In Post 4, we saw how AI can be your clinical sidekick—sparking lesson ideas, streamlining documentation, and tackling admin tasks. SLP AI prompt writing is essential for maximizing these benefits. But here’s the truth: AI is only as good as the conversation you start. The magic isn’t in its existence; it’s in how you wield it.

Think of AI as an incredibly intelligent, but frustratingly literal, intern. It operates on your instructions. This is where AI prompt engineering for SLPs comes in—the art and science of communicating effectively with large language models (LLMs). The better your prompt, the more tailored, useful, and relevant the AI’s output will be.

🛑 STOP! The Golden Rule: PHI and AI (Crucial Disclaimer)

Before we dive into prompt perfection, let’s firmly reiterate the absolute necessity: NEVER, EVER input Protected Health Information (PHI) or any client-specific identifying data (such as names, baselines, unique characteristics, or highly specific details that could lead to identification) into general-purpose AI models like CoPilot, ChatGPT, Bard/Gemini’s public interfaces, or similar tools that do not have a specific Business Associate Agreement (BAA) with your organization covering PHI.

Your company’s specific guidance on compliant AI use (especially for integrated tools like Google Workspace’s Gemini) is paramount. Always, always, always prioritize client privacy and confidentiality.

Ready to unlock AI’s full potential? Let’s refine your prompting skills!

6 Principles for Mastering AI Prompts for Speech Therapy

To get the most out of AI, keep these essential principles in mind:

1. Clarity, Conciseness, & Specificity

Vague input equals generic output. The more targeted your request, the more tailored and useful the AI’s response.

• Vague: “Give me therapy ideas.”
• Specific: “Generate 5 engaging speech therapy activities for 7-year-olds working on initial /s/ blends, suitable for a 30-minute session, using a ‘superhero’ theme. List required materials for each.”

2. Assign a Persona (Role & Context)

Tell the AI who it is (e.g., “Act as an experienced pediatric SLP”) and provide relevant background. This is arguably the most crucial step! By assigning a role, you’re pulling from a specialized language subset, which drastically improves the quality and relevance of the output. This is key to effective SLP AI promts.

• Generic: “Write a lesson plan.”
• Contextualized: “Act as an experienced pediatric SLP working in a school setting. Create a 45-minute lesson plan for a small group of 2nd graders targeting narrative language skills, focusing on sequencing events and character emotions. Include a clear objective, suggested materials, step-by-step activities, and differentiation ideas.”

3. Define Output Format & Length

Don’t leave the output format to chance. Tell the AI exactly how you want the information organized (e.g., bullet points, table, short paragraph, email draft).

• Unspecified: “Tell me about dysphagia.”
• Formatted: “Summarize key differences between oral phase and pharyngeal phase dysphagia in a bulleted list, suitable for a 1-page handout for speech therapy graduate students.”

4. Specify Constraints & Exclusions

Tell the AI what not to include, or what limitations to follow. This helps filter out irrelevant or inappropriate information for your client’s needs.

• General: “Give me articulation sentences for /l/.”
• Constrained: “Generate 10 articulation drill sentences for initial /l/ sounds for a 4-year-old, but exclude any words related to food or animals, and ensure sentences are no more than 5 words long.”

5. Iterate & Refine (It’s a Conversation)

Prompting is rarely a one-shot deal. Think of it as a Socratic dialogue—start with a broader request, then refine the AI’s initial response with follow-up instructions until you hit perfection. This process of refining AI prompts for SLP output is essential.

• Iteration Example:
  • You: “Give me goals for preschoolers.”
  • AI: (Provides very general goals)
  • You: “Okay, now make those goals SMART goals for receptive language, focusing on following 2-step directions.”
  • AI: (Provides more specific, measurable goals)

✨ Pro-Tip: Meta-Prompting (Make AI Write Your SLP Prompts)

If you are struggling to craft a detailed prompt, turn the tables and ask the AI to help you! This is a fast track to using all the principles above without having to think of every detail yourself.

• Prompt to Refine Your Prompt (Ask for Clarification): Use this when you have a good idea, but aren’t sure what specific details the AI needs, or are unsure if you’ve thought of everything.
  • “You are an expert prompt engineer for speech-language pathology. I want to create a 30-minute therapy plan for a 5th grader working on figurative language. Based on this goal, ask me 5 questions to clarify what you need to write the perfect, detailed prompt.”
• Prompt to Generate a Prompt: Use this to ensure your request includes all the necessary components (role, format, constraints).
  • “Act as an AI prompt expert. Write a detailed, effective prompt that will generate a handout for parents explaining the difference between an articulation disorder and a phonological disorder. The final prompt must include a specific role, a format, and a suggested reading level.”

6. Consider Tone & Audience

If you’re drafting communication for others, specify the desired tone and intended audience.

• Prompt Example: “Draft a short email to a general education teacher explaining the process of a speech-language screening, using a friendly and informative tone, and inviting them to share any initial concerns.”

Applied Prompt Engineering: AI Strategies for Common SLP Tasks

Let’s apply these principles to the types of tasks that eat up your time, including those that help you build materials! These strategies lead to time-saving AI prompts for SLPs.

Therapy Ideas & Lesson Plans:

• Include: Client age/grade, specific speech/language goal, preferred theme, session length, group size, required materials you have on hand.
  • Example: “Act as an experienced SLP. Create a 30-minute narrative therapy session for a group of three 3rd graders working on story grammar (characters, setting, problem, solution). Use a ‘detective’ theme. Include warm-up, main activity, and cool-down. Suggest print-and-go materials and a simple data collection sheet format.”

Goal Wording:

• Specify: Skill area, target population, desired components (e.g., SMART goals, specific measurable elements), context.
  • Example: “Generate 3 measurable, long-term speech therapy goals for an elementary student working on pragmatic language skills, focusing on initiating conversations and turn-taking, suitable for an IEP. Then, critique each goal for measurability and compliance.”

Content Adaptation & Materials Creation:

• Key Components: Original content (paste or summarize), target audience, desired reading level, specific language features to focus on.
  • Example (Great for TPT!): “Generate a simple 4-page articulation resource for initial /k/, suitable for a third-grade reading level. Format the content as three short reading passages followed by comprehension questions.”

Task Analysis / Prompt Hierarchies:

• Clearly define: The skill to be broken down, the target age/developmental level, the desired number of steps, and the type of prompting.
  • Example: “Provide a detailed task analysis for teaching a 5-year-old to correctly produce 3-4 word sentences using correct subject-verb agreement. Include 5-7 steps and suggest different levels of verbal and gestural prompts for each step.”

Administrative Tasks:

• Be precise about: The type of document, the data you’re working with, the desired function, and the output format.
  • Example: “I need an Excel formula. I have a list of dates in Column A and attendance marked ‘P’ or ‘A’ in Column B. Give me a formula to count the total number of ‘P’s for the month of March in Column C.”

⚠️ The Guardrails: Where AI Falls Short for SLPs

While AI is a powerful assistant, it’s crucial to understand where its current capabilities fall short. Remember that even with the most effective SLP AI prompts, your clinical judgment is irreplaceable.

• Phonetics and Articulation Nuance: AI operates on text strings, not the underlying speech sounds, articulatory placements, or distinctive features. It can’t “hear” a velar fronting error. This means word lists for specific phonetic contexts (e.g., specific minimal pairs, /r/ contexts) often miss the mark. Always check its work!
• Age/Grade Level Nuance for Language/Vocabulary: While AI can attempt to “simplify” language, its understanding of developmental language milestones, typical vocabulary acquisition, and the subtle nuances of age-appropriate content, syntax and semantics can be limited. Always review carefully for true developmental appropriateness.
• Clinical Judgment Remains Yours: AI lacks clinical reasoning, empathy, and the ability to interpret non-verbal cues or individual client needs. Its output is based on patterns in the data it was trained on, not genuine understanding of a client. Your license, and your client’s well-being, is your responsibility.

The Empowered SLP: An AI Prompting Pro

Mastering prompt engineering is the final step in turning AI from a simple chatbot into your powerful, personalized SLP assistant. This skill won’t replace your expertise, but it will save you time, spark creativity, and allow you to dedicate more of your precious energy to what matters most: the art and science of speech-language pathology. Start experimenting with SLP AI prompt engineering today!

Want a quick reference to help you on your AI prompting journey? This visual provides a 6-step, hierarchical template that teaches SLPs how to define the role, constraints, and format needed to get accurate, clinically relevant output from AI. Only available to Subscribers!

In Post 6, we’ll explore specific AI tools and platforms that SLPs can safely and effectively integrate into their workflow (always with the BAA and privacy rules in mind!).

Next in the Series

• Part 1: AI & Clinical Data Privacy
  • This foundational post explores AI training data, client privacy, and HIPAA compliance for SLPs, including the non-negotiable role of BAAs.
• Part 2: Separating AI Truth vs Myth 
  • We debunk common AI myths in SLP practice. Get a realistic understanding of AI’s true role and capabilities.
• Part 3: How AI Tools Work 
  • Get a clear, jargon-free explanation of how large language models function. Understand their capabilities and limitations.
• Part 4: AI for Clinical Spark & Efficiency
  • Discover ethical ways to use AI. Brainstorm, overcome planning hurdles, and refine non-clinical communications.
• Part 5: Mastering AI Prompts (this post!)
  • Learn prompt engineering. Communicate effectively with AI models to get tailored, useful results for SLP needs.
• Part 6: Compliant AI Platforms & Tools
  • This post guides you through AI tools. Learn key factors for ethically and compliantly selecting platforms for your SLP practice.
• Part 7: Ethical & Responsible AI Use
  • This crucial post delves into broader ethical responsibilities for SLPs using AI. It covers principles beyond data privacy.
• Part 8: The Future of AI
  • This concluding post explores emerging AI trends and future possibilities in Speech-Language Pathology. Prepare to adapt, innovate, and lead responsible AI integration.

The post Mastering SLP AI Prompt Writing (AI & SLPs: Part 5) appeared first on Mrs. Speech Online.

We’ve discussed privacy in Part 1, fact and myth in Part 2, and how AI works in Part 3. This post will give you some ideas on how to use AI to increase your productivity as an SLP. This isn’t about replacing your clinical expertise; it’s about equipping you with a powerful, ethical tool to turbocharge your efficiency and creativity.

Crucial Disclaimer: The Golden Rule of AI for SLPs

Before we dive into the practical applications, let’s establish the absolute, non-negotiable rule:

NEVER input Protected Health Information (PHI) or any client-specific identifying data (such as names, baselines, unique characteristics, or highly specific details that could lead to identification) into general-purpose AI models like ChatGPT, Bard/Gemini’s public interfaces, or similar tools that do not have a specific Business Associate Agreement (BAA) with your organization covering PHI.

Your company’s specific guidance on compliant AI use (especially for integrated tools like Google Workspace’s Gemini) is paramount. Always, always, always prioritize client privacy and confidentiality.

With that vital principle in mind, let’s explore ethical and compliant ways AI can become your new favorite clinical assistant.

1. AI Can Supercharge Your Planning

The blank page for a lesson plan or a new therapy goal can be daunting. AI in your SLP practice can be a brilliant brainstorming partner that helps you escape “therapy fatigue.”

• Creating Lesson Plans & Activity Ideas: Need a therapy session around a specific theme (e.g., “outer space” for articulation, “community helpers” for social language)? Ask AI to brainstorm age-appropriate activities, vocabulary lists, or a rough session flow.
  • Prompt Example: “Brainstorm 5 engaging speech therapy activities for 7-year-olds working on /r/ production using an ‘ocean adventure’ theme.”
• Developing Task Analyses: For complex skills (like tying shoes, ordering food, or writing a sentence), AI can help you break them down into discrete, manageable steps, providing a valuable framework for intervention.
• Structuring Prompt Hierarchies: Design effective scaffolding for various tasks. AI can help you think through different levels of prompting from maximum to minimum support.
• Generating Diverse Goal Wording Templates: Crafting clear, measurable, and relevant IEP or treatment goals is time-consuming. AI can provide various wording options for specific skill areas, which you can then adapt with your client’s unique, non-identifying data.
  • Prompt Example: “Provide 5 different ways to word a long-term goal for improving expressive vocabulary in a preschooler with language delay, focusing on measurable outcomes.”

2. Content Creation & Adaptation Made Easy with AI

Need to adjust existing materials or create new ones quickly? AI helps you differentiate and tailor content in seconds.

• Adapting Existing Materials: Take a classic short story, news article, or educational text and ask AI to simplify it for a specific reading level (e.g., 3rd-grade equivalent) or to focus on particular concepts.
  • Prompt Example: “Simplify the plot of ‘The Three Little Pigs’ into language appropriate for a 1st-grade reading level, focusing on story elements.”
• Generating Practice Items: Create endless lists of words, sentences, or short paragraphs targeting specific phonemes, grammatical structures, or vocabulary themes.

3. AI Documentation & Communication Shortcuts

While you should never input PHI into general AI, you can use it to polish and streamline all other written communications.

• Proofreading and Grammar Checks: Use AI to review emails (that don’t contain PHI), general announcements, or non-confidential sections of reports for clarity and error reduction.
• Summarizing Long Texts (General): Need to quickly grasp the main points of a professional article, a school policy document (without student info), or a long email thread? AI can provide a concise summary.
• Rephrasing for Clarity: If you’re struggling to articulate a general idea or want to make instructions more straightforward for colleagues, AI can offer alternative, punchier phrasings.

4. Using AI in Empowering Families & Caregivers

As your assistant in your SLP practice, AI can help you create effective, accessible resources that boost generalization outside the clinic room.

• Brainstorming Client Education Materials & Handouts: Get ideas for home carryover activities related to a specific skill or for parent education on a general topic (e.g., language stimulation, feeding strategies).
  • Prompt Example: “List 7 practical, easy-to-implement home activities for parents to support a toddler’s expressive language development.”
• Translating General Advice: Rephrase clinical concepts into parent-friendly, jargon-free language for handouts or general communication.

5. Boosting Your Professional Growth

AI is a powerful tool for SLPs in continuous learning and career advancement.

• Summarizing Research Articles & Clinical Guidelines: Quickly extract key findings, methodologies, and conclusions from non-confidential research papers to stay updated in your field.
• Brainstorming Presentation Topics & Outlines: If you need to give a presentation for a staff meeting or a conference, AI can help you brainstorm ideas and structure your talking points.
• Creating Study Guides: Generate practice questions or summaries for certification exams, specialization tests, or continuing education courses.

The Responsible SLP’s AI Ethic: A Final Word

AI is a revolutionary SLP tool, but it’s just that—a tool. Your clinical judgment, ethical compass, and human connection remain irreplaceable.

Always remember:

• Verify, Verify, Verify: AI output can contain “hallucinations” or inaccuracies. Always critically review and fact-check any information generated by AI before using it.
  • To succeed in an AI-driven future, SLPs must focus on critical appraisal of these emerging tools, as discussed in the ASHA journal LSHSS (Equipping Clinicians for Critical Appraisal of AI).
• Privacy is Paramount: Reiterate the NO PHI rule. This protects your clients, yourself, and your license. Understand and adhere strictly to your company’s and district’s policies on AI use.
• It’s an Assistant, Not a Replacement: AI should augment your skills, not diminish your critical thinking or clinical reasoning.

Start experimenting responsibly. Begin with low-stakes tasks and see how AI can transform your productivity as an SLP, allowing you to dedicate more of your precious time and energy to the art and science of speech-language pathology.

Next in the Series: In Post 5, we’ll delve deeper into crafting effective AI prompts to get the best possible results for your specific SLP needs.

The AI & SLPs Series: Your Comprehensive Guide

Welcome to the AI & SLPs Series! Over the next eight weeks, we’ll delve deep into how Artificial Intelligence is shaping the world of speech-language pathology. Here’s what you can expect:

• Part 1: AI & Clinical Data Privacy
  • This foundational post explores AI training data, client privacy, and HIPAA compliance for SLPs, including the non-negotiable role of BAAs.
• Part 2: Separating Truth vs Myth 
  • We debunk common AI myths in SLP practice. Get a realistic understanding of AI’s true role and capabilities.
• Part 3: How AI Tools Work 
  • Get a clear, jargon-free explanation of how large language models function. Understand their capabilities and limitations.
• Part 4: AI for Clinical Spark & Efficiency (This post!)
  • Discover ethical ways to use AI. Brainstorm, overcome planning hurdles, and refine non-clinical communications.
• Part 5: Mastering Prompts 
  • Learn prompt engineering. Communicate effectively with AI models to get tailored, useful results for SLP needs.
• Part 6: Compliant Platforms & Tools
  • This post guides you through AI tools. Learn key factors for ethically and compliantly selecting platforms for your SLP practice.
• Part 7: Ethical & Responsible Use
  • This crucial post delves into broader ethical responsibilities for SLPs using AI. It covers principles beyond data privacy.
• Part 8: The Future of AI
  • This concluding post explores emerging AI trends and future possibilities in Speech-Language Pathology. Prepare to adapt, innovate, and lead responsible AI integration.

The post Part 4: AI for Clinical Spark & Efficiency: An SLP’s Practical Guide appeared first on Mrs. Speech Online.

Keeping your online therapy sessions engaging can be a struggle. It can require creative strategies to address literacy through a camera. But fear not! There’s a treasure trove of FREE online literacy resources waiting to be discovered at your local library. Websites like Internet Archive also provide these resources. These free online literacy resources offer a vast array of materials to target various speech and language goals. This keeps your students motivated and learning actively.

Online Libraries – The Best Free Tool for Reading

Now, we all know that books are one of the greatest tools to grow our students’ language, right? We can reach pretty much any goal  with a well-planned literacy unit: articulation, fluency, auditory skills, comprehension, memory, critical thinking, inferencing, prediction, and story craft. Also, story grammar, figurative language, vocabulary, prefixes and suffixes, and even pragmatics. Try getting all that in one breath!

Have you ever considered the library as one of the best-kept secrets in the world of online teletherapy for accessing free online literacy resources? Believe it or not, your local library – especially if it’s a large metropolitan one – is a treasure trove of FREE online resources just waiting to be tapped into! The online resources available have exploded in the past couple of years. So, if you haven’t checked yours out lately, do so.

Picture this: your middle school students engrossed in graphic novel versions of classics like The Odyssey, Anne of Green Gables, or Sherlock Holmes. Or, your emerging language learners delighting in interactive stories.

Boost Engagement & Stretch Your Budget:

• Cost-Effective Magic: Budgets are tight! Online libraries provide a massive selection of resources at no cost. This allows you to create dynamic learning experiences without breaking the bank.  Often, libraries offer reciprocal memberships. This greatly expands your selection of free online literacy resources!
• Content for All Ages & Styles: From interactive stories for beginners to captivating graphic novels for middle schoolers. Online resources cater to diverse age groups and learning styles.

Highlighting Powerful Reading Sites for Teletherapy:

• Local Library Gems: Your local library’s online branch is a hidden gem! Explore their website to unearth a universe of resources waiting to be used in your sessions. Explore the website or talk to one of the librarians eager to get these resources into your hands.
  • There’s more than just print books waiting for you – there’s audiobooks, graphic novels, and easy-read versions of the classics.  These free online literacy resources are incredibly diverse.
• Interactive Storytelling with TumbleBooks: For younger learners, platforms like TumbleBooks offer a delightful world of interactive stories. These bring learning to life. This platform is often a free offering from your local library system. 
• YouTube Read-Alouds: Many engaging YouTube channels offer high-quality read-alouds of children’s books. Find stories that target your students’ specific interests and age groups to add variety to your sessions. For video playlists, check out my YouTube channel – Mrs. Speech!
• Dive into the Internet Archive: This vast digital library holds a wealth of books and learning materials. Explore their collection of ebooks, audiobooks, and even teacher resources like curriculum materials and literature notebooks from top publishers.
  • Need a ready-made literacy lesson?  IA has the Teacher’s Editions of many Literacy Textbooks!  Plus, my middle school students can’t get enough of the classic short stories. These include ones by Saki, Poe, Thurber, Twain, O’Henry, and more. There’s a reason they’ve stood the test of time!
• Try ESL sites like Voice of  America:  VOA has a multitude of famous American short stories that have been simplified.  And bonus, they have an audio version and supplemental materials as well!

Empower Your Students with a Free Bonus!

View my curated list of 85+ FREE resources from the Internet Archive, featuring a variety of short stories and adapted novel collections! This list gives you a head start on incorporating these valuable materials into your teletherapy sessions. FYI – Check out my Lesson Guides to some classic short stories on TPT: Ultimate Short Story Comprehensive Lesson Guides Bundle.

Visit my other posts on using short stories in therapy:

• Why, and How, I Started Using Short Stories in Therapy
• Unlock Student Engagement: The Magic of Short Stories in Middle School Speech Therapy
• Activity Magic: Short Stories for Multi-Goal Mastery in Speech Therapy

Update 12/24

I recently found the free internet browser Brave and have been using it the past couple of weeks.  It was simple to move my Google bookmarks into Brave, and I am using it solely for use with the kids. This streamlines my therapy sessions too.  I haven’t had a single YouTube ad. Also, I haven’t noticed other ads popping up on websites.  I will say that, while it does block the ad on a website, there is often still the space where the ad would be.  Often, a reader extension like ReadBee will remove those spaces and focus on the text.

Stay tuned for more insider tips and resources to level up your teletherapy game!

Happy Teletherapy,

Social Media Icons: designed by rawpixel.com – Freepik.com

The post Level Up Literacy Teletherapy: Unleash FREE Online Resources to Captivate Students! appeared first on Mrs. Speech Online.

Ways to Use Pinterest Pictures

Now, we all know the drill with Pinterest – it’s the go-to hub for all things DIY, recipes, and yes, even therapy ideas! But let me tell you how I’ve been using it to spice up my therapy sessions.

Picture this: I’ve got boards filled to the brim with stimuli. They cover everything from articulation practice to critical thinking and social skills. We could get into a 10 minute discussion on whether it is photoshopped or real on some of these. Or discuss what makes it interesting, or brainstorm what you would do if you were walking around and saw it in person.

So MANY speech and language goals can be addressed with these open-ended materials. They are so much more fun than reading a card or doing a worksheet. Your kids may not even realize they are “working.”

Seriously, my Picture Prompts boards are like a treasure trove for your therapy sessions. Once you get used to using them, and the types of questioning you can use, you will find yourself using them more and more. For now, I have them separated into just a younger board and an older board. However, I have so many pins, I am going to have to separate them further. 

You guys have to come take a peek! Just make sure you set a timer because you will seriously get sucked into the rabbit hole – LOL!

Multiple Meaning Words

One thing my kids LOVE is when I open up the Visual Puns board. It’s a great way to work on multiple meanings and figurative or non-literal language. Not to mention the sheer fun of figuring out what makes each pun tick. The engagement and comprehension seems to skyrocket when I address language goals this way. And the best part – it’s so effortless it seems like a free day for both me and my students!

Tech Tips

Here’s the kicker – using Pinterest in therapy takes a bit of tweaking. But once you get the hang of it, it is smooth sailing, I promise. First, make sure your view options are set for Default, not Compact. You can choose this by using the little slider button in the top left of your board, as you can see in this screenshot.

I like to zoom in until only one or two images are visible. This makes those images pop and limits what my kiddos are focusing on. Ctrl and + on Windows, Cmd and + on Mac – you get the drift. Most browsers also have their own zoom controls.

Why Pinterest for Your Speech Sessions?

Now, why go through all this trouble instead of just hitting that good ol’ Save button? Well, for starters, it saves me from diving into the murky waters of copyright laws. Ain’t nobody got time for that! Plus, who wants to spend hours copy, pasting, and formatting when Pinterest does the heavy lifting for you?

And as we all know, adding to our boards is as easy as pie. I’m constantly stumbling upon gems while tumbling down the internet rabbit hole. With a click here and a pin there, my collection keeps growing faster than I can say “therapy time.” So much easier than trying to add to a document or slideshow or however else you try to organize saved images.

So, there you have it – Pinterest in speech-language therapy. Who knew? But hey, when it works like magic, who am I to argue?

Happy pinning, my fellow e-speechies!

Social Media Icons: designed by rawpixel.com – Freepik.com

The post Pinterest in Therapy, No Way! appeared first on Mrs. Speech Online.

Now, I know what you’re thinking: “We’ve all used YouTube with kids before.” But bear with me, because there’s more to it than just plopping them in front of the screen while we sip our coffee (although, let’s be honest, sometimes that’s exactly what we need).

Here’s some of the things I’ve found out there in the big wide ‘Tube.

So…while nothing I share here is exactly news-breaking, I hope I have some ideas and links that give you a bit of a boost to your everyday!

Youtube for motivation

First off, there’s the motivator videos, the ones we can offer as rewards or to have kids request. We all know the kids love the great fun stuff out there, and it can be tricky finding what catches each kid’s attention – and it can change rapidly (because nothing is easy!). Depending on what each student likes or needs, it can range from the catchy, energetic songs…

…to repetitive, predictable, calming sensory videos (seriously, I sit back and watch these and am surprised when I look back at the clock at how much time has passed)…

YouTube for concept teaching

Then we have the fun concept teaching videos. These teach concepts in an enjoyable, engaging way that kids don’t realize they are learning. The repetition of each concept is what makes it beautiful, and more often than not, the children will be imitating by the end of the song.  We have core vocabulary songs…

More and All Done Sign Song

…body part songs…

FUN parts of your body song

…Farm animal songs…

Old MacDonald | Real Animals | Jack Hartmann (Love this one, because so many of our kids haven’t actually seen a real pig, let alone heard one)

…Action word songs…

If You’re Happy and You Know It

Story Videos

But what I like best are the story videos, that offer a treasure-trove of language-rich content.  Some of them are musical, like Pete the Cat and Chicka Chicka Boom Boom…

Pete the Cat: I Love My White Shoes

…And others are simply retold with animation. I love the learning English videos, like the ones from English SingSing…

The Three Little Pigs

I find that switching between all of these, and using a mix of planning and using my super SLP thinking skills (because we all know how these best laid plans often go, especially with kids involved), I can hit so many emerging language goals like attending, labelling, requesting and commenting. 

Pro tips for YouTube in therapy

Interactive Viewing

You can pause the video and talk about it, or wait for a request. Or you can watch the whole thing at one time, then use the precise seeking (or link at different times in the video) to go back to different moments to talk about.

Slow it down

Another great thing about many of the English learning videos is that they are told at a slightly slower rate of speech.  But if they aren’t, experiment with using the speed setting.  I find that going to 75% doesn’t usually affect the quality of the speech, but allows the listener more time to process. 

Split your screen 

Divide your screen into two, as to display two different videos side by side, as seen in the first screenshot at the top of this post. This gives. kids a visual choice so they can see what you are offering and point. You can find screen split options by hovering over the square next to the close window ‘x’, as seen in the partial screenshot to the side.  

Theatre Mode

And if you’re worried about distractions, try Theater Mode view to help keep things focused.  It presents the video screen the entire width of the window, so it squeezes out the ads on the side.  

So if I’m able to to have a few moments to reset things before a session, I have the screen split to show two videos side by side in Theater Mode so the child can make a choice.  

If you select full screen, it will fill the entire screen, regardless of whether it is split or not.  So I use that after the child has chosen.  Then I hit escape when we are ready for another choice, to return back to the split screen.

Reduce Inappropriate Ads

Create a separate “school” YouTube account to help reduce the number of inappropriate ads and video suggestions.  

Advertising Hacks

Now, there are some tricks for eliminating ads from YouTube videos, like adding a dash to the url or using a website or browser extension.  Unfortunately, I’ve found that they either don’t work with the Kids videos or they are so unwieldy to use with the short attention spans that it isn’t worth it.  Not to mention YouTube is actively working to block the adblockers.  But you can definitely try them if you’d like!

Update 12/24

I recently found the free internet browser Brave and have been using it the past couple of weeks. It was simple to move my Google bookmarks into Brave, and I am using it solely for use with the kids, so it streamlines my therapy sessions too. I haven’t had a single YouTube ad, and I haven’t noticed other ads popping up on websites.

I will say that, while it does block the ad on a website, there is often still the space where the ad would be. Often, a reader extension like ReadBee will remove those spaces and focus on the text.

Turn Autoplay Off

You don’t want your videos moving on without you.  Go to the settings icon to turn autoplay off.

Organization Tips for Therapy Videos

Now, I know what you’re thinking: how do I keep track of all these fantastic videos? 

Playlists

Yes, YouTube has playlists, and those are great, if you can use them.  Unfortunately, most of these videos are considered YouTube Kids videos, which means you can’t save them to a playlist.

Quick-Access Links – Essential Hack for YouTube in Therapy

Well, fear not! While you can’t save kid videos to your YouTube playlists, you can easily share them, copy the link, and paste it into a handy document for future reference. Don’t forget to set the start time for an even more streamlined list.

I have a document for my Emerging Language Classes that I keep on Outline Mode, and each of the above videos are under their own headings, so they are easy to find while I’m in a session.  It’s a simple trick that keeps everything organized and ready to roll whenever you need it.   

Want to see my list?  Subscribe below for my Early Learning Links and other exclusive freebies.  

Oh, and here’s a bonus hack: before you share and copy the link, set the video to start at exactly the right second to skip any unnecessary chatter at the beginning. Efficiency at its finest!

Want more Youtube resources for therapy?

Visit my Mrs. Speech Youtube Channel for playlists, or check out my next article: YouTube in Therapy for Older Students.

So, there you have it—YouTube isn’t just a time-sucking vortex; it’s a valuable tool for nurturing language development in our young ones. So go ahead, dive into the ‘Tube, and let the learning—and the fun—begin!

Until next time, my e-speechies,

Social Media Icons: designed by rawpixel.com – Freepik.com

The post Unlocking Language Learning with YouTube: A Speech Therapist’s Guide appeared first on Mrs. Speech Online.

Motivators

Just like our younger clients, older students love a good reward at the end of a challenging session. The beauty? They’re experts at navigating YouTube, so they can easily cue up their favorite vids. But wait, there’s more! I love introducing them to some lesser-known gems that pack a powerful punch:

Flexible thinking and how the mind learns new things:

Backwards bicycle: this was mind-blowing to watch!

How mistakes are okay and help you learn:

OK Go Rube Goldberg Machine (I talk about how you can see the evidence of how many previous tries – 85 to be exact – they had to get it right, but how awesome it was when they got it right.  BTW, the song itself has a great message of how bad things are only temporary.) It’s also useful to see the TEDTalk on how it was engineered. (Caution, the TEDTalk has one minor cuss word and the band is having a drink of champagne at the end.)  If you don’t know what a Rube Goldberg machine is, it is a YouTube rabbit hole.  I warned you.

The Power of a Stutter

A TedTalk on how accepting your insecurities and even embracing them allows us to become better communicators.  How it frees us from worrying about hiding them to think about how we can speak to and help others. (BTW, she has a very noticeable stutter so this is an excellent video for your fluency students.)

Teaching Support

How to make sounds

I’m probably not alone when I say that I turn to these when I have a kid I just can’t get to make the sound, especially now that I am wholly teletherapy.  My camera just isn’t as professional as what I can find on YouTube.  The two best sources for sound instruction I’ve found are Sharon Turner, who has a animated video model of the tongue inside the mouth for each sound, and Peachie Speechie, who has great teaching videos for each sound.  But there are many, many options to choose from.

Read-Alouds

I’m using short stories in most of my older groups.  When we first read a story, I want it to be a dramatic, cohesive reading, so I actually don’t want the students to read it.  I want them to listen and be drawn into the story.   But you know, a day of that and my voice gets tired.  Cue YouTube read-alouds!  You can find an audiobook of most popular short stories on YouTube pretty easily.  And bonus – most you can turn on Closed Captioning so students can read-along if you don’t have a text that matches well.  And the students actually love being read to.  If I have a student who needs to read for a goal, then I can stop and have them read a paragraph or so, then return to the read aloud. I have playlists of some of my favorites at http://www.youtube.com/@Mrs.Speech-wk4mr.

Background Knowledge

To go along with the read-alouds, a well-made video to give background knowledge is worth so much more than me droning on about what life in a lighthouse is like.  You know what they say, “A picture is worth a thousand words.”  Well, a video must be worth a million, right?!  And they are so much more willing to watch a video than listen to me (and let’s be honest, it gives my voice a break).

Movies

And if at all possible, I like to find at least a clip of a movie or animation to go with the story.  It provides so many opportunities for language-rich discussion, with opinions (Which did you like better, and why?) comparing and contrasting, and inferencing (Why do you think the director made this change?).

Social Skills

There are SOOOO many social skills videos out there.  Some of them are tailored toward our autistic population, some are more for introverted young adults, and some are for the ESL population.  Don’t just stick to the videos that tell how-to do something.  Sometimes the awkward videos offer great teaching moments too.  This one is one of my favorites.  While I do touch on what he does wrong, I mainly use it to talk about other people’s responses, and how they are generally kind about it and make an effort to not make him feel bad even though everyone feels awkward.  People are typically kind, so you might as well go out there and try.

Pro Tips 

Now, I mentioned in Read-Alouds to turn on the Closed Captioning if you don’t have a text that matches the reading.  It might be useful to do so with the other videos as well, to make the speech/text connection and fill in any missing gaps in the auditory information.  

I also suggest you turn the speed to 75%.  This is usually not noticeable to the kids, but it allows them more time to process what is being said so they get a better understanding of the information.  

I have more tips in my previous post: Unlocking Language Learning with YouTube: A Speech Therapist’s Guide.

Update 12/24

I recently found the free internet browser Brave and have been using it the past couple of weeks.  It was simple to move my Google bookmarks into Brave, and I am using it solely for use with the kids, so it streamlines my therapy sessions too.  I haven’t had a single youtube ad, and I haven’t noticed other ads popping up on websites.  I will say that, while it does block the ad on a website, there is often still the space where the ad would be.  Often, a reader extension like ReadBee will remove those spaces and focus on the text.

So, there you have it, folks! These are just a few ways to leverage the power of YouTube in therapy sessions with older students. But hey, the possibilities are endless! Got some killer ideas of your own? Drop ’em in the comments below!

Until next time, my e-speechies – keep on clickin’!

Social Media Icons: designed by rawpixel.com – Freepik.com

The post YouTube in Therapy: Engaging Older Students with Smart Strategies appeared first on Mrs. Speech Online.

Why Short Stories?

Here’s the deal: short stories provide a natural context for practicing:

• Context Clues: Piecing together meaning from surrounding information.
• Inferences: Reading “between the lines” to understand deeper meaning.
• Vocabulary Development: Encountering new words in a fun and engaging way.
• Comprehension & Retelling: Following the story arc and summarizing key events

I’ve explained how I use short stories in my therapy room here!

The Power of a Good Story:

One of my students recently graduated from speech therapy, and guess what he told me? He was sad because he loved our story time! (Don’t worry, I sent him home with my trusty story list!) That’s the power of these engaging tales.

Ready to Dive In?

I’m excited to share some of the short stories that have been a hit with my students, along with a few new ones we’ll be exploring soon.  Here’s what I look for when selecting stories:

• Engaging Plot: A reasonable amount of action to keep things interesting.
• Relatable Characters: Kids connect better with stories they can understand.
• Twist Endings: Surprise endings leave a lasting impression (the kids love these!).
• Manageable Length: Ideally under 5,000 words (around 40 minutes of reading time).
• Student Choice: Involving them in the selection process boosts engagement.

Tried and True Stories

With links to Lesson Guides:

• The Wife’s Story by Ursula le Guin
  • A “backwards werewolf” horror story with a twist ending that the kids find fascinating.
• Three Skeleton Key by George Toudouze
  • A horror story of three men stuck in a lighthouse surrounded by man-eating rats.  Has a bit of a twist at the end.
• The Night the Ghost Got In by James Thurber
  • A humorous ghost tale that had the kids asking for another.
• The Tell-Tale Heart by Edgar Allen Poe
  • A psychological murder story with a twist ending.  I used an adapted version.
• The Monkey’s Paw by W.W. Jacobs
  • A dark story about being careful what you wish for.  The kids loved the twist ending.
• The Storyteller by Saki (H.H. Munro)
  • A humorous look at what makes a good story when a bachelor entertains three children on a train.

Stories For the Future

Other stories I’ve found that I think my middle-schoolers will enjoy:

• The Veldt by Ray Bradbury
  • A story about a virtual reality nursery that gets out of hand, with a twist ending.
• The Lady or the Tiger by Frank Stockton
  • A woman must decide between her lover’s potential death or his marriage to another woman…there is no end, which I love/hate, so students will have to debate what happens.
• Hey You Down There by Harold Rolseth
  • The story of a couple who discover strange creatures living at the bottom of their well.  A nice twist ending students are sure to enjoy.

Remember: This list is a jumping-off point! Don’t be afraid to experiment and find stories your students adore.  If you want my full list, it is FREE on TPT!

If you’re looking for a structured way to determine your students’ needs before you begin, my new Middle School Contextual Language Screener provides a practical starting point to assess skills related to literature.

Want a FREE bookmark to help students generalize speech sounds?  Sign up below for this and more exclusive freebies!

Let’s Chat!

What are your favorite short stories for speech therapy? Share your experiences and recommendations in the comments below!

Want to learn more about middle schoolers? Read Middle School Language Development: What They Don’t Know May Surprise You.

Happy Reading!

Social Media Icons: designed by rawpixel.com – Freepik.com

The post Unlock Student Engagement: The Magic of Short Stories in Middle School Speech Therapy appeared first on Mrs. Speech Online.

Understanding Slow Processing Speed

First things first, what exactly is slow processing speed? Essentially, it’s like having a little lag time in processing information. Whether it’s following instructions, completing tasks, or participating in discussions, students with slow processing speed may need a bit more time to absorb and respond to what’s happening around them.

Signs of Slow Processing Speed

Keep an eye out for signs like taking longer to complete assignments, needing extra time to process verbal instructions, or struggling to keep up with fast-paced classroom activities. Students with slow processing speed may frequently answer classroom discussion questions with “I don’t know.” Or they may look like they are ignoring the question. Recognizing these signs early on can help us tailor our support strategies to meet each student’s unique needs.

Coping Strategies for Speech Pathologists and Teachers

Visual Aids for the Win

Incorporate visual aids like charts, diagrams, and color-coded organizers to supplement verbal information. These tools provide a visual roadmap that can help students with slow processing speed better understand and remember information.

Break It Down, Step by Step

When introducing new tasks or assignments, break them down into smaller, more manageable steps. This helps prevent overwhelm and gives students a clear roadmap to follow, one step at a time.

Repeat, Repeat, Repeat

Repetition is key! Repeat important information multiple times using different modalities (verbal, visual, tactile) to reinforce learning and boost comprehension.

Time Isn’t Always of the Essence

Offer extended time for completing assignments and assessments to accommodate the slower processing speed of some students. Remember, it’s not about how fast they finish—it’s about understanding and mastery.

Ace Active Listening

Teach active listening strategies like summarizing information, asking clarifying questions, and taking notes during discussions. These techniques help students stay engaged and enhance their comprehension skills.

Speak Slowly and in Shorter Chunks

Like listening to a foreign language, students with processing difficulties need time to process a piece of information before they are given the next piece. Practice slowing your speech down and pausing frequently when introducing material. Everyone in the class will benefit.

Allow Think Time

• Give students a heads-up about discussion topics in advance, allowing them extra time to process and formulate their thoughts. 
• Give students ample think time after asking a question to allow those with slower processing speed to gather their thoughts and formulate their responses. 

• Incorporate a few seconds of think time before a question is answered for every student. 
• Teach students they can signal that they are still thinking with an index finger held up or another signal to ask for more time. 
• Give students more productive alternatives for saying “I don’t know.”  Treasure Clues for Learning is a resource I’ve made to assist. 

Encourage Turn-Taking

Establish clear rules for turn-taking during small group discussions to ensure that all students have an opportunity to contribute at their own pace.

Provide Scaffolded Support

Offer scaffolded support during discussions by breaking down questions into smaller parts, showing them where to find the answer, or providing sentence starters to help students structure their responses. Cuing and prompting can help these students make connections faster.

Conclusion

As speech pathologists and teachers, we play a crucial role in creating inclusive and supportive classroom environments where every student can thrive. By implementing these coping strategies with empathy, patience, and flexibility, we can empower students with slow processing speed to reach their full potential and succeed academically and beyond. And truthfully, these strategies will help every student in your class. 

Keep up the fantastic work, and remember—we’re all in this together!

Social Media Icons: designed by rawpixel.com – Freepik.com

The post Supporting Slow Processing Speed in the Classroom appeared first on Mrs. Speech Online.

We all know practice is key in speech therapy & skill development. But what if we could supercharge your sessions and enhance results even before students utter a sound? Enter mental rehearsal (visualization)!

What is Mental Rehearsal?

Mental rehearsal is exactly what it sounds like – practicing a skill in your head. Imagine yourself saying a tricky sound, reading fluently, or delivering a captivating presentation. It’s like daydreaming, but with a purpose!

The Science Behind the Superpower:

Mental rehearsal isn’t just wishful thinking; it’s backed by neuroscience! When you vividly imagine performing a skill, you activate similar brain pathways as when you perform it physically. This strengthens those pathways, making the actual skill execution smoother and more efficient.

Benefits of Mental Rehearsal:

• Boosts Confidence: Feeling successful in your mind translates to real-world confidence. You approach challenges with a “been there, done that” attitude.¹ 
• Improves Skills: Strengthens brain pathways involved in the practiced skill, leading to faster progress and better outcomes.² 
• Reduces Anxiety: Calm pre-speech jitters by rehearsing success. Visualizing yourself handling challenging situations calmly reduces anxiety and promotes a more relaxed state of mind.³

• Reduces Incorrect Practice: Minimize bad habits by focusing on the correct way. Mental rehearsal allows you to hone the perfect technique, reducing the risk of accidentally practicing and reinforcing mistakes.
• Convenient: Practice anytime, anywhere – waiting for the bus, before bed, etc. Mental rehearsal offers ultimate flexibility, allowing you to fit in practice sessions even with busy schedules.

Mental Rehearsal in Therapy & Education: Applications for Diverse Needs

Mental rehearsal can be a powerful tool for a wide range of situations in both therapy and education settings:

• Generalization: Bridge the gap between the controlled environment of therapy and the real world (e.g., rehearsing using new skills on the playground or in the classroom). Students can mentally rehearse using their newly acquired skills in different settings, promoting carry-over and generalization.
• Limited Therapy Time: Make the most of short therapy sessions. While in-person practice is crucial, mental rehearsal allows students to keep practicing and improving their skills between sessions, maximizing progress within the limited timeframe.
• Fear and Avoidance: Overcome fears by mentally rehearsing success. For students struggling with social anxiety or stuttering, visualizing themselves confidently engaging in challenging social situations can equip them with the tools to face their fears in real life.⁴
• Physical Limitations: Allow everyone to participate and improve regardless of limitations. Students with physical limitations that hinder certain types of practice can still benefit from mental rehearsal.
• Waiting Time: Engage students in mental rehearsal during group activities or while waiting for their turn. Minimize idle time by having students rehearse target skills in their minds, promoting active learning and maximizing every minute.

How to Use Mental Rehearsal: Techniques for Different Skills

Here are some specific ways to use mental rehearsal in therapy and education, tailored to different communication skills:

• Speech Sounds: Imagine your mouth making the correct shape and feeling the airflow for a tricky sound. This is particularly helpful for sounds that are hard to see or feel, giving you a clearer mental image of the correct production.⁵
• Fluency: Picture yourself speaking smoothly and confidently in a challenging situation, like ordering food at a restaurant. This can help reduce anxiety in situations that usually trigger stuttering or disfluencies.
• Reading: Visualize the words on the page and hear yourself reading them fluently with expression. This is especially helpful for kids who get nervous reading aloud in class. Imagine yourself captivating the audience with your clear and engaging reading.
• Language Skills: Rehearse using target vocabulary words or sentence structures in different contexts. Imagine yourself participating in a conversation and seamlessly using the newly learned language skills.
• Social Skills: Play out a social interaction in your head, like introducing yourself to someone new or joining a group conversation. This is perfect for practicing skills that are difficult to replicate in a therapy session. Visualize yourself navigating social situations with ease and confidence.

• Relax and Get Comfy: Find a quiet, comfortable space to minimize distractions and maximize focus.

Tips for Effective Mental Rehearsal:

• Vivid Visualization: Engage all your senses for a clear mental image. Imagine not only the visual aspects of the task, but also the sounds, smells, and even the emotions you want to experience while performing the skill.

• Focus on Success: Imagine yourself doing it perfectly, with confidence and ease. Fill your visualization with positive emotions and a sense of accomplishment.
• Regular Practice: The more you rehearse, the better the results! Just like building a muscle, mental rehearsal strengthens neural pathways with consistent practice. Aim for short, regular sessions throughout the day.

Explaining Mental Rehearsal to Students: Making it Fun and Engaging

Here are some tips to explain mental rehearsal to students in a way that is both engaging and relevant to their age group:

• Relatable Examples: Talk about athletes or actors and their mental preparation routines. Discuss how athletes visualize themselves performing their winning moves or actors rehearse their lines in their heads before a big performance.
• Interactive Activities: Play games where students take turns visualizing simple tasks. For example, have them close their eyes and imagine themselves making a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, step-by-step. Discuss the different sensory details they might experience during this visualization.
• Positive Reinforcement: Focus on the benefits of mental rehearsal, like feeling more confident and prepared. Help students understand how mental rehearsal can be their “secret weapon” for success.
• Age-Appropriate Complexity: Tailor the explanation to the student’s age and cognitive skills. For younger children, keep it simple and focus on basic visualizations. As students mature, you can introduce more complex scenarios and strategies.
• Make it Fun! Use props, silly voices, or movement to keep students engaged. You could create a “mental rehearsal superhero” character who helps students visualize success.
• Start Small & Build Up: Begin with short, simple tasks and increase complexity as students gain confidence. This helps them experience success early on and motivates them to continue practicing.

Want a ready-made resource to help you teach your students about mental rehearsal?

Check out Mental Rehearsal – Your Hidden Superpower!

“Mental Rehearsal – Your Hidden Superpower!” is a downloadable resource designed for students in 5th grade and up. It includes:

• Engaging explanation of mental rehearsal and its benefits for communication skills.
• Fun & interactive activities to practice mental rehearsal for various tasks, like articulation, fluency, reading comprehension, and social skills.
• List of links to other resources
• Comprehension & critical thinking questions to promote deeper understanding of mental rehearsal and its applications.

Empower your students and unlock their potential! Download “Mental Rehearsal – Your Hidden Superpower” today! Check out my 2-part YouTube series:

• Your Hidden Speech Superpower! (Mental Rehearsal Part 1/2)
• Shhh… It’s a Hidden Superpower! (Mental Rehearsal Part 2/2)

You may also like LEVEL UP SPEECH! Wait Time Hacks: Metacognition Lesson, Poster & Journal!

Ready to Give it a Try?

Mental rehearsal is a powerful tool for both SLPs and educators. It’s a simple yet effective strategy that can be easily integrated into your existing therapy or classroom routines. Give it a shot and see how much it helps you and your students achieve your communication goals!

Best imaginings!

Social Media Icons: designed by rawpixel.com – Freepik.com

Resources

1. Shearer, D. A., Holmes, P. S., & Thomson, J. A. (2007). The effect of self-modeling on self-efficacy and dribbling performance. Journal of Sports Sciences, 25(14), 1587–1594. https://doi.org/10.1080/02640410701257406 ↩︎
2. Saimpont, A., Malouin, F., & Jackson, P. L. (2013). Brain activity during motor imagery: The impact of motor expertise. Journal of Motor Behavior, 45(6), 563–573. https://doi.org/10.1080/00222895.2013.842797 ↩︎
3. Makarova, E., Makarova, A., Kulagin, V., & Koroleva, E. (2024). The Effectiveness of Mental Rehearsal to Reduce Performance Anxiety: A Systematic Review. Psychological Reports, 133(1), 183–208. https://doi.org/10.1177/00332941231174987 ↩︎
4. Makarova, E., Makarova, A., Kulagin, V., & Koroleva, E. (2024). The Effectiveness of Mental Rehearsal to Reduce Performance Anxiety: A Systematic Review. Psychological Reports, 133(1), 183–208. https://doi.org/10.1177/00332941231174987 ↩︎
5. Maring, J. R. (1990). The effect of imagined practice on articulation in hearing-impaired children. Journal of Speech and Hearing Research, 33(4), 856–861. https://doi.org/10.1044/jshr.3304.856 ↩︎

The post Rethinking Practice: The Power of Mental Rehearsal in Speech Therapy appeared first on Mrs. Speech Online.

Supercharge Therapy Planning:

• Personalized Materials: Struggling to find the perfect stimuli for a particular client? AI can generate engaging stories, activities, and exercises tailored to their specific needs and target sounds.
• Brainstorming Buddy: Facing a complex case? Use AI to brainstorm creative therapy approaches and explore different treatment options. Here, your expertise is crucial in selecting the most appropriate options based on your client’s individual needs and learning style.

Boost Client Engagement:

• Interactive Activities: AI can create interactive games and exercises that make therapy sessions more fun and motivating for clients, especially younger children. However, use your expert insight to ensure the difficulty level and format of the activity are appropriate for your client’s abilities.
• Real-Time Feedback: Imagine having an AI assistant that provides real-time feedback on a client’s pronunciation, intonation, or fluency! This can offer valuable insights and promote self-monitoring skills. Remember to analyze the AI’s feedback alongside your own observations to provide the most comprehensive guidance to your client.

Revolutionize Documentation:

• Automated Note Taking: Free yourself from tedious paperwork! AI tools can transcribe therapy sessions and generate draft session notes based on the audio recording. You can then review and edit them for accuracy, incorporating your clinical observations and insights.
• Speech and Language Sampling: Automatic Speech Recognition (ASR) tools can transcribe the recordings with high accuracy, saving SLPs valuable time. Additionally, AI can analyze the transcribed speech samples for various aspects. It can identify features like articulation errors, fluency patterns, and vocabulary usage. This should complement your human expertise, which remains crucial in interpreting the data.

Ethical Considerations:

• Focus on Collaboration: Remember, AI is a tool to enhance your practice, not replace your specialized skills. Use AI-generated materials as a starting point, then personalize them to fit your client’s specific needs.
• Data Privacy: Ensure any AI tools you use comply with data privacy regulations and handle client information securely. I’d recommend leaving out names or any identifying information.

Prompting Your AI Assistant Strategically:

To get the most out of AI tools, it’s important to provide clear and concise prompts that incorporate your expertise:

• Client Profile: Briefly describe your client’s age, communication goals, specific challenges they are facing, and their learning style. This information helps the AI tailor its output to your client’s needs.
• Target Area: Specify the area you’d like AI to assist with, such as creating articulation exercises (mentioning the specific sounds you’re targeting), developing social communication activities (specifying the desired social skill), or crafting reading comprehension worksheets (indicating the reading level and comprehension skill you want to focus on).
• Desired Style: Indicate any preferences you have for the AI’s output. Do you want the activity to be interactive, story-based, or game-like? Consider your client’s interests and learning style when making this choice.

Remember: You are the expert. 

Use your professional knowledge to evaluate and adapt any AI-generated materials to ensure they are appropriate for your client’s specific needs and goals.  The AI is a tool to empower you, not replace you.

Ready to Get Started?

Explore the world of AI resources available for SLPs! Many AI writing and speech recognition tools are readily available. Start by identifying specific areas in your practice where AI could be most beneficial.

By embracing AI as a collaborative partner, While keeping your professional knowledge at the forefront, you can streamline your workflow, personalize your therapy approach, and ultimately empower your clients to achieve their communication goals.

Envision this:

Sarah, a young client, struggles with sharing toys during playtime. You, the SLP, identify the need to create a social story to help Sarah understand the concept of sharing and taking turns.

Here’s where AI becomes your partner:

Prompting the AI: 

The SLP prompts the AI with the following information:

• Target Social Skill: Sharing toys
• Character: A young girl named Sarah
• Desired Tone: Positive and encouraging

AI Generates Story:

Sarah loves playing with her toys! She has a cuddly teddy bear, a bright red car, and a set of colorful blocks. One sunny afternoon, Sarah is playing in the park when she sees another child, Ben, sitting alone. Ben looks a little shy.

Sarah walks over to Ben with a big smile. "Hi Ben! What are you playing with?" she asks.

Ben mumbles something about having a toy truck but not wanting to play alone.

Sarah has an idea! "Would you like to play with my blocks?" she asks.

Ben's eyes widen. "Really? Can I?"

"Sure!" says Sarah. "We can build a big tower together! Do you want to put the red block on top?"

Ben smiles and carefully places the red block on top of the growing tower. They take turns adding blocks, giggling as the tower gets taller and taller.

Suddenly, another child, Emily, walks over and looks at their tower. "Wow! That's amazing!" she exclaims.

"Would you like to help us build even higher?" Sarah asks Emily.

Emily joins in the fun, carefully adding more blocks to the tower. They all work together, taking turns and laughing as they build a magnificent tower of blocks.

SLP’s Integration:

After reviewing the story to insure it is appropriate to the child, the SLP reads the story with Sarah, pointing out the pictures (ideally featuring a character resembling Sarah and toys she recognizes) and discussing the emotions of the characters. They talk about how Sarah shared her toys with Ben and Emily, and how everyone had more fun playing together.

Personalizing the Story: 

The SLP notices Sarah particularly loves animals and edits the story to mention her favorite stuffed animal, Mr. Snuggles, instead of a teddy bear. They can further personalize the story by adding details about the park (mentioning any specific equipment Sarah enjoys) or the type of tower they build (e.g., an animal tower if Sarah is interested in animals). Please be aware: personalization like this could constitute Personal Health Information under HIPAA. Do not share PHI in ANY AI platform without checking that it is HIPAA compliant! See more in AI & SLPs Series, Part 1: Clinical Data Privacy.

The SLP can also create follow-up activities based on the story, such as role-playing sharing scenarios or drawing pictures about taking turns using their favorite toys.

Benefits of AI in Social Story Creation:

• Overcomes Writer’s Block: AI can provide a starting point or inspiration for the SLP.
• Saves Time: AI can generate a basic story outline, allowing the SLP to focus on customization.
• Engaging Language: AI can create stories with a child-friendly tone and vocabulary.

This is just one example of how AI can be used as a tool to enhance the work of SLPs. Remember, the SLP’s professional knowledge and experience remain crucial in tailoring the story to the specific needs of each client.

Keep on clickin’!

Social Media Icons: designed by rawpixel.com – Freepik.com

The post Unleash the Power of AI in Your Speech Therapy Practice appeared first on Mrs. Speech Online.