Best practices for incorporating non-aphasia-specific apps into therapy

Given the proliferation of tablets and smartphones, there is a rising desire to use these technologies and apps in clinical practice. This article offers best-practice guidelines for integrating apps into aphasia rehabilitation. In concert with evidence-based practice guidelines, it describes the steps for deciding which apps to consider and how to judge their appropriateness. We recommend a process for selecting apps that involves three stages. The first step is no different than that used in traditional treatment planning. It involves assessing the client's speech and language, selecting the focus of treatment, and identifying evidence-based approaches to addressing this focus. When technology is being considered, however, it is also necessary to assess sensory, motor, and cognitive requirements of the apps and hardware being considered, as well as the client's ability to operate this technology. Finally, the clinician must consider hardware and Internet demands of the app and whether these are accessible to the client. We illustrate the process through a description of three cases for which we used apps that were not specifically designed for aphasia to deliver evidence-based treatments.