Speech pathology has changed a lot since technology came along. Speech therapy is now easier to get to, cheaper, and more fun for people of all ages thanks to apps.
Speaking as someone who has worked in speech therapy, I’ve seen how these tools can turn old fashioned methods into fun, engaging, and highly customized ones.
The right app can make all the difference whether you’re an SLP, a parent helping your child, or an adult trying to improve your speaking skills.
Today, we’re going to talk about the best speech pathology apps and their features, benefits, and what makes them special.
Why Should Speech Pathology Patients Use Apps?
Apps are a fun and adaptable way to help with speech training. These things are possible:
- Enhance Engagement: Visuals and interactive games keep people’s attention, especially younger ones.
- Make it Easy: Therapy can continue outside of clinic hours, so exercise can happen anytime, anywhere.
- Offer Personalization: A lot of apps offer exercises that are customized based on the user’s wants.
- Support Cost Effective Therapy: In person meetings are important, but apps can cut down on how often you have to go to the clinic.
As a former SLP, I know that using apps in therapy meetings often helped kids remember things and make progress, especially when they didn’t find the regular worksheets interesting.
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The Best Speech Pathology Apps for 2024
We’ve put together a list of the best speech training apps for people of all ages and needs.
1. Articulation Station
A lot of parents and SLPs use Articulation Station. It was made by a certified speech language pathologist (SLP) and is great for helping kids and people speak more clearly.
Key Features:
- Activities for all 22 speech sounds.
- Work on your word, sentence, and story skills.
- Games to have fun while you work.
What Makes It Stand Out: This app is great for organized practice, which helps users move forward in steps.
I showed a 7 year old who was having trouble with /r/ sounds Articulation Station during one of my lessons. The fun games helped her gain confidence faster than I thought they would.
2. Toca Boca Speech Sounds
Toca Boca is a bright and fun app for little kids that mixes speech therapy with pretend play.
Key Features:
- Encourages talking freely and being creative.
- Great for kids 3 to 8 years old.
Why It Stands Out: Toca Boca’s fun atmosphere makes therapy feel like playtime, which makes kids who don’t want to go easier to get involved.
3. Speech Blubs
The AI in this app makes a lot of fun tools to help kids who are having trouble speaking or articulating their words.
Key Features:
- Videos of live kids modeling sounds are some of the most important parts.
- Speech therapy tasks that are like games.
What Makes It Stand Out: Speech Blubs is a great way to improve your mimicking skills. I remember working with a child who couldn’t talk at first.
The app’s videos of his peers made him want to try imitating sounds, which was a big step forward.
4. Proloquo2Go
For people who have trouble communicating, this AAC (Augmentative and Alternative Communication) app is like a lifesaver.
Key Features:
- Vocabulary that can be changed to fit the wants of the user.
- Touch to speak technology for people who can’t talk.
What Makes It Stand Out: Proloquo2Go has changed the way nonverbal people talk to each other. One of my adult clients with ALS felt strong when they were able to join in talks again through this app.
5. The TalkPath Therapy
TalkPath Therapy, which was made by Lingraphica, is great for people who are recovering from brain injuries or strokes.
Key Features:
- It focuses on aphasia and cognitive therapy
- It has more than 11,500 tasks.
What Makes It Stand Out: The range and depth of exercises keep users interested while they work on specific communication problems they are having after having a stroke.
6. Voice Analyst
Voice Analyst is great for keeping track of and better things like pitch and volume in speech.
Key Features:
- Voice feedback in real time with pictures.
- Keep track of progress over time.
Why It Stands Out: It’s especially helpful for workers or people who are trying to get better at public speaking.
I told a teacher who was trying to ease vocal strain about this app, and it made it possible for her to easily project her voice.
7. Therapy for people who have trouble speaking
This app is designed to help people with motor speech disorders like apraxia speak more clearly by giving them focused practice.
Key Features:
- Cues for motion planning that can be seen and heard.
- Speech activities step by step.
What Makes It Stand Out: It gives you a simple plan for rebuilding your speech routes. My apraxia patient found the app very helpful in building up her confidence in speaking again after a serious brain injury.
8. Little Bee Speech
This app for kids combines phonics and activities for making sounds.
Key Features:
- Keeps track of data for parents or therapists.
- Pay attention to single phonemes.
Why It Stands Out: Its detailed tracking feature makes it easy for parents and SLPs to keep an eye on progress and make sure that the right help is given.
How to Pick the Best Speech Pathology App?
There are several things that affect how you choose the right app:
- Age of the User: Toca Boca and other bright, fun apps might be good for younger kids, while Voice Analyst and other useful apps might be better for adults.
- Specific Goals: Speech Station is the best tool for speech, and Proloquo2Go is the best tool for AAC needs.
- Ease to Use: Look for apps that are easy to use and have clear directions.
- Budget: A lot of apps have free trials or versions, but some need you to pay for a contract.
When apps are used with professional help, I’ve seen the most results. They’re great supplements, but they shouldn’t be used instead of treatment led by a professional.
Comparison Table: Pick The Best Speech Pathology App
App Name | Best For | Features | Ratings | Price | Platform |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Articulation Station | Articulation for all ages | Structured exercises, engaging games, progress tracking | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Free (In-app purchases) | iOS |
Toca Boca Speech Sounds | Young children | Playful, imaginative activities for expressive language | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | $3.99 | iOS, Android |
Speech Blubs | Speech delays and articulation | Videos of kids modeling sounds, gamified activities | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Free trial, $6.99/month | iOS, Android |
Proloquo2Go | AAC for non-verbal users | Customizable vocabulary, touch-to-speak technology | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | $249.99 | iOS |
TalkPath Therapy | Aphasia and post-stroke recovery | Over 11,500 exercises for language and cognitive skills | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Free | iOS, Web |
Voice Analyst | Voice pitch and volume tracking | Real-time visual feedback, progress tracking | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | $8.99 | iOS, Android |
Apraxia Therapy | Motor speech disorders | Visual and auditory cues, structured exercises for apraxia | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | $24.99 | iOS, Android |
Little Bee Speech | Articulation and phonics | Phoneme-focused exercises, detailed data tracking | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Free (In-app purchases) | iOS |
Case Study:
I’ve searched on different forums and got this user review. Reddit User (bonesfourtyfive) said If you have an iPad, TalkPath is good for the price. Like $2, no subscription, different levels, but I’m sure there’s better options out there. For more knowledge visit Reddit
Final words
Speech pathology apps are changing the way we do communication treatment in big ways.
These tools are very helpful for people and their families, especially when it comes to speech and AAC support.
As a speech language pathologist, I’ve seen directly how technology can help traditional therapy methods work together to make big changes.
The important thing is to find an app that works well with the user’s goals and fits in well with their daily life.
There’s an app for everyone, whether you’re a doctor, a parent, or just someone who wants to get better at talking to people.
You can get from where you are to where you want to be one sound, word, or conversation at a time with their help.
FAQs
Are these apps good for kids who don’t talk?
Yes, apps like Proloquo2Go and Speech Blubs are great for helping kids who can’t talk.
Can speech training apps help adults?
Of course. TalkPath Therapy and Voice Analyst are tools that are designed to help adults improve their business or speech communication skills.
How often should you use these apps?
Even if you only practice for 10–15 minutes a day, you can make a lot of growth over time.
Source:
Marisha. (2024, October 15). 29 Best Speech Therapy Apps for SLPs to Target Communication & Language Skills | SLP Now. SLP Now® Blog.
Causa, B. (2022, June 17). Our top 5 apps for adult speech pathology. Wollongong Speech Pathology.
Team, S. C., & Team, S. C. (2024, October 15). Building a speech therapy App like Verse: 2024 Guide for SLPs. SyS Creations.