Speech Pathology Glossary
100 terms total — 24 showing — Last updated 15 Sep 2026
prosody
The rhythm, stress, and intonation patterns of speech that convey meaning and emotional content beyond individual word pronunciation.
ADOS
Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule, a standardized assessment tool for diagnosing autism spectrum disorders.
aphasia
An acquired communication disorder resulting from brain damage that affects language comprehension and expression.
apraxia of speech
A motor speech disorder affecting the ability to plan and sequence speech movements, distinct from aphasia or dysarthria...
articulation disorder
A speech sound disorder characterized by difficulty producing individual phonemes correctly at the motor level.
ASHA CCC-SLP
American Speech-Language-Hearing Association Certificate of Clinical Competence in Speech-Language Pathology, the standa...
aspiration
Entry of food, liquid, or saliva into the airway below the level of the vocal folds during swallowing.
auditory processing disorder
A condition affecting how the brain processes auditory information despite normal hearing sensitivity.
augmentative and alternative communication
Methods and devices that supplement or replace natural speech for individuals with severe communication impairments.
CAS
Childhood Apraxia of Speech, a neurological pediatric speech disorder affecting motor planning for speech sound producti...
CELF-5
Clinical Evaluation of Language Fundamentals-5, a comprehensive standardized language assessment battery.
childhood apraxia of speech
A neurological pediatric speech sound disorder affecting the precision and consistency of movements for speech productio...
cluttering
A fluency disorder characterized by rapid, irregular speech rate with impaired intelligibility and language organization...
coarticulation
The overlapping and blending of articulatory movements during connected speech production.
Consensus Auditory-Perceptual Evaluation of Voice
Standardized protocol for perceptual voice assessment using visual analog scales to rate overall severity, roughness, br...
contact quotient
Electroglottographic measure expressing vocal fold contact duration as a percentage of the total vibratory cycle.
CPT code
Current Procedural Terminology codes used for billing and documentation of specific speech pathology services.
cricothyroid approximation
Surgical voice restoration procedure tightening vocal fold tension by approximating the cricoid and thyroid cartilages.
curriculum-based language assessment
An assessment approach that evaluates language skills within academic content and classroom contexts.
cycles approach
A phonological intervention method that targets multiple error patterns in systematic, time-limited cycles to promote na...
disfluency
Interruptions or hesitations in speech flow that disrupt the normal rhythm and timing of verbal communication.
dysarthria
A motor speech disorder resulting from neurological damage affecting speech muscle control and coordination.
dysphagia
Difficulty swallowing food, liquids, or saliva due to problems in the oral, pharyngeal, or esophageal phases of swallowi...
echolalia
The repetition of words or phrases spoken by others, occurring immediately or after a delay, often associated with autis...
electroglottography
Non-invasive technique measuring vocal fold contact area during phonation using electrical impedance across the neck.