types of activities. At Better Speech, we offer online speech therapy services convenient for you and tailored to your child's individual needs. Our services are affordable and effective - get Better Speech now.

About the Author

Mikee Larrazabal

I am a Speech-Language Pathologist with 14 years of experience working with children and adults who have communication difficulties. I completed my Bachelor of Science degree in Health Science at Cebu Doctors' University and have been helping people overcome their communication challenges ever since.

I have worked with individuals of different ages, including toddlers, preschoolers, school-aged children, adults and seniors. I'm passionate about speech therapy and take great satisfaction in helping people overcome their communication challenges and improve their lives through better communication skills. In my spare time I like reading books, going hiking in nature and taking care of my dog Locas.

• At Home Speech Therapy
• Aphasia Speech Therapy

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How To: Phonological Treatment for Writing

 5 min read

Back when you were learning to read, you may have been taught that the letter B makes the “buh” sound, like in “boot.” This is known as letter-to-sound correspondence, or more technically, grapheme-to-phoneme correspondence. You then used this information when you sounded out words you were reading, and then in reverse when figuring out how to spell words. But when people develop aphasia after a stroke, they may lose this knowledge. This can make it very difficult to read or write.

The Treatment: Phonological Treatment

Phonological treatment is used to improve sound-to-letter and letter-to-sound correspondence to improve agraphia (difficulty writing) due to aphasia. It targets written expression at the word-level by enhancing phonological processing skills.

Phonological treatment is the middle step in a three-step treatment sequence developed by Dr. Pélagie Beeson’s lab at the University of Arizona. We’ve already covered the first step: Anagram, Copy, and Recall Treatment (ACRT) in another article.

Who Would Benefit from Phonological Treatment for Written Expression?

Phonological treatment has been found to be an effective treatment for individuals with non-fluent aphasia and anomic aphasia with phonological agraphia or surface agraphia. 

Before clients can begin treatment, they must first be able to spell keywords that begin with the initial sounds/phonemes being trained. If the client is unable to complete this task, it is recommended they start with ACRT to train a set of keywords. Once mastered, phonological treatment can begin.

A client may be appropriate for phonological treatment if they demonstrate difficulty with reading and spelling non-words, deleting or replacing phonemes in a written word, or translating phonemes to graphemes. These individuals may frequently demonstrate phonemic paraphasias in speech as well.

What You’ll Need to Do Phonological Treatment

Phonological treatment can be completed with minimal preparation and materials. The clinician will need:

Pen or pencil with paper

A set of keywords that begin with the initial phonemes to be trained.

• The client should be able to write all of the keywords
• Keywords can be individualized and personally relevant, so a family member’s name that begins with a certain sound may make a perfect keyword

Pictures of the keywords

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Get your free PDF on how to do Phonological Treatment with and without apps. Includes a list of keywords used in the Advanced Writing Therapy app.

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How to Start Phonological Treatment

Phonological treatment uses a cueing hierarchy to train targeted graphemes and phonemes. Here’s an example of sound-to-letter training using the phoneme /m/:

Say, “Write the letter that makes the sound /m/.”

• If correct, move on to the next phoneme.
• If incorrect, proceed to step 2.

Say, “Think of your keyword for /m/. Try to write your keyword.”

• If correct, say, “Yes, mug is your keyword. Mug starts with /m/. Underline the /m/ sound in mug.” Repeat step 1 or move to the next phoneme.
• If incorrect, go to step 3.

Show the picture and say, “Your keyword for /m/ is mug. Write mug. Now underline the /m/ sound in mug.”

• If correct, repeat step 1 or move to the next phoneme.
• If incorrect, go to step 4.

Provide a model for the keyword and say, “Your keyword is mug. Copy the word mug. Now underline the /m/ in mug.”

Consonants should be trained using 4 sets of 5 consonants. Criterion is met when the client is able to correctly write and say each set of phonemes with 80% accuracy over 2 sessions. For those with severe apraxia of speech, it’s enough to show mastery of sound-to-letter matching, as letter-to-sound may be too challenging. 

Here’s a home practice video by SLP Christie Shultz from the Aphasia Research Project lab that shows how someone can practice their keywords at home using an unlisted video on YouTube provided by the clinician:

After establishing consonants, vowels are trained in 2 sets of 6. Vowel training will follow the same protocol as consonants with the exception of having two keywords for each vowel. This is because some vowels have more than one typical corresponding grapheme (e.g., ee and ea for /i/). 

Here’s another home practice video all about vowels:

Continuing on with Phonological Treatment

Letter-to-sound training can then be completed using a similar hierarchy, showing the target grapheme to the client, and asking for the keyword for that letter. Get extra practice by creating a matching game by laying out a limited set of the keyword pictures. Ask the client to find the keyword for a sound you say. 

After training all the phonemes, work begins learning to blend real words and non-words. The client hears a word, repeats it, and then writes the keyword for each sound they hear. They can then combine the target letter in each keyword to write the word or non-word.

Here’s a video of what real word blending looks like for homework:

If you’d like to see non-word blending, follow this link to another video .

This will get the person close to the correct spelling in most cases, or at least to a point that someone can read the word and make sense of it. But because English has so many irregular spellings, this won’t make for perfect writing. That’s where the third step in the writing treatment comes in: interactive treatment. Read more about interactive treatment here .

Phonological Treatment Using Advanced Writing Therapy

Did you know the Match activity in the Advanced Writing Therapy app was based on phonological treatment? That means it is the perfect companion for treatment and homework for clients. 

Open the Advanced Writing Therapy app and select the Match activity

Set up your activity by choosing your levels

Each level is based on the treatment protocol used during development of the phonological treatment. Use the 4 levels of consonants, 2 levels of vowels, and 5 levels of blends to target sound-to-letter training. Work on one at a time, then mix and match.

Begin Phonological Treatment

Begin to follow the protocol. Use the on-screen cues for Hear the Keyword , See the Keyword , and Read the Keyword depending on the client’s success throughout the procedure.

Assign Homework

As with any treatment, intensity and repetition are important. Ensure the client can practice independently at home and email the results of each session to the therapist for monitoring and adjustments.

Selected Resources & References

The University of Arizona provides resources for the phonological treatment protocol, including variations, and ways to implement homework. They also provide picture stimuli for clinician use. https://aphasia.sites.arizona.edu/content/10

For all 3 treatments in this series, along with a free assessment battery for reading and spelling, check out the Aphasia Research Project’s r esources for professionals .

Beeson, P., Bayley, C., Shultz C., & Rising, K. (2018): Maximising recovery from aphasia with central and peripheral agraphia: The benefit of sequential treatments, Neuropsychological Rehabilitation, DOI: 10.1080/09602011.2017.1417873

Beeson, P., Rising, K., Demarco, A. T., Foley, T. H., & Rapcsak, S. Z. (2018). The nature and treatment of phonological text agraphia. Neuropsychological Rehabilitation, 28(4), 568-588. DOI:10.1080/09602011.2016.1199387  Full Text

Beeson, P. M., Rising, K., Kim, E. S., & Rapcsak, S. Z. (2010). A Treatment Sequence for Phonological Alexia/Agraphia. Journal of Speech, Language and Hearing Research, 53(2), 450. DOI:10.1044/1092-4388(2009/08-0229) Full Text

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Katie Brown , MA, CCC-SLP is a speech-language pathologist in Buffalo, NY. She is the owner of Neuro Speech Solutions , a private practice that specializes in treatment for adult speech, cognitive, & swallowing disorders. Katie is passionate about providing person-centered & functional therapy to help her patients meet their life goals.

Megan S. Sutton , MS, CCC-SLP is a speech-language pathologist and co-founder of Tactus Therapy. She is an international speaker, writer, and educator on the use of technology in adult medical speech therapy. Megan believes that technology plays a critical role in improving aphasia outcomes and humanizing clinical services.

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Aphasia Speech Therapy Activities

Individuals with receptive and/or expressive aphasia can benefit from skilled speech therapy services. Therapy activities can strengthen auditory comprehension and expressive language. In this article, we share some favorite activities for aphasia therapy.

• What is Aphasia?

Aphasia is a communication disorder that affects one’s ability to understand and/or express speech and language. It does not affect one’s intelligence.

Aphasia is always secondary to a brain injury (e.g. trauma or stroke) of some kind and is not genetic in nature. Depending on the region of the brain that is impacted, it can affect each person in different ways. Most often, aphasia affects the left hemisphere of the brain. Our left hemisphere houses the centers that help us understand and produce speech and language.

Read more about it in our article, What is Aphasia? [Intro & Types]

How to Treat Aphasia

The first thing to do when working with an individual with aphasia is to complete an evaluation and write treatment goals. An evaluation should include (but is not limited to):

(1) Information about the nature of language difficulties (whether it be with auditory comprehension, naming, etc.). This can be obtained through interviews/questionnaires and other informal/formal assessment measures.

(2) What the individual (and caregivers) want to work on - commonly referred to as family or patient-centered care .

Once the evaluation is complete, goals can be written that can help guide therapy sessions. You can read more about How to Write Aphasia Goals [with goal bank], here !

Aphasia Activities for Speech Therapy

Almost all individuals with aphasia have difficulties with naming but other difficulties may vary. For example, if an individual does not have many receptive difficulties and is able to follow directions adequately, activities focusing on following directions are probably not the best choice for them. Check out some of our favorite therapy activities for aphasia:

Receptive Activities

• Show your client 2-4 pictures, say a word, and have them  (e.g., point to) the picture that matches the word you said. I like these picture cards . I try to use words that are functional and used commonly!
• Example: Present three pictures with a banana, apple, and pear, and say, “Where’s the apple?”
• You can also do this with actual objects you have!

2. Another way to target naming is by having the individual point to items in their environment.

• Example: You could say, “Where is the window?” or “Point to the door.”
• Note: it is easiest to target nouns in this way but verbs and adjectives are important as well! You may ask individuals to find something “small” or “large,” or “heavy” or “light. Depending on the individual’s level of naming difficulty, familiar environments (e.g., home) may be easier to elicit names compared to unfamiliar environments (e.g., train station).
• Using picture cards, you can have individuals identify action words such as, “eat,” “sleep,” “walk,” “clean,” and more. If on a tablet or computer, Google Images is great for this as well.

Following directions:

There are numerous ways to target following directions. I try to keep these directions as functional as possible in order to increase the generalization of skills across settings.

• Body parts:
• “Touch your nose.”
• “Touch your eyes.”
• “Touch your shoulder.”

To increase complexity, I will change the action associated with a familiar direction.

• “Tap your nose.”
• “Blink your eyes.”
• “Scratch your shoulder.”

2. Prepositions:

I will give the client 1-3 items (e.g. paperclip, coin, eraser) and a box (aka the lid of the naming cards) and give directions with prepositions.

• “Put it in the box.”
• “Put it in front of the box.”
• “Put it next to the box.”

To increase complexity, I may use two items and/or give two-step directions.

• “Put the paperclip behind the box.”
• “Put the coin next to the box.”
• “Put the paperclip in front of the box and the coin behind the box.”

3. Functional objects:

These can be used more often in a naturalistic setting. For example, if you’re in a kitchen, you can use kitchen gadgets or food.

• “Get the coffee.”
• “Get the cutting board.”
• “Put the milk on the counter and the cup in the sink.”

Sequencing activities require individuals to follow multiple directions to learn a routine. A simple sequence may be the 2-step direction presented above, “Put the milk on the counter and the cup in the sink,” or it may be a 4-step sequence that involves making coffee. Depending on your client, you may present sequences verbally, in writing, or both verbally and in writing.

• Recipe: In naturalistic settings, you can have individuals follow sequences that may include following a simple recipe, like making an omelet or a pasta dish.
• Household tasks: Individuals can follow directions for completing a household task, like unloading a dishwasher.
• 1. Put silverware away
• 2. Put all cups/glasses away
• 3. Put all plates away

3. Non-home settings: You can target functional sequencing in skilled nursing facilities, outpatient clinics, and other environments as well. For example, you can take written directions (cut out each individual direction) and instruct clients to put the steps in order. If reading is a difficult task for them, you can use pictures and have them put the pictured steps in order.

Expressive Activities

Complete some of the same receptive activities mentioned above, but instead of having the individual identify a picture or object, have them say what the item is. They can respond verbally, in writing, or a little of both depending on their current skills and goals.

Answering questions:

• Yes/No: Yes/No questions are used alllll the time, yet responding to yes/no questions can be difficult for some individuals with aphasia. I like to target yes/no questions using concrete, basic facts. For example,
• “Is your name ____ [correct name]?”
• “Is your name ____ [incorrect name]?”
• “Is today Tuesday?”
• “Is it August?”
• “Are you at home?”
• “Are you 60 years old?”
• “Do you like baseball?”
• “Is your favorite food pizza?”

2. Personal questions: The ability to answer questions about oneself is important. This may include an individual’s full name, address, birth date, and phone number. If an individual cannot answer questions about themself in some manner, I try to target it regularly during sessions. 3. Wh- questions: Wh- questions (who, what, where, when, and why) provide great opportunities for producing language. Depending on the individual, I may encourage them to answer the question in just one word or in a complete sentence. For question card examples, check these out .

• Wh- questions can be simple and functional and be related to the individual’s daily activities. Ask them about what they’re doing that day, who they’re going to see, when they’re going to eat dinner, etc.

Individuals with aphasia may have increased difficulty advocating for themselves. This may be as simple as advocating that they want cream for their coffee or more complex and be related to a medication they’re taking. Learning about individuals’ goals for their language is VERY important in this area!

• Carrier phrases: Provide opportunities to learn carrier phrases, such as “I want ___” or “I need ___” in order to increase an individual’s ability to make requests.
• Rehearse the names of things that are important to them, whether it be their cell phone, their walker, or their glasses.

Multimodal communication is huge for individuals with aphasia! This means being okay with relying on other forms of expressive communication (e.g., gestures, a speech-generating device, writing, etc.) other than speech. Teaching communication strategies can be incredibly helpful.

Individuals with receptive language difficulties may work on asking others to write down information if understanding it verbally is difficult. For example, they may be better able to follow written directions for getting to the store versus verbal directions.

For individuals with expressive language difficulties, writing down things or using gestures can help them if they cannot verbally say a word. I encourage the individuals I work with to keep a handheld whiteboard or notepad nearby at all times.

Teaching various communication strategies and using them throughout therapy sessions is key.

Looking for more aphasia information?

• How to Write Aphasia Goals
• How to Write AAC Goals
• AAC Master Goal Bank

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Write better cognitive goals with 54 daily activities

Write better cognitive goals by working with your patient to identify the real-life skills and activities they want to improve with speech therapy. Here are 54 ideas for cognitive therapy, which are also listed on the two-page checklist you can give your patients. You and your patient can use the checklist to identify specific problem areas they would like to address in therapy. Thank you to Katie (SLP) for the idea of making a checklist!

Free DIRECT download: 54 daily activities checklist (patient handout). ( Email subscribers get free access to all the resources in the Free Subscription Library .)

• Clock and calendar .
• Medications .
• Bills and checkbook .
• Telephone .
• Smart phone .
• Remembering information .
• Learning and using new procedures .
• Wayfinding .
• Having a conversation .
• Write better cognitive goals with MedBridge courses .
• Related Eat, Speak, & Think posts .

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Clock and calendar

Understanding and using a clock and calendar are important skills to maintain independence. Here are six possible goal areas:

• Telling time.
• Understanding a calendar.
• Knowing the day of the week, date, or year.
• Keeping track of appointments.
• Planning your time.
• Completing planned tasks and activities.

Medications

Errors in taking medication, side-effects, and allergic reactions can be very serious and costly . Here are four skill areas that your patient may want to improve:

• Know the reason for each medication.
• Remember to take them.
• Managing the process of refilling the prescriptions.
• Actually swallowing the pills.

Bills and checkbook

Cognitive or language impairment can limit a person’s ability to manage their own finances. Here are five ideas to target in therapy:

• Understanding bills and other paperwork.
• Understanding money.
• Writing out checks.
• Paying bills on time.
• Balancing the checkbook.

Being able to communicate by telephone is an important skill for safety, independence, and daily communication needs. Here are ideas for three skills to address:

• Making phone calls.
• Having a conversation.
• Checking voice mail.

Smart phone

More and more people are getting smart phones, which offers many tools that support communication and independent living. Here are six ideas for therapy:

• Social media.
• Using the internet.
• Calendar/alarms/other app.

Many people have difficulty using a computer after acquiring a cognitive or language impairment. Here are three common tasks people may wish to improve:

Ever walk into someone’s home and find stacks of mail piled up? Dealing with the mail can be overwhelming, especially if someone has been in the hospital or in-patient rehab for a long period of time.

Coming up with a plan for simply working through it takes good executive function skills. In addition, a person may have a cognitive or language impairment that may limit their ability to understand and respond effectively.

Here are two skill areas your patient may wish to address in therapy:

• Reading and understanding the mail.
• Responding appropriately.

Life means paperwork and lots of information to keep track of. Your patient may not have a good system for organizing and finding information. You may wish to address the following in therapy:

• Organizing paperwork.
• Finding information.

Remembering information

Trouble remembering information is a common complaint. Here are eight specific ideas for therapy that your patient may relate to.

• Addresses/phone numbers.
• Where things are located.
• Details of conversations.
• New instructions.
• Information that is read or heard.

Learning and using new procedures

When someone has a cognitive or language impairment, they often have trouble learning and remembering to use new procedures. Here are five skill areas you and your patient may wish to consider:

• Using a memory support tool.
• Learning to use a new device.
• Remembering to use a device.
• Using a cane or walker safely.
• Changing how one eats or drinks.

When a person moves to a new location, such as an independent living facility, they may have difficulty learning where things are located. Here are six ideas to consider for therapy:

• Dining room.
• Laundry room.
• Trash/recycling room.
• Wellness center.
• Activity room.

Having a conversation

Successfully participating in a conversation requires skills beyond putting ideas into words. Here are four ideas for therapy:

• Starting a conversation.
• Staying on topic.
• Keeping a conversation going.
• Remembering the details later.

Write better cognitive goals with MedBridge courses

When we focus on practical skills and strategies, we can help our patients improve their lives in a real, meaningful way. Learn how to better cognitive goals by identifying meaningful and relevant therapy targets with these MedBridge courses taught by SLP Sarah Baar:

• Why and How to Practice Real-Life Activities in Speech Therapy *.
• Creating Functional Home Programs in Adult Rehab *.
• Close the Game Closet: Evidence and Tools for a Person-Centered Approach for Treatment of Adult Neurogenic Disorders *.

*This is an affiliate link. At no extra cost to you, you can help keep Eat, Speak, & Think sustainable if you subscribe through this link or use the code EatSpeakThink. Learn more about the discount .

Related Eat, Speak, & Think posts

• How to improve short term memory .
• How to plan cognitive therapy with 6 questions .
• How to use spaced retrieval with errorless learning to improve memory .
• 4 steps for using a calendar for meaningful language and cognitive-communication therapy .

Featured image by towfiqu barbhuiya on Canva.com .

Lisa A Young M.A. CCC-SLP

Lisa earned her M.A. in Speech-Language Pathology from the University of Maryland, College Park and her M.A. in Linguistics from the University of California, San Diego.

She participated in research studies with the National Institute on Deafness and other Communication Disorders (NIDCD) and the University of Maryland in the areas of aphasia, Parkinson’s Disease, epilepsy, and fluency disorders.

Lisa has been working as a medical speech-language pathologist since 2008. She has a strong passion for evidence-based assessment and therapy, having earned five ASHA Awards for Professional Participation in Continuing Education.

She launched EatSpeakThink.com in June 2018 to help other clinicians be more successful working in home health, as well as to provide strategies and resources to people living with problems eating, speaking, or thinking.

• Lisa A Young M.A. CCC-SLP https://eatspeakthink.com/author/admin/ Learn how Goal Attainment Scaling makes SMART goals better
• Lisa A Young M.A. CCC-SLP https://eatspeakthink.com/author/admin/ Quick guide to self-management training in Parkinson's
• Lisa A Young M.A. CCC-SLP https://eatspeakthink.com/author/admin/ Soft skills for SLPs: Taking your practice to new heights
• Lisa A Young M.A. CCC-SLP https://eatspeakthink.com/author/admin/ Best gear for home health therapists and nurses

One Comment

[…] EatSpeakThink.com’s “Write Better Cognitive Goals With 54 Daily Activities.” SLPs can improve goal-writing by identifying real-life skills and activities to improve upon in cognitive-communication treatment. If clinicians subscribe (for free), a two-page checklist to provide to patients to identify specific problem/goal areas is available. […]

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Speech Therapy Memory Activities for Adults: Enhancing Cognitive Skills

Christopher ravn.

• February 23, 2024

Delve into the transformative power of speech therapy memory activities for adults in our new blog post. We explore enriching exercises that can enhance cognitive skills and stimulate mental acuity . You will discover some effective strategies that have empowered individuals to experience improvements in memory, thought articulation, and meaningful communication.

These therapeutic approaches address memory challenges and help with brain health . Join us as we journey through all that speech therapy has to offer for enhancing cognitive skills.

Key Takeaways

1. There are many great speech therapy memory activities for adults, including word association, storytelling, word repetition, and pattern recognition. 2. Different types of activities target different kinds of cognitive issues, including short-term memory loss and aphasia. 3. There have been many impressive success stories and lots of compelling research that demonstrates the effectiveness of speech therapy for memory. 4. Combining speech therapy with complementary techniques, like light therapy and other innovative approaches, may enhance the outcomes even further.

Table of Contents

1. Exploring Speech Therapy Memory Activities for Adults: What You Need to Know 2. Addressing Memory Loss Through Speech Therapy: Is it Possible? 3. Types of Memory Activities Used in Speech Therapy and language pathology 4. How Can Speech Therapy Enhance Memory in Adults? 5. What Are Effective Short-Term Memory Activities in Speech Therapy? 6. What Are Effective Long-Term Memory Activities in Speech Therapy? 7. Frequently Asked Questions About Speech Therapy Memory Activities for Adults

The Best Speech Therapy Memory Activities for Adults

Memory does more than you might think for our day-to-day lives. It influences the ways we communicate and connect with others. Taking part in speech therapy memory activities can help strengthen cognitive skills and give adults a new approach to navigating memory challenges. Let’s explore some effective activities , like word association and memory journals, that are designed to stimulate memory.

• Word Association: This is a back-and-forth designed to connect emotions or personal experiences with words. For example, if the word given is ‘orange’, the participant might recall a specific memory related to oranges and strengthen neural connections.
• Memory Journals: In this, we encourage adults to jot down significant events or thoughts each day. This helps enhance memory recall and provides a tangible record of experiences.
• Storytelling: Here, you practice narrating personal stories from your memory. This strengthens those memories and also hones communications skills, making you better able to articulate thoughts well.
• Rhyme Recognition: A memory therapy activity in which adults are encouraged to identify rhyming words. This exercises memory and contributes to a stronger phonological awareness, which is essential for communicating effectively.
• Discussion Groups: By taking part in group discussions like book clubs, participants must recall and discuss specific details from a book. This fosters memory and social interactions, so it is a powerful memory exercise via speech therapy.
• Sequencing: Work with a partner to recall and order sequential events. This might mean detailing a morning routine or recounting steps in a recipe; however you do it, the participant is forced to practice recall and strengthen neurological connections.

Taking part in memory speech therapy activities for adults can address memory challenges and support a wider approach to brain health . Incorporate these activities into daily life to enhance memory skills and develop sharper cognitive abilities.

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Best Speech Short-Term Memory Activities for Adults

When it comes to short-term memory activities via speech therapy, there are a few highly effective approaches for adults:

• Word Repetition: Hear a series of words and aim to recall them in the correct order to sharpen quick memory recall.
• Number sequences: Try to memorize number sequences, enhancing memory and other cognitive skills.
• Category Naming: Swiftly name items within a specific category to stimulate associative memory.
• Story Retelling: Listen to a short story, then attempt to retell it to enhance narrative recall.
• Listening Exercises: Take part in focused listening tasks, recalling details when prompted from spoken passages to improve auditory memory.
• Pattern Recognition: Identify patterns and attempt to replicate them, fostering spatial and visual memory skills.
• Object Memory: Briefly look at a set of objects, then attempt to recall them all to refine your visual memory.

These memory activities involving speech therapy for adults sharpen short-term memory and contribute to overall cognitive agility.

Exploring Speech Therapy Memory Activities for Adults: What You Need to Know

Short-term memory therapy activities play a pivotal role in adult speech therapy. They can be a gateway to cognitive rehabilitation and improving communication. Memory exercises stimulate the brain, helping to form new neural connections. This kind of active mental engagement is fundamental to recovering and refining cognitive functions , especially with regards to memory recall.

• Word association
• Storytelling
• Pattern recognition

Addressing Memory Loss Through Speech Therapy: Is it Possible?

Speech therapy memory activities can be a powerful component of addressing memory loss in some cases. The causes of memory loss vary, but can include:

• Neurological conditions
• Traumatic brain injuries

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Success Rates and Limitations

The true rate of success for short-term memory exercises via speech therapy varies among adults . One key factor is the underlying cause of the memory loss . The approach may be helpful in improving memory recall and cognitive skills, but complete restoration may not be possible for everyone. Studies have shown that people with memory challenges who participate in speech therapy recover more of their cognitive abilities than people who don’t. In terms of realistic expectations regarding memory activities in speech therapy for adults, noticeable memory improvement is a real possibility. Individuals should find themselves able to navigate daily tasks with ease. Speech therapy is not a cure , but it is a valuable tool in mitigating the impact of memory loss. And you can combine it with other techniques , like green light therapy, for further improvements in cognitive wellbeing.

Types of Memory Activities Used in Speech Therapy and language pathology

Speech and language pathology memory activities employ diverse activities tailored to address short-term memory challenges and aphasia . Individuals experiencing memory concerns can see substantial improvements in their cognitive skills. For short-term memory , common techniques include:

• Word Repetition: Individuals will be asked to listen to a sequence of words then repeat them in order to sharpen immediate memory recall.
• Number sequencing: Similar to word repetition, this activity involves looking at or hearing a sequence of numbers then attempting to repeat it back verbally.
• Category Naming: Looking at groups of images linked by a category and attempting to name them all as quickly as possible. For aphasia, activities are more centered around rebuilding language and communication skills:
• Story Retelling: This is where you listen to a short story then attempt to recount it, improving narrative recall.
• Listening Exercises: Here, participants must recall details from spoken passages to enhance auditory memory.
• Pattern Recognition: Individuals must identify and replicate patterns to foster spatial memory skills. Individual needs and goals are the main variable for choosing the right activity for short-term memory therapy activities via speech. Therapists will consider the individual’s ability to repeat and recall sequences and tailor the exercises to the patient’s cognitive abilities. Aphasia patients will be assessed for the severity of their language impairment, and the memory activities will be selected accordingly. For example, story retelling may be the best option for an individual who struggles with verbal expression. The approach from therapists is always centered around the patient . The strengths and challenges of the individual are assessed, including things like:
• Cognitive abilities
• Communication goals
• Personal interests

In practice, therapists have seen individuals regain the ability to recall recent events or express thoughts coherently. An individualized approach to speech therapy memory activities for adults is effective, meaningful, and relevant to the patient’s unique journey.

How Can Speech Therapy Enhance Memory in Adults?

Speech therapy employs targeted exercises and a patient-centered therapeutic approach to enhance memory. Short-term memory exercises in speech therapy, like number sequencing or word repetition, sharpen immediate recall . Memory activities for adults with aphasia, like story retelling and listening exercises, improve memory and rebuild language skills .

The work of therapists is tailored to individual needs , determined at the therapist’s discretion. There have been countless success stories wherein individuals have regained the ability to recall recent events and express thoughts coherently. This highlights the effectiveness of speech therapy memory activities for adults.

Integrating Memory Strategies in Daily Life

To incorporate memory strategies into day-to-day life, you should implement them in your daily routines . Use visual aids like calendars to prompt yourself, and practice mindfulness every day. You could assign 30-60 minutes each day to partake in memory exercises like:

• Memory games
• Speech therapy with a partner

It can be particularly beneficial to combine the memory activities of speech therapy for adults with other things, like light therapy, which may yield additional benefits for cognitive health. Applying memory techniques beyond therapy sessions helps reinforce neural connections . This is vital for sustained cognitive improvement.

What Are Effective Short-Term Memory Activities in Speech Therapy?

The short-term memory therapy activities that have consistently proven themselves to be the most effective are:

• Word repetition
• Number sequencing
• Category naming

We have described these activities in more detail earlier in this post. They are effective because they engage the brain in rapid recall , sharpening your immediate memory functions. Individuals are challenged to repeat sequences or swiftly name items belonging to a certain category, fostering stronger neural connections.

With regular practice of these speech therapy memory activities for adults, there may be significant improvements in short-term memory . This empowers individuals with valuable tools for getting by in daily tasks.

Adapting Activities for Individual Needs

Speech therapists are able to adapt short-term memory activities for adults to individual needs by considering:

• Personal preferences

Regular feedback is crucial in ensuring the correct level of activities is presented. Therapists can modify their approach based on feedback from patients , cultivating a truly personalized approach aligned with the patient’s capabilities. This may also help foster engagement and motivation to persevere and see better results.

What Are Effective Long-Term Memory Activities in Speech Therapy?

• Memory Journals: These encourage individuals to document significant events each day to reinforce memory recall over time.
• Storytelling: This is where patients must recall and narrate personal stories to enhance memory and communication skills.
• Discussion Groups: Groups encourage participants to recall and discuss details to foster social interactions and long-term memory.

With consistent practice of these memory therapy activities, patients may experience sustained improvements in long-term memory. This empowers people to recall and share meaningful events with greater cognitive power.

Innovative Speech Therapy Techniques for Memory Enhancement

Innovative speech therapy memory activities take advantage of things like apps and virtual platforms to enrich speech therapy. There may be benefits to incorporating light therapy , like the functions of EVY LIGHT, as research has indicated great promise for this practice. Tech-focused speech therapy memory enhancement options include:

• Virtual Reality Memory Games
• Interactive Apps
• Neurofeedback Training
• Cognitive Training Software

Challenges may arise with a completely technology-oriented approach, as many advocate for the importance of human connection in speech therapy. But the most important thing is engagement . Individuals must actively participate in memory activities for adult speech therapy, whether they are tech-focused or not. This increases the chances of a successful outcome that improves memory and overall brain health.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Speech Therapy Memory Activities for Adults

What are the best memory activities for adults in speech therapy.

The best activities include word repetition, category recognition, and number sequences. But there are many other highly effective techniques to explore in speech therapy.

Can Speech Therapy Significantly Improve Memory in Adults?

With the right approach and consistent engagement , adults can experience noticeable improvements in memory and speech from taking part in speech therapy memory activities.

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New Therapy Activities for Speech Therapy Adult Clients or Loved Ones

Here are our four favorite starting points for finding all types of speech and language therapy activities that are a perfect fit for adults working hard to recover from aphasia, stroke or TBI – with specific examples to get you started.

1. Speech Pathology-Specific Apps for Mobile Devices like iPads and Android Tablets.

Several companies now focus on adult-specific therapy applications. Obviously, I’m a little biased and think one particular app shines as the most versatile. But there are some good apps out there that are adult focused:

• Constant Therapy   Oh wait… you knew I was going to suggest that one first?  In all seriousness, Constant Therapy is a great option for patients who are looking to “carry over” the work they do in therapy to home practice, whether that’s while they’re still under your care as a clinician, or if they want to do therapy independently (the app will advance tasks to the next level for them automatically) after they’ve been discharged. It’s also a great option for patients who don’t have access to in-person speech therapy, for economic or geographic reasons. The tasks focus on both language and cognition, and we’re always working to expand the versatility and level of challenge of each individual task as well as our set of tasks as a whole. Free for clinicians. 15-day free trial for users. Go download it now from any app store.
• Tactus  – this Canadian company has many apps available for both language and cognitive areas.  You purchase each app separately, and the company has come out with a number of new apps in the past year. The apps are a little harder to use at home independently, as they don’t tell you when to move up or down in difficulty level within the apps, but they are particularly great for speech therapists looking for in-therapy tools.
• Virtual Speech Apps  – another company that’s really broadening its adult focus. Similar to Tactus, these apps are harder to use independently at home, but the material is phenomenal, and the amount of control the apps give you as a clinician is great in terms of complexity of tasks presented and exactly what type of stimuli you want your patient to see.

2. Speech Pathology Paper-Based Products

If you’re ready for a little blast from the past, you can go back to  good old paper (and let’s be honest, when you buy most of these, you can buy them as PDFs now, so don’t worry about the paper problem).  Here are a few of my favorites:

• The WALC series  – these focus on language, cognitive skills, and have a lot of really practical items.  Another nice feature is that you don’t have to buy all of it at once – you can buy one book at a time to focus on exactly what you need.
• The HELP series  – again, language, cognition, you name it, HELP has it. I also like that there are some portions of HELP that are very specific skill focused, where others require skills to be applied.
• Just for Adults  – this series also has multiple books which is great. They also have fantastic color picture cards that use nice photography and have some built in questions on the back. I also like to just use the photos as stimuli during therapy.

3. Non-Therapy Apps that Provide Language Skills Practice

Here are a few that happen to require language to use them successfully:

• Words With Friends  – basically “Scrabble” for your mobile device (so much fun, it can be addictive!). This is great because you can compete with others, but there’s no time pressure, so you can take your time. Thinking of words that contain certain letters is great for word-finding problems (difficulty thinking of the right word is a common issue in TBI and Aphasia).
• Ruzzle  – I’ve personally spent an embarrassing amount of time playing this app. You look at a set of letters and find as many words as you can. This requires executive function, attention, planning, and definitely language/reading skills.
• 4 Pics 1 Word  – this is a great one for naming, focusing more on the meaning/semantic side of finding the word you want. Again, fun and addictive.

4. Non-Therapy Items You May Already Have at Home

• Built in alarms and calendar reminders  – use your phone to set up reminders for meds, appointments, deadlines, you name it – to be honest, I use this all the time for myself, in addition to helping my clients use this as a compensatory strategy.
• The Internet / Google  –  The Internet has every topic you could ever want, and can be tailored to your own interests and those of your clients or loved ones. Google your client’s or loved one’s interests and hobbies and you’ll find lots of material to read alone or aloud.

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Know someone with aphasia? Try these 10 speech-strengthening activities at home

Think of a time when you’re chatting with a friend, and a word gets stuck on the tip of your tongue. Or maybe you’re overwhelmed by emotion, and struggling to form any words at all. Maybe you travel somewhere you don’t know the language.

Even in brief doses, we’ve all felt the frustration of not being able to fully communicate. Over time, it can also be lonely.

People with aphasia, a condition that takes away language , live with this feeling.

“Aphasia can be very socially isolating,” says Joni Hodges, MS, CCC-SLP, a speech therapist with HopeHealth Visiting Nurse .

If your loved one has aphasia, these family activities can help them stay connected — and support their recovery too.

Before you get started

First things first: Talk to a speech therapist.

“Aphasia is very individualized,” says Joni. “Start with an evaluation so you know what type of aphasia your loved one has. Where are their strengths and weaknesses?”

A speech therapist can suggest ways to make the following activities fulfilling, rather than frustrating. They’ll also make sure you’re supporting your loved one’s care plan.

> Related: Get started with speech therapy and other rehabilitation services

Photo and visual activities for someone with aphasia

These activities rely on familiar images to spark language — and more important, connection.

1. Label photos from a favorite hobby. One of Joni’s patients was a car buff, with stacks of photos from car shows. She encouraged him to write descriptions for each photo, with the help of a buddy. What was the car make and model? What did he do to rebuild it? Where did he find the parts? It was a way to spend time with a hobby and good friend, while reclaiming bits of language he’d lost. “I can’t even explain to you how much this man lit up,” Joni says.

2. Flip through family photos. Take turns naming the people, places and activities you see. Some gentle prompting may help your loved one find the words they need. Try starting the sentence, then give them time to complete it. For example: “That’s Aunt…” or “I remember when you baked that…”

3. Look around the home and describe what you see. It’s a go-to strategy for strengthening language, and it might jog a sweet memory. “One patient was struggling to come up with any words until I suggested we look around her yard,” says Joni. “She was immediately able to say ‘roses’ — and then went on to say, ‘I planted every single one of those roses.’ It was a really special moment.”

Music activities to bring back language

For people with aphasia, music sometimes leads to magic moments.

“Language is mostly centered on the left side of the brain, and music is on the right side of the brain,” explains Joni. “When you use music, you’re using a different area of your brain to bring out that language.”

4. Practice social songs. Almost every time Joni meets a new patient, she’ll ask if they know someone with a birthday coming up. “Let’s sing ‘Happy Birthday’ to them,” she’ll urge. Because the song is so familiar, it helps unlock language. It’s also associated with happy memories, and community.

5. Sing along to favorite songs. Choose songs from your loved one’s late teens through 20s, when memories tend to be strongest. One patient, who was reluctant about most exercises, joined in with gusto when Joni started singing “You Are My Sunshine.” She’d been part of an organization that used it as their theme song. “She really came alive when she heard that song,” says Joni.

6. Complete song lyrics. Go for something they already know and love, with simple lyrics. For example, a lot of Joni’s patients are Beatles fans, so she’ll often use “Hello, Goodbye.” She’ll sing, “You say goodbye, I say…” then pause for her patient to chime in, “Hello.” As they’re able, she’ll leave more of the lyrics for them to complete.

> Related: How to plan meaningful activities for someone living with dementia

Games to help with aphasia

Time for family game night! With some modifications, your loved one can still be part of the fun. Talk to their speech therapist for help choosing and adapting games.

7. Play charades. Communication is about so much more than language. A good old-fashioned round of charades lets your loved one play to their strengths, like using hand gestures and facial expressions. It also gives family members practice connecting in new ways.

8. Use conversation cards. You can purchase premade cards or create your own. For example: “If you were an animal, what would you be?” If your loved one is having trouble thinking of or saying certain answers — or understanding yours — try drawing or acting it out.

9. Try these other games. Joni’s favorites include Pictionary, 5 Second Rule, and Linky Dink. Most of the time, you’ll need to change the rules a bit to help your loved one fully participate. For example, you can allow more time, or encourage them to write or draw answers.

> Related: How technology helps speech therapy patients in pandemic

Reminiscing activity for aphasia

Besides quality time, this activity creates a lasting legacy: “At the end, you have a beautiful life story you can share with the family,” says Joni.

10. Write your loved one’s life story. One of Joni’s patients was able to complete her memoir thanks to a life story app, which offered simple prompts to fill in. You can also search online for questions, and tailor the process to your loved one. For example, if they need help writing, take turns recording answers. If they struggle to understand who or what you’re asking about, get out those family photos and point.

Tips for communicating with someone with aphasia

Whichever activities you try, follow these tips.

• Incorporate your loved one’s passions. “A pet lover wants to talk about their pet, a motorhead wants to talk about cars,” says Joni. “If it has an emotional attachment, the brain holds onto that language.”
• Get rid of distractions. Turn down background noise like TVs, and make sure you have your loved one’s attention before speaking.
• Use short, simple phrases. Communicate one idea at a time. Ask “yes” and “no” questions instead of open-ended questions.
• Speak at a normal volume and with a normal, respectful tone. Aphasia doesn’t affect hearing or intelligence – it just means your loved one communicates differently. Keep in mind that they probably understand more than they can express.
• Be patient. Give them plenty of time to speak. Don’t rush to suggest words or finish their sentences.
• Find what works. Think beyond speech. Try gesturing, writing, drawing, showing pictures, or using communication apps on a smartphone or tablet.
• Empower them. Focus on your loved one’s abilities, and encourage them to stay involved in normal, meaningful activities.

With all of the above, and so much more, lean on a speech therapist for advice.

“That’s why we’re here,” says Joni. “We help with the ongoing evolution of what’s going on with your loved one. We make sure activities are appropriately structured. We give you tips and tricks.”

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Engaging Resources

Engaged therapy sessions, here you come! Speech & language activities that are guaranteed to catch the attention of any child. Perfect for digital learning and in-person fun.

BUNDLE Executive Function

✨ As seen on Boom Cards Featured Bundles!

This BUNDLE of executive function cards includes problem solving stories, social stories, predicting stories, sequencing stories, and flexible thinking stories.

Multiple types of wh- questions, why and how questions, labeling exercises, multiple choice, and drag and drop categorizations   are included throughout this bundle to encourage an in depth understanding of each executive functioning skill.

⭐️ 80 Problem Solving

• Multiple choice question
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⭐️   52 Social Stories

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⭐️   50 Predicting (✨ as seen on Top Premium Boom Cards ✨)

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⭐️   50 Sequencing

• 3 different what questions per story

⭐️   40 Flexible Thinking (✨ as seen on Top Premium Boom Cards ✨)

• Why questions
• Labeling exercise

Each deck includes a teaching slide and visual to help your students better understand executive function skills before practicing! 

CLICK HERE for Boom Cards Preview.

To use Boom Cards, you must be connected to the Internet. Boom Cards play on modern browsers (Chrome, Safari, Firefox, and Edge). Apps are available for modern Android, iPads, iPhones, and Kindle Fires. For security and privacy, adults must have a Boom Learning account to use and assign Boom Cards. You will be able to assign the Boom Cards you are buying with "Fast Pins," (a form of play that gives instant feedback to students for self-grading Boom Cards). For assignment options that report student progress back to you, you will need to purchase a premium account.If you are new to Boom Learning, you will be offered a free trial of our premium account.Read here for details: http://bit.ly/BoomTrial .

Wh- Questions & Short Stories

15 short stories to target wh- questions, auditory comprehension, reading comprehension, recall, and more!

Multiple levels of difficulty, including both shorter and longer paragraphs for a variety of length and detail in the stories.

⭐ Wh- Questions in Short Stories

• 15 Paragraph Short Stories
• 6 Wh- Questions for every story
• Stories are 4-9 sentences in length
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*This product contains the same activities as the Boom Cards version. If you would like the Boom Cards version, view   Wh- Questions & Short Stories, Auditory Comprehension, Boom Cards.

Compare and Contrast

Compare and contrast a variety of topics with 5 different activities and over 400 prompts! Improve understanding and use of similarities and differences using this comprehensive activity. 

This resource includes   5 different ways to practice comparing and contrasting , including stories, Venn diagrams, wh questions, short answers, pictures, graphs, and more. Real photos are included in this resource.

⭐️ Compare and Contrast:

• 5 stories with Venn diagrams
• 10 picture pairs with wh questions and Venn diagrams
• 10 picture pairs with wh questions and short answer questions
• 10 word pairs with wh questions and short answers
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• 2 blank templates

⭐️   Targeted Skills:

• Improve use of compare and contrast
• Increase comprehension of similarities and differences
• Expand skills for answering questions

Topics & Questions

80 unique topics with 4 wh- questions and a story prompt to improve expressive and receptive language skills, with REAL pictures. Questions and story prompts improve story telling and sentence generation skills. What, where, who, when, why, and how questions are included, with 4 different questions for each picture.

✨ As featured on Boom Cards Top Premium Decks ✨

⭐ 80 Topics & Categories

• 5 activities for each topic
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⭐  Targeted Skills

• Improve receptive & expressive language
• Enhance skills for   answering questions
• Boost   story telling skills
• Develop   noun labeling and describing

Practice describing topics and categories, by answering questions and discussing a story prompt for each topic!

To use Boom Cards, you   must   be connected to the Internet. Boom Cards play on modern browsers (Chrome, Safari, Firefox, and Edge). Apps are available for modern Android, iPads, iPhones, and Kindle Fires. For security and privacy, adults must have a Boom Learning account to use and assign Boom Cards. You will be able to assign the Boom Cards you are buying with "Fast Pins," (a form of play that gives instant feedback to students for self-grading Boom Cards). For assignment options that report student progress back to you, you will need to purchase a premium account.   If you are new to Boom Learning, you will be offered a free trial of our premium account.   Read here for details:   http://bit.ly/BoomTrial .

Conversation Starters

Conversation starters to improve commenting, asking questions, and answering questions during conversations. Conversation prompts has variety of ways to practice conversations, including questions, open response, fill in the blank, and more.

This resource includes   multiple ways to practice conversations , including pictures, comments, questions, asking questions, and more.

⭐️   All About Me Conversation Starters:

• 2 what questions
• 1 how question
• Open response opportunity

⭐️   Conversation Topics:

• 20 unique topics
• 3 open response opportunities to practice
• Practice asking questions and making comments

⭐️   Conversation Photos:

• 20 unique photo prompts
• 2 open response opportunities to practice

⭐️   Boom Cards include:

• 20 conversation topics
• 20 conversation starters with real photos
• Open response opportunities to practice

⭐️   Targeted skills:

• Improve conversation abilities
• Increase ability to ask and answer questions in conversations
• Expand commenting skills during conversations

NOTE: This resource includes 1 printable PDF with a Boom Cards companion. The Boom Cards contains part of the PDF resource, but does not include the "All About Me" conversation starters. Boom Cards are digital resources. PDF pages can be used digitally with PDF applications or can be printed for in person use.

To use boom cards, you must be connected to the internet. boom cards play on modern browsers (chrome, safari, firefox, and edge). apps are available for modern android, ipads, iphones, and kindle fires. for security and privacy, adults must have a boom learning account to use and assign boom cards. you will be able to assign the boom cards you are buying with "fast pins," (a form of play that gives instant feedback to students for self-grading boom cards). for assignment options that report student progress back to you, you will need to purchase a premium account. if you are new to boom learning, you will be offered a free trial of our premium account. read here for details: http://bit.ly/boomtrial ..

Problems & Solutions with Problem Size

Problem solving stories, problem size, solutions, common problems   and more are included in this set.   There are 80 unique problem solving and solution scenarios   for critical thinking. Open response questions and multiple choice questions are included in every story! You will receive problem size and common problem teaching pages, as well as multiple examples.

⭐️   80 Problem Solving Stories

• 80 unique problem scenarios
• Multiple choice question for every story
• 2 open response exercises for every story

⭐️   Problem Size Slides & Questions

• 5 in-depth teaching pages
• Problem size (small, medium, big) definitions
• Emotions related to problem sizes
• Color coordinated problem size visual
• 2 small problem exercises
• 2 medium problem exercises
• 2 big problem exercises

⭐️   Common Problems & Questions

• Teaching slide with definitions & examples
• 6 scenarios of common problems
• 2 free response problem & solution questions per scenario 

With 80 unique stories, 12 common problem scenarios, 6 problem size questions and multiple teaching pages, you will be able to use this resource for   many   teaching sessions. You won't need anything else!

Story Builders & Create A Story

Improve creative writing with these narrative and short story prompts! This set of   70 short story builders   comes with character, location, event and time learning targets.

Help your students improve their stories and increase their creative narrative skills. There is space for students to type or write their stories, as well as an organizing task for story parts. 

Your students will have all the tools they need to create unique and imaginative stories!

⭐️ Includes:

• 70 story builders
• 3 practice levels
• A combination of who (character), where (location), what (event) and when (time) story part targets
• 36 story builders that include 2 story parts
• 20 story builders that include 3 story parts
• 14 story builders that include 4 story parts
• Story parts organizing task with pictures
• Space for creative writing and narrative generation
• Instructions on each page 

⭐️ Teaching slides:

• In depth information about the 4 included story parts
• Descriptions
• Picture matching activities 

Save your time and energy, this set is NO PREP! Includes everything you need to elicit creative, engaging stories from your students.

Perfect for SLPs, teachers, or parents looking to expand language or writing in a fun and creative way!

Social Skills & Pragmatics

Social skills and pragmatic language set to improve executive functioning skills.   52 unique stories with sorting and wh- questions!

Social skills topic can be organized by category or practiced in random order, depending on your goals! Your students will sort each card into "appropriate" or "inappropriate" categories. They also will have an opportunity to explain how to improve social skills. Keep students engaged with interactive drag and drop!

⭐️   52 Social Skills short stories

• 2 scenarios per slide
• Drag and drop sorting for "appropriate" or "inappropriate" behavior
• What question to target improving behaviors
• Why question to target critical thinking

⭐️   Skills are able to be sorted by topic:

• Sharing & Turns
• Making Friends

BUNDLE for Executive Function Skills also available in Shine Speech Activities shop , which includes problem solving, predicting, flexible thinking, social skills, and sequencing/planning, too!

Use this deck to help teach and practice pragmatic skills - you won't need anything else!

Sentence Comprehension & Language Comprehension

Improve sentence comprehension, language and reading comprehension, and picture comprehension with 4 activities and over 125 prompts for speech therapy or classrooms! Target comprehending, receptive language, and more.

This resource includes   4 different ways to practice sentence comprehension , including wh questions, pictures, fill in the blanks, and more. Real photos are included in this resource.

⭐️ Sentence Comprehension:

• 40 sentence comprehension task cards with 3 questions each
• 30 real photo sentence comprehension prompts
• 30 multiple choice reading comprehension activities
• 30 fill in the blank language comprehension prompts
• Improve sentence comprehension skills
• Increase receptive and expressive language abilities
• Expand skills for understanding sentences and pictures

Categories with divergent naming, convergent naming, group, similarities, differences, and more! Words, cartoons, and real pictures included for a variety of ways to practice.

This resource includes   6 different ways to practice categories , including describing, naming, grouping, similarities, differences, and topics. Category cards include words, cartoon pictures to color, and real photos!

⭐️ Categories:

• 40 Describe the category
• 40 Name the category
• 40 Categories Grouping
• 24 Categories similarities
• 24 Categories differences
• 6 Categories Topics
• 10 Describe the category
• 15 Name the category
• 15 Categories Grouping
• 15 Categories similarities
• 15 Categories differences
• 5 Categories Topics
• Improve understanding categories
• Expand ability to describe categories
• Practice language with categories 

NOTE: This resource includes 1 printable PDF with a Boom Cards companion. The Boom Cards contains part of the PDF resource. Boom Cards are digital resources. PDF pages can be used digitally with PDF applications or can be printed for in person use.

Picture & Word Describing Webs

This set of 70 picture description webs targets describing pictures and words by color, shape, size, location, material, function, category and more. Includes 8 wh- questions for each word!

Teaching slides are also included to teach your students how to describe pictures.

⭐️ Picture Description Webs:

• 8 fill in the blank questions to target descriptions
• Color description targets
• Size description targets
• Shape description targets
• Location description targets
• Material description targets
• Function description targets
• Category description targets
• Who (who uses it?) description targets
• Color coded targets to improve memory of ways to describe

⭐️ Teaching Slides:

• Question example for each description target
• Concrete examples of each description type 

⭐️ Bonus Pages on PDF:

• Colored blank picture web template with 8 questions
• Black and white picture web template with 8 questions

BONUS! A blank PDF template for a color web and a black and white web are also included.   Your students have the opportunity to draw their own unique pictures and create webs.

70 trials, plus blank webs, allows for unlimited practice of picture and word describing. 

Help your students learn how to describe with this activity! PDF and Boom Cards versions are included.

Predicting in Short Stories

This activity includes   50 predicting stories . Unique and original scenarios for predicting practice!

✨ As seen on Boom Cards Top Premium Decks ✨

Each scenario   includes a "what" question and a "how" question   for further discussion and analysis for your students.

50 stories means you won't need any other activity for predicting! Use these randomized trials track data over multiple sessions.

⭐️   50 Predicting story slides

• Unique predicting scenarios
• What question for predicting
• How question for analyzing prediction

BUNDLE Figurative Language

This BUNDLE of figurative language cards includes idioms, metaphors, hyperboles, personification and similes. Over 255 practice targets with figurative language!

The set targets multiple skills so your students will have an in depth understanding of each type of figurative language! This set is a truly comprehensive approach to understanding and using figurative language.

⭐️ 60 Idioms

• Yes/no questions for every trial
• What questions for every trial
• Free response (students have an opportunity to create their own idioms) for every trial

⭐️ 40 Metaphors

• Free response (students have an opportunity to create their own metaphors) for every trial

⭐️ 40 Similes

• Free response (students have an opportunity to create their own similes) for every trial

⭐️ 45 Hyperboles

• Free response (students have an opportunity to create their own hyperboles) for every trial

⭐️ 40 Personification

• Free response to give students opportunity to create short stories with personification

⭐️ 35 Allusions

• 2 what questions for every trial
• Free response to encourage building allusions in sentences
• Allusions to Historical figures, literature, famous fictional characters, locations/landmarks, Greek mythology, movies and more

⭐️ Each deck includes a teaching slide

• Definitions
• Help your students understand and identify figurative language before practicing

Preview Boom Cards HERE.

Prepositions & Spatial Concepts

This set of   prepositions targets spatial and location concepts with 60 trials ! Teach your students prepositions and location with this robust, comprehensive deck.

You can pick which preposition to target, or practice with randomized slides. The teaching module will   teach your students everything they need to know about each preposition   before practicing! 

⭐️   Prepositions include:

⭐️   learning module includes:.

Use the practice slides to practice prepositions with multiple choice. Navigate between the learning module and practice cards using the buttons at the bottom of each slide.

CLICK HERE for Boom Card Preview.

To use Boom Cards, you  must  be connected to the Internet. Boom Cards play on modern browsers (Chrome, Safari, Firefox, and Edge). Apps are available for modern Android, iPads, iPhones, and Kindle Fires. For security and privacy, adults must have a Boom Learning account to use and assign Boom Cards. You will be able to assign the Boom Cards you are buying with "Fast Pins," (a form of play that gives instant feedback to students for self-grading Boom Cards). For assignment options that report student progress back to you, you will need to purchase a premium account. If you are new to Boom Learning, you will be offered a free trial of our premium account. Read here for details: http://bit.ly/BoomTrial .

Main Idea & Supporting Details

Main idea and supporting details with 5 different ways to practice and 50 unique prompts! Improve reading comprehension and writing skills using this main ideas and detail resource.

This product contains a PDF version and a Boom Cards companion.

This resource includes   5 different ways to practice main idea and supporting details , including stories with questions, main ideas vs. details, create-a-story, grouping, and pictures with questions. Real photos are also included in this resource.

⭐️ Main Idea & Details:

• 10 Stories & Questions
• 10 Main Ideas vs. Details
• 10 Create-A-Story
• 10 Grouping
• 10 Pictures & Questions
• Improve understanding main ideas and details
• Increase reading comprehension abilities
• Expand skills for creating stories

To use Boom Cards, you must be connected to the Internet. Boom Cards play on modern browsers (Chrome, Safari, Firefox, and Edge). Apps are available for modern Android, iPads, iPhones, and Kindle Fires. For security and privacy, adults must have a Boom Learning account to use and assign Boom Cards. You will be able to assign the Boom Cards you are buying with "Fast Pins," (a form of play that gives instant feedback to students for self-grading Boom Cards). For assignment options that report student progress back to you, you will need to purchase a premium account.  If you are new to Boom Learning, you will be offered a free trial of our premium account.  Read here for details: http://bit.ly/BoomTrial .

Expanding Language with Wh Questions and Real Pictures

Expand expressive language using wh- questions and sentence generation prompts with real pictures.   Improve expressive language, answering questions, labeling verbs, and story generation!   What, where, and who questions are included for every picture!

⭐ Expanding Language with Real Pictures

• 80 real life pictures
• 3 wh- questions   for every story
• Free response prompt   for every story
• Large variety of actions and topics within pictures
• What, where, and who questions for every story
• Printable pages

⭐ Targeted Skills

• Improve expressive language
• Enhance skills for answering questions
• Boost sentence and story generation skills
• Develop verb describing and labeling

Sequencing and Planning

This set of 50 sequencing and planning activity deck will help your students improve their planning skills! The deck includes a variety of sequencing and planning scenarios and trials for your students.

Each open-ended short story includes 3 color-coded wh- questions to guide sequencing.

⭐️   50 Sequencing short stories

• Unique sequencing stories
• 3 wh- questions per story
• Color-coded questions, to match teaching slide

⭐️   Teaching slide

• 6 unique teaching  slides with visuals
• Color-coded information to match questions in trials
• Drag & drop activity
• Synonyms for key words
• Example of a story sequence

CLICK HERE for Boom Cards Preview

Flexible Thinking & Reframing

This set of 40 flexible thinking and reframing thoughts cards   teaches your students how to improve flexible thinking   in difficult situations.

Each unique scenario includes   multiple questions as well as a labeling exercise   to encourage flexible thinking and increasing creative problem solving.

⭐️   Each Flexible Thinking trial includes:

• Why question
• How question

⭐️   Teaching slides include:

• Flexible v. rigid thinking comparison
• Flexible thinking examples
• Strategies for use of flexible thinking in difficult moments

INCLUDES: Both a PDF version and a Boom Cards version!

BUNDLE for Wh- Questions also available in Shine Speech Activities shop , which includes short stories and sentences!

CLICK HERE for Boom Cards Preview .

*This product contains the same activities as the PDF version. If you would like the PDF version, view   Wh- Questions & Short Stories, Auditory Comprehension .

Inferencing & Context Clues

70 inferencing and context clues trials to improve critical thinking skills! Each trial comes with 4 unique clues to help your students make an inference. They can then provide their answer, and drag the cover away to see the correct answer and a picture.

⭐️   As featured on Boom Cards Top Premium Decks   ⭐️

⭐ 70 Inferencing & Context Clues Slides:

• 4 clues for every word
• Space to type an answer
• Drag to uncover the correct answer
• Pictures of the correct answer

⭐ Skills targeted:

• Improve inferencing
• Enhance ability to understand clues
• Increase critical thinking and executive function abilities
• Boost deductive reasoning skills
• Improve ability to draw conclusions

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