5 ways speech therapists use phrase boards in sessions

The Speech Assistant Team

May 2026 · 7 min read

Phrase boards are a flexible foundation for therapy. Here are five techniques clinicians return to again and again.

1. Aided language modeling

Narrate the session on the board itself — tap tiles as you speak so the user sees language mapped to symbols in context.

2. Core-word focus

Build sessions around a small set of high-frequency core words ("go," "stop," "more," "want") that transfer across dozens of situations.

3. Descriptive teaching

Instead of naming a target, describe it and let the user assemble the phrase — this builds generative language rather than memorized responses.

4. Communication temptations

Set up moments that invite a request: a wanted item just out of reach, a paused favorite activity, a missing piece.

5. Wait time

After a prompt, pause. Silence gives the user room to initiate — often the hardest and most valuable skill to build.