iPads may be saving the backs of traveling speech language pathologists across the country. It’s really nice to have some apps or word lists at your fingertips without having to bring a long 30 different decks of articulation cards. (I still love my card decks though!) Jenna from Speech Room News is hosting another linky party. This month’s party is focused on articulation apps. I’m really excited to see what everyone else listed. Here are some of the apps I’ve found most useful:
Articulate It was my first articulation app. One thing that I really appreciate about this app is that the developers have updated it frequently adding more varied content. Now you can search word lists based on phonemes, phonological processes, manner of articulation, and the number of syllables. This is basically a flashcard app. It gives you options for productions at the word, phrase and sentence level. It tracks your data and also allows the students to record their voice and judge their own productions.
This is an app I often recommend when parents are looking for something to use at home. I like that there is an option for them to buy 1-2 sounds vs. all of the sounds. This app allows you to choose by phoneme and their positions in words. There is an option for flash cards or a matching game which is a nice change of pace. When you get to sentences there is an option called rotating sentences. These are more advanced than carrier phrases. An example for H would be “Hannah has the heart in the house.” If you press the button, the square where heart is listed rotates and now the sentence is Hannah has the hedge in the house.” It can be kind of silly. Articulation Station Pro also allows you to practice your sounds at the short paragraph level!
Apraxia and Apraxia Words by NACD
These apps are focused on providing the repetition needed in apraxia therapy. The apraxia app allows you to pick groups of phonemes based on place of production. Each word list consists of CV (consonant vowel) productions. For example, you decide to work on bilabials to start. You would choose p, b, m. Next you select your level.
- Level one is working on production of single syllables.
- Level 2 is focused on production of 3 of the same syllable.
- Level 3 works on 5 repetitions of the same syllable.
- Level 4 has the uses produce 4 of the same syllable and then changes the last syllable. (ex. no, no, no, no, knee.)
- Level 5 focuses on alternating 2 syllables
- Level 6 works on the same consonant sound with alternating vowels. (ex. no, knee, no, nigh, knee)
- Level 7 words on alternating consonants and vowels while keeping the placement similiar (ex. no, bow, knee, bee, bye)
- Level 8 words are randomized between 2 different placements that you choose. (ex. bilabials vs. alveolar sounds)
The Apraxia words app is set up in a similar manner but focuses on production of CVC words. Word lists are chosen based on placement again. Examples include bilabial-bilabial, velar-alveolar etc. It’s set up similar to the program Moving Across words. I find this app really helpful to use with kids who are fronting or backing their sounds.
Pocket Pairs: by Synapse Apps LLC
This is a simple app that works on minimal pairs. There is a parent version that is priced reasonably making it a decent recommendation for a home program.
This is a newer app that I haven’t used as much. It includes activities for auditory bombardment, auditory discrimination, minimal pairs and single word production. It provides an option for flash card activities as well as a game board activity.
I use this a lot at the middle/high school level. So far I haven’t gotten a lot of students who are willing to complete the dares. But that’s okay because we read them and laugh and end up getting in more speech sound repetitions than we would if we were actually completing the dares. I usually make them decline by repeating the dare again for extra practice.
Ex. Student A: I dare you to pretend you are throwing seafood at the ceiling.
Student B: No, I will NOT throw seafood at the ceiling. I dare you to….
We get a lot of practice resisting dares which can be really helpful for some of my students with social language challenges too!
What are your favorite articulation apps? You can join up by heading over to Speech Room News!
I am waiting for my I dare you app to be available to grab from our “district store.” I love your idea to get more practices. Thanks for the tip. I’m making a mental note!