What is a printable aphasia communication board?

A printable aphasia communication board is a sheet of paper containing visible communication choices. The person may point to a word, picture, symbol, number, letter or short phrase instead of relying only on speech.

A basic board may contain choices such as:

• yes, no and maybe,
• I do not understand,
• please say that again,
• I need more time,
• food and drinks,
• bathroom, rest and help,
• common feelings,
• familiar people and places,
• frequent activities,
• letters and numbers.

The board does not replace speech, gestures, writing, facial expression or other natural forms of communication. It adds another route through which the person can share a message.

A printable board is sometimes described as a low-tech augmentative and alternative communication tool. “Low-tech” simply means that it works without a battery, internet connection, account or electronic device.

For a broader explanation of boards, picture cards and digital alternatives, read Communication Board for Aphasia: Picture Cards, Simple Choices and Everyday Conversation Support.

What is the difference between a communication board and a communication book?

A communication board normally presents several choices on one sheet or screen. A communication book contains multiple pages organized by topic.

A board is often faster to scan. A book can hold more information without placing dozens of small symbols on one crowded page.

Some people use both. An essential board may remain visible on a table or refrigerator, while a personal communication book is used for longer conversations, outings or visits.

Who may find a printable communication tool useful?

A printable board or communication book may be useful when a person benefits from seeing choices rather than hearing an open question alone. It may also help when someone wants another way to indicate a need, topic, preference or correction.

Paper-based tools may be especially practical when:

• a tablet or phone feels distracting,
• the person prefers physical pages,
• internet access is unreliable,
• a device is unavailable or charging,
• the same choices are used repeatedly,
• a visible board helps both conversation partners remain focused,
• the tool needs to stay in one predictable location.

Not every person with aphasia will want or need a board. Some people communicate more comfortably through speech, writing, gestures, drawing, a phone, an app or a combination of methods.

The person should be involved in deciding whether the tool is useful and what it contains. A communication board should not be imposed merely because someone else finds it convenient.

What should a simple aphasia communication board include?

The best starting vocabulary is the vocabulary that the person is likely to use. A generic printable template can provide ideas, but it should not determine every word.

1. Conversation control

These messages allow the person to guide the interaction:

• Yes
• No
• Maybe
• I do not know
• Not that
• Please wait
• I need more time
• Say it again
• Write it down
• Show me
• One question at a time
• Stop

Conversation-control messages are important because they give the person more than a list of objects to request. They make it possible to reject a guess, ask for clarification and change the pace of the conversation.

2. Everyday needs

• Water
• Tea
• Coffee
• Food
• Bathroom
• Rest
• Phone
• Glasses
• Help
• Outside
• Home
• Quiet

3. Feelings and comfort

• Happy
• Sad
• Worried
• Frustrated
• Angry
• Tired
• Bored
• Calm
• Hot
• Cold
• Too loud
• Uncomfortable

4. People

Generic labels such as family, friend or neighbor may be useful, but personal names and recognizable photos are often more meaningful. With the person’s permission, the board may include a spouse, children, grandchildren, friends, neighbors or other familiar people.

5. Places

• Home
• Kitchen
• Bedroom
• Garden
• Store
• Café
• Park
• Car
• Church
• Community center

6. Activities and interests

• Music
• Television
• Reading
• Walking
• Cooking
• Gardening
• Games
• Sports
• Photos
• Phone call
• Visitors
• Going out

Activities should reflect the person’s actual interests. Adult communication support should include adult topics, preferences and opinions rather than being limited to basic care needs.

Example of a simple printable aphasia communication board

A starter board can be organized into four clear groups.

This is only a starting structure. One person may want pictures beside every word. Another may prefer large written words without symbols. Someone else may need only six choices rather than twenty-four.

Before printing a final version, test a rough draft. Observe which items are easy to recognize, which are ignored and which important messages are missing.

How to make a printable aphasia communication board

Step 1: Identify real communication situations

Begin with everyday moments rather than a long vocabulary list. Consider situations such as breakfast, choosing clothes, watching television, receiving visitors, shopping or deciding what to do in the afternoon.

Ask:

• Which messages are repeated every day?
• Which questions regularly cause confusion?
• Which choices does the person want to make independently?
• Which topics does the person enjoy discussing?
• Which misunderstandings occur frequently?

Step 2: Choose a small number of high-value messages

A first version does not need to cover every possible conversation. Select the most useful words and phrases. A small board that is used regularly is more valuable than a comprehensive board that feels overwhelming.

Step 3: Decide between words, photos and symbols

Possible formats include:

• large written words,
• words paired with simple icons,
• words paired with object photos,
• personal photographs,
• a combination of these formats.

Do not assume that one type of image is universally best. Test the materials with the person who will use them.

Step 4: Group similar choices

Place related items together. Drinks should not be scattered across several parts of the page. Feelings should form one recognizable section. Consistent grouping makes the board easier to scan.

Step 5: Create a rough draft

A draft can be made in a word processor, presentation program or online design tool. It can also be drawn by hand. At this stage, usability matters more than appearance.

Step 6: Test the board in a real conversation

Place the board within reach. Use it during an actual daily activity. Avoid quizzing the person about the symbols. Instead, use the board naturally to offer a choice, introduce a topic or confirm a message.

Step 7: Simplify before adding more

If the board is difficult to use, adding more vocabulary may make the problem worse. First check the size of the text, number of choices, spacing, image clarity and organization.

Step 8: Print and protect the final version

The finished board can be printed on thicker paper, placed in a transparent sleeve or laminated. A paper copy should also be kept so that damaged or lost materials can be replaced easily.

How to create a communication book for aphasia

A communication book is useful when one board cannot contain enough relevant choices without becoming crowded. The book may be a small photo album, ring binder, folder, notebook or professionally printed booklet.

Begin with a small number of sections. Possible pages include:

1. About me
2. How to communicate with me
3. Yes, no and conversation-control messages
4. Family and important people
5. Food and drinks
6. Feelings and comfort
7. Places and transport
8. Daily activities
9. Interests and conversation topics
10. Alphabet, numbers and calendar

The organization should be predictable. Frequently used pages should be near the front. Tabs, page colors or clear category labels can make sections easier to locate.

A communication book should not become a static collection that nobody uses. It works best when it remains available, familiar and connected with real conversations.

Aphasia communication book template

The following structure can be used as a practical aphasia communication book template.

Cover page

• Preferred name
• A clear personal photograph, if wanted
• A short title such as “My Communication Book”
• An optional instruction: “Please speak directly to me and give me time”

Page 1: How to communicate with me

Include only instructions that reflect the person’s preferences. Examples may include:

• Please give me time.
• Ask one question at a time.
• Use short sentences.
• Write down important words.
• Show me two or three choices.
• Let me point, gesture, write or draw.
• Please check that you understood me.
• Do not pretend to understand if the message is unclear.

Page 2: Quick answers

• Yes
• No
• Maybe
• I do not know
• Correct
• Not correct
• Almost
• Stop
• Later
• I need more time

Page 3: About me

This page may contain the person’s preferred name, home area, former or current work, family, interests and other information they want to share. Avoid placing private information in the book without permission.

Page 4: Important people

Use names and clear photographs of people the person frequently mentions. Add the relationship only when it is useful, for example:

• Anna — daughter
• Michael — brother
• Sam — friend
• Dr. Lee — doctor

Page 5: Food and drinks

Generic categories can be replaced with actual preferences. Rather than showing ten foods the person never chooses, include favorite meals, usual drinks and common options available at home.

Page 6: Feelings and comfort

Include emotional words as well as practical comfort messages:

• Happy
• Sad
• Worried
• Frustrated
• Calm
• Tired
• Too hot
• Too cold
• Too loud
• I want quiet
• I want company
• I want to be alone

Page 7: Places and transport

Possible choices include home, store, café, park, family home, car, bus, taxi and other familiar destinations. Personal photographs may be easier to recognize than generic symbols.

Page 8: Activities

Include activities the person genuinely chooses:

• Listen to music
• Watch television
• Go for a walk
• Look at photos
• Call someone
• Read
• Play a game
• Go outside
• Rest
• Have a visitor

For additional respectful activity ideas, see Aphasia Activities for Adults: Practical Speech Therapy Exercises and Everyday Communication Ideas.

Page 9: Conversation topics

A communication book should support more than requests. It can also help someone introduce a subject or share an opinion.

Topics may include:

• Family
• Friends
• Music
• Sports
• News
• Weather
• Travel
• Food
• Pets
• Memories
• Plans
• Photographs

More ideas can be found in What to Say to Someone With Aphasia: Simple Conversation Starters for Family and Friends.

Page 10: Alphabet and numbers

An alphabet page may allow the person to point to a first letter, spell part of a word or indicate that a guess begins with a particular sound. A number page may support discussions about time, dates, prices, quantities and phone numbers.

Not everyone will find an alphabet page useful. Include it only if the person can use it comfortably.

Page 11: Calendar and time

A simple page may include:

• morning, afternoon and evening,
• today, tomorrow and yesterday,
• days of the week,
• months,
• a blank area for appointments or plans.

Page 12: Blank message page

Add a page containing blank boxes, removable cards or space for temporary information. This makes it possible to add a visitor’s name, a new destination, a meal choice or another message that is relevant only for a short time.

How to personalize a communication board or book

Personalization is more than adding a name to a generic template. The content, language, images and organization should reflect the person’s life.

Use familiar vocabulary

Choose the words the person and family normally use. For example, “living room” may be more natural than “lounge,” while another household may use the opposite term.

Include personal photographs carefully

A clear photo of the person’s own home, pet, family member or favorite location may be easier to recognize than a generic symbol. Crop unnecessary background details so the important subject remains obvious.

Include preferences, not only necessities

A person needs ways to say more than “water,” “food” and “bathroom.” Include opinions, favorite activities, social topics and ways to reject suggestions.

Remove irrelevant content

A template may contain categories that do not fit the person’s routines. Removing unnecessary vocabulary can make the remaining choices easier to find.

Respect privacy

A portable communication book can be misplaced or opened by other people. Do not include addresses, financial information, passwords, private medical details or emergency information unless there is a clear reason and the person agrees.

For a small portable tool designed to explain communication needs to unfamiliar people, see What Is an Aphasia ID Card?

How to design a printable aphasia communication board

A printable board should be designed for use, not decoration. A visually impressive page can still fail if the text is too small or the choices are difficult to distinguish.

Use readable text

Choose a clear typeface and test the page at its final printed size. Avoid thin, decorative or highly condensed fonts. Important words should not depend on color alone.

Provide sufficient spacing

Each choice needs enough surrounding space to be seen and pointed to without accidentally selecting a neighboring item.

Keep backgrounds simple

Patterns, photographs behind text and decorative textures can reduce readability. A calm background and strong text contrast are usually more practical.

Use consistent images

Mixing highly detailed photographs, cartoon icons, line drawings and decorative illustrations on the same page may create visual clutter. Consistency helps the user understand what each element represents.

Avoid excessive choices

There is no universal number of boxes that suits everyone. Some people may comfortably scan a larger grid. Others may benefit from four, six or nine choices on a page.

Make pointing practical

Consider the physical size of each box and the way the person accesses the board. A layout that looks clear on a computer screen may become difficult to point to after being printed on letter-size paper.

Consider page orientation

Landscape orientation may work well for a board with several columns. Portrait orientation may suit a communication book. Test both rather than assuming one is better.

Prepare multiple copies

Keep a copy near the places where it is most often needed. A board stored in a drawer or another room may not be available when communication becomes difficult.

How to use a printable communication board respectfully

The board is a shared communication support, not a test. The conversation partner’s behavior is as important as the printed page.

The National Aphasia Association recommends patience, short and clear sentences, reduced distractions, visual supports, choice-based questions and confirmation of what was understood. Its guidance also emphasizes including the person in conversation rather than speaking over them.

Practical steps include:

1. Place the board where the person can see and reach it.
2. Get the person’s attention before asking a question.
3. Use one clear idea at a time.
4. Offer a limited number of relevant choices.
5. Point to words or pictures while speaking when helpful.
6. Allow enough time for a response.
7. Watch pointing, eye gaze, gesture, facial expression and speech together.
8. Confirm the message rather than assuming.
9. Accept correction immediately.
10. Move to another communication method when the board is not helping.

Example

Instead of asking, “What would you like to do this afternoon?” and immediately listing many possibilities, open the activity page and present two or three options.

You might say, “Would you like music, television or a walk?” while pointing to each option. After the person makes a choice, confirm it: “You chose a walk. Is that right?”

If the answer is no, return to the board rather than insisting on the first interpretation.

Supported Conversation for Adults With Aphasia uses spoken and written keywords, gestures, drawings and pictures to help a person participate and demonstrate what they know. The Aphasia Institute emphasizes acknowledging the person’s competence and using communication techniques naturally rather than patronizingly.

Additional practical guidance is available from the National Aphasia Association and the Aphasia Institute.

Printable communication boards for different situations

One general board may not work equally well in every setting. Smaller topic boards can make relevant choices easier to locate.

Home communication board

A home board may include food, drinks, rooms, comfort, television, music, visitors, rest and household routines.

Kitchen and mealtime board

Possible choices include favorite foods, drinks, hot, cold, more, less, finished, hungry, not hungry, sweet, salty and common meal-related requests.

Community and shopping board

Possible messages include:

• I need help.
• Please give me time.
• Please write down the price.
• I am looking for this item.
• Cash or card.
• Too expensive.
• Yes, this one.
• No, not this one.
• Where is the restroom?
• I need a taxi.

Travel communication board

A travel page may contain transport, ticket, gate, platform, luggage, restroom, hotel, address, map, stop, wait, lost, phone and emergency contact.

Social conversation board

A social page can include people, recent activities, news, hobbies, family, memories, photographs, opinions and common responses such as interesting, funny, good, bad, I agree and I disagree.

Temporary event board

A temporary page can be created for a family celebration, vacation, restaurant visit, community event or other planned situation. Include names, places and choices that will be relevant during that event.

Free printable examples can also be explored through established AAC resource providers such as Lingraphica and the customizable adult communication resources offered by the Ace Centre.

Common mistakes when creating an aphasia communication board

Adding too much vocabulary

Trying to include every possible word on one page usually results in small text, tiny pictures and a difficult search process.

Using the board as a quiz

Repeatedly asking the person to identify symbols can make the board feel like a test rather than a communication tool.

Choosing childish content

Simple language and clear pictures do not require childish illustrations or topics. The design should respect the person’s age, interests and identity.

Focusing only on physical needs

Food, drink and comfort matter, but adults also communicate opinions, humor, memories, relationships and personal preferences.

Making decisions without the user

A family member may believe a certain word is important while the person using the board never selects it. The intended user should participate as much as possible in choosing and organizing the content.

Assuming pictures are always easier

Some symbols are abstract or unfamiliar. Written words, real photographs, gestures or objects may sometimes be clearer.

Keeping the tool out of reach

A perfectly designed book is not useful when it remains in a cupboard. Decide where each board will be stored and who will make sure it is available.

Failing to confirm the message

Pointing to a picture does not always guarantee that the conversation partner has interpreted the message correctly. Confirm the intended meaning.

Never updating the book

People, routines, interests and circumstances change. A communication book should change with them.

How to review and update a communication book

Review the book during real use rather than judging it only by appearance.

Look for:

• words and pictures used frequently,
• pages that are difficult to find,
• items that are never selected,
• pictures that cause confusion,
• important messages that are missing,
• pages that contain too many choices,
• new people, activities or routines that should be added.

Changes do not need to be large. Replacing one unclear image or moving a frequently used page closer to the front may make the book easier to use.

It can also help to keep a temporary “missing messages” list. When the conversation partner repeatedly has to guess or draw the same idea, that message may deserve a permanent place in the book.

Frequently asked questions about printable aphasia communication boards

What is an aphasia communication board?

An aphasia communication board is a printed or digital collection of words, pictures, symbols or phrases that a person can point to during conversation. It provides an additional way to express needs, choices, feelings and topics.

Can I print an aphasia communication board at home?

Yes. A simple board can be created in a word processor or presentation program and printed on ordinary paper. It may be placed in a transparent sleeve or laminated after the layout has been tested.

What should be included on a simple aphasia communication board?

A starter board may include yes, no, maybe, stop, I need more time, please repeat, food, drinks, bathroom, rest, help, feelings, comfort and a small number of personal activities or topics.

Should a communication board use pictures or words?

It may use pictures, written words or both. The best format depends on what the person recognizes and uses comfortably. Personal photos may work well for familiar people and places, while clear words may be better for some abstract messages.

What is a communication book for aphasia?

A communication book is a folder or booklet containing several communication pages. It may include personal information, people, places, food, feelings, activities, conversation topics, letters and numbers.

How many pictures should be placed on one page?

There is no number that works for everyone. The page should contain only as many choices as the person can scan and select comfortably. A small grid may be more useful than a crowded page with many tiny symbols.

Can a communication book contain personal photographs?

Yes, when the person agrees. Photographs of familiar people, places, pets and objects can make the book more personal and easier to connect with daily life.

Is a printable board better than an app?

Neither format is automatically better. Paper is simple, visible and does not need charging. An app can store more vocabulary and may speak messages aloud. Some people use both depending on the setting.

Read Apps for Aphasia: Simple Communication Tools for Everyday Life for a comparison of common digital options.

Should family members point to the board too?

They can point to written words or pictures while speaking when this helps clarify the message. The tool should support both sides of the conversation rather than being treated as something only the person with aphasia must use.

What should I do if the communication board is not working?

Check whether the page is too crowded, the pictures are unclear, the vocabulary is irrelevant or the board is being introduced in a stressful way. Try fewer choices, larger items, personal photographs, written keywords, gestures or another communication method. Individual guidance from a qualified professional may also be helpful.

Printable communication support should grow from real life

A printable aphasia communication board does not need to contain every possible word. It needs to provide useful choices at the moment they are needed.

A communication book does not need to be complete on the first day. It can begin with essential answers, familiar people, everyday activities and a few conversation topics. New pages can be added when real situations reveal missing messages.

The most useful materials are usually clear, reachable, respectful and personal. They give the person more ways to participate without replacing their own voice or reducing conversation to a list of basic needs.

Start small. Test the materials in ordinary daily life. Keep what helps, remove what distracts and allow the person using the board to shape what it becomes.