Key Concepts in Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology

Interprofessional Education

When 2 or more professions learn with, from, and about each other to improve collaboration and quality of care.

Interpersonal Practice

Collaborative, interdependent use of shared expertise directed toward a unified purpose of delivering optimal patient care.

Non-modifiable risk factors for dementia

Factors that cannot be changed, including age, genetics and family history, sex, Down syndrome, and ethnicity.

Age as a risk factor for dementia

Risk increases significantly after age 65.

Genetics and Family History as a risk factor for dementia

Having a parent or sibling with dementia increases your risk; certain genes (e.g., APOE-e4) are linked to a higher risk of Alzheimer's.

Sex as a risk factor for dementia

Women are at slightly higher risk, possibly due to longevity and hormonal factors.

Down Syndrome as a risk factor for dementia

Individuals with Down syndrome are at increased risk for early-onset Alzheimer's.

Ethnicity as a risk factor for dementia

Some groups (e.g., African American and Hispanic populations) are at higher risk due to a combination of genetic, health, and socioeconomic factors.

Modifiable risk factors for dementia

Factors that can be changed, including cardiovascular health, lifestyle factors, cognitive and social engagement, hearing loss, depression and mental health, sleep problems, and traumatic brain injury.

Cardiovascular Health as a modifiable risk factor

Includes high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, and obesity (especially in midlife).

Lifestyle Factors as a modifiable risk factor

Includes smoking, physical inactivity, poor diet (e.g., high saturated fat, low nutrient intake), and excessive alcohol use.

Cognitive and Social Engagement as a modifiable risk factor

Includes low levels of education, lack of mentally stimulating activities, and social isolation or loneliness.

Hearing Loss as a modifiable risk factor

Untreated hearing loss is a strong risk factor—hearing aids may help reduce risk.

Depression and Mental Health as a modifiable risk factor

Ongoing depression or untreated mental health issues in midlife may increase risk.

Sleep Problems as a modifiable risk factor

Chronic sleep disorders, including sleep apnea, may contribute to dementia risk.

Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) as a modifiable risk factor

A history of moderate or severe head injury increases the risk.

Aphasia

An acquired communication disorder caused by brain damage, characterized by an impairment of language modalities: speaking, listening, reading, and writing; it is not the result of a sensory deficit, a general intellectual deficit, or a psychiatric disorder.

Ischemic Stroke

A clot blocks blood flow to an area of the brain.

Hemorrhagic Stroke

Bleeding occurs inside or around brain tissue.

Left Hemisphere of the Brain

Primarily responsible for language.

Diagnosis when the side responsible for language is damaged

Aphasia.

Diagnosis when the opposite side is damaged

Damage to the right hemisphere may result in a wide range of communication and other behavioral deficits.

Common deficits related to Traumatic Brain Injury

Includes cognitive deficits (orientation, memory, new learning, information processing, cognitive endurance, problem solving, judgment/reasoning, language) and emotional/behavioral/psychological deficits (agitation, irritability, impulsivity, apathy, disinhibition, decreased frustration tolerance, egocentricity, depression, reduced insight/awareness).

Difference between language disorder/delay and language difference

Recognizing the distinction for a bilingual client.

Considerations for the bilingual client

Includes simultaneous vs. sequential development, silent period, interference/transfer, code-switching, etc.

Difference between translating and interpreting

Understanding the distinct roles and processes involved.

Importance of trauma-informed care

Recognizing why it matters in treatment.

Augmentative and Alternative Communication

ALL FORMS OF COMMUNICATION OTHER THAN ORAL SPEECH THAT ARE USED TO EXPRESS THOUGHTS, NEEDS, WANTS, AND IDEAS

Speech-Generating Devices

Consider both the communication technologies used to support individuals with complex communication needs and the interactive competence of communication partners.

Complex Communication Needs

4 MILLION PEOPLE IN THE U.S. ARE NOT ABLE TO USE NATURAL SPEECH TO EXPRESS WANTS AND NEEDS

Unaided AAC

GESTURES AND VOCALIZATIONS; USE OF GESTURE, BODY MOVEMENT, OR AN OBSERVABLE SIGNAL WITH A COMMUNICATION PARTNER

Aided AAC

RANGE IN THE REPRESENTATIONS USED, THE INPUT AND OUTPUT MODES, AND THE DEGREE TO WHICH THE SYMBOLS ARE TRANSPARENT; NO-TECH, LOW-TECH, MID-TECH, OR HIGH-TECH

Direct Selection

The user directly chooses the desired symbol, word, or message using a body part or tool.

Examples of Direct Selection

Touching a screen with a finger, Pointing with a stylus or head pointer, Eye gaze (using eye-tracking technology), Mouse, joystick, or other assistive technology.

Scanning

The system highlights or moves through choices one at a time (or in groups), and the user selects when their desired item is highlighted.

Types of Scanning

Automatic scanning: Items are highlighted automatically at a set speed; Step scanning: User activates a switch to move from one item to the next; Inverse scanning: The scan is controlled by holding a switch and releasing it to make a selection.

Conductive Hearing Loss

Something is blocking the passage of sound through the auditory system.

Sensorineural Hearing Loss

Damage to the sensory and/or neural structures of the auditory system.

Mixed Hearing Loss

Something is blocking the passage of sound through the auditory system AND there is damage to the sensory and/or neural structures of the auditory system.

Hearing Aids

A HA captures sound acoustically, amplifies the signal within the system electronically, and then passes it along to the ear canal acoustically.

Cochlear Implants

A CI is a surgically implanted, sensory prosthetic device that electrically stimulates the auditory nerve (bypasses the peripheral auditory system).

Good Communication Strategies for Listener

Control your communication situations, Look at and [speech]read the talker, Expectations need to be realistic, Assertiveness helps others understand your difficulties, Repair strategies for communication breakdowns help you and the talker.

Good Communication Strategies for Speaker

Spotlight your face and keep it visible, Pause slightly between the content portions of sentences, Empathize and be patient, Ease the person's listening, Control the circumstances and the listening conditions in the environment, Have a plan.

Auditory-Verbal Therapy

A family-centered, early intervention approach that promotes the development of spoken language through listening (audition) alone, without relying on visual cues such as sign language or lipreading.

Stages of Swallow

The stages of swallow include pre-oral, oral, pharyngeal, and esophageal phases, each involving specific physiological processes for safe and efficient swallowing.

Characteristics of the Typical Swallow

The typical swallow is characterized by a coordinated sequence of muscle movements, including tongue propulsion, airway protection, and esophageal transit, ensuring safe and effective transport of food and liquids.

Dysphagia

Dysphagia is a medical term referring to difficulty in swallowing, which can arise from various causes, including neurological disorders, structural abnormalities, or muscle dysfunction, affecting the ability to safely consume food and liquids.

Voice and Resonance Disorders

Voice and resonance disorders refer to impairments that affect the quality, pitch, loudness, or nasality of a person's voice, often resulting from conditions such as vocal cord dysfunction, structural abnormalities, or neurological issues.

Autism Spectrum Disorder

DSM-5 Criteria for Autism Spectrum Disorder - autism may look different in girls and boys.

Motor Speech Production Process

Movement plan/program is retrieved from memory and sent to motor control areas.

Dysarthria

Occurs when there is a breakdown at the level of execution of the motor plan.

Apraxia

Occurs when there is a breakdown at the level of generating the motor plan itself.

Apraxia of Speech (AOS)

Articulation errors more likely to occur on longer & more phonetically complex words.

Dysarthria Characteristics

Articulation errors are more consistent, predictable, & occur with the same frequency on shorter, phonetically simple words.

Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs)

Traumatic events in childhood (e.g., abuse, neglect) that can affect development and health.

Aided (AAC)

Communication that uses external tools (e.g., speech-generating devices, picture boards).

Alzheimer's Disease

A progressive brain disorder that causes memory loss and cognitive decline.

Anticipatory Strategy

A technique used to prepare for communication or swallowing challenges before they happen.

Aspiration

When food or liquid enters the airway instead of the esophagus.

Ataxia

A movement disorder causing uncoordinated muscle activity, often affecting balance and speech.

Auditory-Verbal

A therapy approach that focuses on teaching children with hearing loss to listen and speak using hearing technology.

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)

A neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by challenges in social interaction, communication, and behavior.

Bolus

A single mass of food or liquid prepared for swallowing.

Brain

The control center of the body responsible for thinking, movement, language, and other vital functions.

Cochlear Implant

A surgically implanted device that bypasses damaged parts of the inner ear to provide hearing.

Code-Switching

Switching between languages or language styles depending on the situation.

Conductive Hearing Loss

Hearing loss caused by problems in the outer or middle ear that block sound from reaching the inner ear.

Cranial Nerve VIII

The vestibulocochlear nerve; transmits hearing and balance signals from the inner ear to the brain.

Dysarthria

A motor speech disorder caused by weak or uncoordinated speech muscles.

Electrolarynx

A battery-operated device that produces sound for speech in people who've had their larynx removed.

Epiglottis

A flap of tissue that closes over the airway during swallowing to prevent aspiration.

Esophageal Stage

The phase of swallowing when the bolus moves through the esophagus into the stomach.

External Auditory Canal

The ear canal that carries sound from the outer ear to the eardrum.

GERD (Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease)

A condition where stomach acid flows back into the esophagus, possibly affecting swallowing or voice.

Hair Cells

Sensory cells in the cochlea that convert sound vibrations into nerve signals.

Hearing Aid

A device that amplifies sound to help people with hearing loss.

Hearing Loss

A partial or total inability to hear in one or both ears.

Iconicity

How much a symbol visually represents its meaning (e.g., a picture of a dog to mean 'dog').

Inner Ear

The part of the ear that includes the cochlea and balance organs; responsible for hearing and equilibrium.

Interference

When features of a first language influence the production or understanding of a second language.

Interpreter

A person who orally translates spoken language in real time.

Interprofessional Education

Learning that involves multiple health disciplines working and learning together.

Intubation

Placement of a tube into the airway to help with breathing, often during surgery or emergencies.

Language Difference

A variation in language due to cultural or linguistic background—not a disorder.

Language Disorder

Difficulty understanding or using spoken, written, or other forms of language.

Larynx

The voice box; houses the vocal folds and produces sound for speech.

Middle Ear

The part of the ear between the eardrum and inner ear; contains the ossicles.

Mixed Hearing Loss

A combination of conductive and sensorineural hearing loss.

Opaque (AAC)

A symbol with little or no visual resemblance to its meaning.

Oral Stage

The phase of swallowing where food is chewed and moved to the back of the mouth.

Ossicles

The three tiny bones in the middle ear (malleus, incus, stapes) that transmit sound.

Outer Ear

Includes the pinna and ear canal; collects and directs sound waves.

Pharyngeal Stage

The phase of swallowing when the bolus moves through the throat and past the airway.

Phonology

The study of the sound system of a language and the rules for combining those sounds.

Pinna

The visible part of the ear that helps collect sound.

Pragmatics

The social rules of language use, such as taking turns and using appropriate tone.

Pre-Oral Stage

The time before food enters the mouth, including visual and olfactory awareness of food.

Repair Strategy

A method used to fix communication breakdowns (e.g., repeating, rephrasing).

Resonance

The quality of the voice as it echoes through the oral, nasal, and throat cavities.