AI in Speech Therapy: Using Artificial Intelligence to Create Lesson Plans and Learning Materials

How is AI Changing the Way We Work?

Artificial Intelligence (AI) refers to technology that can perform tasks that we used to think were uniquely human. It problem solves, recognizes patterns, assists with decision making, answers questions and even generates text and images based off of large amounts of data. The use of AI is growing in the fields of education and healthcare, assisting with tasks like outlines, organization, lesson planning, and developing therapy materials.

Speech-language pathologists (SLP) can use AI to save time and enhance therapy preparation. Administrative tasks can be streamlined, lesson plans outlined, and therapy materials generated efficiently. AI is best used as a support tool and it does not replace professional expertise. A lesson plan is only effective if it aligns with the target goals. Therapy materials are only helpful if they provide the appropriate targets for clients. For this reason, SLPs must use AI with a clinical eye to review, revise, evaluate, and edit the content to ensure that it meets the needs of the client. 

How SLPs Use AI to Create Therapy Materials

AI can be effectively used to generate lesson plans, activities, and materials tailored to specific speech and language goals. Instead of searching the internet or finding the correct page in a book, creating an articulation word list or a practice activity can be done quickly and easily with the correct prompts. If given specific prompts, it can aid in developing language intervention activities for vocabulary, grammar, and comprehension in seconds. Many AI platforms can even turn the idea into a printable worksheet, picture list, or word list. It can also be used to create scenarios, conversation prompts, and narratives for questioning. If an SLP has an activity that they love, but it is too easy or too difficult for the client they have in mind, AI can be used to adapt the material for a different age or ability level. 

For example, here is a printable page generated using ChatGPT with the prompt: “Create an articulation word list for a 3 year old client for final consonant deletion targeting final /t/. Create a printable with pictures.” The original output included some words that did not end with final /t/, therefore, the next prompt was, “There are several words on this page that do not end with /t/. Create another printable only using final /t/.”  The entire process took less than 2 minutes. 

What are the Benefits of AI in Speech Therapy?

Increased efficiency, fresh ideas, personalization, differentiation, and lesson planning become quicker and easier using AI. While the output may not be perfect and still need editing, with the correct prompt, preparation time can be drastically reduced when making plans. Adapting or changing the level of an activity can also be streamlined. New clinicians and graduate students who have not yet built extensive collections of therapy materials may find AI especially helpful, provided they carefully review all content for accuracy and appropriateness.

Limitations and Ethical Considerations

AI has limitations and ethical standards should always be considered. AI makes mistakes and SLPs should always review any materials for accuracy and appropriateness. Client names and information should never be input into AI systems to avoid breaching confidentiality. AI should not be used as a replacement of the SLP, rather it should be a complement to the SLP’s evidence-based practice and clinical judgment.  

Preparing Future SLPs for an AI-Enhanced Profession

It is crucial that professors and supervisors instruct graduate students on how to use AI responsibly. Allowing the time to crucially evaluate AI-generated content for errors and appropriateness is time well spent. Students and new SLPs should also learn to balance the technology with the human connection and individualized care that they should always provide. In the future, AI may help in several areas of communication sciences and disorders and the education of future SLPs including case studies, simulations, and further planning.  

AI is changing the way we work in the field of SLP helping us work more efficiently. It can aide us as we create and adapt materials and lesson plans. When used responsibly, it benefits SLPs as they provide therapy, but also has limitations and considerations for ethical practice. In the future, it may aid in ways that haven’t even been thought of yet. 

"Try It Yourself" AI Examples and Discussion

1. “Create an articulation word list for a 3 year old client for final consonant deletion targeting final /t/. Create a printable with pictures.” using ChatGPT. See results
2. “Create an activity for working on past tense grammar markers for a second grader with a significant language delay.”  See results
3. 'Create a 30-minute speech therapy lesson plan for a first-grade student working on /s/ blends with activities appropriate for a school setting."  See results
4. “Attention tasks for a 35-year-old with post-concussive syndrome and vision sensitivities with screen-selective, divided and sustained attention tasks using non-controversial new articles or the like.” (Credit -Caroline Gammill) See results
5. “List of printout functional multisyllabic words and phrases for client with severe mixed dysarthria.” (Credit- Caroline Gammill) See results

These examples yielded fairly accurate and appropriate results. When looking at the results of number 2, as an SLP, I would check to make sure that none of the past tense words were irregular. The next thing that I would look at would be to make sure that the -ed words were all similar in pronunciation. These appear to mixed the both the pronunciation /ɛd/ and /d/ so I would either recreate the list in a cohesive manner, or, if I knew the student was ready, use it as a teaching opportunity. 

As I look at the results for number 3, I noticed that it required me to gather some materials. If I had those materials, I would check for the accuracy of the word lists and developmental appropriateness of the tasks. If I do not have those materials, I would tell ChatGPT exactly what I did and did not have and further prompt it. I would also make sure any of the multisyllable words were appropriate. The lesson plan also gives the SLP the opportunity the challenge the student with work in sentences if they deem it appropriate for the student. 

The results for number 4 include several options and require a printer and a few other common supplies. I would also edit it to include a compensatory or metacognitive approach for attention management (Credit- Caroline Gammill).

The results for number 5 should be edited to include a compensatory communication approach, like writing or typing on their phone if someone is having trouble understanding them (Credit- Caroline Gammill).