Definitions

[] Some common terms used in speech and language ( limited)

Here are some terms used to describe speech

**Here are some common speech terms you might hear a speech pathologist say:**

**Diadochokinesis:**  Let's start with the example from above and the hardest term to even pronounce. Here is a syllable breakdown so you can pronounce it correctly and maybe even impress a few people: (die-uh-doe-ko-kin-ee-sis).

Diadochokinesis is the rapid repetition of several different sounds in a row.

For example, the sound sequence of, "Puh - Tuh - Kuh" forces you to make three different sounds in three different//**places.**//

The "**P**" sound is made with the lips, the "**T**" sound is made with the tip of your tongue, and the "**K**" sound is made with the back of your tongue

**Speech Intelligibility:**  This is how well a person's speech can be understood. If your "speech intelligibility" is good, that means the words you are speaking are clear and can be understood most or all of the time.

**Speaking rate:**  A speech term for how fast or slowly you speak.

**Dysarthria:**  A reduction in strength and coordination in the muscles associated with speech. Simply put; //weak oral muscles.//

**Verbal Apraxia:**  Not being able to perform coordinated oral muscle movements. However, there is no paralysis or muscle damage involved.

This means that the person's oral muscles are fine, but the messages sent from the brain to move those muscles are being interrupted.

**Dysphagia:** <span style="background-color: #ffffff; display: block; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: left;"> A condition which causes difficulty swallowing liquids and food. Dysphagia requires very specialized speech therapy and should be carried out with a qualified therapist one-on-one.

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #000066; display: block; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: left;">**Aspiration:** <span style="background-color: #ffffff; display: block; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: left;"> Most everyone has done this without knowing there is a name for it. Have you ever drunk or eaten something that //**went down the wrong pipe?**//

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; display: block; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: left;">That is called, "aspiration." This is usually followed by coughing which clears the wind pipe (trachea).

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; display: block; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: left;">However, some people with swallowing disorders aspirate frequently and may not be able to cough the food or liquid back into their throat. This condition also requires specialized speech therapy.

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #000066; display: block; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: left;">**Range of Motion:** <span style="background-color: #ffffff; display: block; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: left;"> The distance you can move your tongue and/or lips in and out, back and forth, up and down, or side to side.

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #000066; display: block; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: left;">**Compensatory Strategies:** <span style="background-color: #ffffff; display: block; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: left;"> Learning new ways to complete a task. For example, if you are having difficulty saying long sentences then you can "compensate" by saying several shorter sentences instead.

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; display: block; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: left;">Saying two or three short sentences instead of one long sentence is a//compensatory strategy.//

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #000066; display: block; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: left;">**Prosody:** <span style="background-color: #ffffff; display: block; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: left;"> A collective speech term related to **//intonation, rhythm,//** and**//vocal stress//** in speech.

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; display: block; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: left;">You're probably saying, //"Great, but what do all those things mean?//

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; display: block; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: left;">Don't worry, we thought of that too ...

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #000066; display: block; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: left;">**Intonation:** <span style="background-color: #ffffff; display: block; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: left;"> The rising and falling of your voice (also known as //**pitch**//). Using a "high" pitch or a "low" pitch to add meaning to your message.

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; display: block; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: left;">Have you ever heard someone speak in a //monotone voice?// They speak without any changes in their pitch. It's like one long, unchanging sound.

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; display: block; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: left;">Intonation puts passion and spark into our speech!

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #000066; display: block; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: left;">**Rhythm:** <span style="background-color: #ffffff; display: block; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: left;"> The proper timing between pauses and spoken words in your speech. If your rhythm is "off" your pauses may be too long or too short between words.

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #000066; display: block; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: left;">**Vocal Stress:** <span style="background-color: #ffffff; display: block; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: left;"> This is putting an emphasis on certain words or syllables.

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; display: block; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: left;">For example, let's say you are the **//best//** poker player in your neighborhood. One day a stranger walks up to you and says,//"I heard you are the **worst** poker player in town"// (This stranger emphasized the word,//worst//).

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; display: block; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: left;">With confidence, you respond, //"You have heard wrong, I am the **BEST**poker player in town."// You emphasized or **//stressed//**the word **BEST** in that sentence to get your point across (in a graceful manner, of course).

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #000066; display: block; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: left;">**Thermal Stimulation:** <span style="background-color: #ffffff; display: block; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: left;"> placing ice or a cold object on a weak muscle to stimulate nerve and muscle reaction.

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #000066; display: block; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: left;">**Manual Stimulation:** <span style="background-color: #ffffff; display: block; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: left;"> The use of touch and pressure to stimulate nerves in and around weak muscles.