The Latest in Apps: Expedition with Plurals

by Jacky G. News
Baby Using iPad App

Image source: Leanderwattig.de

As the technology continues to advance, apps users expect more and more out of their devices. Virtual Speech Center Inc. is striving to meet those expectations with the release of their latest speech therapy app, Expedition with Plurals. Expedition with Plurals is an iPad app released in late May, 2012. While there is currently no iPhone version, rest assured; there are plenty of other speech therapy apps for those with smartphones instead.

It might be tough for the less technologically eager among us to embrace the use of apps for education whilst ditching old-fashioned methods, but you really don’t have to. Try using both approaches simultaneously. Speech therapy apps should never replace sessions with a certified speech-language pathologist (SLP), but they do provide a fun, engaging way for parents to do speech therapy for kids at home. Use apps in addition to other speech therapy tools and toys that are intended to encourage development.

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The Latest in Apps: Speak for Yourself

by Jacky G. News
Speak for Yourself App

Image source: therapyapp411.com

Educational apps can help your child expand his vocabulary, improve his articulation skills, and learn how to use complete sentences. Some apps even function as augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) devices, giving a voice to nonverbal children and those with limited speech. One of these AAC apps, Speak for Yourself, is in the middle of a patent dispute that threatens to eliminate this means of communication for nonverbal children.

The Basics

Who: Apple Inc., the company that produced the app, and Prentke Romich Co., together with Semantic Compaction Systems (PRC/SCS).

What: PRC/SCS have filed a patent lawsuit alleging that Apple is guilty of patent infringement and copyright infringement.

Why: PRC/SCS have taken issue with Speak for Yourself’s use of multiple meanings associated with one icon. For example, an apple could represent “red” or “eat.”

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Apps for Spanish-Speaking Children

by Jacky G. Speech Therapy Techniques
Child Using a Speech Therapy App

Image source: squidalicious.com

Most children love electronics. Even if your child doesn’t much care for flashcards during speech therapy, there’s a good chance he will give it a try if it’s on an app for an iPad or iPhone. While the majority of speech therapy apps are geared toward an English-speaking audience, there are a few gems for Spanish-speaking children as well.

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Using Apps to Improve Articulation

by Jacky G. Speech Therapy Techniques
Speech Therapist Working with Articulation App

Image source: saywhatyall.wordpress.com

Young children often say “wabbit” for “rabbit” and “nana” for “banana.” While this is normal, bring your child to a speech-language pathologist (SLP) for an evaluation if these articulation issues continue past the expected age. An SLP can help your child produce the correct sounds. Encourage your child’s progress by working with him on speech therapy activities at home. Try old-fashioned, low-tech toys as well as high-tech apps that were designed specifically for children with articulation problems. You can also use Speech Buddies to teach proper tongue positioning.

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Storytelling with Apps

by Jacky G. Speech Therapy Techniques
Child Working with Apps in Classroom

Image source: csmonitor.com

Storytelling is a classic childhood activity. There are few things that draw a family together like getting the kids in their pajamas and snuggling up for a bedtime story. It’s even more rewarding when a child begins to make up his own stories. But some children with speech disorders have difficulty organizing words and sentences into a logical narration. A child with a language sequencing problem may narrate the key points of a story in an inappropriate order. He may also order words incorrectly within a sentence. Similarly, a child with an expressive language disorder struggles to choose the correct words and put them together logically.

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