Special needs · Speech sound disorders

Speech practice where every sound comes through clearly

Pencil Spaces gives students with articulation and phonological disorders clear audio, a full-size view of the mouth and picture cards on the board for practice.

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Area

Communication and interaction

Who it helps

Students with articulation or phonological disorders, speech-language pathologists, schools and families

What lessons need

Clear audio, a good view of the mouth, models to copy, short and frequent practice, specific feedback

In Pencil Spaces

8 features available today

Part of

Special needs, need by need

What do students with speech sound disorders need from an online lesson?

Speech sound disorders make some sounds hard to say or use correctly. Articulation disorders affect how a sound is made, and phonological disorders affect patterns of sounds. Progress comes from clear models, watching how sounds are made and practicing often.

Every sound comes throughNoise Cancellation · AvailableAI noise cancellation and echo reduction filter out background sound, so the therapist hears the student, not the room.
A clear view of the mouthVideo Layouts · AvailableOne person full size lets the student watch the therapist’s mouth, and the therapist watch theirs.
A mirror on screenPinned & Pop-out Video · AvailableResize self-view so the student can watch their own mouth like a mirror, beside the therapist’s video.
Picture cards for target wordsImages & Video · AvailableAdd a picture for each target word by upload, image search or a webcam photo.
Games and drills on the boardApp Library · AvailableOpen web-based speech games and drills on the board and play them together.
Word lists that stayPersistent Spaces · AvailableEvery board, note and drawing stays in the Space between lessons, so each lesson picks up where the last one ended.
Practice to hear backSession Recording · AvailableWith the family’s agreement, recordings let the student hear their own sounds back and notice progress.
Practice at homeLesson Summaries · AvailableA recap after each lesson, with a version for parents, lists the sounds and words to practice at home.

The features behind it

Why can online lessons be hard for students with speech sound disorders?

Speech therapy depends on hearing small differences between sounds. Compressed audio, echo and background noise blur exactly the sounds a student is working on.

Small video tiles make it hard to see the lips, teeth and tongue. Lag can put the picture and the sound out of step.

What does a lesson look like in Pencil Spaces?

The speech-language pathologist switches to one big face and says the target sound slowly. The student watches, then tries it while watching their own mouth in self-view.

Picture cards for five target words wait on the board. The student says each one, and the therapist marks a tick beside it.

How do therapists use Pencil Spaces with students with speech sound disorders?

Speech-language pathologists run articulation and phonology therapy 1:1 or in small groups. Place Students on Boards gives each student their own target words, while the therapist listens to one student at a time.

Teacher Notes, a private board only the therapist sees, holds the plan and the target list. Automatic Attendance records who joined and when, and the API can pass it to the system your team uses for service records.

Tips for teaching students with speech sound disorders online

Use a headset or a good microphone on both ends, and keep the room quiet.
Light your face from the front, so lips and teeth are easy to see.
Set the camera at face height, close enough to see the mouth clearly.
Run Tech Check with the family before therapy starts.
Send practice words home with pictures, so families can help during the week.

Good to know

Online speech therapy depends on clear audio, so the student’s microphone and connection matter. Tech Check tests both before therapy starts, and a headset on the student’s side helps most.

Questions people ask

Does articulation therapy work online?

Many speech-language pathologists deliver articulation and phonology therapy online. It works best with clear audio, a good view of the mouth and a headset on the student’s side. Pencil Spaces adds noise cancellation, a single-speaker view and picture cards on the board.

Can the therapist hear small sound errors online?

Usually, with a good microphone, a headset and a quiet room. Tech Check tests each microphone before therapy starts, and noise cancellation filters background sound so voices come through.

Can students see how to make a sound?

Yes. The single-speaker layout shows the therapist’s face full size, so the student can watch lips, teeth and tongue. Self-view can be resized, so the student can watch their own mouth like a mirror.

How do families help with practice at home?

Lesson Summaries include a version for parents with the sounds and words to practice. Boards stay in the Space and can be saved as an image, so practice cards can go home on paper too.