– A –

Accent Reduction Therapy

Therapy to modify speech sounds and vocal characteristics or habits of spoken language influenced by the geographical region and/or the speaker’s native language.

Aphasia

The adult-form of a language impairment. It may be caused by stroke, brain injury or severe illnesses resulting from neurological injury.

Apraxia of Speech

A disturbance in the selection and sequencing of sounds; it may be developmental or acquired.

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)

A group of behaviors characterized by problems in focusing and maintaining attention to tasks. Many individuals with a diagnosis of ADHD exhibit communication problems or learning disabilities.

Augmentative and Alternative Communication

Methods of communicating for individuals who cannot orally express themselves. Using assistive technology, such as a communication board, one can express his/her thoughts successfully.

Autism

A syndrome identified by a failure to develop normal verbal and nonverbal communication skills and reduced responsiveness to others within the environment.

– B –

Bruxism

Teeth grinding, a habit which usually occurs at night but which is related to malocclusion (poor teeth relationship) and possibly swallowing or biting problem.

– C –

Cleft Palate

A congenital anomaly affecting the speaking and eating muscles.

Cochlear Implant

A device surgically placed on the head and designed to improve hearing for those who could not derive benefit from more traditional methods of amplification such as hearing aids.

Communication Disorder

The breakdown or disruption in the exchange of information and ideas.

– D –

Dysarthria

Problems within the motor aspects of speech production secondary to brain injury.

Dysgraphia

Specific problem in written language secondary to brain injury

Dyslexia

A specific language learning disability affecting reading skills.

– E –

Expressive Language Impairments

Language problems that affect spontaneous and/or structured verbal language.

– F –

Feeding Therapy

The training, re-training or development of the muscles used for eating, drinking and swallowing secondary to developmental/neurological conditions.

– G –

(empty)

– H –

Hearing Impairment

Any degree of hearing loss.

– I –

Intelligibility

The degree to which an individual’s speech is understood by others.

– J –

Jargon

Verbalizations of children approximately from 9 months to 18 months which contains syllables

– K –

(empty)

– L –

Language Delay/Disorder

Difficulties in language comprehension, formulation and/or language use. Like speech disorders, language problems occurs in both children and adults.

Learning Disability

Refers to a general term used to describe a complex group of disorders evidenced by significant difficulties in the acquisition and use of listening, speaking, reading, writing, reasoning, mathematical abilities, as well as social skills.

– M –

Myofunctional Therapy – see Tongue Thrust

– N –

Neologism

Speech behavior often exhibited by individuals experiencing stroke or brain injury.

– O –

Oral Motor Therapy

Training of muscles use for speaking or eating which are impaired or reduced secondary to developmental/neurological conditions.

– P –

Public Speaking/Professional or Executive Speaking

The refinement or improvement of an individual’s vocal projection, clarity and persuasive communication skills (verbal and nonverbal). Therapy is given on an elective basis for the sole purpose of giving professional presentations or for people who have verbally demanding jobs in business and industry.

– Q –

(empty)

– R –

Receptive Language Impairments

Language problems that affect comprehension of incoming language.

– S –

Speech Disorder

Difficulties producing sounds correctly. The onset of this disorder is usually early childhood and is usually called a Phonological or Articulation Disorder. In adults, speech disorders usually are a result of some type of brain injury.

Stroke

Is the major cause of aphasia. It is usually caused by injury in a localized area of the brain, traumatic brain injuries, brain tumors, abscesses, infectious diseases, and degenerative diseases.

Stuttering

Interruptions in the flow of speech. It is characterized by repeating sounds, words, and/or phrases. Onset of this disorder is usually preschool and early adolescent. Adults may also have this disorder.

Swallowing Therapy

The training of muscles for the oral, pharyngeal and esophageal stages of ingesting liquids or solids secondary to injury of these muscles.

– T –

Tongue Thrust/Myofunctional Therapy

The condition and type of therapy which retrains the lips, tongue and facial muscles to work properly for correct speech and swallowing and to improve the appearance of the oral-facial muscles.

Traumatic Brain Injury

Injury sustained from the impact of a car accident, fall, or other injury to the head.

– U –

Unintelligibility

The degree or measure to which a person cannot be understood.

– V –

Voice Disorders

A problem in the perceptual quality of a person’s voice. An individual’s voice may sound “harsh,” “hoarse,” “lower/higher than usual pitch,” “nasal” and/or “breathy.” Sometimes these problems are due to vocal nodules or polyps.

– W –

(empty)

– X –

(empty)

– Y –

(empty)

– Z –

(empty)