Speech therapy aids are specially created games, cards, construction sets and other tools that help speech therapists and parents develop a child’s speech. But there are so many choices on the market that it can be hard to know where to start.
What are speech therapy aids?
Speech therapy aids are specially created educational tools used to develop speech and communication skills. They are intended both for professional speech therapists and for parents at home. The aids help to:
- Improve articulation and sound pronunciation
- Expand vocabulary and the ability to form sentences
- Develop auditory recognition and memory
- Strengthen oral motor skills
- Build communication and social-language skills
How to choose the right speech therapy aid?
1. Consider the child’s age
Different aids suit children of different ages. For small children (2–4 years) large cards with bright pictures and simple words learned through play are most suitable. For older children (5–8 years) – sequencing cards, association games and sound lotto.
2. Identify which area needs developing
Before buying an aid, it is important to understand in which area the child needs help:
- Oral motor skills – choose ARK Therapeutic aids, a Z-Vibe or chewable tools
- Language knowledge and vocabulary – educational picture cards are suitable (animals, food, actions)
- Sequencing and storytelling skills – sequencing cards, sequence pictures
- Auditory development – Garsų loto, sound memory games
- Sensory integration – tactile toys, weighted loads
3. Choose aids from professional manufacturers
Not all aids are the same. We recommend choosing trusted manufacturers: ARK Therapeutic – oral motor skills tools from US specialists, widely used all over the world. AKROS – a Polish manufacturer of educational aids whose products are recommended by speech therapists and educators across Europe.
The most common mistakes when choosing a speech therapy aid
Mistake No. 1: Buying by appearance, not by purpose. A pretty toy does not necessarily develop what the child needs. Always read the description and the intended purpose.
Mistake No. 2: Buying too much at once. It is better to start with 1–2 targeted aids and observe how the child responds.
Mistake No. 3: Choosing an aid that is too complex. If it is too hard for the child, they will quickly lose interest. Start with simpler aids and move on to more complex ones.
Recommended speech therapy aids from our range:
- Garsų loto with 120 sound cards – for auditory and speech development
- Sequence pictures – a speech therapy game for language development
- Z-Vibe® vibrating tool – for developing oral motor skills
- ARK Textured Grabber® – a sensory chewable tool
- Sound memory – a speech and hearing development game
Where to buy quality speech therapy aids in Lithuania?
O. K. Žaislai offers a wide range of speech therapy aids: ARK Therapeutic oral motor skills tools, AKROS educational aids, Garsų loto, sequencing cards and much more. All aids are selected in collaboration with speech therapists and we deliver throughout Lithuania.
Well-chosen speech therapy aids help children overcome speech barriers faster and turn the learning process into an enjoyable game. We invite you to browse our entire range, in which the speech therapy aids are carefully selected to ensure effective and engaging development at home or in specialists’ offices.