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How Does a Speech Therapist Help Executive Function and Social Skills for Teens?

Are you reminding your teen to complete chores or homework? And then reminding them again. And again. They still forget. The homework sits unfinished. The chores don't get done. And by 8 PM the entire family is frustrated.


What if we told you it's not attitude. For many teens, it's executive function- the brain-based skills that control planning, organization, task initiation, and follow-through. And it's something that can actually be taught.



Four friends smile and play cards around a coffee table in a bright living room with gray couch and colorful pillows.

What are Executive Function Skills?

According to the American Speech Language Hearing Association (ASHA), executive function (EF) is the cognitive processes related to "controlling initiation and inhibition; sustaining and shifting attention; organization; goal setting, and completion; and determining plans for the future." Executive function skills allow us to think of the tasks we need to complete, organize them into the most logical order, and carry through to complete these tasks. Learn more about all the executive function skills here.


What does an Executive Function Deficit Look Like?

  • Homework Management: Your teen struggles to complete a science project because they don’t know where to start. A speech therapist helps them break the project into smaller tasks, such as researching, outlining, and creating a presentation. They also set deadlines for each step to ensure timely completion.

  • Morning Routine: Your child often forgets to pack their lunch or school supplies in the morning. The speech therapist works with them to create a visual checklist for their morning routine, ensuring they remember all necessary items before leaving the house.

  • Social Skills in Group Projects: During a group project at school, there's difficulty taking turns speaking or contributing ideas. The therapist practices role-playing scenarios to teach them how to listen actively, share their thoughts, and collaborate effectively with peers.

  • Time Management for Extracurricular Activities: A teen is overwhelmed by balancing soccer practice, homework, and family responsibilities. The therapist helps them use a planner to allocate specific times for each activity, teaching them how to prioritize tasks and avoid procrastination.

  • Handling Distractions While Studying: Your teen gets easily distracted by their phone while studying. The therapist introduces strategies like using a timer for focused study sessions and placing their phone in another room to minimize distractions.

  • Preparing for Tests: Your child feels anxious and unprepared for upcoming exams. The therapist helps them create a study schedule, organize notes, and use memory aids like flashcards or mnemonic devices to retain information more effectively.

  • Navigating Social Events: Feeling awkward initiating conversations at social gatherings? The therapist teaches them conversation starters, how to read social cues, and ways to join group discussions confidently.

  • Managing Chores at Home: Your teen forgets to complete their weekly chores. The therapist helps them set reminders on their phone or use a chore chart to track their responsibilities and mark tasks as completed.


Speech Therapy Treatment for Executive Function?

Treatment for EF is personalized to each area of deficits in daily life. A speech therapist creates goals based on individual need.


When thinking of EF treatment, activities may look like:


Two students study at a desk, one writing in an open book while the other points; laptop, sticky notes, and glasses nearby.


  • Setting up a system to track assignments dues and organize school work.

  • Identifying barriers or distractions that may delay or slow the completion of an activity.

  • Training in the use of memory supports to improve memory.

  • Prioritizing tasks or alternating attention to multiple tasks.







Treatment may start in a less distracting environment and progress to a noisy, higher distraction environment to allow for carry-over to real-life.


Ready for Extra Executive Function Support?

This summer, Insight Speech and Swallowing Therapy is running a 5-Week Executive Function & Social Skills Group for teens ages 13–17. Each Tuesday session is 60 minutes of hands-on strategies, real-life practice, and peer collaboration, not passive listening.


This isn't a lecture; it's a 60-minute hands-on session in a collaborative group where teens actually practice the skills and leave with tools they can use immediately. The group is co-led by two clinicians who bring different and complementary expertise:

  • Kelli Humphrey, CCC-SLP, an outpatient SLP specializing in older teens and life transitions.

  • Ilana Gorelik, CCC-SLP, a school-based SLP with deep expertise in academic and executive function challenges.


Register Now!



If you’re looking for more individualized speech therapy for executive functioning near

Cherry Hill, NJ, our speech therapists are here to help. Contact Insight Speech & Swallowing Therapy today to schedule your first session.


Phone: 856-200-8392

 
 
 

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