cognitive speech therapy activities for adults pdf free

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10 practical cognitive therapy activities

I’m sharing 10 practical cognitive therapy activities that I’ve done with my patients recently, with suggested SMART goals. Details have been changed to protect privacy.

Free DIRECT download: 17 SMART cognitive goals (cheat sheet). ( Email subscribers  get free access to all the resources in the  Free Subscription Library .)

• Sample goals .
• Sample goal .
• Related Eat, Speak, & Think posts .
• Your cognitive therapy activities .

Scheduling appointments

One patient I worked with was having trouble scheduling appointments.

• Disorganized
• Not taking notes during the phone call.
• Waiting too long before adding the information to her calendar.
• Using a monthly calendar with small boxes.
• Messy and hard to read.

I recommended that she get a planner, which her daughter picked up. I taught the strategies:

• Have planner open to avoid double-booking.
• Take notes during the phone call.
• Read back the information to confirm details.
• Write in planner immediately.

When I went in for the next couple of sessions, I looked at her planner to see if I could understand it. Then I asked her questions about it. And finally, I had her call and make a new appointment. I could have asked her to confirm an appointment if she didn’t need to make a new one.

I listened to her side of the conversation to make sure she was gathering the correct information and confirming it, then watched as she wrote the information in the book.

That was all she needed. She was independently making and keeping track of her own appointments accurately when I discharged her.

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Sample goals

Patient will demonstrate:

• Ability to add new appointments to personal planner with 90% accuracy independently to improve ability to manage own schedule by 12.31.19.
• Understanding of personal schedule by answering comprehension questions with 100% accuracy independently to improve ability to participate in desired activities by 12.31.19.

Organizing information

Another patient complained that calling doctors and the home health agency was a hassle. He had the phone numbers written down in various places, so it was an effort to find the information to make the calls.

He’d been using a smart phone for awhile, but his daughter had only entered family contacts. He was open to learning how to enter new contacts into his cell phone. So I spent about ten minutes during one session teaching that skill and guiding him to practice by adding a few home health and MD numbers.

At the next session, he told me that he tried adding another one on his own but got stuck. So I retaught that part and had him write down a reminder note about how to do that step.

At the following session, he had added more of his doctors and even included the addresses. He said that it made making phone calls really easy, and he wasn’t procrastinating anymore.

Patient will demonstrate ability to:

• Add at least 5 new contacts to electronic contact book with 100% accuracy independently to improve organization of information for daily tasks by 12.31.19.
• Make at least 3 phone calls using electronic contact book with 100% accuracy independently to improve ability to communicate with medical professionals in a timely manner by 12.31.19.

Daily writing to improve attention and memory

Another patient I worked with recently had pretty significant impairment of attention, memory, and executive function skills. She reported various problems which were frustrating to her:

• Difficulty remembering strategies from PT and OT.
• Trouble remembering recent conversations.
• Not oriented to the day of week or the date.
• No longer able to read for pleasure
• Couldn’t sign her name (or write functionally).

One activity I started her on was to write in a notebook every day. In the beginning, she started off by copying the day of the week and the date with the help of her husband. And she signed her name over and over (the OT started that) as homework.

We built up to her writing the day of week and the date, copying her daily therapy schedule down, and then adding one of the strategies she was working on for each therapy.

On days when she didn’t have therapy, I had her write down a brief note about something that she did that day.

By the time I discharged her to outpatient therapy, she:

• Could remember key recommendations from PT, OT, and ST.
• Was oriented to time from memory.
• Could sign her name.
• Was remembering recent events without referring to her notes.
• Could write short sentences (with errors).

Patient will:

• be oriented to day of week, date, and time using visual supports as needed with 100% accuracy independently to improve daily function and reduce frustration by 12.31.19.
• recall at least 3 recommendations from any therapy with 100% accuracy independently using visual supports as needed to improve safety and independence by 12.31.19.

Word finding

Another patient was having mild difficulty with word finding, which was very frustrating for her. I taught her Semantic Feature Analysis (SFA), which she learned how to do very quickly. I also taught her word finding strategies.

In therapy, we did a variety of word retrieval exercises for two reasons. First, to give her the opportunity to use the word finding strategies when she failed to retrieve a word. And second, to identify challenging exercises to assign for homework.

I also asked her to complete at least one SFA each day, ideally using a word that she really had trouble retrieving in her normal conversation.

She worked diligently, and when I discharged after six sessions she was independently using the strategies and was experiencing far fewer word retrieval failures (less than once a day).

• ability to use at least 3 word finding strategies during moments of word finding failure on 4 of 5 opportunities to improve communication and reduce frustration by 12.31.19.
• no more than one un-repaired word-finding failure during 30 minutes of conversation independently to demonstrate improved word-finding skills for conversation by 12.31.19.

Using YouTube for attention and memory

Another patient I worked with recently had left neglect, with general attention and memory deficits. His wife really wanted him to be able to focus on television and then be able to discuss what they watched. He was happy to work on anything that would help him.

I found a seven-minute TED talk, divided into three parts, that I knew he would enjoy.

The first time he watched it, he was very excited and talked during the video. After it was over, he said how much he liked the video but his comments were only tangentially-related. He couldn’t recall any specific details independently.

So I taught the strategies of paying attention and noticing the details. We then watched the time lapse section from 0:50 to 1:58 and I asked him to tell me what he could remember. He could not remember the four specific examples: the mushroom, the creeping vine, the air traffic, and the ship traffic.

We worked on remembering those four examples using WRAP: writing, repetition, association, and picturing it (visualization). By the end of the session, he was able to watch that part of the exciting video and then state the four examples. He worked on studying the video for homework, and we continued in this way.

By the end of therapy, he was able to recall at least eight specific details independently and several more when given a question prompt. Ideally, I would have had him watch a new video to see if his performance was improved, but we ran out of time with the reassessment and discharge.

Sample goal

• demonstrate ability to recall at least 5 specific details from information recently heard or seen with 100 percent accuracy independently to improve ability to engage in leisure activities by 12.31.19.

Remembering spouse’s name after brain surgery

I treated a young man recently after brain surgery who was persistently calling his wife by his ex-wife’s name. As you can imagine, this was embarrassing for him even though his wife didn’t seem overly bothered by it.

In addition to treating general word-finding and memory deficits, we focused on her name. I taught the WRAP strategies of writing, repetition, association, and picturing (visualization).

Then I had him write her name 10 times which imagining her face and saying her name each time he wrote it. I suggested doing that every day until he wasn’t mixing the names up anymore. Finally, I helped him to find an association that would help trigger the word when he was in conversation with her.

This is a fictional example to preserve privacy, but the idea is the same. His wife’s name was Marla, and he created a little phrase “I’m married to Marla” that he would think when he saw her. This way, he was sure of her name and it reduced the anxiety of possibly mixing the names up in conversation.

We spent perhaps 10 minutes total in therapy on this issue. When I returned the following week, he reported that he was no longer mixing up the names and was no longer feeling stress about it.

Sample goals:

• independently use recommended strategies to recall wife’s name in 9 of 10 opportunities by report or observation to reduce stress and embarrassment by 12.31.19.
• demonstrate the use of at least 3 memory strategies for recalling preferred information with 100% accuracy independently to improve recall of important information by 12.31.19.

Basic executive function skills

I recently worked with a patient who was impaired in all areas of cognitive-communication. It seemed that working memory and executive function skills were impacting her the most.

Her specific complaints included:

• Difficulty remembering and following directions.
• Unable to complete basic reading and writing tasks.
• Trouble maintaining the topic in conversation.
• Difficulty remembering recent information.

We started off with functional activities: activities that she would do in the course of her normal day. Such as using the TV remote, maintaining a conversation, and sequencing the steps to get up from the wheelchair. I modified in various ways: simplifying, visual supports, written instructions, discussing and then doing (even down to the single step level), and modeling for imitation. I even tried spaced retrieval with errorless learning. However, I wasn’t seeing as much improvement as I’d have liked.

So we switched from these real-life activities to apps on her iPad. After trying some different things, we ended up using the iBrainH D app and Tactus Therapy’s Visual Attention and Writing apps .

We focused on learning and using strategies to slow down and improve accuracy, error detection, and error correction. For instance, I taught her to point to and/or verbalize each element, compare to the target, and double check her work.

This approach seemed to work better. When I discharge her to out-patient therapy, she had improved from a “severe” to a “mild” cognitive communication impairment per the CLQT+ . She was maintaining the topic of conversation at least 80% of the time, and she improved to only needing min assist with standing up from the wheelchair.

• demonstrate understanding of at least two cognitive strategies by independently using them during functional activities in 4 of 5 opportunities to improve participation in daily tasks by 12.31.19.
• maintain the topic of conversation for 3 turns in 4 of 5 opportunities to improve functional communication and reduce frustration by 12.31.19.
• verbalize and demonstrate the correct sequence for safely standing up from the wheelchair with 100% accuracy across three trials to improve safety by 12.31.19.

Massed practice for visual neglect

Another person I worked with had left visual neglect. His main complaint was difficulty reading because he was missing information on the left. Although he was fully aware of his deficit and with the slightest cue would correct himself, he was not consistently using the strategy independently.

Neither a bright-colored guideline or a written reminder worked for him. He continued to require a verbal cue to use the strategies to detect information on the left.

One activity that we did that was helpful was to have him page through a catalog and report what was in the top left corner on each page. After several correct answers in a row, then I would introduce a distractor question and then have him turn the page. When this was easy, I made it harder by asking him to name the third thing down on the left side of each page.

In this way, he had multiple opportunities to practice his skills in a short period of time.

Sample goal:

• locate the top left corner of reading material (e.g., paper, calendar, cell phone) using recommended strategy independently within 10 seconds in 9 of 10 opportunities across 3 sessions to improve functional reading by 12.31.19.

Remembering to use the call bell

A gentleman I’m working with in an assistive living facility has recently started wearing a bracelet with a call button. He’s supposed to use it to obtain assistance for the bathroom, but he’s been forgetting. In talking with him, I don’t get the sense that he is deliberately avoiding using it.

We’re using spaced retrieval with errorless learning to train the use of the call button.

• Prompt question: “What should you do when you need to use the bathroom?”
• Response: “Press the button and wait” and demonstrate.

We just started this past week, and I’d guess it would take another week or so to take effect (if it will help). While spaced retrieval with errorless learning doesn’t work for everyone, I’ve had many good successes with it.

• independently verbalize and demonstrate the recommendation to press the call button when he wants to use the bathroom with 100% accuracy across 3 sessions to improve safety by 12.31.19.

Using supports to be oriented to time

Sometimes, just making sure the tools are in the right place is all that is needed: clock, calendar, or a digital combination.

One recent patient had a digital calendar * that was recommended by a physical therapist, but she wasn’t using it. It was just another bit of decoration on the shelf that she wasn’t paying attention to.

I used spaced retrieval with errorless learning to train her to use it in two session (and confirmed it in each subsequent visit).

• Prompt question: “What should you do when you want to know the time or the date?”
• Response: “Look at the clock” and then read off the time and the date.

Not only was she using the digital calendar independently when I returned the following week, but she was also independently oriented to the day of the week and the month (i.e. from memory).

*This is an Amazon affiliate link. As an Amazon associate, I may earn a small commission on qualifying purchases. There is no extra charge to you, and it will help keep Eat, Speak, & Think sustainable.

• verbalize and demonstrate the independent use of the electronic calendar to determine the current day of week, date, and time with 100% accuracy across 3 consecutive sessions to improve ability to participate in desired activities by 12.31.19.

Related Eat, Speak, & Think posts

• 5 easy steps to remember names .
• Collaborative goal setting to identify meaningful cognitive goals .
• How to use spaced retrieval with errorless learning to improve memory .
• Writing SMART memory goals for a reluctant patient .
• Treating cognition in the real world .
• Improve aphasia outcomes by creating intensive home exercise programs .

Your cognitive therapy activities

What are some of your recent cognitive therapy activities? Leave a comment below!

Featured image by kang_hojun from pixabay .

Lisa A Young M.A. CCC-SLP

Lisa earned her M.A. in Speech-Language Pathology from the University of Maryland, College Park and her M.A. in Linguistics from the University of California, San Diego.

She participated in research studies with the National Institute on Deafness and other Communication Disorders (NIDCD) and the University of Maryland in the areas of aphasia, Parkinson’s Disease, epilepsy, and fluency disorders.

Lisa has been working as a medical speech-language pathologist since 2008. She has a strong passion for evidence-based assessment and therapy, having earned five ASHA Awards for Professional Participation in Continuing Education.

She launched EatSpeakThink.com in June 2018 to help other clinicians be more successful working in home health, as well as to provide strategies and resources to people living with problems eating, speaking, or thinking.

• Lisa A Young M.A. CCC-SLP https://eatspeakthink.com/author/admin/ An easy way to write participation-level speech therapy goals
• Lisa A Young M.A. CCC-SLP https://eatspeakthink.com/author/admin/ Learn how Goal Attainment Scaling makes SMART goals better
• Lisa A Young M.A. CCC-SLP https://eatspeakthink.com/author/admin/ Quick guide to self-management training in Parkinson's
• Lisa A Young M.A. CCC-SLP https://eatspeakthink.com/author/admin/ Soft skills for SLPs: Taking your practice to new heights

Loving your blog. Thanks for sharing!

Thank you, Mireya!

I’m a graduate student treating a person with aphasia in therapy this semester. This is the first website I’ve found that has been truly helpful for my adult client, Thank you so much!

Thanks so much for sharing your feedback, Kristin! I’m happy to hear you’re finding something helpful on my site. Good luck with your client and your program!

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Free speech therapy activities and worksheets, including communication boards, automatic speech routines, semantic feature analysis (SFA),  organization tasks and handouts.

Showing all 17 results

Calipso Clock Hours Tracking Forms

This resource can be useful for tracking SLP clinical clock hours. Tracking sheets are formatted to match the Calipso website for easy data transfer!

Oral Mech Cranial Nerve Assessment with Visual Cards

An Oral Mechanism Examination (OME) is an integral component of any speech and/or swallowing evaluation. This exam allows Speech-Language Pathologists (SLPs) to assess structure/function of the speech mechanism, cranial nerve involvement, and interpret clinical findings. This packet includes:

• CN VII Facial 
• CN V Trigeminal
• CN XII Hypoglossal
• CN IX Glossopharyngeal
• Record Form
• 20 Visual Stimuli Cards

Handout: Aphasia

What is aphasia.

Aphasia is a language disorder following neurological damage, most commonly, caused by a stroke. Depending on the site of damage, signs and symptoms of aphasia will vary. Individuals may experience difficulty understanding spoken or written language, trouble communicating daily wants and needs, or struggle with writing. Aphasia is a loss of language — not a loss of intelligence.

Aphasia & Dysphagia Handouts

7 handouts for Aphasia and Dysphagia

Handout: May is Better Hearing & Speech Month (BHSM)

May is.. Better Hearing and Speech Month (BHSM)

Includes BHSM and What does a Speech-Language Pathologist do ? handouts

Handout: What is Parkinson’s Disease?

Parkinson’s Disease Educational Handout

April is Parkinson’s Awareness Month

Handout: Caregiver Communication Strategies

2 free handouts: caregiver communication strategies with picture symbols

Handout: Left Neglect

This free handout is useful for SLPs working with people who are experiencing left neglect and visual inattention.

Motor Speech Disorders Brochure

A  brochure that helps deferentially diagnose Apraxia of Speech (AOS) vs. Dysarthria

Tips for communication partners Types of Dysarthria

Medical Speech Therapist Brochure

Educate students, staff, patients and caregivers with a brochure that includes:

WHAT DOES A MEDICAL SPEECH THERAPIST DO?

Speech therapists assess, diagnose, and treat speech and language, cognitive-communication, and swallowing disorders in various health-care settings.

Settings ✓ Acute Hospitals ✓ Rehabilitation Centers ✓ Skilled Nursing Facilities ✓ Assisted Living Facilities ✓ Long Term Care ✓ Outpatient Rehabilitation ✓ Home Health Care

Specialties ✓ Aphasia ✓ Apraxia of Speech ✓ Cognitive Communication ✓ Dysphagia ✓ Dysarthria ✓ Speech and Language ✓ Voice and Fluency

Education and Training ✓ Master’s Degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders or related field ✓ Pass national board examination (PRAXIS) ✓ Completion of clinical fellowship year (CFY)

Medical Conditions that may warrant a speech or swallowing evaluation ✓ Stroke ✓ Dementia ✓ ALS and MS ✓ Brain tumors ✓ Cerebral Palsy ✓ Parkinson’s disease ✓ Myasthenia Gravis ✓ Alzheimer’s disease ✓ Huntington’s disease ✓ Traumatic brain injury ✓ Head and neck cancers

Handout: Dysphagia

What is dysphagia.

Dysphagia is a swallowing disorder. Dysphagia has many causes and may be temporary or permanent. Treatment varies based on the type of dysphagia, signs and symptoms, etiology, medical history, cognitive function of the individual, as well as other factors.

Handout: Aphasia Differential Diagnosis Chart

Differential diagnosis (DDX) for types of aphasia with impacted brain regions (Broca’s area, trancortical motor, trancortical sensory, conduction, transcortical mixed, global) and communication impact/disorders (expressive language, receptive language, repetition, writing, and reading).

This item is included in the Speech-Language Pathology (SLP) Praxis Study Guide

Picture Flashcards

Print pages front and back to easily create flashcards for your therapy.

Organization Tasks: Food Storage

12 pages of activities and tasks that target organization skills through everyday tasks, such as putting groceries away. Practice identifying where items belong in the kitchen (e.g. fridge, freezer, pantry, etc) for functional speech therapy.

Also included in: Functional Reading Therapy: Groceries materials

AAC Communication Board

Free AAC communication board. Contains printable and high-quality images.

Automatic Speech Routines

Includes automatic speech routines such as:

• Days of the Week
• Months of the Year
• Familiar Songs
• Pledges and Prayers

Semantic Feature Analysis (Sample)

27 pages. Use this free PDF download to target word retrieval using evidenced-based practice.

• Activities and Worksheets (45)
• Courses (3)
• Evaluations (5)
• Gift Cards and Misc. (5)
• Handouts (13)
• Speech Therapy Materials (67)
• Study Guides (4)

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Speech Therapy Memory Activities for Adults: Enhancing Cognitive Skills

Christopher ravn.

• February 23, 2024

Delve into the transformative power of speech therapy memory activities for adults in our new blog post. We explore enriching exercises that can enhance cognitive skills and stimulate mental acuity . You will discover some effective strategies that have empowered individuals to experience improvements in memory, thought articulation, and meaningful communication.

These therapeutic approaches address memory challenges and help with brain health . Join us as we journey through all that speech therapy has to offer for enhancing cognitive skills.

Key Takeaways

1. There are many great speech therapy memory activities for adults, including word association, storytelling, word repetition, and pattern recognition. 2. Different types of activities target different kinds of cognitive issues, including short-term memory loss and aphasia. 3. There have been many impressive success stories and lots of compelling research that demonstrates the effectiveness of speech therapy for memory. 4. Combining speech therapy with complementary techniques, like light therapy and other innovative approaches, may enhance the outcomes even further.

Table of Contents

1. Exploring Speech Therapy Memory Activities for Adults: What You Need to Know 2. Addressing Memory Loss Through Speech Therapy: Is it Possible? 3. Types of Memory Activities Used in Speech Therapy and language pathology 4. How Can Speech Therapy Enhance Memory in Adults? 5. What Are Effective Short-Term Memory Activities in Speech Therapy? 6. What Are Effective Long-Term Memory Activities in Speech Therapy? 7. Frequently Asked Questions About Speech Therapy Memory Activities for Adults

The Best Speech Therapy Memory Activities for Adults

Memory does more than you might think for our day-to-day lives. It influences the ways we communicate and connect with others. Taking part in speech therapy memory activities can help strengthen cognitive skills and give adults a new approach to navigating memory challenges. Let’s explore some effective activities , like word association and memory journals, that are designed to stimulate memory.

• Word Association: This is a back-and-forth designed to connect emotions or personal experiences with words. For example, if the word given is ‘orange’, the participant might recall a specific memory related to oranges and strengthen neural connections.
• Memory Journals: In this, we encourage adults to jot down significant events or thoughts each day. This helps enhance memory recall and provides a tangible record of experiences.
• Storytelling: Here, you practice narrating personal stories from your memory. This strengthens those memories and also hones communications skills, making you better able to articulate thoughts well.
• Rhyme Recognition: A memory therapy activity in which adults are encouraged to identify rhyming words. This exercises memory and contributes to a stronger phonological awareness, which is essential for communicating effectively.
• Discussion Groups: By taking part in group discussions like book clubs, participants must recall and discuss specific details from a book. This fosters memory and social interactions, so it is a powerful memory exercise via speech therapy.
• Sequencing: Work with a partner to recall and order sequential events. This might mean detailing a morning routine or recounting steps in a recipe; however you do it, the participant is forced to practice recall and strengthen neurological connections.

Taking part in memory speech therapy activities for adults can address memory challenges and support a wider approach to brain health . Incorporate these activities into daily life to enhance memory skills and develop sharper cognitive abilities.

What Does Science Say About Light Therapy?

Find a collection of academic research papers that we, together with top-tier academic research institutions. We are exceedingly proud of our work and incredibly grateful to collaborate with such wonderful research institutions.

Best Speech Short-Term Memory Activities for Adults

When it comes to short-term memory activities via speech therapy, there are a few highly effective approaches for adults:

• Word Repetition: Hear a series of words and aim to recall them in the correct order to sharpen quick memory recall.
• Number sequences: Try to memorize number sequences, enhancing memory and other cognitive skills.
• Category Naming: Swiftly name items within a specific category to stimulate associative memory.
• Story Retelling: Listen to a short story, then attempt to retell it to enhance narrative recall.
• Listening Exercises: Take part in focused listening tasks, recalling details when prompted from spoken passages to improve auditory memory.
• Pattern Recognition: Identify patterns and attempt to replicate them, fostering spatial and visual memory skills.
• Object Memory: Briefly look at a set of objects, then attempt to recall them all to refine your visual memory.

These memory activities involving speech therapy for adults sharpen short-term memory and contribute to overall cognitive agility.

Exploring Speech Therapy Memory Activities for Adults: What You Need to Know

Short-term memory therapy activities play a pivotal role in adult speech therapy. They can be a gateway to cognitive rehabilitation and improving communication. Memory exercises stimulate the brain, helping to form new neural connections. This kind of active mental engagement is fundamental to recovering and refining cognitive functions , especially with regards to memory recall.

• Word association
• Storytelling
• Pattern recognition

Addressing Memory Loss Through Speech Therapy: Is it Possible?

Speech therapy memory activities can be a powerful component of addressing memory loss in some cases. The causes of memory loss vary, but can include:

• Neurological conditions
• Traumatic brain injuries

Enhance your brain performance through the power of light.

Comfortable and easy to use 40Hz light therapy to support and improve your brain function.

Success Rates and Limitations

The true rate of success for short-term memory exercises via speech therapy varies among adults . One key factor is the underlying cause of the memory loss . The approach may be helpful in improving memory recall and cognitive skills, but complete restoration may not be possible for everyone. Studies have shown that people with memory challenges who participate in speech therapy recover more of their cognitive abilities than people who don’t. In terms of realistic expectations regarding memory activities in speech therapy for adults, noticeable memory improvement is a real possibility. Individuals should find themselves able to navigate daily tasks with ease. Speech therapy is not a cure , but it is a valuable tool in mitigating the impact of memory loss. And you can combine it with other techniques , like green light therapy, for further improvements in cognitive wellbeing.

Types of Memory Activities Used in Speech Therapy and language pathology

Speech and language pathology memory activities employ diverse activities tailored to address short-term memory challenges and aphasia . Individuals experiencing memory concerns can see substantial improvements in their cognitive skills. For short-term memory , common techniques include:

• Word Repetition: Individuals will be asked to listen to a sequence of words then repeat them in order to sharpen immediate memory recall.
• Number sequencing: Similar to word repetition, this activity involves looking at or hearing a sequence of numbers then attempting to repeat it back verbally.
• Category Naming: Looking at groups of images linked by a category and attempting to name them all as quickly as possible. For aphasia, activities are more centered around rebuilding language and communication skills:
• Story Retelling: This is where you listen to a short story then attempt to recount it, improving narrative recall.
• Listening Exercises: Here, participants must recall details from spoken passages to enhance auditory memory.
• Pattern Recognition: Individuals must identify and replicate patterns to foster spatial memory skills. Individual needs and goals are the main variable for choosing the right activity for short-term memory therapy activities via speech. Therapists will consider the individual’s ability to repeat and recall sequences and tailor the exercises to the patient’s cognitive abilities. Aphasia patients will be assessed for the severity of their language impairment, and the memory activities will be selected accordingly. For example, story retelling may be the best option for an individual who struggles with verbal expression. The approach from therapists is always centered around the patient . The strengths and challenges of the individual are assessed, including things like:
• Cognitive abilities
• Communication goals
• Personal interests

In practice, therapists have seen individuals regain the ability to recall recent events or express thoughts coherently. An individualized approach to speech therapy memory activities for adults is effective, meaningful, and relevant to the patient’s unique journey.

How Can Speech Therapy Enhance Memory in Adults?

Speech therapy employs targeted exercises and a patient-centered therapeutic approach to enhance memory. Short-term memory exercises in speech therapy, like number sequencing or word repetition, sharpen immediate recall . Memory activities for adults with aphasia, like story retelling and listening exercises, improve memory and rebuild language skills .

The work of therapists is tailored to individual needs , determined at the therapist’s discretion. There have been countless success stories wherein individuals have regained the ability to recall recent events and express thoughts coherently. This highlights the effectiveness of speech therapy memory activities for adults.

Integrating Memory Strategies in Daily Life

To incorporate memory strategies into day-to-day life, you should implement them in your daily routines . Use visual aids like calendars to prompt yourself, and practice mindfulness every day. You could assign 30-60 minutes each day to partake in memory exercises like:

• Memory games
• Speech therapy with a partner

It can be particularly beneficial to combine the memory activities of speech therapy for adults with other things, like light therapy, which may yield additional benefits for cognitive health. Applying memory techniques beyond therapy sessions helps reinforce neural connections . This is vital for sustained cognitive improvement.

What Are Effective Short-Term Memory Activities in Speech Therapy?

The short-term memory therapy activities that have consistently proven themselves to be the most effective are:

• Word repetition
• Number sequencing
• Category naming

We have described these activities in more detail earlier in this post. They are effective because they engage the brain in rapid recall , sharpening your immediate memory functions. Individuals are challenged to repeat sequences or swiftly name items belonging to a certain category, fostering stronger neural connections.

With regular practice of these speech therapy memory activities for adults, there may be significant improvements in short-term memory . This empowers individuals with valuable tools for getting by in daily tasks.

Adapting Activities for Individual Needs

Speech therapists are able to adapt short-term memory activities for adults to individual needs by considering:

• Personal preferences

Regular feedback is crucial in ensuring the correct level of activities is presented. Therapists can modify their approach based on feedback from patients , cultivating a truly personalized approach aligned with the patient’s capabilities. This may also help foster engagement and motivation to persevere and see better results.

What Are Effective Long-Term Memory Activities in Speech Therapy?

• Memory Journals: These encourage individuals to document significant events each day to reinforce memory recall over time.
• Storytelling: This is where patients must recall and narrate personal stories to enhance memory and communication skills.
• Discussion Groups: Groups encourage participants to recall and discuss details to foster social interactions and long-term memory.

With consistent practice of these memory therapy activities, patients may experience sustained improvements in long-term memory. This empowers people to recall and share meaningful events with greater cognitive power.

Innovative Speech Therapy Techniques for Memory Enhancement

Innovative speech therapy memory activities take advantage of things like apps and virtual platforms to enrich speech therapy. There may be benefits to incorporating light therapy , like the functions of EVY LIGHT, as research has indicated great promise for this practice. Tech-focused speech therapy memory enhancement options include:

• Virtual Reality Memory Games
• Interactive Apps
• Neurofeedback Training
• Cognitive Training Software

Challenges may arise with a completely technology-oriented approach, as many advocate for the importance of human connection in speech therapy. But the most important thing is engagement . Individuals must actively participate in memory activities for adult speech therapy, whether they are tech-focused or not. This increases the chances of a successful outcome that improves memory and overall brain health.

View The Video Testimonials Of What Others Have Experienced

See how others have achieved a sharper mind by activating their gamma brainwaves in combination with maintaining a healthy lifestyle.

Frequently Asked Questions About Speech Therapy Memory Activities for Adults

What are the best memory activities for adults in speech therapy.

The best activities include word repetition, category recognition, and number sequences. But there are many other highly effective techniques to explore in speech therapy.

Can Speech Therapy Significantly Improve Memory in Adults?

With the right approach and consistent engagement , adults can experience noticeable improvements in memory and speech from taking part in speech therapy memory activities.

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How To Deal With Fixation In Dementia: Coping With Dementia Behavior Changes & Ideas To Focus Away From Fixation

How to Help Someone with Dementia Remember: A Comprehensive Guide for Caregivers and Families

Is Mild Cognitive Impairment A Disability? Legal Working Rights And Disability Benefits Advice

Living With A Spouse With Mild Cognitive Impairment: Caring Marital Relations To Adapt And Help A Spouse With MCI

How Long Does It Take For Light Therapy To Work: Duration & Frequency For Optimal Results & Benefits

How Long Can A Person With Dementia Live At Home: Setting Up A Safe Home Care Plan, Living Alone & Memory Care Considerations

How Fast Does Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) Progress: Turning Into Other Cognitive Decline, Risks Factors & Timeline

How Do Light Therapy Lamps Work? Best Ways To Maximize The Benefits & Timing Sessions

Brain Exercises For Seniors: Fun Ways Of Cognitive Training & How To Improve Mental Health In Older Adults

Sad Light vs Grow Light: How Different Are They?

Brain Exercises For Stroke Recovery Patients: Improving Cognitive And Memory Functions

Gifts for Dementia Patients: What’s a Good Presents Idea for Someone With Alzheimer’s & Memory Loss

Green Light Therapy Treatment & Its Health Benefits

How to Get Guardianship of an Elderly Parent With Dementia: Legal Steps

Meditation Light Therapy: How to Improve All Relaxation Techniques

Music Therapy for Dementia: Helping Patients Memory Functions

Sensory Activities for Dementia Patients: Improving Abilities & Quality of Life

How To Know When To Call Hospice For Dementia: Qualification Considerations

Which Sense Is Most Affected by Alzheimer’s Disease: Early Signs

What Is the Difference Between Memory Care vs Dementia Care?

Best Gifts for Seasonal Depression & Affective Disorder: Top Ideas

Light Therapy Treatment For Depression, SAD And Mood Disorders

How To Talk To Someone With Short-Term Memory Loss: Communication Strategies

Green Light Therapy Treatment For Depression, SAD And Mood Disorders

Brain Exercises To Prevent Alzheimer’s And Dementia: Types & The Best Ones

Transforming Lives: Melissa’s Journey with EVY LIGHT®

5 Warning Signs Of Early Alzheimer’s You Can’t Ignore

Crafting a Brain-Boosting Routine

How Learning Impacts The Brain

Thrive Together: Boosting Brain Health with Group Activities

Proactive Brain Health: Aging Gracefully with Science

Support Memory At All Stages of Life

Harnessing the Power of Dopamine for Keeping Mentally Energized

Strategies for Enhanced Focus: Unleash Your Productivity Potential

Move for Mind: The Link Between Exercise and Mental Health

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Unlocking the Sunshine: 6 Tips to Banishing Brain Fog

Unveiling the Astonishing Energy Consumption of the Human Brain

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Sunlight Speech Therapy

A place to seek sunlight about speech, language, cognition, and dysphagia

Free Cognitive Assessments

As a medical speech therapist working with adults it is important to have cognitive assessments to determine if individuals have a decline in cognition. A cognitive assessment often evaluates memory, attention, visual-spatial skills, and problem solving.

Here are some of the most common cognitive assessments that are free to use at this time of post. Please follow links with discretion and see references at end of post.

Cognitive Assessments

Brief Interview for Mental Status (BIMS)

Cognitive screener that identifies current cognitive level based on orientation and memory. BIMS is a mandatory screening tool used in skilled nursing facilities.

SLU Mental Status Exam (SLUMS)

The Saint Louis University Mental Status exam is an assessment tool for mild cognitive impairment and dementia. Please see reference website for video training and further information.

Addenbrooke’s Cognitive Examination

Addenbrooke’s cognitive examination III is a test that looks at attention, orientation, memory, language, visual perceptual and visuospatial skills. It is useful in the detection of cognitive impairment, especially in the detection of Alzheimer’s disease and fronto-temporal dementia.

Brief Cognitive Rating Scale (BCRS)

Brief Cognitive Rating Scale is a subjective measuring tool based on concentration, memory, and attention. This scale is often used with the Global Deterioration Scale for individuals with dementia.

The Global Deterioration Scale (GDS)

The Global Deterioration Scale is a subjective measuring tool for cognitive function. It is primarily used for those suffering from a primary degenerative dementia such as Alzheimer’s disease. It is broken down into 7 different stages.

Short Blessed Test (SBT)

Short Blessed Test is a 6-item assessment for cognition. The test evaluates attention, working memory, cognition, executive function, reasoning/problem solving.

The Lawton Instrumental Activities of Daily Living Scale

A functional assessment that asks questions recognize IADL’s the individual may need assistance and treatment on to return to baseline.

BIMS: Foundation Group, Foundationgroup.net

SLUMS: Saint Louis University

https://www.slu.edu/medicine/internal-medicine/geriatric-medicine/aging-successfully/assessment-tools/mental-status-exam.php

Bruno D, Schurmann Vignaga S. Addenbrooke’s cognitive examination III in the diagnosis of dementia: a critical review. Neuropsychiatr Dis Treat. 2019 Feb 15;15:441-447. doi: 10.2147/NDT.S151253. PMID: 30858702; PMCID: PMC6387595.

Brief Cognitive Rating Scale

https://www.sralab.org/rehabilitation-measures/brief-cognitive-rating-scale

Global Deterioration Scale

Reisberg, B., Ferris, S.H., de Leon, M.J., and Crook, T. The global deterioration scale for assessment of primary degenerative dementia. American Journal of Psychiatry, 1982, 139: 1136-1139.

Short Blessed Test

Morris JC, Heyman A, Mohs RC, Hughes JP, van Belle G, Fillenbaum G, Mellits ED, Clark C. (1989). The Consortium to Establish a Registry for Alzheimer’s Disease (CERAD). Part I. Clinical and neuropsychological assessment of Alzheimer’s disease. Neurology, 39(9):1159-65.

The Lawton Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADL) Scale

Lawton, M.P., & Brody, E.M. (1969). Assessment of older people: Self-maintaining and instrumental activities of daily living. The Gerontologist, 9(3), 179-186.

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• Free Worksheets

I created these free speech and language worksheets so you can easily download and print them out to use as part of your speech therapy program.  Just scroll down the page to view the worksheets by topic.  You will find free speech therapy worksheets for articulation, vocabulary , grammar, holiday articulation and language games…and lots of other miscellaneous speech therapy creations that I love!  If you would like more information on what articulation therapy is you might like to read a post I have written called  Teaching Speech Sounds: The Process of Traditional Articulation Therapy

Parents:  If you are a mommy or a daddy (or grandma or grandpa) who wants to work with your child at home, you can use these speech therapy activity pages for extra practice.  Just choose the sound position to work on (initial, medial, or final) and click on the corresponding link to view and print the worksheets.  To help make practice more fun, you can print out two of the same page so you have pairs, cut them out, and use them to play a game of memory or go fish. You can also use them as flashcards.  You will find free speech therapy worksheets by sound and at a variety of levels; word level, phrase level and sentence levels!

Articulation Worksheets

Speech Sounds in Syllable Wheel

/th/ Sound Voiceless

/th/ Sound Voiced

Grammar Worksheets

Regular past tense.

Irregular Past Tense

Third Person Singular

Vocabulary Worksheets – Holiday and Seasonal Themed 

Fall & autumn memory game, christmas vocabulary 1, christmas vocabulary 2, summer vocabulary, summer vocabulary companion, grammar bingo games – holiday and seasonal themed, grammar bingo games.

Vocabulary BINGO Games – Holiday and Seasonal Themed

Vocabulary bingo - winter, concepts bingo - christmas, conceptual vocabulary bingo - back-to-school, conceptual vocabulary bingo - fall, conceptual vocabulary bingo - spring & easter, lemonade stand bingo - summer, 4th of july vocabulary bingo - summer.

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Printable PDF copies of useful information and materials

Most popular free downloads.

50 Things You Can Do Right Now to Help Your Loved One with Aphasia

A FREE list to learn about all the ways you can help a stroke survivor struggling to communicate.

Have You Tried…? A Guide to 15 Evidence-Based Aphasia Treatments for Expression

A FREE quick guide that will help you consider all your therapy options to help your patients talk.

Setting Goals in Aphasia Therapy – The Ultimate Guide

A FREE 11-page e-book to help SLPs set better goals for adults with communication disabilities .

Speech Therapy Homework – Setting up a Successful Home Exercise Program Using Apps

A FREE homework packet to help your adult clients succeed in completing their home exercises.

Show Apps on Video Calls – a Telepractice Resource for Therapists

A FREE guide & video on how to mirror your tablet screen to use apps in therapy remotely.

Tactus Therapy App Brochure

A complete list of all the Tactus apps in your local currency, along with highlights of the resources we offer for professionals & home users.

“How To” Article Summaries

Download an easy summary for you to reference or print.

How To: Anagram, Copy, & Recall Treatment (ACRT)

How To: Attentive Reading and Constrained Summarization (ARCS)

How To: Communication Partner Training (CPT)

How To: Cueing Hierarchy

How To: Melodic Intonation Therapy (MIT)

How To: Multiple Oral Re-Reading (MOR)

How To: Phonological Components Analysis (PCA)

How To: Phonological Treatment for Writing

How To: Response Elaboration Training (RET)

How To: Semantic Feature Analysis (SFA) for Anomia

How To: Spaced Retrieval Training (SRT)

How To: Verb Network Strengthening Training (VNeST)

How To: Visual Scanning Treatment (VST)

How To: Treatment of Wernicke’s Aphasia

How To: Word-Finding Strategies

App user guides and tips.

Advanced Language Therapy

(includes Advanced Comprehension, Advanced Naming, Advanced Reading, & Advanced Writing Therapy)

Apraxia Therapy

AlphaTopics – AAC

Category Therapy

Conversation Therapy

Dysphagia Therapy

Language Therapy

(includes Comprehension, Naming, Reading, & Writing Therapy)

Number Therapy

Spaced Retrieval Therapy

Speech FlipBook

Visual Attention Therapy

“what is” article summaries, download a summary to reference or print.

What Is: a Cognitive-Communication Disorder?

What Is: Aphasia?

What is: Primary Progressive Aphasia?

What is: Global Aphasia?

What is: Broca’s Aphasia?

What is: Fluent Aphasia?

What is: Apraxia of Speech?

What is: Left Neglect?

What is: Dysarthria?

“using apps to treat…” article summaries, download a detailed guide to reference or print.

Using Apps to Treat Severe Aphasia

Using Apps to Treat Mild Aphasia

Using Apps to Treat Talking

Using Apps to Treat Listening

Articles with free downloads.

9 Ways to Make Speech Therapy Homework Work for You

 6 min read

The Truth about the Plateau in Stroke Recovery

10 Creative Naming Therapy Activities for Aphasia

 7 min read

10 Ways AAC Can Help Improve Slurred Speech in Dysarthria

 8 min read

27 Dysphagia Myths – Busted!

 11 min read

10 Aphasia Myths Busted

 14 min read

Talk the Talk: 5 Things You Need to Know when Speaking with a Person with Aphasia

 5 min read

Culturally Competent Care of Black Stroke Survivors

Past favorites.

These downloads still contain a lot of useful information, but parts of them might now be out-of-date.

A List of the Best Speech Therapy Apps for Adults

Our FREE 11-page list of the best 170 apps for adult or medical speech therapy.

Getting Started with Apps in Speech Therapy

A FREE download with the essentials for starting with apps.

What is COVID-19? An Aphasia-Friendly Resource about Coronavirus

A FREE guide to help explain the pandemic with visual supports and clear, simple language.