Artificial Intelligence is everywhere these days — in customer service chats, troubleshooting bots, and the routing systems that get you to the right department. But beyond those everyday uses, AI has become a surprisingly helpful partner for SLPs.
We don’t need to understand the technical side to benefit from it. What matters is how it can make your work easier, more creative, and more personal.
AI refers to computer systems that generate text, images, or ideas based on patterns they’ve learned. It can feel futuristic or even intimidating, but at its core, AI processes information quickly — freeing your time and energy for the human connection that defines our work. In healthcare, you’ll often hear the term augmented intelligence, which is intentionally different from artificial intelligence. Augmented intelligence emphasizes supporting clinicians rather than replacing them. It assumes the SLP remains the decision‑maker, and the technology simply enhances efficiency, creativity, and access to information. For our field, that distinction matters. We should rely on AI as a tool that augments our work — not as something that makes clinical decisions for us.
I didn’t think much about using AI for therapy prep until one morning, ten minutes before a session, I typed: “Create a 3–4 paragraph short story with five comprehension questions about two 4th graders who find a magic rock while trick‑or‑treating.” Seconds later, I had a charming little adventure. With a few tweaks, I personalized it for my students. They were more engaged because the material felt like it belonged to them.
That’s when I realized: AI isn’t here to replace us. It’s here to lighten the load.
1. Speed Up Prep
In the time it takes to type a prompt, AI can generate a list of 25 vocalic‑R words for a second grader, themed for Halloween, Valentine’s Day, or even Taco Appreciation Day. It can also produce:
Tasks that once took 20 minutes now take 20 seconds.
2. Personalize Therapy
Personalization is where AI shines. Adding details like reading level, interests, or routines helps you tailor materials instantly.
You can quickly:
This level of customization used to require hours. Now it’s a few thoughtful prompts.
3. Support Teletherapy
Teletherapy demands focused, digital‑ready materials. AI makes it easy to adapt content on the fly.
Use it to:
When everything happens on a screen, having a tool that can create content instantly is a game‑changer.
4. Reduce Burnout
AI can’t take away the emotional weight of our work, but it can remove the repetitive tasks that drain your energy.
It helps you:
Burnout often comes from the volume of small tasks, not the therapy itself. AI helps shrink that pile.
The Secret Is in the Prompt
Think of prompting like giving directions to an eager graduate student: the clearer you are, the better the results.
Strong prompts include:
And don’t be afraid to revise. Small changes can completely transform the output.
Ethics & Boundaries
Professional organizations consistently emphasize the same guidelines: protect privacy, maintain human oversight, avoid bias, and use AI as a supportive tool — not a clinical decision‑maker. This is exactly where augmented intelligence comes in. AI can help you brainstorm, draft, or adapt materials, but you remain the clinician. Your judgment, your ethics, and your relationship with the student guide every decision.
That means:
AI is a content generator, not a clinician.
The Takeaway
AI isn’t about replacing your expertise. It’s about outsourcing the busywork so you can spend more time doing what only you can do: connecting with students, personalizing therapy, and bringing creativity into every session. Used wisely, AI becomes less of a trend and more of a practical partner in your daily work.
Author: Christine Nichols, M.S. CCC-SLP