Building Your Word Lists

Generic speech apps offer pre-built word sets. But aphasia affects everyone differently—and what matters most is the vocabulary that fits your life. Building your own word lists puts you in control and makes practice meaningful.

Why Personalized Lists Work Better

When words are tied to real situations—people you see, things you do, places you go—practice feels relevant. You’re not drilling random nouns; you’re reinforcing the words you need to say “good morning” to a neighbor, order a coffee, or talk about your garden. That kind of practice supports both recovery and daily communication.

Categories That Make Sense

Daily life

Start with words you use every day: greetings, meals, getting dressed, the bathroom, the kitchen. Add phrases for appointments, weather, and time. These form the backbone of functional communication.

Hobbies and interests

Gardening, cooking, sports, music, pets—whatever you love. If you care about it, you’ll use it. Building categories around interests keeps practice motivating and useful.

People and relationships

Family names, friends, caregivers, healthcare providers. Being able to say or type the names of the people in your life is powerful for connection and for getting help when you need it.

Tips for Caregivers and SLPs

• Involve the person. Ask what they want to say more easily. Use their interests and routines to suggest categories.
• Start small. A short list used every day beats a long list used once. Add words gradually.
• Use the words in real life. Practice in the app, then use the same words in conversation, messages, or notes.
• Combine with voice. If the tool supports it, use text-to-speech and recording so the person hears the word and can compare their own production.

Making It Stick

Review and repeat. Add new words as needs change. Copy-paste words into messages or notes so they’re available when it matters. The goal isn’t perfection—it’s communication that works for you.

Personalized word lists turn practice into something that belongs to the person with aphasia. Build what you need, use it every day, and adjust as life changes.