Exercises for receptive (Wernicke’s) aphasia

When speech flows easily but understanding is the problem, practice should start with listening and comprehension. Here is how to communicate more easily, and six exercises families can do at home.

By Frederick F. Weiner, Ph.D., speech-language pathologist. Former Professor in Charge of Speech Pathology, The Pennsylvania State University. Last reviewed November 5, 2026.

What receptive aphasia looks like

In receptive aphasia, often called Wernicke’s aphasia, the main difficulty is understanding spoken and written language. Speech usually flows easily, with normal rhythm, but it may include wrong words, made-up words, or sentences that do not add up. Because understanding includes understanding one’s own speech, many people do not notice their errors and may be puzzled when others look confused.

Labels are a starting point, not a box. Many people do not fit neatly into one type, and the pattern often changes during recovery. A speech-language pathologist determines the type of aphasia, and a hearing check is worth doing too.

Communication tips for family

  • Get attention first and face the person. Turn off the TV.
  • Use short, simple sentences with one idea at a time, and pause between them.
  • Add gestures, pictures and writing. Point to what you are talking about. Write a key word down.
  • Check understanding with a yes/no question rather than “Do you understand?”, which almost always gets a yes.
  • Do not correct every error. Respond to the meaning you can work out, and gently say if you did not follow.

More in communicating with someone who has aphasia.

Six exercises to do at home

  1. 1. Yes/no questions

    Ask simple questions with clear answers: "Is your name John?", "Is it raining?", "Do you eat soup with a fork?" Start with questions about the person and the room, then move to general knowledge.

    Tip: Mix yes and no answers so guessing does not work. A thumbs up or down is a fine answer.

  2. 2. Follow directions of increasing length

    Put a few objects on a table and give directions: "Pick up the spoon." Then two steps: "Pick up the spoon and give me the cup." Add steps only when the shorter ones are reliable.

    Tip: Say each direction once, at a normal pace. Repeating instantly makes it a different task.

  3. 3. Match words and pictures

    Lay out three or four pictures and say one word: "Show me the dog." When that is easy, use pictures from the same category (dog, cat, horse), which requires closer listening.

    Tip: Do the same with written words for reading practice.

  4. 4. Listen to short passages

    Read two or three sentences aloud, then ask one simple question about them: "Where did Mary go?" Lengthen the passage slowly.

    Tip: Use topics the person cares about. Interest helps attention.

  5. 5. Read for meaning

    Start with single words matched to pictures, then short sentences, then a short paragraph with a question at the end. Signs, menus and labels are good everyday material.

    Tip: If reading aloud is hard, that is fine. The goal here is understanding.

  6. 6. Build self-monitoring

    Record a short description of a picture on a phone and play it back together. Ask, "Did that sound right?" Hearing their own speech from outside can help some people notice errors.

    Tip: Keep it light and brief. This can be discouraging if overdone.

A note on speech recognition

Software that listens to spoken answers checks whether the target word was said. When speech is fluent but off-target, it will reject many answers, and a person who does not hear their own errors may not understand why. For receptive aphasia, exercises answered by tapping or choosing are usually the better starting point. See speech recognition in aphasia therapy for more on where it helps and where it does not.

Parrot Software programs for receptive aphasia

Parrot Software has 94 programs. These are the ones most relevant to understanding spoken and written language:

  • Listening: Listening Skills, Auditory and Visual Instructions, Remembering Spoken Directions
  • Matching words and pictures: Picture Identification, Auditory and Visual Picture Recognition
  • Meaning and yes/no judgments: Definitions Yes or No, Word Finding Yes No
  • Reading: Word Recognition, Reading Comprehension and Picture Association, Literal Reading Comprehension for Adults

The first week is free, with no credit card. A speech-language pathologist can help choose the right programs and levels.

Common questions

What is receptive (Wernicke's) aphasia?
It is a type of aphasia in which understanding spoken and written language is the main difficulty. Speech usually flows easily and sounds normal in rhythm, but it may contain wrong words, made-up words, or sentences that do not make sense. Many people do not realize their speech is hard to follow.
Why does my family member not seem to notice their mistakes?
Understanding language includes understanding your own speech. When comprehension is affected, a person may not hear that a word came out wrong. This is part of the condition, not stubbornness or confusion about who they are. Gentle, simple feedback works better than correcting every error.
How do I know whether someone has receptive aphasia?
A speech-language pathologist determines the type of aphasia through an assessment. Many people do not fit neatly into one category, and the pattern often changes during recovery. Hearing should also be checked, since a hearing loss can look like a comprehension problem.
Does speech recognition software help with receptive aphasia?
Less than for other types. Speech recognition checks whether a target word was said. When speech is fluent but off-target, it will reject many answers, and the person may not understand why. Exercises that work on understanding, by tapping or choosing an answer, are usually a better fit.
How much should we practice?
Short sessions on most days are better than occasional long ones. Ten to twenty minutes once or twice a day is a reasonable start, at a level where the person gets most items right but not all of them.