When you open up the app, you are shown the screen above. There are red arrows that tell you how to use the app and how to score the screener. You can skip the instruction by tapping "Skip" in the upper right hand corner. If you do, it will be shown the next time you launch the app. You can also tap "Don't Show Again" in the upper left hand corner to avoid seeing the prompts again.
Once you touch "Screen," you will be prompted to add a Client Name. The app does not allow you to move along without adding a last name so, for the purposes of this review, I screened Khloe Kardashian :)
Once your clients are entered, you will select one, then choose if you want to complete a "Full Screen" or a "Basic Screen."
Full Screen
With this option, you can screen sounds in both initial and final word positions. You will see an image with a printed word:
The target phonemes are printed in green (correct). If a child does not produce the sound correctly, you can tap the letter(s) to record as incorrect (red) or approximate (yellow):
Notice the blue Menu bar across the top? If you tap the Pocket SLP logo, you will return to the home screen. Tapping the X will exit the screen. Tapping the star will allow you to enter a phonological process:
Tapping the speaker icon will provide the student with a spoken model of the target word. Tapping the conversation bubble will allow you to add notes:
Basic Screen
This option allows for screening in the initial position only.
In the Basic Screen, the target sound is highlighted in red. You tap the green check to mark as accurate, the red X to mark as incorrect, and the yellow approximation sign for "close/sometimes."
At the end of the basic screen, there are a few questions about phonological processes. Here's an example:
I found that had to think a little extra on these. This is because, in the previous items, "good" productions are marked with the green "Yes," and inaccurate productions are marked with the red "No." For these questions, absence of the phonological process (or "good" productions) are marked by tapping the red "No."
When you are finished with either screening option, you are provided with a Phonetic Inventory report. I love that the phonemes are broken down by age. This is a great way to show parents what sounds a child should have and what sounds are/are not age appropriate to be targeting.
 |
| Summary report, screen 1 |
 |
| Summary report, screen 2 |
I love this app for a few reasons. Mostly, it's a quick and easy way to screen for articulation. I don't only use articulation screeners for screening purposes. I also use various screeners to monitor progress/probe for targets with my current artic kiddos. This one is highly motivating for the students. Let's face it, what student doesn't prefer to do activities on the iPad?!? I also love that the report is grouped by age expectations. This make the results clearer for parents and teachers.
I would like to note that I did find myself making notes on a sticky pad rather than in-app. This is partly because I found it awkward to take the iPad back from the student so I could type my notes...and they didn't want to wait for me to do this either! I was thinking that I would like to see a way to add notes to the comments section after the screener is finished. However, you can email the report to yourself by tapping the gray arrow in the upper right corner of the report. You can then add your notes to your email.
Have you tried Articulation Screener? What do you think? Have you tried any other apps by Pocket SLP? What's your favorite?
