Glossary

A communication system that uses manual signs alongside speech to support language development and comprehension, typically signing only the most important words in a sentence.

Physical prompts, such as hand movements, used to guide clients in producing accurate speech sounds.

A learning style that emphasizes hands-on activities, often incorporated into speech therapy sessions for better engagement.

The process by which individuals learn to understand and produce language, crucial in early development and speech therapy.

A developmental delay in a child's ability to acquire language compared to peers, often addressed in early intervention.

A language disorder is an impairment in the comprehension and/or use of spoken, written, or symbolic language that affects semantics, syntax, morphology, or pragmatics. It may be developmental or acquired and can impact both expressive and receptive language across modalities.

Surgical removal of the larynx, requiring alternative communication methods and specialized swallowing management.

The voice box, responsible for sound production and protecting the airway, often a focus in voice therapy.

A speech error where air escapes the sides of the tongue during sibilant sounds like "s" and "z," often targeted in articulation therapy.

The Lidcombe Program is a parent-administered therapy for preschool children who stutter, guided by a speech-language pathologist. Parents give positive feedback for smooth speech and gentle correction for stuttering, leading to long-term fluency gains.

“Lisp” is a lay term for a type of speech distortion affecting the sibilant sounds (typically /s/ and /z/). A person with a lisp produces these sounds with abnormal tongue placement or airflow, often resulting in a “th” sound (interdental lisp) or a lateral slurring quality (lateral lisp) instead of a clear /s/ or /z/.

The ability to understand spoken language, often a focus in auditory processing and language therapy.

The ability to read and write, frequently addressed in speech-language pathology to support academic success.

Excessive and often incoherent speech output, commonly seen in neurological conditions and addressed in therapy.

A radiographic examination of swallowing using barium-containing substances to evaluate swallowing safety and efficiency.

Average number of morphemes or words per utterance, used to measure language development.

Malocclusion is a misalignment of the teeth or jaws (like crooked teeth, overbite, or underbite) that can alter the shape of the oral cavity. It may contribute to speech errors such as lisps, and treatment typically involves braces and speech therapy to improve clarity.

Mixed dysarthria involves a combination of motor speech impairments from multiple neurological lesions affecting various systems.

Mixed language disorders involve impairments in both receptive and expressive language skills across vocabulary, grammar, and pragmatics. These disorders may be developmental or acquired and often require long-term, individualized intervention by SLPs.

The study of the structure of words and how morphemes (the smallest units of meaning) combine to create meaning.

Motility dysfunction involves abnormal muscular movement in the esophagus or pharynx that impairs bolus transit during swallowing.

Speech impairments resulting from damage to the brain or nerves controlling speech muscles, such as apraxia or dysarthria.

The use of multiple forms of communication (e.g., speech, gestures, AAC devices) to enhance interaction.

The absence of speech, often addressed in therapy for individuals with selective mutism or neurological conditions.

Latin "Nil Per Os" meaning nothing by mouth; a medical order restricting oral intake for safety.

The ability to tell a story or describe events in a logical, cohesive sequence.

The release of air through the nose during speech, often associated with cleft palate or velopharyngeal insufficiency.

A therapy approach that incorporates learning opportunities into a client’s natural environment and daily routines.

The natural variation in human brain function and behavioral traits, recognizing that neurological differences are normal variations of human development rather than deficits to be fixed.

Neurogenic stuttering is acquired stuttering following neurological injury, characterized by dysfluencies across word types without adaptation effects.

Conditions affecting the nervous system that can impact speech, language, or swallowing abilities, such as stroke or traumatic brain injury.

Neuromuscular diseases are disorders that impact the nerves and muscles, often leading to weakness or dysfunction in movement and coordination. These conditions can significantly affect speech production and swallowing abilities due to impaired control of the muscles involved.

A motor planning disorder specifically affecting non-speech oral movements, such as blowing, kissing, or sticking out the tongue.

A structured assessment of the structure and function of the oral cavity, including lips, tongue, teeth, hard/soft palate, and jaw.

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.

Oropharyngeal Dysphagia is a swallowing disorder marked by difficulty chewing, forming, or moving the food bolus efficiently within the mouth prior to swallowing.

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.

Palatoplasty is the surgical repair of a cleft palate, where the split in the roof of the mouth is closed so that the mouth and nose are separated. This surgery, usually done within the first year of life, helps the child feed and speak more normally by enabling the soft palate to close off the nose during swallowing and speech.

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.

Pediatric Feeding Disorder (PFD) is a condition characterized by impaired oral intake that is not developmentally appropriate and involves one or more domains of dysfunction: medical, nutritional, feeding skill, or psychosocial. It often presents as extreme food selectivity, aversion, or refusal and requires interdisciplinary evaluation and management to support growth, nutrition, and mealtime functioning.

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

Phonation is the vibration of the vocal folds within the larynx that produces voiced sound.

Phonetics is the scientific study of speech sounds, including their production, acoustic properties, and perception.

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

Phonological disorders are speech sound disorders in which a child has difficulty understanding and applying the sound system of a language. Unlike articulation disorders, which are motor-based and involve incorrect sound production, phonemic disorders occur at the linguistic level.

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.

Presbyphagia refers to age-related changes in swallowing function that occur as part of normal aging.

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.

Prosody is the pattern of rhythm, stress, and intonation in speech that conveys emotional and pragmatic meaning.

Psychogenic stuttering is a rare stuttering form triggered by psychological trauma, unrelated to neurological damage.

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.

Receptive Language Disorder is characterized by significant difficulty in understanding spoken, signed, or written language, despite adequate hearing and intelligence. Affected individuals may struggle to follow directions, comprehend questions, or interpret vocabulary and syntax.

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.

Resonance is the modification of sound vibrations as they travel through the oral and nasal cavities, shaping voice quality.

Breath support necessary for speech production and safe swallowing.

Rhotacism is a term for difficulty or inability to properly produce the /r/ sound (the “rhotic” consonant). Individuals with rhotacism often substitute another sound (such as /w/) for /r/ or produce a markedly distorted /r/, affecting the clarity of words containing /r/.

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

Electronic AAC device that produces speech output.

Sarcopenia is the age-related loss of muscle mass and strength, potentially impacting speech and swallowing.

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

Selective Mutism involves a child’s inability to speak in select settings despite having normal speech elsewhere. SLPs help reduce anxiety and build communication confidence through structured therapy.

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.

Sound repetitions are disfluencies in which individual sounds are repeated, such as "c-c-cat."

Spastic dysarthria is a motor speech disorder caused by bilateral upper motor neuron damage, resulting in strained, slow, and effortful speech.

Specific Language Impairment is a developmental disorder marked by difficulties in language acquisition despite normal cognitive and sensory abilities.

A speech disorder is a disruption in the physical production of speech sounds, encompassing difficulties with articulation, fluency, voice, or motor planning. It includes conditions such as dysarthria, apraxia of speech, stuttering, and voice disorders, often resulting in reduced speech clarity or fluency.

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.

Spoken language disorders affect the ability to understand and/or use spoken language effectively, often impacting vocabulary, syntax, and discourse. SLPs assess these impairments across contexts and provide therapy focused on language form, content, and use.

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

Stopping is the process of replacing a long airflow sound (fricative or affricate like s, f, or ch) with a quick stop sound (t, p, or d). It’s a normal error in early speech, but children typically learn to produce the correct continuous sounds by about 3–5 years of age (depending on the sound), so continued stopping beyond that point is atypical.