Speech therapy software for adults

For adult clients, the main job of speech therapy software is to add practice hours between sessions. Clinic time alone rarely reaches the total dosage associated with the best outcomes in aphasia research.

Software is worth using when it:

• targets the skills you are treating, at a difficulty you can adjust;
• works at home on the client’s own device, without installation;
• records results you can review before the next session;
• is affordable enough for a client to keep using for months.

The largest analysis of aphasia therapy dosage, pooling data from 959 people, associated the biggest language gains with more than 20 hours of therapy in total and with practice on three to five or more days a week. Few clients get that much clinic time. Structured practice at home is the practical way to close the gap, and software makes it easier for clients to do that practice consistently and for you to see whether they did.

Those studies were of therapy delivered by clinicians, so the figures are a guide for home practice rather than a proof that software practice is equivalent. See how much aphasia practice is enough for the detail.

Coverage of the skills you treat

Adult clients rarely have a single deficit. Software that covers naming, verbal expression, auditory and reading comprehension, memory and attention, and reasoning lets one subscription follow a client through their treatment plan.

Speech recognition that responds to spoken answers

Many programs only accept answers by clicking. For verbal expression goals, software that listens to the client’s spoken response and reacts to it is closer to what you do in a session. Our article on speech recognition in aphasia therapy explains what it can and cannot do with aphasic speech.

Results you can review

Accuracy by program and lesson over time tells you whether to move a client on, and gives you data for documentation.

Adult materials

Many tools are designed for children. Adults with aphasia need adult vocabulary, adult situations, and an interface that does not feel childish.

Evidence

Few products have published outcome studies. Ask what evidence exists and read its limitations; ours are on the research page.

• 94 programs in word recall, speaking, vocabulary and grammar, reading, memory and attention, cognitive reasoning, and functional skills such as money, time management, and traffic signs. See the full list.
• Speech recognition in the speaking programs, including naming with semantic feature cues and melodic intonation.
• Client accounts with their own logins, and a client progress dashboard and cumulative progress report for the clinician.
• English and Spanish in one subscription.
• Runs in a browser on Windows, Mac, Chromebook, iPad, and Android. Nothing to install.

For a side-by-side look at other options, see aphasia therapy software compared.

What is the best speech therapy software for adults with aphasia?

It depends on the client. Look for software that covers the skills you are treating, lets you set the level of difficulty, runs on the devices your clients already have, records results you can review, and has some published evidence behind it. Our comparison page sets out the main options side by side.

Can clients use the software at home between sessions?

Yes. Parrot Software runs in a web browser, so clients practice on their own computer, tablet, or phone with their own login, and the clinician reviews their results from the client progress dashboard.

Does Parrot Software work for Spanish-speaking clients?

Yes. The programs are available in English and Spanish under the same subscription.

How much does it cost?

A single user is $24.95 a month. Clinician plans start at $39.95 a month for up to 5 client accounts, and an unlimited plan for organizations is $1,500 a year. Every plan starts with a free 7-day trial.