Glossary of Terms for Areas of Practice:
Language
"Language" is the ability to communicate using signs, words, gestures, sentences, and phrases to convey meaning. Language is comprised of vocabulary (semantics) and grammar/structure (morpho-syntax). Pragmatic language is another term for "social language." The ability to initiate and maintain conversations, including asking questions and staying on topic, are important social language skills.
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Early Intervention services often focusing on helping children learn to improve their language from birth through age 3. As children grow, their language needs also change. Some individuals benefit from augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) systems. Adults may also demonstrate language needs that were not previously present, often resulting from stroke, traumatic brain injury, or other diseases processes such as dementia.
Speech
"Speech" is the umbrella term used to define articulation (sound production), phonology (the rules of sounds in language), and motor-speech (the ability to plan and execute speech sounds). Speech therapy addresses articulation disorders, phonological disorders, and motor-speech disorders such as apraxia or dysarthria. Children and adults may benefit from speech therapy. Adults sometimes acquire speech challenges resulting from stroke, diseases such as Parkinson's or ALS, or following surgery.
Fluency
"Stuttering" is also referred to as "dysfluency" and includes any break in a "typical" speech pattern, such as repeating sounds, words, syllables, or phrases.
Voice
Per the American Speech Language Hearing Association, "A voice disorder occurs when voice quality, pitch, and loudness differ or are inappropriate for an individual's age, gender, cultural background, or geographic location (Aronson & Bless, 2009; Boone, McFarlane, Von Berg, & Zraik, 2010; Lee, Stemple, Glaze, & Kelchner, 2004). A voice disorder is present when an individual expresses concern about having an abnormal voice that does not meet daily needs—even if others do not perceive it as different or deviant (American Speech-Language-Hearing Association [ASHA], 1993; Colton & Casper, 1996; Stemple, Glaze, & Klaben, 2010; Verdolini & Ramig, 2001)."
Dysphagia/Swallowing
Dysphagia is the difficulty to swallow, which may be present from birth or developed later in life. Dysphagia therapy focuses on assisting individuals who have difficulty with swallowing and eating.
Cognition
Cognition is, "mental action or process of acquiring knowledge and understanding through thought, experience, and the senses." It includes executive functioning skills such as attention, memory, problem-solving, and judgement. It can be a challenge present from birth or acquired later in life.