Top 5 SLP Apps

Working as a school-based SLP means juggling limited prep time, larger caseloads, and the need to keep students engaged while addressing diverse communication needs. With the rise of digital learning and teletherapy, apps have become invaluable in helping clients improve their communication skills in fun and interactive ways. Whether you’re working on articulation, receptive/expressive language, fluency, or social communication, the following apps are helpful items to have in your toolkit.

1. Articulation Station is a go-to app for working on articulation. It provides engaging and structured activities to help clients practice speech sounds at the word, phrase, sentence, and story levels. With built-in data tracking, customizable word lists, high-quality images, and sound recording technology this app makes articulation therapy interactive and engaging for clients of all ages. 
2. SCIP (Sound Contrasts in Phonology) is an evidence-based tool that can be used to target different contrastive therapy approaches including multiple oppositions, minimal pairs, maximal oppositions, treatment of the empty set, and vowel contrasts. The app allows for both individual and group sessions where each student has illustrations focusing on their own targets and treatment approaches.
3. Language Empires is a play-based language therapy app that targets multiple expressive and receptive language skills. In this game, students explore different “empires” (Egyptian, Greek, Mayan, etc.), each focusing on a specific skill including inferencing, wh- questions, sequencing, predicting, figurative language, and vocabulary.
4. Syntax City is an excellent app for helping students improve their grammar and sentence structure in an engaging and interactive way. It is set in a fun cityscape where students complete language activities by visiting different locations (e.g., the bakery, zoo, airport), each targeting a specific syntax skill including subject-verb agreement, verb tenses, pronouns, plurals and more!
5. Notability is an app perfect for using PDF materials. While it is not necessarily a speech therapy app, this app can be used in tandem with Teachers Pay Teachers and other PDF materials. It allows you to group them by subject and you can annotate with a pen if you have one! This app helps reduce prep time by reducing the need to print out materials and it is easy to reuse for each student.

Final Thoughts

These apps have transformed the way I approach speech therapy, making sessions more effective and engaging. Whether you need tools for articulation, language development, AAC, or organization, these apps provide invaluable support for both clinicians and clients.

Rachael Stagner, M.A., CCC-SLP