What is Speech Blubs Pro, and who is it for?

As a speech therapist, I am always looking for new and creative ways to engage my students in sessions. After a while, articulation therapy drills can become tiresome and repetitive for both me and my students. Speech Blubs Pro has helped me add some fun into my sessions to switch up therapy tasks, and the kids love that they get to play a “game” on the iPad. I like that it includes interactive activities and videos to engage my kids while simultaneously working on language and articulation skills.

I love that I can create individualized sessions for each student; this is a feature that I have not seen on any other speech therapy app. As SLPs, we know that each child’s needs and skills are so different, so being able to customize each session is very helpful.

The progress tracking feature, which shows data based on the student’s practice time and correct trials, has helped to cut down on my paperwork time! Additionally, the app is user-friendly and provides parents with tools and resources to help them support their child’s language development at home.

How to create individualized sessions for your caseload using Speech Blubs Pro

Speech Blubs Pro categorizes target words by syllable structure, consonants, vowels, number of syllables, and themes. You can easily create unique sessions to cycle through goals, or repeat sessions for more practice.

For example, I have a student who is very unintelligible with multiple phonological errors. Using the Cycles Approach, I can rotate targets every 8-10 sessions easily with the app. Speech Blubs Pro makes it simple to use this approach as I can add a session with exercises on s-blends, and the following week add a new session focusing on CVC words to target final consonant deletion.

Each target word is followed by a quick, entertaining video about the target word, which gives the student a break and keeps them engaged. The app also includes exercises to target syllable structure, all consonants and blends, vowels, multisyllabic words, and vocabulary. It takes me 5 minutes before each session to quickly create an activity for lots of articulation and language practice. It’s made a huge difference in the efficiency and productivity of my sessions.

How to assign and track homework

My clients’ parents have been enjoying the homework feature of Speech Blubs Pro, and I have seen an increase in home practice due to the ease and accessibility of homework through the app. I’m able to see if my student has completed their homework each week, and the amount of correct trials on each target. I love this because it allows me to see which targets they may be struggling with and adjust as needed for more success!

Incorporating digital flashcards

Speech Blubs Pro includes flashcards for vocabulary and speech sound practice. Each flashcard has a cartoon picture on the front and a real-life picture on the other side. The National Association for the Education of Young Children guidelines for developmentally appropriate practice suggest that for young children, the use of flashcards with real-life pictures, rather than cartoons, will help to spark a child’s interest in discovery and in learning more about the world around them (source included below). Speech Blubs Pro uses both cartoon and real-life flashcards to promote learning and engagement, and the kids love them!

Mobile Accessibility

Speech Blubs Pro can be used on a phone or tablet, and it is great for use on the go! Your student can do their speech homework from the car or wherever they typically use their tablet outside their home. The ease of use from mobile accessibility will increase students’ home practice time and lead to better outcomes on their goals.

Should I try Speech Blubs Pro in my therapy sessions?

Speech Blubs Pro has been an essential addition to my speech therapy sessions. Its features include creating individualized sessions for each student, easily assigning homework to your student’s app, progress monitoring, and digital flashcards. My students enjoy the game-like nature of the app and practicing speech sounds no longer feels like “work” to them. The app is also completely free, so it is absolutely worth it to give it a try with your caseloads!

Sources:

The National Association for the Education of Young Children guidelines for developmentally appropriate practice