Below you will find a glossary of terms you may come across in speech and language therapy. They are in alphabetical order so you can scroll down to the term you are looking for:

A

Accommodations. Changes in how test is administered that do not substantially alter what the test measures; includes changes in presentation format, response format, test setting or test timing. Appropriate accommodations are made to level the playing field, i.e., to provide equal opportunity to demonstrate knowledge.

Achievement test. Test that measures competency in a particular area of knowledge or skill; measures mastery or acquisition of skills.

Acquired dyspraxia.  Also known as verbal apraxia or dyspraxia, is a speech disorder in which a person has trouble saying what he or she wants to say correctly and consistently. It is not due to weakness or paralysis of the speech muscles (the muscles of the face, tongue, and lips). The severity of apraxia of speech can range from mild to severe…. People with either form of apraxia of speech may have a number of different speech characteristics, or symptoms. One of the most notable symptoms is difficulty putting sounds and syllables together in the correct order to form words. Longer or more complex words are usually harder to say than shorter or simpler words. People with apraxia of speech also tend to make inconsistent mistakes when speaking. For example, they may say a difficult word correctly but then have trouble repeating it, or they may be able to say a particular sound one day and have trouble with the same sound the next day. People with apraxia of speech often appear to be groping for the right sound or word, and may try saying a word several times before they say it correctly. (NIDCD)

Agnosia. The inability to recognize an object by touch alone or with both hands

Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA). Legislation enacted to prohibit discrimination based on disability.

Attention Deficit Disorder/Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADD/ADHD). Child with ADD or ADHD may be eligible for special education under other health impairment, specific learning disability, and/or emotional disturbance categories if ADD/ADHD condition adversely affects educational performance.

Adversarial system. The system of trial practice in which each of the opposing parties has an opportunity to present and establish opposing contentions before the court.

Aphasia (or dysphasia).  When a person’s ability to use or understand language is affected. Usually caused by stroke, traumatic brain injury or diseases of the brain.

Aphonia. A complete loss of voice.

Apraxia.  Where normal muscle function exists but a task can not be done upon request.

Articulation Disorder. An inability to correctly produce speech sounds (phonemes) because of problems with the articulators (lips, teeth, tongue, jaw, soft palate.) This can be due to problems such as cleft palate, orthodontic issues or muscle weakness such as dysarthria.

Assessment. Systematic method of obtaining information from tests or other sources; procedures used to determine child’s eligibility, identify the child’s strengths and needs, and services child needs to meet these needs. See also evaluations.

Assistive technology device. Equipment used to maintain or improve the capabilities of a child with a disability.

Audiology. Related service; includes identification, determination of hearing loss, and referral for habilitation of hearing.

Alternative/Augmentative Communication. Tools that are a substitute or supplement to individuals with absent or limited speech. These include communication boards with photos or symbols or electronic devices.

Autism. Developmental disability that affects communication and social interaction, adversely affects educational performance, is generally evident before age 3. Children with autism often engage in repetitive activities and stereotyped movements, resist environmental change or change in daily routines, and have unusual responses to sensory experiences.

B

Backing. When sounds that should be made at the front of the mouth (such as ‘t’) are made at the back instead. An example would be saying ‘key’ for ‘tea.’

Basic skills. Skills in subjects like reading, writing, spelling, and mathematics.

Behavior disorder (BD). See emotional disturbance.

Behavior intervention plan.  A plan of positive behavioral interventions in the IEP of a child whose behaviors interfere with his/her learning or that of others.

Bilateral hearing loss.  A loss of hearing in both ears.

C

Child find. Requirement that states ensure that all children with disabilities are identified, located and evaluated, and determine which children are receiving special education and related services.

Class action. A civil action filed in a court on behalf of a named plaintiff and on behalf of other individuals similarly situated.

Cluster Reduction.   When words with two consonants at the beginning of a word are reduced to just one e.g. ’stand’.  ’sand’.

Cochlear Implant.   A medical device that allows some people with hearing loss to hear sounds, including speech. This is done by bypassing damaged structures in the inner ear and directly stimulating the auditory nerve.

Conductive Hearing Impairment.   Hearing loss caused by dysfunction of the outer or middle ear.

Cued Speech.   Method of communication that combines speech reading with a system of handshapes placed near the mouth to help deaf or hard of hearing individuals differentiate words that look similar on the lips (e.g., bunch vs. punch) or are hidden (e.g., gag).

Confidential file. File maintained by the school that contains evaluations conducted to determine whether child is handicapped, other information related to special education placement; parents have a right to inspect the file and have copies of any information contained in it.

Consent. Requirement that the parent be fully informed of all information that relates to any action that school wants to take about the child, that parent understands that consent is voluntary and may be revoked at any time. See also Procedural safeguards notice and prior written notice.

Controlled substance. Means a drug or other substance identified under schedules I, II, III, IV, or V of the Controlled Substances Act; does not include a substance that is legally possessed or used under the supervision of a licensed health care provider.

Counseling services. Related service; includes services provided by social workers, psychologists, guidance counselors, or other qualified personnel.

Cumulative file. General file maintained by the school; parent has right to inspect the file and have copies of any information contained in it.

D

Damages. Monetary compensation that may be recovered by a person who has suffered loss, detriment or injury to his person, property or rights, through the unlawful act or negligence of another; damages are not generally available under the IDEA.

Deaf Blindness. IDEA disability category; includes hearing and visual impairments that cause severe communication, developmental and educational problems that adversely affects educational performance.

Deafness. IDEA disability category; impairment in processing information through hearing that adversely affects educational performance

Disability. In Section 504 and ADA, defined as impairment that substantially affects one or more major life activities; an individual who has a record of having such impairment, or is regarded as having such an impairment.

Dysgraphia.   Difficulty writing

Dysarthria.  Where facial muscle weakness affects speech production, leaving it sounding slurred, flat, nasal or jerky in rhythm. This occurs as a result of brain or nerve damage.

Dysfluency (or Stammering).  Where the smooth flow of speech is interrupted. This may occur by repetition of whole words, repetition of a single sound, prolonging of sounds or blocking where the mouth is open but no sound comes out. Facial tension may be present and occasionally extra body movements may occur. There may also be changes in breathing patterns such as holding the breath or taking an exaggerated breath before speaking.

Dysphagia.  Difficulty swallowing.

Dysphonia.   An impairment of the voice such as having a hoarse voice.

Dyspraxia of Speech.  An inability to control and coordinate the movements needed to make speech sounds despite normal muscle functioning. The ability to say words or speech sounds is inconsistent.

Dystonia.  Abnormal muscle tone.

E

Early intervention (EI).  Special education and related services provided to children under age of 5.

Education records. All records about the student that are maintained by an educational agency or institution; includes instructional materials, teacher’s manuals, films, tapes, test materials and protocols.

Educational consultant/diagnostician. An individual who may be familiar with school curriculum and requirements at various grade levels: may or may not have a background in learning disabilities; may conduct educational evaluations.

Emotional disturbance (ED). Disability category under IDEA; includes depression, fears, schizophrenia; adversely affects educational performance.

EMR. Educable mentally retarded.

ESY. Extended school year services.

F

FERPA. Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act; statute about confidentiality and access to education records.

FAPE. Free appropriate public education; special education and related services provided in conformity with an IEP; are without charge; and meet standards of the SEA.

Fronting.  When sounds that should be made at the back of the mouth are made at the front eg. ‘tea’ instead of ‘key’ and saying ‘tar’ instead of ‘car.’

G

General curriculum. Curriculum adopted by LEA or SEA for all children from preschool through high school.

Guardian ad litem. Person appointed by the court to represent the rights of minors.

H

Hemorrhage.  The escape of blood from a ruptured blood vessel, externally or internally.

Hearing impairment. Disability category under IDEA; permanent or fluctuating impairment in hearing that adversely affects educational performance

Hemianopia.   Loss of one half of the normal field of vision.

Hemiparesis.   Weakness of one half of the body.

I

IDEA. The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act of 1997

IDELR. Individuals with Disabilities Law Reporter

IEE. Independent educational evaluation

IEP. Individualized Educational Plan

IFSP. Individualized family service plan

Inclusion. Practice of educating children with special needs in regular education classrooms in neighborhood schools. See also mainstreaming and least restrictive environment.

J

L

Landau Kleffner Syndrome.   A rare form of childhood epilepsy resulting in severe problems understanding and using language.

Laryngectomy.   where the larynx is removed resulting in a loss of voice.  AAC may be required or specialist speech and language intervention.

Learning disability.  See specific learning disability (SLD).

LRE. Least restrictive environment; requirement to educate special needs children with children who are not disabled to the maximum extent possible.

LEA. Local education agency or school district

M

Mainstreaming. Practice of placing special needs children in regular classrooms for at least a part of the children’s educational program. See also least restrictive environment and inclusion.

Manifestation determination review. If child with disability engages in behavior or breaks a rule or code of conduct that applies to nondisabled children and the school proposes to remove the child, the school must hold a hearing to determine if the child’s behavior was caused by the disability.

Mediation. Procedural safeguard to resolve disputes between parents and schools; must be voluntary, cannot be used to deny or delay right to a due process hearing; must be conducted by a qualified and impartial mediator who is trained in effective mediation techniques.

Medical services. Related service; includes services provided by a licensed physician to determine a child’s medically related disability that results in the child’s need for special education and related services.

Mental retardation. Disability category under IDEA; refers to significantly sub average general intellectual functioning with deficits in adaptive behavior that adversely affects educational performance.

Modifications. Substantial changes in what the student is expected to demonstrate; includes changes in instructional level, content, and performance criteria, may include changes in test form or format; includes alternate assessments.

Multiple disabilities. Disability category under IDEA; concomitant impairments (such as mental retardation,  blindness, mental retardation.  orthopedic impairment, etc.) that cause such severe educational problems that problems cannot be accommodated in special education programs solely for one of the impairments.

N

Native language. Language normally used by the child’s parents.

Norm.  referenced test. (See standardized test)

O

OCR. Office of Civil Rights

Occupational therapy. Related service; includes therapy to remediate fine motor skills

Orientation and mobility services. Related service; includes services to visually impaired students that enable students to move safely at home, school, and community

Orthopedic impairment. Disability category under IDEA; orthopedic impairment that adversely affects child’s educational performance

OSERS. Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services

OSEP. Office of Special Education Programs

Other health impairment. Disability category under IDEA; refers to limited strength, vitality or alertness due to chronic or acute health problems that adversely affects educational performance.

P

Physical therapy. Related service; includes therapy to remediate gross motor skills.

Phonological Difficulties.  Difficulty selecting and using the correct sounds necessary for speech. These can be characterized depending on where or how the sound is made. See backing, fronting, stopping, consonant harmony and cluster reduction for more information.

Prior written notice. Required written notice to parents when school proposes to initiate or change, or refuses to initiate or change, the identification, evaluation, or educational placement of the child.

Procedural safeguards notice. Requirement that schools provide full easily understood explanation of procedural safeguards that describe parent’s right to an independent educational evaluation, to examine records, to request mediation and due process.

Psychological services. Related service; includes administering psychological and educational tests, interpreting test results, interpreting child behavior related to learning.

Public Law (P.L.) 94.  142. The Education for All Handicapped Children Act; enacted into law in 1975

R

Reasonable accommodation. Adoption of a facility or program that can be accomplished without undue administrative or financial burden.

Recreation. Related service; includes therapeutic recreation services, recreation programs, and leisure education.

Rehabilitation Act of 1973. Civil rights statute designed to protect individuals with disabilities from discrimination; purposes are to maximize employment, economic self sufficiency, independence, inclusion and integration into society.

Rehabilitation counseling services. Related service; includes career development, preparation for employment, vocational rehabilitation services funded under the Rehabilitation Act of 1973.

Related services. Services that are necessary for child to benefit from special education; includes speech.  language pathology and audiology services, psychological services, physical and occupational therapy, recreation, early identification and assessment, counseling, rehabilitation counseling, orientation and mobility services, school health services, social work services, parent counseling and training.

Remediation. Process by which an individual receives instruction and practice in skills that are weak or nonexistent in an effort to develop/strengthen these skills.

S

School health services. Related service; services provided by a qualified school nurse or other qualified person.

Section 504. Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act protects individuals with disabilities from discrimination due to disability by recipients of federal financial assistance.

Special education. Specially designed instruction, at no cost to the parents, to meet the unique needs of a child with a disability.

Specific learning disability (SLD). Disability category under IDEA; includes disorders that affect the ability to understand or use spoken or written language; may manifest in difficulties with listening, thinking, speaking, reading, writing, spelling, and doing mathematical calculations; includes minimal brain dysfunction, dyslexia, and developmental aphasia.

Speech language pathology services. Related service; includes identification and diagnosis of speech or language impairments, speech or language therapy, counseling and guidance.

Speech or language impairment. Disability category under IDEA; includes communication disorders, language impairments, voice impairments that adversely educational performance.

Standardized test. Norm referenced test that compares child’s performance with the performance of a large group of similar children (usually children who are the same age).

Stopping.  When long sounds come out as short ones e.g. ’sand’ comes out as ‘dand’ or ’socks’ come out as ‘docks.’

Supplementary aids and services.  Means aids, services, and supports that are provided in regular education classes that enable children with disabilities to be educated with nondisabled children to the maximum extent appropriate.

T

Transition services. IEP requirement; designed to facilitate movement from school to the workplace or to higher education.

Traumatic brain injury. Disability category under IDEA; includes acquired injury caused by external physical force and open or closed head injuries that result in impairments; does not include congenital or degenerative brain injuries or brain injuries caused by birth trauma.

U

V

Visual impairment including blindness. Disability category under IDEA; impaired vision that adversely affects educational performance.

Vocal Cord Paralysis.  Where either one or both vocal cords become paralyzed resulting in voice problems. This is due to problems with the nerve.

Vocal Nodules.  Caused by vocal misuse or abuse. A nodule is a callous like growth that is noncancerous and grows on the inner part of the vocal cords.

W

Z