Speech Therapy Jargon: Speech & Language Terms

by Jacky G. Speech Therapist
Jumble of Jargon

Image source: speechdudes.wordpress.com

When you’re new to the world of speech therapy, learning the new terminology can be overwhelming. Always ask your child’s speech-language pathologist (SLP) to rephrase something if you have trouble with it. You can also stop by your local library and pick up some books on speech therapy. Many speech therapy books offer a simple breakdown of the basics. Here’s a quick reference guide to help you get started sorting out the terms. You can also review our previous post on speech therapy acronyms.

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Speech Therapy Jargon: Acronyms

by Jacky G. Legal Issues Speech Therapist
Alphabet Letters

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When you’re a military wife (or husband), you learn a whole new vocabulary. Sea bag. DITY. AWR. GI party (which is most certainly NOT a party). When your child is diagnosed with a speech disorder or delay, it’s pretty similar. You’ll have a lot of terminology to absorb, acronyms to memorize, and at-home speech therapy techniques to use. Not to mention all the legal jargon associated with the process to get your child into special education. Here’s a quick reference guide to help you grasp the basics of speech therapy acronyms. It’s purposefully not in alphabetical order; in most cases, each subsequent acronym adds to the information given for the preceding acronym.

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How to Measure Your Child’s Progress

by Jacky G. Speech Therapist
Goal Setting Target

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When your child first began speech therapy, you should have received a comprehensive treatment plan from the speech-language pathologist (SLP). You should also periodically receive progress reports, either written or verbal. If the SLP has so far provided you with neither of these, ask for them as soon as possible. The point of speech therapy is to help your child improve his communication skills. The best way to ensure that he is improving is to evaluate whether he has met measurable goals.

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How to Find a Speech Therapist

by Jacky G. Speech Therapist
Yellow Pages

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You have just learned that your child may have a speech disorder and you feel overwhelmed. There are lots of details to sort out: what type of treatment your child needs, whether your insurance will cover it, and how to find a speech therapist that can help him.

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Top 6 Questions to Ask Your Child’s Speech Therapist

by Jacky G. Speech Therapist
Speech Therapist Working with Child

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1. Ask the speech therapist what his credentials are and where he received his education and training. Ask him how long he has been practicing and whether he has experience working with schools. Speech therapists should have a master’s degree, if not a doctorate. Master’s degree programs provide speech language pathologists with the practical experience working with children under the supervision of a licensed practitioner.

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What Happens During the Initial Assessment?

by Jacky G. Speech Therapist
Speech Therapist Working with Child

Image source: kidtherapy.com

Before you bring your child to a speech therapist for an initial assessment, your child may have had a few preliminary screenings. If you notice that your child has had problems communicating, you might ask his pediatrician to conduct a screening. The pediatrician will conduct a few tests to determine if your child might have delayed speech development. If this is the case, he may refer you to an audiologist for a hearing test. This will determine whether your child’s communication issues arise from a hearing problem, rather than a speech disorder.

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