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Problem Solving Activities for Adults Speech Therapy

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The Optimistminds editorial team is made up of psychologists, psychiatrists and mental health professionals. Each article is written by a team member with exposure to and experience in the subject matter.  The article then gets reviewed by a more senior editorial member. This is someone with extensive knowledge of the subject matter and highly cited published material.

This blog will highlight the problem solving questions and exercises that are most commonly used in Adult Speech Therapy. It will also explore the rationale and process of Speech Therapy, what problem solving entails and how it fits into the practise of speech therapy. 

The various possible problem solving approaches that can be used within adult speech therapy would be discussed in detail, along with a brief into speech therapy and it’s need for adults. The blog will also list other approaches that can be used within the domain of speech therapy apart from problem solving. 

What Is Speech Therapy?

Human wings are social animals that are able to function within their environment through effective communication. Communication, whether the form of speech or written word enables individuals to express and understand each other, it helps them in forming and sustaining relationships with other people. 

Understanding what people are saying and responding to them through effective communication channels is an essential part of being a human, it almost comes as second nature to individuals. Although such is not the case for individuals battling speech and communication disorders. For such people, speech therapy may prove to be an essential tool. 

Speech therapy is a psychological intervention that seeks to improve an individual’s ability to understand and produce language. It can help in better comprehension and expression of both verbal and non-verbal language. Speech therapy can also be called speech language therapy, and it helps build communication skills in people. This kind of therapy provides successful support and treatment to individuals with speech problems and communication disorders. 

Do Adults Need Speech Therapy?

It is a very common misconception that speech therapy can only serve as useful for children with speech and communication disorders. While speech therapy can help direct children’s language development onto the right path, it’s applications do not end there. Speech therapy can be extremely useful even in the case of adults with long-drawn or newly acquired speech problems. 

Adults may seek out speech therapists for a variety of reasons, ranging from regaining communications skills and confidence after trauma or injury or to simply improve on public speaking skills. 

Some of the most common reasons for adults to seek out speech therapy can be:

• Stuttering: stuttering is a speech issue wherein a person has a hard time pronouncing certain sounds. It can cause people to either repeat their words or stretch them out. This condition may become exaggerated due to stress and can also be influenced by the person’s feelings. 
• Swallowing Issues: Individuals with diseases such as cancer of the jaw, lips, mouth or tongue, and people with neurological issues can develop issues with speech production and clear expression of verbal content. When there are physical problems such as these, a speech therapist may help clients in regaining lost speech functions or to work around them and find alternative routes. 
• Trauma and Speech Reception: Speech therapy is not limited to speech production, it can also aid in better comprehension and speech reception. Trauma or accidents are likely to interfere with how people process and understand spoken content; they may face difficulties in focusing attention, understanding what others are saying or retaining information they have received. Speech therapy can also help with developing these skills and improving speech reception. 
• Cognitive Disorders or Aphasia: Aphasia is a common communicative disorder which interferes with a person’s ability to clearly speak or understand others. It is often acquired as a result of illness or injury. An individual could also require speech therapy if they have a cognitive-communication disorder, which means that the parts of their brain responsible for speech production are facing problems. 

What Happens in Adult Speech Therapy?

A Speech and Language Pathologist is likely to use various techniques as part of adult speech therapy. These can involve:

• Breathing exercises: A speech therapist can use breathing exercises to help people with resonance issues.
• Mouth exercises: Mouth exercises in speech therapy can be a suitable way to strengthen the oral muscle which help control and improve communication.
• Social communication: Speech pathologists could also make use of problem-solving, memory activities, and conversation exercises to improve communication.
• Swallowing exercises: Organic illnesses, like Parkinson’s disease, oral cancer, or a stroke, may cause swallowing difficulties which can also affect clear speech. A speech therapist can use swallowing exercises to help a person resolve and better deal with these issues. 

What is Problem Solving In Speech Therapy?

Before understanding how problem solving fits into speech therapy, it is important to review what problem solving means. The term problem solving essentially highlights the mental processes that people use to identify, understand, analyse and overcome problems. It is a multi-step, goal-directed behaviour aimed at overcoming a mental or physical obstacle. 

The problem solving process starts with defining a problem. This step usually involves the diagnosis of a situation to collect facts and information for later processing.  While a person is attempting to define a problem, they take in information from various sources and try to establish a cause-and-effect relationship between various factors involved in the situation. After a problem situation is successfully conceptualised, people try to look for alternatives solutions that may bring about a resolution. As various solutions are found and evaluated for usefulness, the final stage of problem solving is reached, which is implementation of the shortlisted solution. After scouring through dozens of possible solutions to a particular problem, an individual narrows down on the most feasible option and seeks to implement it as a final solution to the situation. 

Within the domain of speech therapy, problem solving exercises, or activities that involve the use of memory systems, organisation and decision making behaviours are most commonly used to treat cognitive communication disorders. Such disorders can affect the way in which people produce or comprehend speech, and they can be a result of either injury or illness. 

Adopting a problem solving approach with respect to communication disorders can help adults in adapting to undesirable situations that arise throughout their days. It can even help them gain a better understanding of their speech problems and come to terms with it. Once people are able to comprehend their issues, they will be better equipped to deal with the problems and take steps to improve their situation as suggested by their speech therapists. Problem solving exercises within speech therapy also help in building a person’s confidence and their capabilities for social interaction; which in turn would have benefits for their personal and professional relationships. 

Problem Solving Activities In Adult Speech Therapy

Some of the commonly practised problem solving activities within adult speech therapy are:

• Tongue Exercises: The first step in re-training oneself to practise correct speech patterns should be to gain better control over the tongue. Moving and exercising is an essential part of speech therapy. Tongue training exercises can help the mouth to move easily in coordinated patterns which can greatly improve the quality of speech production. 
• Expression Game: Standing in front of a mirror and practising a list of expressions is also a great cognitive exercise within speech therapy. Reading a list of expressions and then attempting to recreate them in the mirror provides the rain with essential feedback. This stimulates the brain and allows individuals to observe their progression real time. Not only this, it can also help in strengthening the muscles in a person’s face and mouth. 
• Reading and Sentence Production: Patients with organic speech disturbances like apraxia can benefit from reading activities. Reading small passages and repeating them out loud can help such patients to strengthen their lip and tongue muscles. A speech therapist may start off by asking them to practice one or two sentences initially for short periods of time, and gradually increase theory timings and workload.  
• Word Games: Word games either through the use of computers or with people around oneself can prove to be a great way to exercise the brain’s speech and language centers. These games can either rely on quick production or quick comprehension and repetition of speech. They force individuals to pay and sustain attention, and make use of their speech centers. 
• Computer Games: Computer games like solitaire or alchemy are sometimes also used with speech therapy clients. Although these games do not rely on active production of speech, they can still help exercise the cognitive-linguistic pathways because the brain’s language processing skills are still being actively used. 
• Counting Syllables: When working with a speech therapist, a client may be asked to speak various words to the therapist while the therapist does the same. When one person finishes saying a word, the other’s role is to guess how many syllables are there in the word. As a client and therapist both say words and provide each other with feedback, the individual showing up for speech therapy learns to identify and break down words for better speech comprehension and also makes improvements in the production of speech. 
• Special Focus Games: Sometimes clients may face extreme difficulties in pronouncing certain words or sounds. In such cases they are encouraged to pair the problem consonants with all the five vowels and to practice the sounds they make over and over. 
• Role-Play Conversations: Sometimes speech therapists may engage in role-plays with clients to enable them to slowly ease back into communicating and regain the verbal skills and confidence required to form and maintain personal and professional relationships. 
• Speech Exercises through apps: With the advent of technology, there are various speech problem solving mobile and internet applications available today. These applications come with unique plans and exercises that can be tailored to a client’s specific problems. Apps can also be used to assess an individual’s problems areas which can help both the therapist and the person concerned to understand where they are lacking and what they need support with. 

How Can Problem Solving In Speech Therapy Help Adults? 

The various ways in which speech language pathologists can utilise problem solving exercises within speech therapy are:

• Using cognitive exercises to help recovery after strokes
• Using breathing, mouth and tongue exercises to provide comfort from swallowing difficulties
• Using conversational exercises that stimulate the brain to help repair communication between friends and family 
• Improving the clarity of spoken language by working on speech production and pronunciation
• Using cognitive exercises to create a strong link between language comprehension and production centres of the brain
• Improving brain plasticity through various cognitive problem solving exercises that help individuals gain new skills in speech development 

Is Speech Therapy The Only Option For People With Speech Disturbances?

Sometimes, people who have been diagnosed with speech production or comprehension issues may not be able to benefit from speech therapy. This could be because speech therapy is unable to target their problem areas or other therapeutic factors beyond the control  of the individual or therapist. Sometimes speech therapy alone may not be able to cater to the problems of an individual. There are various approaches that can be applied in the care of such individuals, like: 

• Music Therapy: Musical activities can  be used to facilitate speech recognition and processing in adults that have suffered traumatic brain injuries or brain damage due to illness. These exercises can strengthen language processing, communication and social skills. 
• Neurofeedack: Neurofeedback makes use of sensors attached to a client’s scalp which provides them with realtime information about their physical states. by receiving constant information about brain processes and physical arousal, an individual can learn to manage these states better. 

In this blog we discussed the applications of problem solving exercises within the domain of speech therapy – what exactly is speech therapy, what is meant by problem solving and problem solving exercises, what these exercises entail and how exactly they help in speech therapy. Other applications and the most commonly used problem solving exercises were described in detail, along with alternatives to replace them in special cases. The process and scope of speech therapy was also explored to understand how the process unfolds and helps treat speech disturbances. 

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs): Problem Solving Questions for Adults Speech Therapy

What exactly is speech therapy.

When children or adults have speech problems that prevent them from clearly using verbal language and communicating effectively with people around them, they can seek speech therapy to get help for their issues. Speech therapy is a form of psychological treatment that helps people to coordinate mouth movements to be able to etter produce certain sounds, address articulation, fluency, language comprehension and production. It can also help improve the understanding and expression of language. 

How do you know if a person needs speech therapy?

A person may need speech therapy if they suffer from problems such as stammering or stuttering, if they are unable to produce or understand certain sounds and words or if they are unable to use verbal and body language appropriately in social situations. Speech therapy may also be needed in cases where people are unable to comprehend verbal cues from the people around them, in such cases speech therapists can help aid the language comprehension of individuals. Speech therapy can also be used with individuals who have suffered traumatic brain injuries or are unable to communicate effectively due to brain cognitive or neurodegenerative disorders. 

What do speech therapists do?

The first and foremost task of speech therapists is always to identify speech and language pathologies in their patients. This can be done by giving people certain exercises that can help highlight their problem areas and help a therapist gain better understanding of their issues. After identification and isolation of the problem, speech therapists work on targeting these areas and giving the client exercises that will help improve their condition. Apart from carrying out interventions, speech therapists also act as a constant source of motivation and support for their clients, urging them and giving them the warmth and understanding needed to continue working on their problems. 

How does speech therapy last for adults?

Adults are not as malleable as children, they are more set in their ways and have ingrained methods of understanding and producing language. In order to bring about a change in how an individual understands and communicates veral content a speech therapist needs longer times as compared to children. Speech therapy with adults also includes providing constant support and encouragement to keep the client motivated towards the final goal of speech therapy. This can become an intensive and time-consuming process that might spread across months. In case of injuries or brain disorders, the severity and prognosis of the conditions is also likely to influence the length of therapy.

References:

Bedell, J. R., & Lennox, S. S. (1997). Handbook for Communication and problem-solving skills training: A cognitive-behavioral approach . Wiley.

Belsky, G. (2021, May 24). What is speech therapy? Understood. Retrieved November 18, 2021, from https://www.understood.org/articles/en/what-you-need-to-know-about-speech-therapy.

MEDIAmaker. (2020). Cognitive communication difficulties . Headway. Retrieved November 18, 2021, from https://www.headway.org.uk/about-brain-injury/individuals/effects-of-brain-injury/communication-problems/cognitive-communication-difficulties/.

Rowden, A. (2021, January 5). Speech therapy: For adults, kids, and how it works . Medical News Today. Retrieved November 18, 2021, from https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/speech-therapy#conditions.

Smith , B. (2014). What is speech therapy? Parents. Retrieved November 18, 2021, from https://www.parents.com/kids/development/learning-disabilities/what-is-speech-therapy/. 

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“What Would You Say/How Would you Respond?” Pragmatics Scenarios Beneficial for Multiple Speech Treatment Areas

By nicespeechlady.com / April 8, 2018

Information for treating multiple speech pathology diagnoses are available in these helpful resource documents, which post different scenarios for patients to respond to “What Would You Say?” and “How Would You Respond?” situations.

The data from these resources can be utilized for addressing cognitive/problem solving involvement, pragmatics, and carryover for using strategies to address articulation skills, voicing skills, memory skills, word-finding and other expressive communication tasks, as well as addressing breath support skills for communication. Other areas of speech pathology may be treated by using these scenario conversation-starters. Four different resources each contain a page of various scenarios, and can be beneficial for using as information in therapy sessions, or as the originally designed purpose — a home program to address pragmatics.

• HOME PROGRAM: Use of Language “What Would You Say?” and “How Would You Respond?” Scenarios, Version A
• HOME PROGRAM: Use of Language “What Would You Say?” and “How Would You Respond?” Scenarios, Version B
• HOME PROGRAM: Use of Language “What Would You Say?” and “How Would You Respond?” Scenarios, Version C
• HOME PROGRAM: Use of Language “What Would You Say?” and “How Would You Respond?” Scenarios, Version D

Other nicespeechlady.com resources:

Articulation — free speech therapy materials for adults

• Articulation Assessment Tools
• Articulation Handout-ables
• Articulation Home Programs

Swallowing — free speech therapy materials for adults

• Swallowing Assessment Tools
• Swallowing Handout-ables
• Swallowing Home Programs

Receptive Language — free speech therapy materials for adults

• Receptive Language Assessment Tools
• Receptive Language Handout-ables
• Receptive Language Home Programs

Expressive Language — free speech therapy materials for adults

• Expressive Language Assessment Tools
• Expressive Language Handout-ables
• Expressive Home Programs

A/AC — free speech therapy materials for adults

• A/AC Assessment Tools
• A/AC Handout-ables
• A/AC Home Programs

Co-Occurring SLP Diagnoses — free speech therapy materials for adults

• Co-Assessment Tools
• Co-Occurring Handout-ables

Cognition — free speech therapy materials for adults

• Cognition Session Materials
• Cognition Handout-ables
• Cognition Home Programs

Voice/Resonance — free speech therapy materials for adults

• Voice/Resonance Handout-ables
• Voice/Resonance Home Programs

Pragmatics — free speech therapy materials for adults

• Pragmatics Handout-ables
• Pragmatics Home Programs

Fluency/Stuttering — free speech therapy materials for adults

• Fluency/Stuttering Handout-ables
• Fluency/Stuttering Home Programs

Other — free speech therapy materials for adults

Please check-out these additional free speech therapy resources on nicespeechlady.com:

Other — free speech therapy materials for adult

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Home » Blog » General » Understanding the Role of Speech Therapy in Problem Solving Development

Understanding the Role of Speech Therapy in Problem Solving Development

Keywords: speech therapy, problem solving

I. Introduction

Problem-solving skills play a crucial role in our everyday lives. From making decisions to resolving conflicts, these skills enable us to navigate through various challenges. However, for individuals with speech and language disorders, developing effective problem-solving abilities can be a significant challenge. This is where speech therapy comes in. In this blog post, we will explore the role of speech therapy in problem-solving development and how it can help individuals overcome communication barriers and enhance their problem-solving skills.

A. Importance of Problem-Solving Skills in Everyday Life

Problem-solving skills are essential for individuals of all ages. From a young age, we encounter various situations that require us to think critically, analyze information, and come up with effective solutions. Whether it’s figuring out how to complete a puzzle or resolving conflicts with friends, problem-solving abilities are crucial for personal, academic, and professional success.

B. Role of Speech Therapy in Problem-Solving Development

Speech therapy plays a vital role in supporting individuals with speech and language disorders in developing their problem-solving skills. By addressing underlying communication difficulties, speech therapists can help individuals improve their ability to express themselves, understand others, and engage in effective problem-solving strategies.

II. Understanding Speech Therapy

A. definition and purpose of speech therapy.

Speech therapy, also known as speech-language therapy, is a specialized form of therapy that focuses on assessing, diagnosing, and treating communication disorders. The primary goal of speech therapy is to improve an individual’s ability to communicate effectively, both verbally and non-verbally.

B. Common Speech and Language Disorders

Speech and language disorders can manifest in various ways, impacting an individual’s ability to communicate and, consequently, their problem-solving skills. Some common speech and language disorders include:

• Articulation disorders: difficulties with pronouncing sounds and forming words correctly.
• Language disorders: challenges with understanding and using language effectively.
• Fluency disorders: disruptions in the flow of speech, such as stuttering.
• Voice disorders: abnormalities in pitch, volume, or quality of the voice.

III. Speech Therapy and Problem Solving

A. connection between speech and language skills and problem-solving abilities.

Speech and language skills are closely intertwined with problem-solving abilities. Effective communication involves not only expressing oneself clearly but also understanding others, interpreting social cues, and adapting to different situations. Individuals with speech and language difficulties may struggle with these essential components of problem-solving, making it challenging for them to navigate through everyday life.

B. How Speech Therapy Can Enhance Problem-Solving Skills

Speech therapy provides individuals with the necessary tools and strategies to improve their communication skills, thereby enhancing their problem-solving abilities. Through targeted interventions, speech therapists work on improving language comprehension, expressive language skills, social communication, and cognitive-linguistic abilities. By addressing these areas, individuals can develop the foundation needed for effective problem-solving.

IV. Techniques Used in Speech Therapy for Problem Solving

Speech therapists utilize various techniques and approaches to support individuals in developing their problem-solving skills. Some common techniques include:

A. Communication Strategies

Speech therapists teach individuals effective communication strategies, such as using visual aids, gestures, and alternative communication systems (e.g., augmentative and alternative communication devices). These strategies help individuals overcome communication barriers and express their thoughts and ideas more effectively, facilitating problem-solving.

B. Cognitive-Linguistic Exercises

Cognitive-linguistic exercises focus on improving cognitive skills, such as attention, memory, reasoning, and problem-solving. Speech therapists incorporate these exercises into therapy sessions to enhance an individual’s cognitive abilities, which are essential for effective problem-solving.

C. Social Skills Training

Social skills training is a crucial component of speech therapy for individuals with speech and language disorders. By teaching social communication skills, such as turn-taking, active listening, and perspective-taking, speech therapists help individuals navigate social interactions and problem-solving situations effectively.

V. Collaborative Approach in Speech Therapy

A. working with parents and caregivers.

Speech therapy is most effective when it extends beyond the therapy room. Speech therapists work closely with parents and caregivers to ensure that strategies and techniques learned in therapy are reinforced and practiced in everyday situations. By involving parents and caregivers, speech therapists create a collaborative approach that maximizes the impact of therapy on problem-solving development.

B. Collaboration with Other Professionals

Speech therapists often collaborate with other professionals, such as educators, psychologists, and occupational therapists, to provide comprehensive support to individuals with speech and language disorders. This interdisciplinary approach ensures that all aspects of an individual’s development are addressed, including problem-solving skills.

VI. Benefits of Speech Therapy in Problem Solving Development

A. improved communication skills.

One of the primary benefits of speech therapy is improved communication skills. As individuals develop their speech and language abilities, they can express themselves more effectively, understand others better, and engage in meaningful conversations. These enhanced communication skills directly contribute to improved problem-solving abilities.

B. Enhanced Cognitive Abilities

Speech therapy interventions, such as cognitive-linguistic exercises, can enhance an individual’s cognitive abilities. By improving attention, memory, reasoning, and problem-solving skills, speech therapy helps individuals develop the cognitive foundation necessary for effective problem-solving.

C. Increased Self-Confidence and Self-Esteem

Individuals with speech and language disorders often experience challenges in social interactions, which can impact their self-confidence and self-esteem. Through speech therapy, individuals gain the skills and strategies to navigate social situations and communicate effectively. As a result, their self-confidence and self-esteem improve, enabling them to approach problem-solving tasks with a positive mindset.

VII. Conclusion

A. recap of the role of speech therapy in problem-solving development.

Speech therapy plays a crucial role in supporting individuals with speech and language disorders in developing their problem-solving skills. By addressing communication difficulties, speech therapists provide individuals with the necessary tools and strategies to express themselves, understand others, and engage in effective problem-solving strategies.

B. Encouragement to Seek Professional Help for Speech and Language Concerns

If you or someone you know is experiencing speech and language difficulties that are impacting problem-solving abilities, it is essential to seek professional help. Speech therapists are trained professionals who can assess, diagnose, and provide targeted interventions to support individuals in their communication and problem-solving development.

Start your EverydaySpeech Free trial today and take the first step towards enhancing problem-solving skills through speech therapy.

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134 WH Questions for Speech Therapy Practice

As promised here are the words for your unlimited use .

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SEE ALSO:  Speech Therapy Activities for WH Questions

Wh questions.

• When do we sleep? (at night)
• When do we eat breakfast? (in the morning)
• When do we take a bath? (when we're dirty or before bed)
• When do we wear sunglasses? (when it's sunny outside)
• When do we put on a bandaid? (when we're cut or bleeding)
• When do we use an umbrella? (when it's raining)
• When do we need to wear a coat? (when it's cold outside)
• When do we wear a swimming suit? (when going to the beach/swimming)
• When do we wear a seatbelt? (when riding in a car)
• When do we turn on a flashlight? (when it is dark)
• When did you last see a doctor?
• When was the last time you went swimming?
• When was the last time you played at a friend's house?
• When did you go on your last vacation?
• When was the last time you went out to dinner?
• Who puts out fires? (firefighter)
• Who do we go see when we're sick? (doctor)
• Who takes care of animals at the zoo? (zookeeper)
• Who teaches kids at school? (teacher)
• Who delivers mail? (mailman / mailwoman)
• Who checks our teeth for cavities? (dentist) 
• Who helps people in the store? (clerk)
• Who takes care of sick animals? (veterinarian)
• Who has a job of cutting people's hair? (hairdresser or barber)
• Who flies an airplane? (pilot)
• Why do we put gas in a car?
• Why does a giraffe have a long neck?
• Why do we mow the grass?
• Why do we wear sunglasses?
• Why do we take a bath?
• Why do we use an umbrella?
• Why does a bird have wings?
• Why do we have teeth?
• Why do we wear shoes?
• Why do children go to school?

SEE ALSO:   The Best Free App for Speech Therapy

• What can we wear on our back? (backpack / book bag)
• What do bees make (that we can eat)? (honey)
• What do dogs like to chew on? (bones)
• What do we need when it rains (to keep us dry)? (umbrella)
• What do we wear on our feet? (shoes or socks)
• What do cows give us (that we can drink)? (milk)
• What do spiders build? (web)
• What is a lawn mower for? (cutting grass)
• What do we use for eating cereal? (spoon)
• What does a red light mean? (stop)
• What reason did you last see a doctor?
• What do you like to do best when you get home from school?
• What was the most fun you ever had?
• What is one gift you have received in the last year?
• What does your house look like?
• What is the most foolish/silly thing you have ever done?
• What is the funniest thing that has ever happened to you?
• What is the best meal you've ever eaten?
• What makes you feel happy?
• What is the nicest thing you've ever done for someone else?
• What did you watch on TV last week?
• What things make you laugh?
• What is the loudest noise you've ever heard?
• What do you usually think about just before going to sleep at night?
• What things do some people do that you do not like?
• Where does milk come from? (cows)
• Where do horses, pigs, and sheep live? (farm)
• Where do we put a hat? (on our head)/
• Where do we go to buy food? (store)
• Where do you sleep? (in a bed)
• Where do we see clouds? (in the sky)
• Where do we put toothpaste? (on our toothbrush)
• Where do fish live? (in water)
• Where do we plants seeds? (in the ground / dirt)
• Where does a bird lay eggs? (in a nest)
• Where can we play? (outside / playground)
• Where do shoes and socks go? (closet)
• Where do a king and queen live? (castle / palace)
• Where can we see monkeys, bears, and elephants? (zoo)
• Where do bats live? (caves)
• Where do we go to learn ABC's? (school)
• Where do we bake cookies? (kitchen)
• Where do we keep milk and butter? (refrigerator)
• Where can we sit? (chair / bench / seat)
• Where do we put peanut butter? (on bread / lettuce)
• Where was the last place you went swimming?
• Where was the last place you went out to dinner?

This list of functional words was  professionally selected to be the most useful  for a child or adult who has difficulty with this language principle.

We encourage you to use this list when practicing at home.

Home practice will make progress toward meeting individual language goals much faster.

Speech-Language Pathologists (SLPs) are only able to see students/clients 30-60 mins (or less) per week.

This is not enough time  or practice for someone to strengthen their understanding of this important language concept.

Every day that your loved one goes without practice  it becomes more difficult  to help them. 

SEE ALSO:   The Best Books for Speech Therapy Practice

We know life is busy , but if you're reading this you're probably someone who cares about helping their loved one as much as you can.

Practice 5-10 minutes whenever you can, but try to do it on a consistent basis (daily).

Please, please, please use this list to practice.

It will be a great benefit to you and your loved one's progress.

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The Forgotten Skill: Problem Identification

April 8, 2022 – Problem Solving in Speech Therapy

I’ve been thinking about this a lot lately: we spend so much time on problem solving in speech therapy, but… how can we expect our students to use their problem solving skills if they don’t even know that there’s a problem?

It’s the forgotten prerequisite to problem solving: problem identification.

Without it, students may never even get to the point where they start implementing those skills. That’s true no matter how much practice in solving problems a student has had.

Your student may breeze through exercises where they’re asked to read a problem and come up with a solution. But it’s our job to think functionally , right? In real life, there’s no flashing banner saying “Look, here’s a problem – now try to solve it.” In real life, to enter the problem solving stage, someone has to identify on their own that there even is a problem first.

Let’s look at a hypothetical example…

The thing is, most of our students are never trying to hurt someone else. They’re never trying to get into a situation where they’re so behind on classwork that they can’t catch up. For the most part, our students want to do well and they want to build connections.

So think about this: to some of our students, telling a classmate, “Your new jacket is ugly,” is simply stating a fact. There’s genuinely no ugliness intended. They’ve been taught that “honesty is good,” and they’re just being honest. So, if that classmate then reacts poorly, student A now has no idea what went wrong. In their mind, they’re just in a world of confusion. Maybe they’re even thinking, “Wow, everyone just dislikes me, even when I try to go everything right.”

So is it any wonder why autistic and ADHD students tend to have lower self-esteem ( 2 )?

Of course, if students want to go on their merry ways and live brutally honest lives, they’re welcome to. Still, they deserve to be able to make that choice. Further, they certainly deserve to be able to understand why something they said or did might make someone else upset.

It all starts with problem identification. It’s a skill that requires students to put their perspective taking, inferencing, and predicting into practice… and all too often we skip right over it and jump straight to problem solving.

Resources for targeting problem identification

In my everlasting quest for inclusive, neurodiversity affirming speech therapy resources, I’m always learning and adapting. With these thoughts in mind, I looked around for problem identification resources and found, unsurprisingly, that there were just about none available. ​

So, I took it upon myself to make sure there’s something out there to target this crucial prerequisite to problem solving. It’s a recent version of my Spring “Escape the Video Game” series, a Super-Mario style game series for therapy. In this game, when you jump up and smash a question box, you read the social situation and determine the problem from a field of four options.

Here’s a peak at what the questions look like! They automatically take data too – just play with a student and view their accuracy percentage in your Medley classroom:

Here are the links to the game on Medley and TPT:

• On Medley: Problem Identification Escape the Video Game ​
• On Teachers Pay Teachers: Problem Identification Escape the Video Game ​

Whether or not you use this game as a starting point, I hope this has helped you think about working on problem solving goals from a different angle with students who might need it! 😊

I’d love to hear your thoughts on problem identification and problem solving in speech therapy – feel free to leave a comment below!

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31+ What Questions for Speech Therapy + Wordless Videos

Calling all speech pathologists! If you need what questions for speech therapy then you’ve come to the right place!

This blog post includes 31+ what questions along with a picture scene video making it one great activity to use for your in-person or your distance learning virtual speech therapy sessions.

Type of Question

First, let’s start with a quick overview of the 6 different question word types. 

The 6 wh word types are as follows:

• Who is a question about a person. “Who is your doctor?”
• What is a question about a thing. “What kind of cookie is that?”
• When is a question about time. “When does school start?”
• Where is a question about a place. “Where is your pencil?”
• Why is a question about a variety or reasons. “Why are tired?”
• How is a question about method (in what way), degree (to what extent), or condition. “How do you ride a bike?”

Easiest Questions

As a speech therapist, we know that there are different basic levels of wh questions ranging from simple wh questions, such as “what” and then moving on to the “who” and “where” or the more concrete questions.

The questions “when” and “why” are later developing questions with “why” being the most difficult to learn. 

Wh Question Goal Ideas

Does your child or student experience a speech delay and need special education to work on wh questions or their expressive language skills? Here are some ideas for a qualified Speech-Language Pathologist to use when working with a student working on different types of questions. 

• Story or Reading Comprehension: Given a story, STUDENT will answer WH questions (i.e., who, what, when, where, why, how) with 80% accuracy in 4 out of 5 opportunities.
• Activity or Assignment: Given an activity or assignment, STUDENT will answer WH questions (i.e., who, what, when, where, why, how) about that activity or assignment with 80% accuracy in 4 out of 5 opportunities.
• Discussion or Conversation: Given a classroom discussion or conversation, STUDENT will answer WH questions (i.e., who, what, when, where, why, how) about that discussion or daily conversations with 80% accuracy in 4 out of 5 opportunities.

Developmental Goal

The ability to ask and answer questions is a key part of language development and of a child’s typical development. 

Developmental Milestones by Age:

• 1 – 2 year olds: From the ages of one to two a child can begin to answer “where” questions by pointing to an object. For example, “Where is your teddy bear.” The child can then answer the “where” question by pointing to their teddy bear. 
• 2 – 3 year olds: In this age group the average child can begin to answer “what” and “where” and “who” questions with more than just pointing. For example, “What animal likes ice?” “A polar bear.” At this age, children can also begin to ask these same question types. For example, “Where I going?” (This is my son’s favorite question right now whenever I put on his coat.”) Although it’s not a complete sentence, the child is appropriately using the “where” question to ask “Where am I going?”. At this age the child is also beginning to express their own wants when asked “what” questions, such as “What do you want for a snack?” the child might respond with, “I want a cookie”.

If you’re on the hunt for task cards then I’ve got good news for you!

I’ve put together a lot of questions, over 31 questions to be exact, all working on the “what” wh question type.

Using wordless videos along with picture choices is my favorite way to work on what questions.

How to get started practicing:

• Watch the wordless videos below of people doing different activities and then answer the “what” questions.
• Have your child or student pick the correct answer from the choices provided.
• I’ve provided similar questions giving your students multiple exposures to some of my favorite wh questions.
• Before you get started do you need a visual support explaining the typical question types? If you answered yes then be sure to grab my free visuals explaining the different question forms .

1. Boom Cards

What are they using to play the set of boom cards game?

A. pencil B. computer C. video game controller

2. TPT Store

What is this teacher using to buy resources online?

A. credit card B. coins       C. play money

3. Easy Ways

What is an easy way to make your friend smile?

A. make a silly face B. make dinner and dessert    C. go on a hike

4. Specific Events

What event is celebrated with cake and candles?

A. birthdays B. Valentine’s Day. C. Halloween

5. Distant Relatives

What family member is the young girl walking with? A. her niece B. her grandmother C. her baby sister

6. Perfect Book

What do the parent and child do while reading?

A. point and smile B. rip the pages C. skip pages

7. Bingo Daubers

What do people use bingo daubers for?

A. to mark their cards B. to tear their cards in half C. to throw

SEE ALSO: Wh Questions Free Questions Worksheets

8. kind of questions.

In what kind of questions is the answer a person?

A. where questions B. who questions     C. multiple choice questions

9. Variety of Picture s

What are we looking at the different pictures on?

A. a phone B. a computer C. photo album

10. Questions Peopl e

What is the reason this dog would question people? A. left alone B. forgot to be fed C. chained up 

11. Last Time

What big event is happening for these students? A. graduation B. testing      C. prom

12. Not Elementary School

What grade levels do you think this student is in? A. college B. elementary C. middle school

13. Average Child

What is the average child’s age in Kindergarten? A. 10 years old B. 5 years old C. 16 years old

14. Basic Questions

What is a situation that this man would have to answer basic questions?

A. job interview B. skiing C. baking

SEE ALSO: 31 Best Wordless Videos for Speech Therapy and Answer Wh Questions [Free Worksheets Included]

15. question cards.

What is this question card about? 

A. the flu shot B. the end of COVID  C. rules at the doctors

16. Enough Time

What does the dad make sure he has enough time to do at bedtime? 

A. read B. brush teeth C. rock the baby to sleep

17. Difficult Questions

What is this lady feeling about having to answer a difficult question?

A. confident B. upset C. happy

18. Great Way

What is a great way to celebrate? 

A. balloons   B. going on a walk C. playing video games

19. Consistent Activity

What consistent activity does she do every morning? 

A. drink coffee B. go run C. yoga

20. Body Parts

What body part does the girl touch the soccer ball with? 

A. hand B. foot C. head

21. Classroom Teachers 

What subject is this teacher teaching?

A. math B. art C. chemistry

22. Older Kids

What activity did the older kids just complete?

A. go-kart racing B. built sandcastles C. soccer

23. Last Year

What paperwork is this person filling out from last year?

A. health forms B. taxes     C. resume

SEE ALSO: Yes or No Questions for Speech Therapy with Pictures [Freebie Included]

24. bingo chips.

What color of bingo chips are they using? 

A. yellow and black B. black and white C. pink and white

25. Community Helpers

What kind of community helpers are these?

A. nurses B. firefighters      C. policemen

26. Picture of a Boy

What is this boy doing?

A. swinging B. running C. painting

27. Action Words

What is the child jumping on? 

A. the bed B. a trampoline      C. a diving board

28. Non-Fiction Texts

What are the students looking at?

A. science textbook B. fairytale book      C. a pamphlet

29. Current Needs

What are these people doing to show what they think society needs?

A. protesting B. serving others    C. fighting with each other

30. Pictures of People

What are the girls using to take a picture?

A. phone B. camera     C. disposable camera

31. Child’s Day

What kind of day are the girls having?

A. a fun day B. a bad day     C. a boring day

32. Root of the Problem

What is the root of the problem in this video? 

A. the driver isn’t looking at the road B. the driver is too young to drive   C. the car is broken

33. Conversational Skills

What good conversational skills does the group demonstrate? 

A. interrupting one another B. taking turns sharing their ideas   C. not talking

Question Activities

Do you need different types of wh questions, such as who, what, when, where, why & how? Then be sure to check out the following resources:

• 179+ Free WH-Questions Worksheets
• 197+ Best WH-Questions Freebie Activities

Or if you’re looking for yes or no questions then be sure to check out my yes or no questions freebie resource here .

Question Cards

If you want a quick question cards overview page grab your free copy here .

Fisher Price

Here are a few of my favorite Fisher Price resources that are perfect for working on wh-questions!

Imaginary play is perfect for working on wh-questions. Use any of the Fisher-Price toy sets below to work on wh-questions.

For example:

• Who: Who is this? (while holding up a person)
• What: What do I need to cut the apple?
• When: When should the boy go to sleep?
• Where: Where did the sheep go? (Take items from the toy sets and place them in different or unexpected places and have the child tell you where they found them.)
• Why: Why is the baby sleeping?
• How: How do you cut a kiwi?

Fisher Price People

Fisher Price Fruit

Fisher Price Play House

Fisher Price Farm

Language Disorders

If you have other language students who need other speech therapy activities then be sure to check out my complete language skills resources .

Frequently Asked Questions:

Do you have language goals.

Yes! You can check out my complete list of language goals here!

Want Even More What Questions for Speech Therapy?

• 197+ Best WH Questions Speech Therapy Activities
• 253+ Yes or No Questions for Speech Therapy
• 179+ Free Speech Therapy WH Questions Printable
• 31 Best Wordless Videos for Answering WH Questions

Want the Best of the Bests?

Be sure to check out our most popular posts below!

• 21 Best Reinforcement Games for Speech Therapy / Teletherapy
• Best IEP Resources
• 71+ Free Social Problem-Solving Scenarios
• 430+ Free Multisyllabic Words List Activity Bundle
• 432+ Free Measurable IEP Goals and Objectives Bank
• 279+ Free Speech Therapy Digital Materials
• 179+ Free Speech Therapy Wh-Questions Printable

Thursday 20th of October 2022

These are great! Thank you