223. Executive Function Problems? 5 strategies that Actually Work

Every child on your caseload is at greater risk for executive function challenges. So what do we do about it? In this episode, I share five powerhouse strategies that I use every single day in my speech therapy. These strategies have executive function baked right in. You can start using them tomorrow to treat the whole child, not just the speech or language goal. Here is what I cover: Strategy 1: Problem, Plan, Action, Check. I teach children this four-step process using gestures. Gestures let me stop talking. When I stop talking, the child does the idea retrieval, the word retrieval, and the motor planning. The child does the push-ups. I stay in the passenger seat. Strategy 2: Multiple-step movement activities. I use hands-off, task-oriented movement activities with four steps. The child says their complex target, selects from an array using language clues, completes an obstacle course, and checks their checklist. This builds working memory, inhibitory control, sustained attention, and cognitive flexibility all at once. Strategy 3: Powerhouse conjunctions. I embed the words first, next, then, lastly, and because into every session. These billion-dollar tier-two words help children organize their ideas, tell stories, and express frustration with words rather than behaviors. This is one of the most pivotal language skills a child can develop. Strategy 4: Describing novel activities. Once the scaffolds are memorized, children use them to describe brand new activities on their own. I cue with gestures only. They come up with the language themselves. This is where automaticity turns into spontaneous, generative language. Strategy 5: Complex speech targets in paragraph form. The more severe the speech sound disorder, the greater the risk for executive function challenges. I embed complex speech targets into paragraphs built on those powerhouse conjunctions. I get two for the price of one. I improve speech, language, and executive function together. This is not your mama's therapy. I challenge you to take just one of these strategies and put it into your sessions this week. Ready to skip the prep work? Join the SIS membership at https://www.kellyvess.com/sis to receive complex, ready-to-use speech and language targets that improve executive function while targeting your goals. Join for just one month, grab the treatment targets, and see what happens on your back porch. Looking forward to you joining me at the SIS intervention drawing board, 💚KellyVessSLP 00:00 Why Executive Function Matters 00:21 Five Strategies Overview 00:49 Problem Plan Action Check 01:45 Gestures and Checklists 03:17 Movement Tasks Without Touch 04:40 Building Working Memory and Focus 07:12 Powerhouse Sequencing Language 08:49 From Scripted to Automatic 10:22 Describe Novel Activities 12:05 Speech Targets and Wrap Up