Speech Therapy Ideas for Adults with Aphasia During Fall and Halloween

Fall brings opportunities to incorporate seasonal themes into speech practice sessions, especially for adults with aphasia. Using Halloween and autumn as a backdrop can make practice engaging and meaningful, tapping into memories, sensory experiences, and language practice.

Here are some creative ways to enhance speech therapy sessions for adults with aphasia during this festive time of year.

1. Autumn Sensory Descriptions

Engage the senses by using autumn-related objects. Bring in items like crunchy leaves, pumpkins, cinnamon sticks, or pinecones. Describe these objects using your available vocabulary or help you find the right words through prompts. This activity can be adjusted to focus on both expressive and receptive language skills. Sensory activities can stimulate word retrieval, description skills, and conversational flow, while also tapping into the emotions and nostalgia that fall can evoke.

Modification Idea: For individuals with more severe aphasia, encourage them to choose between two descriptions or fill in a blank (e.g., “The leaf is ____” [crunchy, smooth]).

2. Halloween-Themed Role Play

Role-playing scenarios can help simulate real-life communication, especially in social settings. Incorporate Halloween themes by pretending to hand out candy to trick-or-treaters, discussing costume ideas, or navigating a Halloween party. This gives adults with aphasia the chance to practice functional communication in a lighthearted, low-pressure setting.

Role-Playing Example:

• Friend or Loved One: “You’re at a Halloween party. Someone asks, ‘What’s your costume?’ How would you respond?”
• Adult with Aphasia (with support): “I’m dressed as a pirate.”

Role-playing can be a fun and effective way to build confidence in speaking during social events.

Also, check out our Halloween Fridge Functional Phrases for more ideas for this type of practice.

3. Fall Recipe Reading and Sequencing

Cooking activities are a practical and engaging way to work on language skills. Choose a simple fall recipe, like making a pumpkin pie or spiced cider, and go through the steps together. This task helps adults with aphasia practice sequencing, following instructions, and reading comprehension.

For those with more significant speech challenges, you can simplify the steps or use visual aids like pictures to help illustrate each stage of the recipe. This not only encourages language use but also gives them a sense of accomplishment once the task is completed.

4. Storytelling with Halloween Memories

Storytelling allows adults with aphasia to connect their past experiences with current language skills. Encourage them to share memories of Halloween or fall events from their childhood or past years. If needed, a friend or loved one can guide the conversation with simple yes/no questions or ask them to fill in key details to build their narrative.

For example:

• “Did you used to carve pumpkins as a child?”
• “What was your favorite Halloween costume?”

Reminiscing can help stimulate language retrieval while tapping into familiar, comforting memories.

5. Autumnal Picture Descriptions

Use Halloween or fall-themed picture cards to practice naming objects, describing scenes, or creating short sentences. Visual stimuli can be a helpful way to prompt language, especially when verbal communication is a challenge. Whether it’s a spooky haunted house or a harvest scene, picture-based activities can help elicit vocabulary related to both the season and everyday life.

For example, show a picture of a scarecrow and ask:

• “What is this?”
• “What colors do you see?”
• “What might this scarecrow be doing?”

Picture descriptions are flexible and can be adapted to each individual’s language ability.

6. Word Games with a Halloween Twist

Games like word searches, crosswords, or fill-in-the-blank exercises can be customized with Halloween or autumn vocabulary. Words like “ghost,” “pumpkin,” “leaves,” or “harvest” can be used to create a thematic language task. For adults with aphasia, adjusting the difficulty level is key—simplify the words or provide choices for those needing extra support.

For example:

• “The leaves ____ in the fall” (answer: fall, turn, change).

This activity helps with word retrieval and reinforces vocabulary in a fun, seasonal context.

7. Autumn Poetry Creation

For adults who enjoy creative expression, work together to write a simple poem about autumn or Halloween. This can be done through verbal prompts, written words, or even selecting words from a list. Poetry can be a powerful way to engage emotional and imaginative language.

A basic format like this can help get started:

• “In fall, the ____ leaves fall.”
• “The pumpkins are ____ and ____.”

Poetry creation encourages sentence formation, word choice, and fluency in a low-pressure, creative environment.

By incorporating fall and Halloween themes into speech practice for adults with aphasia, friends and loved ones can create engaging, meaningful activities that align with the season. Whether through storytelling, sensory experiences, or creative games, these festive ideas help foster communication skills while keeping speech practice enjoyable. The key is to tailor each activity to meet individual needs while providing opportunities for both growth and fun.

For support, questions, or if you need a friend to talk to who just “gets it,” please feel free to reach out to us at [email protected]. Don’t forget to follow us on Facebook and Instagram for the latest news from Aphasia Readers! If you haven’t picked up an Aphasia Readers book, order your copy HERE!

God Bless,

Anna Teal