One of the most common questions families and clinicians ask after installing an AAC app: what should we put in it first? Too few phrases and the app feels limited. Too many and the survivor can't find what they need.

A 50-phrase starter set strikes the right balance for the first month. It's enough to handle daily life, small enough to navigate without searching, and structured so additions later don't break the mental map. Here's the framework we recommend for adults with aphasia using Aacoris.

Why fifty?

Fifty phrases is roughly one screen per category in most AAC apps, including Aacoris. It covers the core of daily communication without overwhelming early use. Almost all adults can grow well past fifty in the first three months, but starting smaller means each phrase gets used and reinforced.

The split below — 10 phrases per category across five categories — is a starting point. Adjust the counts based on the specific aphasia profile and the user's daily environment.

Medical (10 phrases)

The medical category is what gets used most in the first weeks of recovery, especially in inpatient settings.

1. "I'm in pain."
2. "Where is the pain?"
3. "I need my medication."
4. "I'm allergic to…"
5. "I had a stroke on [date]."
6. "I have diabetes." (or other key conditions)
7. "I need to lie down."
8. "I'm dizzy."
9. "I need a doctor."
10. "Please call the nurse."

Tip: Add a photo or symbol next to medication names — pill shape and color, or a generic pill icon. It helps when reading is affected.

Daily Needs (10 phrases)

These are the phrases that come up dozens of times a day and where speed matters most.

1. "I'm hungry."
2. "I'm thirsty."
3. "I need water."
4. "I need to use the bathroom."
5. "I'm cold."
6. "I'm hot."
7. "I'm tired."
8. "I want to sleep."
9. "I'm okay."
10. "Not now."

These belong on the home screen or pinned to Favorites. They should be reachable in two taps or fewer.

Social (10 phrases)

Aphasia makes social participation hardest. These ten phrases keep the user inside conversations rather than at the edge.

1. "Hello."
2. "Goodbye."
3. "Thank you."
4. "Please."
5. "Yes."
6. "No."
7. "I don't know."
8. "Can you repeat that?"
9. "I'm thinking."
10. "Talk slower, please."

That last one — "talk slower, please" — is one of the most useful phrases in any aphasia AAC setup. Most people speak too fast around an aphasic adult and don't realize it.

Family and Personal (10 phrases)

This is where the AAC setup becomes theirs rather than a generic patient setup.

1. The user's spouse's name (with a photo)
2. Each child's name (with photos)
3. Each grandchild's name (with photos)
4. A close friend or sibling's name
5. "I love you."
6. "I miss you."
7. The names of pets
8. A favorite food or restaurant
9. A favorite TV show or routine
10. "Can you visit?"

Photos matter here more than anywhere else. Recognition is faster than reading, especially when reading is affected.

Emergency (10 phrases)

The emergency category is rarely used — and for that reason, it has to be reachable instantly when it is needed.

1. "Help."
2. "Call 911."
3. "I can't breathe."
4. "I'm having chest pain."
5. "I'm bleeding."
6. "I fell."
7. "Get my family."
8. "Get the nurse."
9. "Get the doctor."
10. "I'm having a stroke." (Some survivors have a second stroke; clear signaling matters.)

In Aacoris, the shake-to-activate emergency alarm covers cases where even tapping is too slow.

How to introduce 50 phrases without overwhelming

Don't load all fifty on day one. Use this rough schedule:

• Days 1–3: Eight Daily Needs phrases pinned to Favorites.
• Days 4–7: Add the Medical category.
• Week 2: Add the Social category.
• Week 3: Add Family and Personal.
• Week 4: Add the Emergency category and review the whole set.

The survivor sees one new screen of phrases per week. By the end of the month, they have a working 50-phrase vocabulary they actually know.

Customizing for the specific aphasia profile

The split above assumes a moderate aphasia profile. Adjust as follows:

• Severe expressive aphasia (Broca's, global): Reduce to 25–30 high-frequency phrases. Use more photos. Keep sentences short.
• Moderate aphasia with relatively preserved comprehension: The 50-phrase set works well as-is. Add target therapy vocabulary as the SLP introduces it.
• Anomic aphasia (word-finding only): Skip the most basic phrases (most users can produce "yes" and "no" verbally). Focus the 50 on names, medications, and target words from therapy.
• Wernicke's aphasia: Use photo-heavy buttons. The user often understands a tap-and-listen flow better than reading.

Maintaining the vocabulary

A starter set isn't static. Once a week, in five minutes:

• Move unused phrases out of Favorites.
• Promote phrases that are getting used to Favorites.
• Add any new word the survivor reaches for repeatedly.

After three months, the vocabulary should look quite different from the starter set — more personal, more situational, less generic. That's the goal.

A note on copying this list

You can use the fifty phrases above as a literal starting set in Aacoris or any AAC app. They are not proprietary, and they reflect what most adults with aphasia will need in their first month. Where possible, coordinate the customization with a speech-language pathologist who knows the user's specific recovery profile.

About the Author

Aacoris Team — Building accessible AAC tools for adults with aphasia and the people who support them.

Related guides

• AAC for Aphasia — full pillar
• AAC for Stroke Recovery
• Daily Communication Tips for AAC Users
• Caregiver Guide to AAC

Resources

• Learn more about Aacoris
• Download the Aacoris App