Universally compatible with
all Apple devices
Pocket SLP
Pocket SLP (which stands for Speech and Language Pathology or Pathologist) is a tool designed to be used by parents or speech path's to help with articulation delays or disorders. Since every kid with autism has problems pronouncing sounds correctly this seems like a great autism app!
First off, Pocket SLP isn't exactly like having a speech therapist in your pocket. If it was, this app would be considerably more expensive and I'd probably buy it anyhow just to give my kid unlimited amounts of speech therapy! That's a nice thought, but I don't think that was the developer's intention. You'll still need a certified speech therapist to work with your child.
Pocket SLP is basically a huge deck of digital cards - but it's more than that. Pocket SLP keeps score for you, shows where the tongue should be positioned to correctly pronounce the sounds, audibly pronounces the sounds for you if desired, and more. If your child has problems with a certain sound only when that sound is in a certain position Pocket SLP allows you to set the cards so only those kind of words are used. And it has several words and pictures.
This app also has many settings that allow you to set this up just the way you need it. That's nice! In fact it has so many aspects you can customize, wisely hidden in your iPhone's settings area, that I don't have room to discuss them all here in this short review. But the option to use silly sounds will keep the younger ones engaged!
Some of the downsides of Pocket SLP are that you can only add names or 'clients' by using the contacts on your iPhone. You cannot just type in a name and I'm not sure why. That means in order to put your child's name into Pocket SLP you have to first add him as a contact. That's kinda awkward and inconvenient since my son lives with me at the same address, same phone, same everything. Why would I want to add my 8-year-old as a contact? And if you're a Speech Path, well guess what, you have to add all of your clients into your personal contacts list! There ought to be an option to simply type in a name.
Also, once you save your kid's score there is no way to delete it. It's there forever! Pocket SLP needs to have swipe deletion for this.
This is a well-thought out app that, in my opinion, is where you want to think about putting your money if you want a tool to help you help your child get those words out. But it's still no substitute for a good Speech Pathologist!
