Using Visuals to Target Pragmatic Language in Speech Therapy
Hey speech friend! 👋🏼
You wanna know one area of our field that is getting a TON of traction lately?
Pragmatic Language!
We are getting endless referrals for this part of speech therapy, and for good reason! So many of these skills are essential for functionality in school and work settings, and having a fundamental understanding of pragmatic language can be a valuable asset to all of our caseload.
However, this can be a daunting goal to take on and we often overlook ways to help provide great therapy to the kids on our caseload while respecting their unique perspectives and individuality. Often, we get stuck in a rut of lecturing on social skills, forcing odd interactions, or creepily observing and asking other professionals what they think of a person's social skills instead of…you know, asking THEM.
Let's try another way!
Here are some of my best tips for using visual to target pragmatic language 👇🏼
Try It Out: Visuals!
Visuals are highly effective in pragmatic language therapy for several reasons:
- Concrete Representation: Many pragmatic language skills, such as understanding facial expressions, body language, and social cues, are abstract concepts. Visuals provide concrete representations of these abstract ideas, making them easier for individuals to grasp and learn from.
- Enhanced Comprehension: Visual aids help clarify complex social situations or conversational contexts. They can break down information into smaller, more digestible parts, which is beneficial for individuals who struggle with processing information quickly or comprehensively.
- Facilitation of Discussion: Visuals can serve as prompts for discussion about social scenarios, appropriate responses, and understanding the perspectives of others.
- Support for Learning Styles: Everyone has different learning styles! Visuals cater to visual learners who understand and retain information better through pictures, diagrams, or other visual representations.
- Increased Engagement: Visuals can make therapy sessions more engaging and interactive. They can capture attention, spark interest, and encourage active participation in learning and practicing pragmatic language skills.
Make Your Materials Work for You!
When we think of visuals, we tend to think of mouth models or placement cues for speech goals, but pragmatic language can benefit from them too! This is precisely why the Pragmatic Language Visuals came about. Complete with colorful graphics, student reference lists, and a breakdown of many social language targets, this is an all-encompassing visual tool that you will grab over and over again. I love using them for self-reflection and mini-lessons when we are targeting different aspects of pragmatic language. Plus, the compact design makes it easy to use them in less structured activities, such as group therapy, push-in therapy, and more!
Happy speeching!
👇🏼 Save this image to Pinterest so you can refer back to it later! 👇🏼
