Helpful suggestions for children and adults having
difficulty with verbal expression and word finding.
+ Alphabet Boards
CONTENTS OF THIS PACKET:
Page 3: A handout explaining 12 word retrieval
strategies. This handout is in color and contains the
reasoning for the strategy.
Page 4: A black-ink version of the above mentioned
detailed handout,“12 Word Retrieval Strategies.”
Pages 5-6: One colored-ink and one black-ink only 12
Word Retrieval Strategies handouts containing
shorter explanations and bigger picture examples.
Pages 7-10: Alphabet Boards. Use these boards to
scan for the first letter of the word that is difficult
to verbally produce and retrieve.
©Copyright May 2018: Twin Speech, Language & Literacy LLC, Revisions made 1/18/2019
1) DESCRIBE: Say what
something does and what it
looks like. These are the
functions and physical
features and it will help your
listener guess what word
you’re stuck on.
2) SCAN: Use an alphabet
3) REST: Word retrieval is
board to help you think of the
first letter of the word.
Scanning for the first letter of
the word may be the trick to
coming up with the whole word.
much more difficult when you
are tired. Make sure to
incorporate a nap into a busy
day and to try to sleep at
least 8 to 10 hours every night.
5) WRITE: Write down the
6) PHONEMIC CUES:
word in a notebook that you
want to say, but can’t verbally
produce. Or write down the
first letter of the word if that
is all that you know. The
letter may trigger the word in
your mind.
Attempt to say the first
sound of a word if it is on the
“tip of your tongue.” Saying
the first sound of the word
may trigger the production of
the whole word. Family and
friends may be able to help
provide the start of words
too.
8) GESTURES: Use your
face, arms and whole body as
much as possible to show how
to use or to describe the word
that you are trying to produce.
9) SUBSTITUTE: Use a
E.g., PELICAN: has wings, can fly.
SAW: used for cutting wood, has
sharp, metal teeth.
4) STOP & TAKE A
BREATH: Word retrieval
becomes more difficult if you
are nervous, anxious, or feeling
embarrassed. First, stop, take
a breath, relax and then try
saying what you want to say
again slowly.
7) PRACTICE: Compile a list
of words that you are
frequently having trouble
producing and use that list to
practice saying them out loud
every day. To improve
functional independence, work
on naming the objects and
people in your own
environment.
10) DRAW: Draw the picture
of the word that you want to
produce. The act of drawing
and seeing the item may help
to trigger the word name so
that you may be able to
produce it verbally.
E.g., Move your arms up and walk
forward to gesture what it looks
like to push a lawnmower if you
can not think of the word
“lawnmower.” Or, spread
your arms wide to show
“big.”
11) FIND IT: Look the word
up in a place that it may be
pictured or where it may be
found among similar items.
Seeing the picture of the
similar items may trigger the
word. Or, use electronics and
call upon Siri or Alexa.
E.g., “Alexa, name some fruits and
some sports.”
synonym of the word that you
are having trouble saying.
Providing a synonym will not
change the meaning of your
sentence and will be a great
substitute for the word you’re
stuck on. E.g., If you can’t come
up with the word, “LARGE” say,
“big”, or “huge” instead or say
“present” for “gift.”
present
gift
12) GIVE YOURSELF A
BREAK: It is OK to tell
yourself that it is alright
to not have the ability to come
up with the word right away!
Your brain needs time to heal.
It is working overtime on
regenerating new neurons and
blood vessels since your brain
injury. Take a break and try to
say it later.
©2018 Twin Speech, Language & Literacy LLC
2) SCAN: Use an alphabet
board to help you think of the
first letter of the word.
Scanning for the first letter of
the word may be the trick to
coming up with the whole word.
3) REST: Word retrieval is
5) WRITE: Write down the
6) PHONEMIC CUES:
word in a notebook that you
want to say, but can’t verbally
produce. Or write down the
first letter of the word if that
is all that you know. The
letter may trigger the word in
your mind.
Attempt to say the first
sound of a word if it is on the
“tip of your tongue.” Saying
the first sound of the word
may trigger the production of
the whole word. Family and
friends may be able to help
provide the start of words
too.
7) PRACTICE: Compile a list
of words that you are
frequently having trouble
producing and use that list to
practice saying them out loud
every day. To improve
functional independence, work
on naming the objects and
people in your own
environment.
8) GESTURES: Use your
face, arms and whole body as
much as possible to show how
to use or to describe the word
that you are trying to produce.
9) SUBSTITUTE: Use a
synonym of the word that you
are having trouble saying.
Providing a synonym will not
change the meaning of your
sentence and will be a great
substitute for the word you’re
stuck on. E.g., If you can’t come
10) DRAW: Draw the picture
11) FIND IT: Look the word
of the word that you want to
produce. The act of drawing
and seeing the item may help
to trigger the word name so
that you may be able to
produce it verbally.
up in a place that it may be
pictured or where it may be
found among similar items.
Seeing the picture of the
similar items may trigger the
word. Or, use electronics and
call upon Siri or Alexa.
1) DESCRIBE: Say what
something does and what it
looks like. These are the
functions and physical
features and it will help your
listener guess what word
you’re stuck on.
much more difficult when you
are tired. Make sure to
incorporate a nap into a busy
day and to try to sleep at
least 8 to 10 hours every night.
E.g., PELICAN: has wings, can fly.
SAW: used for cutting wood, has
sharp, metal teeth.
4) STOP & TAKE A
BREATH: Word retrieval
becomes more difficult if you
are nervous, anxious, or feeling
embarrassed. First, stop, take
a breath, relax and then try
saying what you want to say
again slowly.
E.g., Move your arms up and walk
forward to gesture what it looks
like to push a lawnmower if you
can not think of the word
“lawnmower.” Or, spread
your arms wide to show
“big.”
E.g., “Alexa, name some fruits and
some sports.”
up with the word, “LARGE” say,
“big”, or “huge” or “enormous.”
instead. Or say “present” for
“gift.”
present
gift
12) GIVE YOURSELF A
BREAK: It is OK to tell
yourself that it is alright
to not have the ability to come
up with the word right away!
Your brain needs time to heal.
It is working overtime on
regenerating new neurons and
blood vessels since your brain
injury. Take a break and try to
say it later.
©2018 Twin Speech, Language & Literacy LLC
1) DESCRIBE: Say
what something does
and what it looks like.
2) SCAN: Use an
alphabet board to help
you think of the first
letter of the word.
3) REST: Make sure to
incorporate a nap into a
busy day and to try to
sleep at least 8 to 10
hours every night.
4) STOP & TAKE A
BREATH: Stop talking,
then, take a breath and
relax. Next, try saying
what you want to say
again slowly.
5) WRITE: Write down
the word in a notebook
that you want to say,
but can’t verbally
produce.
6) PHONEMIC CUES:
Attempt to say the
first sound of a word if
it is on the “tip of your
tongue.”
7) PRACTICE: Compile
a list of words that you
are frequently having
trouble producing and
use that list to practice
saying them out loud
every day.
8) GESTURES: Use
your face, arms and
whole body as much as
possible.
9) SUBSTITUTE: Use
a synonym of the word
that you are having
trouble saying.
present
gift
11) FIND IT: Look the
word up in a place that
it may be pictured or
where it may be found
among similar items.
12) GIVE YOURSELF
A BREAK: Your brain
often needs time to
heal. Take a break and
try to say it later.
©2018 Twin Speech, Language & Literacy LLC
10) DRAW: Draw the
picture of the word
that you want to
produce.
1) DESCRIBE: Say
what something does
and what it looks like.
2) SCAN: Use an
alphabet board to help
you think of the first
letter of the word.
3) REST: Make sure to
incorporate a nap into a
busy day and to try to
sleep at least 8 to 10
hours every night.
4) STOP & TAKE A
BREATH: Stop talking,
then, take a breath and
relax. Next, try saying
what you want to say
again slowly.
5) WRITE: Write down
the word in a notebook
that you want to say,
but can’t verbally
produce.
6) PHONEMIC CUES:
Attempt to say the
first sound of a word if
it is on the “tip of your
tongue.”
7) PRACTICE: Compile
a list of words that you
are frequently having
trouble producing and
use that list to practice
saying them out loud
every day.
8) GESTURES: Use
your face, arms and
whole body as much as
possible.
9) SUBSTITUTE: Use
a synonym of the word
that you are having
trouble saying.
present
gift
11) FIND IT: Look the
word up in a place that
it may be pictured or
where it may be found
among similar items.
12) GIVE YOURSELF
A BREAK: Your brain
often needs time to
heal. Take a break and
try to say it later.
©2018 Twin Speech, Language & Literacy LLC
10) DRAW: Draw the
picture of the word
that you want to
produce.
©2018 Twin Speech, Language & Literacy LLC
Directions: Point to the first letter of the word to initiate the production of the word. Or, spell out the whole word if needed.
Alphabet Board
©2018, Twin Speech, Language & Literacy LLC
Thank you so much for downloading a
Twin Speech, Language & Literacy LLC product!
We hope that you find these handouts and letter
boards useful for your clients who are working on
increasing their word-finding skills.
We work hard to make products that will result in a
productive speech therapy session. It would be great
to hear from you. Please email us at
shandagaunt@gmail.com if you would like to leave some
feedback today.
Sincerely,
Manda & Shanda
Speech-Language Pathologists
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Credit for the clip art used in this document.
©Copyright May 2018: Twin Speech, Language & Literacy LLC