Introduction to Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology Vocabulary

A set of vocabulary flashcards defining key terminology, disorders, concepts, and developmental stages from Modules 1 through 3.

Communication

Exchange of meaning between a sender and a receiver.

Language

What you express.

Speech

How you express language.

Person First Language

Prioritizing the individual before descriptors (e.g., "a person who stutters" instead of "a stutterer").

Impairment

Abnormality in structure or function (e.g., hearing impairment).

Disability

Reduced ability to meet daily living needs.

Communication Disorder

Significant reduction in communication structure or function.

Communication Difference

Variations in communication style from mainstream culture (e.g., dialects).

Speech Disorders

Interruption in speech production.

Language Disorders

Significant deficiencies in understanding or creating messages.

Hearing Disorders

Impairments in sound detection.

Organic Disorders

Disorders that have a physical cause (e.g., difficulty retrieving words post-stroke).

Functional Disorders

Disorders with no specific psychological cause (e.g., high-pitched speech with normal vocal cords).

Speech Sound Disorders

Difficulty with perception, production, and phonological representation of speech sounds.

Phonological Disorders

Issues with sound representation in the brain.

Articulation Disorders

Difficulty in learning and producing specific sounds.

Fluency Disorders

Unusual interruptions in the flow of speech (e.g., stuttering).

Voice Disorders

Inappropriate voice quality, pitch, or loudness.

Phonology

Relationship between speech sounds.

Syntax

Rules of grammar.

Morphology

Structure and formation of words.

Pragmatics

Use of language in social contexts.

Dementia

Progressive decline in cognitive function affecting communication.

Conductive Hearing Loss (CHL)

Blockage in outer/middle ear; treated with medicine or surgery.

Sensorineural Hearing Loss (SNHL)

Damage in cochlea/auditory nerve; treated with amplification and rehabilitation.

Mixed Hearing Loss

Combination of CHL and SNHL.

Clinical Fellowship Year (CFY)

Supervised experience under a certified SLP required to apply for national certification and state licensure.

ASHA

American Speech-Language-Hearing Association.

AAA

American Academy of Audiology.

Licensure

Legal permission to practice in a specific state.

Certification

Recognition of competency in a professional field.

Phonation Stage

Stage of vocal development occurring from 0 to 1 month characterized by reflexive crying.

Gooing and Cooing Stage

Stage of vocal development occurring from 2 to 3 months characterized by vocalizations with cooing sounds.

Expansion Stage

Stage of vocal development occurring from 4 to 6 months characterized by experimenting with pitch and volume.

Canonical Babbling

Stage of vocal development occurring at 6+ months characterized by repeated syllables.

Variegated Babbling

Stage of vocal development occurring at 9+ months characterized by changing consonants and vowels.

Echolalic Stage

Stage in which infants repeat speech heard without generating original utterances.

True Word Components

Requirements for a single word to be considered a true word: clear intention, recognizable pronunciation, and consistent usage in contexts.

Functional Flexibility

Ability to use language for various communicative purposes.

Alphabetic Principle

Understanding the relationship between letters and sounds, which is vital for literacy.

Presbycusis

Auditory change in older adults leading to reduced hearing sensitivity.