Kelsey Stauffer, M.S., CCC-SLP
AI-powered tools are improving speech therapy for clients and the clinicians who serve them. AI allows speech therapists to be more present in sessions and capture richer data to use in progress tracking and treatment. This leads to a better experience and outcomes for people in speech therapy.
Key takeaways
AI speech therapy tools can transcribe sessions and draft clinical notes, reducing the amount of time speech therapists spend on documentation. This allows the therapist to focus more fully on client interaction.
AI tools can also improve the quality of clinical information being captured. Language analysis can track metrics such as word usage and rate of speech, helping the speech therapist better plan care and track progress.
The best results come when AI and human expertise work side by side. AI handles data capture and analysis for clinician review. The clinician focuses on treatment planning and relationship building.
Speech therapy that gets results
At Expressable, our research-based care model delivers meaningful outcomes for kids and adults. See our results from more than 13,000 clients.
See our outcomesThe challenge facing speech therapists today
Speech-language pathologists, also known as speech therapists, are dedicated healthcare professionals. But there is a shortage of speech therapists in the U.S., and they’re stretched thin. In addition to direct client care, speech therapists manage session documentation, treatment planning, and progress tracking. The administrative side of the job can quietly chip away at what matters most: time and energy spent with clients. That's where AI comes in.
How AI is impacting speech therapy
Allowing speech therapists to be more present
The most meaningful impact AI is having on speech therapy is happening in actual therapy sessions. AI tools can transcribe sessions and draft clinical notes for speech therapists to review and use in documentation.
When a speech therapist doesn't have to divide their attention between a client and note-taking, their attention stays where it matters most. That leads to a better experience for the client, powering more progress.
Expressable speech therapists who use Scout, our AI-powered clinical documentation tool, describe it this way:
"I can interact more wholly, without pausing for significant note-taking, allowing me to engage with the client more often."
"I like knowing [AI] is summarizing my therapeutic techniques and activities, so I can focus on clients and be in the moment."
“Patients have noted that they like how in-depth the documentation is, and I know that it is thanks to AI!”
"[AI] has greatly decreased the amount of time I spend on session notes. It has allowed me to be more present during the session, rather than taking notes on everything the client has said."
“In speech and language therapy, a fully engaged clinician delivers meaningfully better care. AI-assisted documentation makes this easier to achieve,” says Leanne Sherred, MS, CCC-SLP, President and Chief Clinical Officer at Expressable.
Expressable has been accredited by The Joint Commission for providing high-quality speech therapy for children and adults.
Improving the quality of clinical care
Presence is one piece of the puzzle. The other is clinical depth.
AI speech therapy tools don't just reduce documentation burden. They improve the quality of clinical information being captured. When more of a session is accurately documented and analyzed, a client’s treatment can be better planned and tracked.
At Expressable, one way we use AI to improve clinical care is through automated language sampling. With the client’s consent, we record therapy sessions. Our AI tool can then analyze the recording, identify patterns, and flag potential areas of concern in a person’s speech. AI can also provide key metrics for the clinician to review, such as mean length of utterance (MLU, or how long a person’s sentences are) and words per minute (how fast they talk).
Better documentation means clinicians have a clearer picture of what's working, what isn't, and where to go next.
Gathering these metrics traditionally requires close manual tracking by the speech therapist. It’s a time-consuming task, and it takes away from time spent interacting with the client. However, when AI captures the data, the speech therapist can focus on interpreting the findings and adjusting treatment as needed. When the therapist knows the type of vocabulary a person is using, how fast they’re speaking, or how long their sentences are, they can tailor the person’s care plan to treat exactly what they need—moving the client closer and closer to meeting their therapy goals.
Here’s how Expressable speech therapists explain it:
“It’s great to be able to use the analytics piece in sessions with clients to talk about their specific filler-word usage or MLU, which is something that I wouldn’t have good data on without Scout. Clients who are working on pacing, word finding, and thought organization find this feature especially helpful.”
“I have used language sampling during initial evaluations and during treatment sessions while obtaining baseline and progress levels. I've noticed remarkable feedback overall with content, language structure, and cognitive-linguistic aspects, which is incredibly valuable during both evaluation and treatment sessions.”
In short, the effect of these AI tools on treatment planning is significant. “Better documentation means clinicians have a clearer picture of what's working, what isn't, and where to go next,” Sherred says.
Protecting patient privacy in speech therapy
At Expressable, we prioritize our clients’ privacy. Client consent is always required in order to record sessions for summaries and language analysis. Our AI tools follow strict data protection rules, and we use HIPAA-protected Zoom to keep our clients’ information secure. Recordings are automatically deleted after they are transcribed and analyzed.
Can AI “take over” speech therapy? Discover the possibilities and limits of AI in speech therapy and how it can improve patient care.
AI as a partner in speech therapy, not a replacement
It's important to be clear about what AI does and doesn't do in speech therapy. AI doesn't replace the clinical judgment, creativity, and relational skills of a skilled speech therapist. In fact, a strong, trusting relationship with their speech therapist is a key part of a client’s growth and progress. Researchers and clinicians agree that the best outcomes come from a “human-in-the-loop” approach. AI handles data capture and analysis for clinician review, while the clinician focuses on treatment planning and relationship building.
What AI changes is the conditions under which great speech therapy happens. It lessens administrative burden on the therapist and provides richer data about what’s happening in sessions. “That gives the speech therapist more time to connect with their client, build rapport, and provide the highest quality speech therapy,” Sherred says.
Personalized speech therapy that gets results
At Expressable, our therapists use Scout, an AI-powered tool designed for speech-language pathology. With Scout, we can deliver more personalized, data-driven care without sacrificing the human connection that’s needed in speech therapy. Our results show that it works: 96% of our clients make progress toward their care plan goals within the first five sessions. You can find the right speech therapist for yourself or a loved one here. Are you an SLP? Learn about working at Expressable and join a team that invests in tools that let you do your best work.
Frequently asked questions (FAQs)
No, AI will not take the place of speech therapists. AI can’t make clinical decisions or build a relationship with a patient. What AI can do is make speech therapy more efficient, freeing up the therapist to focus more on client care.
The speech therapist still plans treatment, assesses the client’s development, and provides the human connection and support that's essential. With the therapist's oversight, AI can support certain routine tasks, such as documentation, language analysis, and progress tracking.
There are several factors to consider, such as your child's needs, the therapist's qualifications, your budget or insurance coverage, and your family’s schedule. You can start by contacting your pediatrician for a referral, or your insurance company for a list of in-network speech therapists. See our guide to finding a speech therapist for more helpful tips.
How Expressable Can Help
Concerned your child isn't reaching age-expected milestones? Looking for communication support from a professional? Expressable is a national online speech and occupational therapy practice serving children and adults. We treat all major areas of communication, feeding, and developmental skills, offer flexible hours including evenings and weekends, and accept most major health insurance plans. We’re proud to have earned more than 4,500 5-star reviews from our clients (4.83/5 average).
Our therapy model is centered on parent and caregiver involvement. Research proves that empowering caregivers to participate in their loved one’s therapy leads to better outcomes. That’s why we combine live, 1-on-1 speech and occupational therapy with personalized education and home practice activities for faster progress.
