Therapy Terms Glossary

How we physically produce speech sounds using our lips, tongue, teeth, and jaw. Articulation disorders involve difficulty making specific sounds correctly.

A motor speech disorder where the brain has difficulty planning and coordinating the movements needed for speech. Children know what they want to say but struggle to say it correctly.

The region of the brain responsible for speech production and language expression. Damage to Broca's area can result in Broca's aphasia.

A motor speech disorder affecting the planning and coordination of speech movements. Children may produce inconsistent errors.

A fluency disorder characterized by rapid, irregular speech with omissions and unclear pronunciation. Often co-occurs with stuttering.

The process where one speech sound is influenced by adjacent sounds, affecting how sounds are produced in connected speech.

The speed at which a person can rapidly repeat alternating syllables. Used to assess motor speech control.

A vowel sound that changes quality during its production, like the "oi" sound in "boy." Important for clear speech.

A motor speech disorder caused by weakness or difficulty controlling the muscles used for speech, resulting in slurred or slow speech.

Difficulty producing voice quality due to vocal cord problems. Results in hoarseness, breathiness, or reduced loudness.

The smoothness and flow of speech. Fluency disorders include stuttering (disruptions in speech rhythm) and cluttering (fast, irregular speech).

A concentration of acoustic energy around a particular frequency in the speech wave. Formants define vowel qualities.

An abrupt start to phonation caused by a buildup of air pressure in the glottis. Can be a voice quality issue.

When air escapes through the nose during speech causing a nasal quality to normally oral sounds. Related to velopharyngeal insufficiency.

Lack of nasal resonance in nasal consonants, making "m" sound like "b" and "n" sound like "d." Often caused by nasal congestion.

How easily others can understand a person's speech. Affected by articulation, voice quality, and fluency.

Placement of the tongue between the teeth when producing "s" and "z" sounds, resulting in a lisped quality.

Inflammation of the larynx causing hoarseness or voice loss. Can be acute or chronic.

Air escapes over the sides of the tongue during "s" and "z" sounds, creating a slushy quality.

A speech sound error affecting "s" and "z" sounds, often interdental or lateral. Very treatable with therapy.

Speech errors where words are shortened without meaningful change, like saying "ca" for "cat".

Any difficulty producing a speech sound correctly. Can be developmental or a symptom of a disorder.

The resonance quality of sounds involving nasal airflow. Affected by velopharyngeal function.

Small growths on the vocal cords caused by vocal abuse. Can result in hoarseness and are often reversible with voice therapy.

Meaningless sound combinations used in speech testing to isolate motor control from language comprehension.

The production of voice through vibration of the vocal cords. Fundamental to speech.

A unit of sound in language that can change the meaning of words. English has approximately 44-46 phonemes.

Relating to actual speech sounds produced. Different from phonological, which deals with sound patterns.

The study of speech sounds and how they are produced, transmitted, and perceived.

Difficulty with the sound patterns and rules of language. Children may simplify sounds or patterns.

The sound system of a language and the rules for how sounds are combined. Phonological disorders involve patterns of sound errors.

Age-related changes to voice quality due to vocal cord changes. Common in older adults.

The rhythm, intonation, and stress patterns of speech. Affects meaning and emotional expression.

Problems with how air flows through the nose and mouth during speech, affecting sound quality.

Speech sounds involving the "r" sound. Often difficult for children to produce correctly.

Vowel sounds influenced by the "r" sound, creating that rhotic quality.

Arranging sounds, words, or events in proper order. Affects both speech and understanding.

The ability to imitate a speech sound when given a model. Predicts how well someone will respond to therapy.

High-pitched, musical breathing sound indicating airway obstruction. Can affect speech and requires medical evaluation.

A fluency disorder characterized by disruptions in speech flow: repetitions, prolongations, or blocks. Very treatable with therapy.

A speech error where one sound is replaced with another, like saying "w" for "r".

Speech features that span multiple sounds, like stress, intonation, and rhythm. Essential for intelligibility.

Muscle tightness affecting speech quality. Often a sign of excessive vocal effort.

Where the tongue is placed during speech. Affects sound quality and clarity.

Inadequate closure between the soft palate and pharynx. Causes hypernasality in speech.

Speech sounds produced with the back of the tongue touching the soft palate, like "k" and "g".

Difficulty planning and coordinating the movements needed for speech. Same as childhood apraxia of speech.

Small, benign growths on vocal cords from vocal abuse. Usually reversible with voice therapy.

Problems with the pitch, volume, or quality of the voice, often caused by vocal cord issues, misuse, or medical conditions.

Treatment aimed at improving voice quality, pitch, and volume. Often involves reducing vocal strain.

Consonants produced without vocal cord vibration, like "p", "t", and "s".

Consonants produced with vocal cord vibration, like "b", "d", and "z".

Speech error where one vowel is replaced with another, like "bOt" for "bat".

The brain region responsible for language understanding. Damage results in Wernicke's aphasia.

Dry mouth caused by reduced saliva. Can affect speech, eating, and oral health.