Communication Repair Strategies Handout
Have you ever explained communication breakdown strategies 100 times, only to realize your students still default to walking away or repeating the same phrase over and over? Same. That’s why I created this handout.
This resource breaks down five communication repair strategies:
- Repetition
- Revision
- Addition
- Nonverbal communication
- Nothing
Each strategy is paired with a clear example sentence and a visual to reinforce understanding. The visuals are intentionally designed to be fun but not childish, ideal for elementary, middle, or high school students who benefit from concrete examples and visual supports.
Why it works:
- Great for students with reduced intelligibility due to articulation, phonology, or fluency disorders.
- Supports pragmatic language goals, especially around conversation maintenance, breakdown repair, and perspective-taking.
- Can be used as a visual reminder during sessions, added to communication notebooks, or even sent home for carryover practice.
As a bonus, I clearly label “No response” as inappropriate, because so many of my students with social or speech challenges either shut down or walk away when misunderstood. This helps validate their frustration while guiding them toward more productive strategies.
Whether you're an SLP, special education teacher, or general education teacher supporting speech students, this quick-reference tool can make a big difference in how your students navigate communication challenges.
Use it during:
- Therapy sessions
- Social groups
- Push-in lessons
- Self-advocacy work
- IEP meetings or accommodations discussions
3 page pdf