Speech therapy involves helping children communicate effectively, whether through language, speech sounds, social communication, or feeding. Families often hear unfamiliar terms during evaluations or therapy sessions. Understanding these terms helps parents support their child confidently.
Common Speech Language Pathology Terms Explained
- Expressive Language
How a child communicates outwardly through words, sentences, storytelling, and gestures.
- Signs of difficulty: Limited vocabulary, heavy reliance on gestures
- Receptive Language
How a child understands words and language.
- Receptive skills usually develop before expressive skills
- Pragmatics
Social use of language
- Skills include: Taking turns, staying on topic, reading social cues, adapting language to different situations
- Learn more about social communication
- Articulation
Clarity of speech sounds
- Common errors: Substitutions, omissions, distortions
- Phonological Processes
Patterns children use when learning sounds, like saying “tat” for “cat”
- Most processes fade as children grow
- AAC (Augmentative and Alternative Communication)
Tools or strategies that help children communicate
- Includes picture boards, communication apps, or devices
- AAC supports language development without delaying speech
- Fluency
Speech rhythm and flow
- Stuttering falls under fluency concerns
- Oral Motor Skills
Strength and coordination of lips, tongue, and jaw for feeding and speech
Why Understanding These Terms Helps Parents
Knowing these terms:
- Clarifies therapy goals
- Helps track progress
- Supports consistent strategies at home
- Strengthens parent-therapist communication
Parents can support children by:
- Narrating daily routines
- Expanding on children’s utterances
- Engaging in back-and-forth conversation
- Modeling clear articulation and social communication
References
- American Speech-Language-Hearing Association: Child Communication
- CDC: Speech and Language Development
- Zero to Three: Language Development