How To Do Speech Therapy At Home in 6 Simple Steps (part 2)

Have you been wondering how to do speech therapy at home? Looking for easy and fun ideas to do speech therapy at home? If so, you have arrived at the right place! As a speech-language pathologist for 13+ years, I have worked in many different settings, including nursing homes, elementary schools, private clinics, in post-acute rehab with traumatic brain injury, and even at the barn using horses to supplement my treatment sessions!

In this post, you will learn easy and effective tips to supplement your child's or loved one's speech therapy at home! By using the additional tips and tricks learned here, your loved ones will have the opportunity to overcome communication challenges, making both of your lives easier. This is not meant to replace therapy but to supplement your speech sessions and empower you to be!

This post is all about how to do speech therapy at home.

Tip # 1 How To Do Speech Therapy At Home: Backwards Chaining

Teach the last part of the word first! If the word is dog, first target the G sound, then the"og" sound and then Dog. Starting at the end of the word can help people who have difficulty with dropping off the end of words or mixing up the last sound of the word. If you are teaching a bigger word with multiple syllables like butterfly, then break it down into syllables. Start with targeting fly, ter, but and then put it all together!

Tip # 2 How To Do Speech Therapy At Home: Keep It Motivating

When choosing speech materials to work on in your at home use something motivating! This is completely dependent upon the person's personal interests. It could be stories about space, recipes on pizza bagels, pixar cartoons and more!

Tip # 3 How To Do Speech Therapy At Home: Use A Rating Scale

Write down the three most important things needed to meet the goal. For example: Clear speech, loud volume, slow speech. Have your loved one rate themselves after each practice session to help them gain self-awareness. If you would like I have a sample below where I filled out one as an example and left the second one blank to tailor to your specific needs!

Here's a free self-rating scale to get you started (no e-mail required & immediate delivery):

Download Self-Rating Scale

Tip # 4 How To Do Speech Therapy At Home: Make Mistakes

When practicing speech at home make the same mistakes you are trying to fix and have your love one correct you. Have them explain what error you made and how to fix it. For example, if they are working on adding the last sound to words intentionally leave it off (i.e. Do for dog).

Tip # 5 How To Do Speech Therapy At Home: Use Functional Words

When practicing speech therapy at home, use words that your loved one frequently needs! Practice saying their favorite food items, help, thirsty, hungry, and their name! You don't have to follow the words on worksheets or books- create your own that are more important for your loved one!

Tip # 6 How To Do Speech Therapy At Home: Give them time to answer

You must create time and space between questions with your loved one. There is nothing more frustrating than receiving multiple questions in a row that you are struggling to answer. After asking a question, wait at least 10-15 seconds and allow your loved one to process the information.

Thank you for reading about How To Do Speech Therapy At Home.