Bottom Line: A comprehensive expressive language app good for speech-language pathologists, useful for all ages. The data collection and content make it a good buy, and a free version (with one deck free) allows the user to try it before committing to the full price. **On sale 20 percent off through Dec. 28.**
Get this great app for developing expressive language, and support Smart Apps for Kids at the same time! (iPad ONLY, requires iOS 6.0 or higher)
FREE version with in-app purchases:
Full version ($29.99 — $24.99 until Dec. 28):
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In-app purchases in the FREE version only.
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The newest app from Expressive Solutions is one I’m really glad to add to my SLP app list. They also developed one of the first apps I ever used in therapy (and one I still use frequently today), ArtikPix, making me very excited to try out this newest app.
Of course, readers should know immediately that this is an app designed for therapy, to be used by a professional. The cost is higher, but with that cost comes an app that can be used effectively in therapy. There is a free version, too, though, including one deck (77 cards) free, and the other decks available by in-app purchase. This is likely a more reasonable option for parents and other non-professional users.
There are many great features to LinguaPix. First, the app can be set up with multiple users, making it great for SLPs to collect data easily on each client or student. Even better, up to eight users can be selected to use at a time, allowing the user to track data on eight different students without having to go back to the main menu.
Most SLPs reading this review likely just shuddered at the thought of eight in a group! But LinguaPix is a great tool for use in the classroom, too, for RTI activities and for push-in therapy where a center group might be larger.
Each user’s content is set up individually. This is a feature I love, though I admit with a high caseload it can take me some time to do well. This customization makes it great for use in bigger groups, though, where one student may be working on basic concepts, another might be targeting 3-4 word sentences, while still another can work on all skills. The SLP or adult setting up the content can choose which grammar skills to target, which describing skills should be presented (for attributes, nouns, verbs, and wh-questions), and the matching level desired for the matching game. The individual decks presented can be selected for each user, too.
There is even ability to customize the pictures when using LinguaPix. At the simplest level, the picture cards available to each user can be selected. Individual cards within a deck can also be unselected, allowing the decks to be customized to an individual’s needs. I could easily see it used as a means to target specific speech sounds — the 62 cards in the animals deck could be selected to include all of those with the /s/ sound or those with final consonants.
At the highest level of customization, new decks can even be added! The category or deck name is added first, with an image from the camera or photo roll. Then the user adds individual cards, complete with image, word/phrase, simple sentence, compound/complex sentence, and question and descriptions to be included. The user also records the audio for the unique word, phrase, and sentences added.
This is where I continually fall short as an SLP, but those with far better organizational skills than I will really appreciate the option. Making decks of cards for the specific child’s environment, school activity, or other meaningful vocabulary is an excellent feature, even if it will take time to customize.
Thankfully, LinguaPix includes a total of 1035 cards — adding cards is not necessary to make full use of the app. There are three different activities to use with all cards, and all three include scoring and the ability to use in a group. The first, the simple flashcards game, takes the classic flashcard app and kicks it into high gear for the SLP. Each picture is presented with four different options: Say It (expressive labeling), Repeat It (text and audio presented), Expand It (with four different levels for sentence production), and Describe It (with various question types presented that match the picture).
The pictures presented are vivid, full-color pictures. I also really liked the number of actions (verbs) included in each deck. Food and drink, a category often dominated by simple labeling, includes things like “biting an apple,” “calling a server,” “drinking milk,” and “licking a popsicle.” This is something missing from most card decks, even non-electronic card decks, and really helps focus on functional communication.
There’s even more I haven’t described about this app. The data collection is great, and watching the video on the LinguaPix site uncovered even more ways to customize how content is presented. The app was clearly developed by speech-language pathologists, and very thoughtfully put together.
There are only a few things I thought could be improved in this comprehensive therapy app. First, I found it a bit difficult to easily modify content for a user after initially setting up a username. It’s not really hard, but took me awhile to find — first tap any one of the activities, tap “edit” in the bottom left, and finally tap the desired name.
There were also a few grammar errors that result from using a standard question set. On a picture of the plural “tank tops,” for instance, the questions all refer to the singular, using “it.” This is clearly not a major issue, but something that will irritate most SLPs in an extended session.
There is also a great tutorial for how to use the app. I found it very important to help me get going quickly in the use of the app. However, it did not provide information on the whole app — only the flashcard activity is described, not the matching and “pick or spin” options. Of course, understanding how to utilize the matching option was not difficult. The unique pick and spin game, though, was a little more difficult for me to understand. I am still not sure I’m fully utilizing all of its benefits. It’s a fun spinner, combining picture cards and one of the expand-it or describe-it options for each picture.
Overall, this app is a welcome addition to the speech-language pathologist’s iPad. The ability to work on expressive language beyond flash cards, and while still collecting comprehensive data is wonderful, and most SLPs will appreciate the great flexibility of its use. Those who can’t afford the full version will appreciate the ability to use the app for free with one deck, and add individual decks as desired with in-app purchases. It is highly recommended.
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As much as Heather H. loves this app, she is glad that she can't currently use it in therapy, since she's on vacation. SmartAppsForKids.com received a free copy of this app for review purposes. No other compensation was provided.
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