Consonantly Speaking's Favorite iPad Apps to Use in Speech-Language Therapy Sessions 2012 Edition: Part 1

Many speech-language pathologists and other professionals have asked me questions like, "What's on your iPad?" and "Which iPad applications do you recommend?". I am quite the iPad addict and our school is full of iPads for our students and teachers to use. So, I am always talking about apps. In this post, I am going to give you a look at my iPad, how I organize my applications, and what my favorites in each category are. I am not going to go into detail about each and every app, but just show a screen-shot of my apps and state my favorite in each of the following categories and more!:

• SLP Tools
• Articulation Apps
• Apraxia of Speech Apps
• Fluency/Voice/Hearing Apps
• Syntax Apps
• Grammar Apps
• Story Creation Apps

Before I begin the long list, I want to write a disclaimer here. I do not believe that applications or software of any sort are a "cure" for speech and language disorders or that they should be used as the sole-treatment method. One should not use a speech and language application for therapy purposes without consulting with a speech-language pathologist or other qualified professional first whether it be for speech-language skill practice at home or therapy. Some applications should be used solely under the observation of the speech-language pathologist or other qualified professional. Applications and software for therapy purposes should be used as tools/materials for the speech-language pathologist to assist in remediation of communication disorders after reading information on how to use the application and appropriately use it under evidence based practice. Not many applications have been researched for use with people who have speech-language disorders and others are "based on" research but have not been researched themselves.

Continue reading to learn about the applications I have on my iPad and which ones are my favorites! (This is only Part 1; Click here for Part 2!)

My iPad's First Page:

The first page on my iPad has applications which are for my personal and professional use; not to be used by my students. As you can see, all of the pre-installed non-deleteable apps are there. In addition, Gmail (for e-mail) and Google Drive (for accessing documents online) have been installed. There is a folder for SLP-specific Tools in the top-right hand corner.

Favorite App on First Page: Google Drive

SLP Tools

Favorite SLP Tools App: Custom Boards

Vocal Apps

These applications are organized in four different folders: Articulation Apps, Minimal Pairs, Apraxia, and Fluency/Voice/Hearing apps.

Articulation Apps

Favorite Early Sounds App - Articulation Station

Favorite App to Work on the Pesky "R" Sound - R Intensive SLP

Favorite 5-Minute Articulation Apps - Pocket Artic

Favorite Articulation Carryover Apps - Multiple Choice Articulation, I Can Articulate, Articulation Scenes, and Articulation Station

Favorite Articulation Game Apps - Webber Photo Artic Castle, Articulation Games, and Speech With Milo Board Game: Articulation

Overall Most-Used Articulation Apps - Pocket Artic, Articulation Station, Articulation Scenes, and Webber Photo Artic Castle

Minimal Pairs Apps

Favorite Minimal Pairs Apps - Minimal Pairs Academy and Pocket Pairs

Apraxia of Speech Apps

Favorite Apraxia of Speech App - Apraxia Picture Sound Cards Pro

Fluency/Voice/Hearing Apps

Favorite Fluency App - Speech4Good

Favorite Voice App - SpeechPrompts; I haven't had much experience with voice applications and in addition, many voice applications are above my budget, so I haven't gotten to try them yet.

Favorite Hearing App - RTS Hangman; I haven't had much experience with hearing applications and in addition, many hearing applications that I am interested in are above my budget, so I haven't gotten to try them yet.

Expressive Language Apps

These applications are organized into the following categories: syntax, pronouns/nouns, plurals, verbs, adjectives, prepositions, grammar: elementary, grammar: middle school, animated narratives, graphic organizers, story creation, and writing prompts.

Syntax Apps

Favorite Beginning Syntax Apps - Sentence Builder and Autism Language Learning

Favorite Overall Syntax Apps -Rainbow Sentences, Syntax City, and Syntax Workout

Pronoun/Noun Apps

Favorite Pronoun App - Using I and Me Fun Deck

Favorite Noun Apps - Smarty Britches: Nouns and Speech With Milo: Nouns

Plural Noun Apps

Favorite Plural Noun App - Expedition Plurals

Verb Apps

Favorite Verb Apps - Tense Builder and Verbs News

Adjective Apps

Favorite Adjective App - Adjectives Remix

Favorite Beginner Preposition App - Speech With Milo: Prepositions

Favorite Overall Preposition Apps - Preposition Builder and Preposition Remix

Grammar: Elementary

Favorite Overall Grammar: Elementary Apps - Splingo's Language Universe, Grammar Wonderland, and Shake-A-Phrase

Grammar: Middle School Apps

Favorite Overall Middle School Grammar Apps - GrammarPrep: Fragments and Sentence Builder Teen

Favorite Animated Narrative Apps - You're the Storyteller: The Surprise and Toontastic

Graphic Organizer Apps

Favorite Graphic Organizer App - Still haven't found a perfect one; Many graphic organizer applications are above my budget, so I haven't had much opportunity to find one I like.

Story Creation Apps

Favorite Story Creation Apps - StoryPals and StoryMaker

Writing Prompt Apps

Favorite Writing Prompt Apps - Story Dice and Rory's Story Cubes

Click here for Part 2 to learn about my 2012 Receptive Language and Social Language Apps!