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Games useful for speech therapy
Bill Andel
United States
Tucson
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I have a good friend who suffered head injuries in a recent accident and is now in rehab. He is clearly able to understand what people are saying to him and can respond with gestures. He is able to write intelligibly. He can respond with short phrases and uses simpler common ones like "hello", "yes", "no" and "thank you" correctly. Longer sentences, however, are somewhat problematic. He produces syntactically correct and logically consistent sentences, but his choices of words and phrases are rather unusual. I don't know if doctors would call what he has aphasia, or not, but he is getting speech therapy.

It has been suggested that games could help him. I've put the best few games that I could think of to start this list. Please add your own recommendations, keeping in mind that any additions should probably be word games that involve speaking. I'd also appreciate thumbs and comments to keep this list visible on the front page so that more people will see it to contribute to it. Thanks for your help.
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Posted Mon Jul 16, 2007 9:49 pm
1. Board Game: Apples to Apples [Average Rating:6.57 Overall Rank:586]
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Bill Andel
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I'm planning to give my friend the "Party Crate" Edition, which comes with all the expansions in a nice wooden box.
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Edited Mon Jul 16, 2007 9:45 pm
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2. Board Game: Once Upon a Time [Average Rating:6.54 Overall Rank:678]
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Bill Andel
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This story-telling party game seems like another good option.
3. Board Game: Taboo [Average Rating:6.38 Overall Rank:812]
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Bill Andel
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This is another party game that might help my friend.
4. Board Game: Pictionary [Average Rating:5.83 Overall Rank:2356]
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Bill Andel
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I'm ambivalent with regards to this one - it does not involve as much verbalization as other games on this list, but it would help assess and improve association of words with the objects and/or concepts for which they stand. I'd be interested in the opinion of others in this regards (especially if you have relevant professional experience, which I do not).
5. Board Game: The Big Idea [Average Rating:6.39 Overall Rank:1057]
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Matt Davis
United States
Madison
Wisconsin
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Another story-telling type of game. A Cheapass game, you get cards with nouns and adjectives (as shown) and put them together to make an invention that you then try to get other players to invest in. Not much game, to be quite honest, but lots of potential for humor and craziness makes it fun nonetheless.
6. Board Game: Beyond Balderdash [Average Rating:6.79 Overall Rank:548]
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Brian Thompson
United States
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Balderdash may be similar to "Once upon a time ...".
It might be good.
Bill Andel
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I've been mulling that one, Brian, and I think it might be a good one, too. I've rejected "tile-laying" word games such as Scrabble and Upwords because his writing skills are OK.

Edit: after reviewing this one, I think it would not be so helpful since it relies on words which are obscure to begin with. Thingamajig (below) sounds similar.
Edited Tue Jul 17, 2007 7:39 pm
7. Board Game: Thingamajig [Average Rating:6.37 Overall Rank:1760]
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Nathan Beeler
United States
Shoreline
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Perhaps this would help. Creating clues for the words in this game is completely open, but generally requires a little thought to make sure you get an optimal score. Also, it's just a damned fun game.
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el Van
United States
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Michigan
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Sorry about your friend. I sent the thread to my aunt who is a speech therapist AND a gamer! Be interesting to get her take on it.
Cheers,
Van
Edited Tue Jul 17, 2007 12:38 am
Bill Andel
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vandemonium wrote:
Sorry about your friend. I sent the thread to my aunt who is a speech therapist AND a gamer! Be interesting to get her take on it.
Cheers,
Van

Thanks, Van, that is excellent! I'm definitely interested in hearing her suggestions.
David Kershaw
Ireland
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I have twins who are having speech therapy. They are too young for games at the moment, but I will bear this list in mind & many thanks for posting a worthwhile list. Eventually I aim to get them playing monster wargames, but small starts first...
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