SPA 127 Final Exam: Communication, Neuroanatomy, Speech Disorders

What is the primary focus of communication?

Sending a message from one person to another using symbolic or non-symbolic forms.

What does speech refer to in Communication Sciences?

How sounds are physically produced, including articulation, voice, and fluency.

Define language in the context of communication.

A rule-based code used to communicate meaning, which can be spoken, written, signed, or supported by AAC.

What are the three parts of language?

Form, Content, and Use.

What does 'Form' in language include?

Phonology, morphology, and syntax.

What is the meaning of 'Content' in language?

Semantics and lexicon, or the meaning of words and ideas.

What does 'Use' refer to in language?

Pragmatics, or how language works socially.

What is the difference between a communication disorder and a communication difference?

A disorder negatively affects communication, while a difference is a variation that is not an impairment.

What is a congenital disorder?

A disorder that is present at birth, such as cleft palate or cerebral palsy.

What is a developmental disorder?

A disorder that appears during development, like developmental language disorder.

Define an acquired disorder.

A disorder that happens after abilities are already developed, such as aphasia after a stroke.

What does the term 'impairment' mean?

A problem with body structure or function, such as damage to vocal folds.

What is the role of the Central Nervous System (CNS)?

It includes the brain and spinal cord, serving as the main control center.

What is the function of the Peripheral Nervous System (PNS)?

It connects the CNS to the rest of the body through cranial and spinal nerves.

What are the main parts of a neuron?

Cell body/soma, dendrites, axon, and synapse.

What is the role of sensory (afferent) neurons?

They carry information to the brain, such as feeling a hot stove.

What do motor (efferent) neurons do?

They carry commands from the brain to muscles, like telling speech muscles to move.

What is the function of interneurons?

They connect neurons to other neurons and help process information within the nervous system.

What is Broca's aphasia characterized by?

Expressive language difficulties; the person knows what they want to say but struggles to produce it.

What is Wernicke's aphasia characterized by?

Fluent but nonsensical speech; the person may not understand others well.

How can conversational balance be supported in communication?

By helping individuals maintain engagement while respecting their interests and contributions.

What is the significance of person-first language?

It emphasizes the individual first, such as saying 'person with autism' instead of 'autistic person.'

What is identity-first language?

It emphasizes the identity first, such as saying 'autistic person' instead of 'person with autism.'

What is the main function of the frontal lobe?

Movement, planning, and executive functioning, including speech production.

What does the temporal lobe primarily handle?

Hearing, memory, and language comprehension.

What is the role of the parietal lobe?

Sensation, spatial awareness, and attention.

What is the main function of the occipital lobe?

Vision and visual processing, which supports communication.

What are the main structures of the respiratory system involved in speech?

Lungs, rib cage, air passageways, diaphragm, and trachea.

What is the biological job of the respiratory system?

Breathing, which involves taking in oxygen and expelling carbon dioxide.

How does the respiratory system contribute to speech?

It provides the air pressure needed for voice and speech.

What is tidal breathing?

Quiet breathing where inhalation and exhalation are more equal.

What characterizes speech breathing?

Quick inhalation followed by a long controlled exhalation for speaking in phrases.

What is the role of the larynx in speech?

It creates sound when vocal folds vibrate and protects the airway.

What happens during vocal fold abduction?

The vocal folds move apart/open for breathing.

What is the function of the thyroid cartilage?

It is the large cartilage of the larynx, often referred to as the Adam's apple area.

What is phonation?

The process of producing voice through the vibration of the vocal folds.

How is frequency measured and what does it represent?

Measured in Hertz (Hz), it represents pitch.

What does intensity measure in speech?

Measured in decibels (dB), it represents loudness.

What is a phoneme?

The smallest sound unit that can change meaning, e.g., 'bat' vs. 'cat.'

What is the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA)?

A system where each symbol represents one sound.

What is articulation in speech?

The physical movement to make speech sounds.

What does the term 'gliding' refer to in phonological patterns?

When /r/ or /l/ becomes a glide like /w/ or /j/, e.g., 'lion' becomes 'wion.'

What is the difference between independent and relational analysis?

Independent analysis focuses on what the child can do, while relational analysis compares the child's production to adult targets.

What is dysarthria?

A speech disorder caused by muscle weakness or poor muscle control.

What is Childhood Apraxia of Speech (CAS)?

A motor planning problem where the brain has trouble planning movements for speech.

What are primary/core behaviors in stuttering?

The actual stuttering moments, such as part-word repetitions and blocks.

What is cluttering in speech?

Rapid, variable, unclear speech with disorganized language.

What is the significance of velopharyngeal closure?

It closes off the nose for oral sounds; no closure is needed for nasal sounds.

What is a typical disfluency?

Normal interruptions in speech, such as 'um' or phrase repetitions.

What does stopping refer to in phonological patterns?

Fricatives/affricates become stops, e.g., 'sun' becomes 'tun.'

What is the impact of hearing loss on speech?

It can make it harder to hear and learn sounds, affecting speech development.

What is the meaning of 'omission' in speech errors?

Leaving a sound out, e.g., 'ca' for 'cat.'

What is the severity level of mild speech disorders?

Few sound errors with little impact on intelligibility, typically 85% or higher PCC.

How does emotional impact relate to stuttering?

Feelings and avoidance behaviors related to stuttering, such as avoiding presentations.

What is stuttering?

A speech disorder characterized by disruptions in the flow of speech.

What factors can contribute to stuttering?

Genetics, neurological factors, speech-motor control, language abilities, and stress.

Is stuttering caused by nervousness?

No, while anxiety can exacerbate it, it is not the main cause.

What is fluency shaping?

A treatment approach focused on making speech smoother through techniques like slower rate and easy onset.

What does stuttering modification aim to do?

Reduce fear and tension while managing stuttering moments through techniques like cancellations and pull-outs.

What is the CARE model in speech therapy?

A model focusing on communication, advocacy, resilience, education, confidence, and openness.

What is frequency in voice characteristics?

The rate of vocal fold vibration, measured in Hz, which determines pitch.

What is intensity in voice characteristics?

Sound power measured in dB, which determines loudness.

What are vocal nodules?

Localized growths on the vocal folds, often causing a hoarse or breathy voice.

What is a vocal polyp?

A fluid-filled lesion on the vocal folds, often causing hoarseness and breathiness.

What is vocal fold paralysis?

A condition where one or both vocal folds do not move correctly, leading to a weak or breathy voice.

What is laryngitis?

Inflammation of the vocal folds, often resulting in a hoarse voice.

What is dysphagia?

Difficulty swallowing, which can affect food, liquid, and saliva management.

What are the four phases of swallowing?

Oral preparatory, oral transport, pharyngeal, and esophageal phases.

What is penetration in swallowing?

When food or liquid reaches the vocal folds, often described as 'going down the wrong pipe.'

What is aspiration?

When food or liquid passes below the vocal folds into the trachea or airway.

What is aspiration pneumonia?

A bacterial infection caused by foreign material entering the lungs, often a complication of dysphagia.

What is a bedside swallow assessment?

A non-instrumental evaluation by a speech-language pathologist to assess swallowing safety.

What is the goal of treatment for dysphagia?

To maximize safety while keeping the least restrictive diet possible.

What is the difference between primary and secondary language impairment?

Primary language impairment is not explained by another disability, while secondary is connected to another condition.

What is phonological awareness?

Awareness of sounds in words, which is crucial for reading and spelling.

What does neurodiversity-affirming approaches focus on?

Support, accommodations, self-advocacy, and respecting harmless differences.

What is the significance of conversational balance in supporting individuals with ASD?

It helps facilitate communication while respecting their interests.

What is a common characteristic of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)?

Social communication differences and restricted or repetitive behaviors.

What is intellectual disability?

A significant limitation in intellectual functioning and adaptive behavior, often indicated by an IQ below 70.

What is dyslexia?

A written language impairment characterized by difficulties in decoding, spelling, and reading accurately.

What are common causes of dysphagia?

Congenital issues like cerebral palsy or acquired conditions like stroke or cancer.

What are the types of diet modifications mentioned?

Regular, chopped, mechanical soft, puree; thin or thickened liquids.

What is the purpose of exercises in speech therapy?

To strengthen muscles and improve swallowing, similar to physical therapy for swallowing.

What does NPO stand for?

Nothing by mouth; alternative nutrition may be needed.

What is sound?

A vibration of particles created by a source.

Through which mediums can sound travel?

Air, water, bone, or another medium.

Define compression in the context of sound.

Particles pushed together.

Define rarefaction in the context of sound.

Particles spread apart.

Give examples of vibratory sources.

Vocal folds, guitar string, drum head, speaker diaphragm.

What is frequency measured in?

Hertz (Hz).

What is amplitude measured in?

Decibels (dB).

What is the human hearing range?

About 20 Hz to 20,000 Hz.

What are important speech frequencies?

Roughly 250 Hz to 8,000 Hz.

What is the average conversation loudness in decibels?

Around 60 dB.

What is a pure tone?

A sound with a single frequency.

What is a complex sound?

A sound with two or more frequencies.

What structures are in the outer ear?

Pinna/auricle and ear canal.

What is the function of the middle ear?

The tympanic membrane vibrates, and ossicles transfer/amplify vibrations to the inner ear.

What structures are found in the inner ear?

Cochlea and hair cells.

How is air conduction tested?

Through headphones/earphones, testing the whole pathway through the outer, middle, and inner ear.