Glossary

The first phase of swallowing where food is manipulated and formed into a bolus within the mouth.

A technique using targeted oral exercises to improve articulation and speech clarity.

How the brain interprets and responds to sensations in the mouth, affecting feeding and speech production.

The coordination of muscles in the mouth, lips, tongue, and jaw for speech and swallowing.

Speech difficulties resulting from structural abnormalities or neurological conditions, as opposed to functional disorders.

The study and treatment of oral and facial muscles and their relationship to speech, breathing, and swallowing.

Difficulty in the oral or pharyngeal stages of swallowing, often requiring intervention by an SLP.

Middle ear infection that can impact hearing and, consequently, speech-language development.

A measure used in articulation assessment to calculate accuracy of consonant production.

A structured method for teaching communication through picture exchange.

A tactile-kinesthetic approach to speech sound disorders that uses touch cues to support correct articulator placement and movement.

A measure of speech intelligibility calculating the percentage of words understood by listeners.

Specialized medical care focused on providing relief from symptoms and stress of serious illness, where SLPs play a role in communication and swallowing quality of life.

A swallowing disorder in infants and children that affects one or more phases of the swallowing process—oral preparatory, oral, pharyngeal, or esophageal. It involves difficulties not only with the physical act of swallowing but also with feeding behaviors, and can stem from a wide array of developmental, structural, or medical causes.

An impairment in oral intake that is not age-appropriate and is associated with medical, nutritional, feeding skill, and/or psychosocial dysfunction.

The stage of swallowing where the bolus moves through the pharynx (throat) and triggers various protective mechanisms.

The production of sound through vocal fold vibration, a critical component of voice.

Understanding of the sound structure of language, including the ability to identify and manipulate sounds in words.

A speech sound disorder where patterns of errors affect speech intelligibility, like substituting sounds or omitting syllables.

Patterns of sound simplification commonly used by young children as they develop speech.

The study of the sound system of a language, including the rules for combining and using phonemes.

The perceived frequency of voice, determined by vocal fold vibration rate.

The position of articulators (tongue, lips, etc.) needed to produce specific speech sounds.

The rules governing the use of language in social contexts, including tone, turn-taking, and appropriateness.

A motor speech disorder that gradually worsens due to ongoing neurological changes.

Conditions that cause gradual deterioration of neurological function, affecting speech, language, and/or swallowing.

Providing cues or assistance to elicit correct speech or language responses during therapy.

The rhythm, stress, and intonation of speech that conveys meaning beyond words.

Speech therapy provided outside the classroom setting, common in school-based services.

Speech therapy provided within the classroom setting, supporting curriculum access and peer interaction.

How symptoms, diagnoses, and recommendations impact overall well-being and participation in daily activities.

The speed at which someone speaks, often addressed in fluency therapy.

A language intervention technique where the clinician repeats a child's utterance with corrected grammar or expanded content.

The ability to understand spoken, written, or symbolic language.

Return of stomach contents to the esophagus and pharynx, which can impact voice and swallowing.

Therapeutic interventions aimed at restoring communication or swallowing functions after injury, illness, or developmental delay.

The quality of voice determined by the airflow and vibration in the vocal tract, crucial in speech sound production.

Breath support necessary for speech production and safe swallowing.

The timing and stress patterns in speech, important in both fluency and prosody.

Electronic AAC device that produces speech output.

A quick evaluation to determine whether a comprehensive assessment is needed for speech, language, or swallowing issues.

An anxiety disorder in which a person, typically a child, is unable to speak in certain social settings despite being able to speak in others.

The meaning of words and relationships between words in language.

The process of organizing sensory input from the body and environment, often addressed in speech therapy for children with sensory processing issues.

The way speech therapy services are provided (e.g., direct, indirect, consultation, push-in, pull-out).

A visual language using hand movements, facial expressions, and body language to communicate.

SimplyThick is a xanthan gum-based liquid thickener designed for individuals with dysphagia. It offers safe, consistent thickening across IDDSI levels without clumping, altering taste, or requiring complex preparation.

The use of language in social contexts, including conversational skills, understanding social cues, and pragmatics.

Narratives that describe social situations and appropriate responses, often used in autism support.

A treatment framework focusing on social cognitive processes and social communication.

Difficulty with articulation or phonological processes, affecting the clarity and intelligibility of speech.

The field of expertise focused on evaluating, diagnosing, and treating speech, language, and communication disorders.

Natural, unprompted speech used to assess conversational abilities in real-life settings.

A fluency disorder characterized by repetitions, prolongations, or blocks that interrupt the flow of speech.

Difficulty in swallowing that may impact eating, drinking, and overall health, often treated by SLPs.

The rules governing sentence structure in language.

Breaking down complex skills into smaller, manageable steps for instruction.

The delivery of speech therapy services via online platforms, allowing for remote assessments and interventions.

Understanding that others have thoughts, feelings, and perspectives different from one's own.

A condition caused by a short or tight lingual frenulum that can restrict tongue movement and impact speech or feeding.

A method that combines speech, sign language, and other communication modalities to support individuals with hearing or language challenges.

An approach to therapy that recognizes the impact of trauma on communication and behavior, emphasizing safety, trust, choice, collaboration, and empowerment in therapeutic relationships.

An injury to the brain caused by external force, often resulting in communication, cognitive, or swallowing impairments.

Communication methods that rely solely on the individual's body, such as gestures, facial expressions, or sign language, without external tools.

Hearing impairment in one ear, which can affect language development, auditory processing, and sound localization.

The degree to which speech cannot be understood by listeners.

Anatomical regions including the nose, throat, and upper esophagus involved in breathing, speaking, and swallowing.

Muscle at the entrance to the esophagus, important in swallowing function.

A complete unit of speech, bounded by silence or speaker change, used in language analysis.

The number of words or morphemes in a spoken phrase, often measured as MLU (Mean Length of Utterance).

Another term for modified barium swallow study.

A condition where the soft palate does not close properly, leading to hypernasality and speech difficulties.

The sensory system in the inner ear responsible for balance and spatial orientation, which can affect motor skills and communication.

Use of visual signals to support correct speech production.

Behaviors that can damage the vocal folds, such as excessive shouting or throat clearing.

Benign growths on the vocal cords caused by strain or overuse, often leading to hoarseness.

Practices that maintain vocal health and prevent voice disorders.

The characteristic sound of an individual's voice, including features like roughness, breathiness, or strain.

Prescribed period of reduced or eliminated voice use to promote vocal fold healing.

The air passages above the vocal folds used in speech production.

Recording one's voice for potential future use with speech-generating devices.

A condition affecting the quality, pitch, volume, or duration of a person’s voice, impacting communication effectiveness.

Treatment approaches for improving vocal function and health.

Structured program for safe liquid consumption in patients with dysphagia.

The process of accessing and producing a specific word from memory, commonly targeted in therapy for individuals with aphasia or cognitive-linguistic challenges.

The cognitive system responsible for temporarily holding and processing information, critical for language comprehension and production.

Difficulties with reading, writing, or spelling due to underlying language impairments.

Dry mouth - often due to aging, side effects of certain medicines, or radiation therapy for cancer.

A standardized screening tool for assessing swallowing function and determining aspiration risk.

A fluency-shaping technique used in stuttering therapy where tension is gradually released.

The difference between what a learner can do without help and what they can do with guidance.