Week 4 SLP Summer Studying

MONDAY: The Full Speech Production Process

What are the three main systems involved in speech production?

1.  Respiratory

2. phonatory

3. articulatory systems

What is the role of the respiratory system in speech?

It provides airflow (breath support) needed to produce sound

What is the role of the phonatory system?

It produces sound through vocal fold vibration

What is the role of the articulatory system?

It shapes sound into recognizable speech using the tongue, lips, and teeth

What happens first when producing speech?

 Air is pushed out of the lungs

How does air move from the lungs to the mouth?

Lungs → trachea → larynx (vocal folds) → oral/nasal cavity

What happens at the vocal folds during phonation?

They come together and vibrate as air passes through them

How are sounds shaped into words?

The tongue, lips, and jaw modify airflow into specific speech sounds

What would happen if airflow is weak?

 Speech may be quiet, weak, or difficult to sustain

What type of issue occurs if articulation is impaired?

Speech sound errors (unclear or mispronounced words)

Which system is most involved in producing voice?

The phonatory system

How do all three systems work together to produce “cat”?

Air from the lungs powers sound → vocal folds vibrate → articulators shape /k/, /æ/, /t/

 TUESDAY: ASL Sentence Structure

What is the basic sentence structure of ASL?

Topic–Comment

How does ASL differ from English structure?

ASL often places topic/time first and uses different word order

Why is ASL a full language?

 It has its own grammar, syntax, and rules—not just gestures

Why are facial expressions important in ASL?

They provide grammatical meaning and emotion

What is a nonmanual signal?

Facial expressions, head movements, and body language used in ASL

How do facial expressions change meaning?

 They indicate questions, tone, and emphasis

How would you structure: “I am going to the store tomorrow”?

“TOMORROW STORE I GO”

Why is time placed first?

It sets context for the sentence

Why does ASL rely on visual grammar?

Because it is a visual-spatial language

WEDNESDAY: Brain Integration

Which brain area controls speech production?

 Broca’s area (frontal lobe)

Which area controls language comprehension?

 Wernicke’s area (temporal lobe)

What does the motor cortex do?

Controls movement of speech muscles

What does the auditory cortex do?

Processes sound and helps monitor speech

Why is speech a “network” function?

Multiple brain areas work together simultaneously

How does the brain adjust speech in real time?

Through auditory feedback (hearing yourself speak)

What happens if Broca’s area is damaged?

 Speech becomes slow, effortful, and limited

What happens if Wernicke’s area is damaged?

Speech is fluent but lacks meaning

What if the auditory cortex is damaged?

 Difficulty hearing and monitoring speech

Why is hearing essential for speech development?

It allows individuals to learn and correct speech sounds

THURSDAY: Manner of Articulation

What is manner of articulation?

 How airflow is modified to produce a sound

How is it different from place?

Place = where sound is made; manner = how airflow is shaped

What is a stop sound?

Air is completely blocked then released (e.g., /p/, /t/)

What is a fricative?

Air flows through a narrow space (e.g., /s/, /f/)

What is a nasal?

 Air flows through the nose (e.g., /m/, /n/)

What is a glide?

Smooth, quick movement between sounds (e.g., /w/, /j/)

What is the manner of /p/?

Stop (plosive)

What is the manner of /s/?

 Fricative

What is the manner of /m/?

Nasal

Why are stops easier for children?

They require simpler, shorter airflow control

What happens if airflow isn’t controlled?

 Sounds may be distorted or unclear

How do place and manner work together?

They fully describe how a sound is produced

FRIDAY: Voice Disorders

What is a voice disorder?

A problem with pitch, loudness, or quality of voice

What are common voice issues?

Hoarseness, breathiness, strain

What is hoarseness?

Rough, raspy voice quality

What is breathiness?

Excess air escapes during speech

What is vocal strain?

Tight, effortful voice production

What causes voice disorders?

Overuse, misuse, or vocal fold damage

How does overuse affect vocal folds?

 It can cause swelling or nodules

Why might a teacher develop a hoarse voice?

Excessive voice use without rest

Which system is affected?

Phonatory system

How do voice disorders impact communication?

Speech may be hard to hear or understand

Why is airflow + vocal fold closure important?

They must be balanced for clear, healthy voice