Sometimes it might seem like your speech therapist is speaking another language. With as much time as you spend talking with them, you may still hear some terms that feel unfamiliar–especially if you’re just starting speech therapy. Here’s a helpful glossary defining some common terms used in speech therapy sessions. You may also see some of these terms included in your child’s speech therapy goals. Of course, if you ever encounter a word or phrase that you’re unsure about, please ask! We speech therapists never mean to be unclear, but sometimes these terms are so second nature to us that a reminder is helpful.
Speech-language pathologists are constantly using the phrase “speech and language.” But don’t those two words mean the same thing? Actually, not quite! This phrase refers to two aspects of a person’s ability to communicate with others:
Speech is the motoric production of speech sounds using your tongue, mouth, and breath.
Language consists of using nonverbal language, verbal language, and correct grammar and sentence structure in order to communicate thoughts and needs.
You may hear this term used during an evaluation for speech therapy. This evaluation is often called a speech and language evaluation, because the speech therapist will assess both areas of development in order to determine the need and goals for therapy.
What is articulation? Articulation refers to a person’s ability to make speech sounds. If your child is in speech therapy because they have a hard time saying their /r/ or /s/ sounds, for instance, then they are receiving what’s called articulation treatment. You may hear your speech therapist say something like, “Your child’s articulation skills are improving.” For kids needing help with speech sounds, you’ll probably hear this word frequently!
“Production” is another term you’re likely to hear if your child is working on articulation. It refers to the way a person says a speech sound. Your speech therapist may talk about your child’s production of their target sound–the sound they’re working on in therapy. You may hear phrases like, “He needed less help with his /r/ productions today,” or “His /s/ productions are sounding much better.”
Language can be categorized into two areas. “Expressive language” refers to the verbal and nonverbal output of communication–how a person expresses themselves. “Receptive language” refers to a person's ability to understand what’s said to them.
Both of these areas of language development are equally important. And strong skills in one area help children grow their skills in the other area.
Joint attention is one of the earlier skills of language development. Joint attention refers to a person’s ability to focus on an item or task that a partner is also focusing on. Communication cannot exist without joint attention.
For example, when two people play with a toy together, they are focused on the same task and can communicate about what they’re doing. Joint attention can even be as simple as when a baby looks at their bottle, then looks back to their caregiver. They’re letting the caregiver know that they see their bottle, and they want it fast!
Modeling i s when a speech therapist or caregiver shows a child how to do something. This can mean modeling gestures, like teaching a baby to wave goodbye or use simple signs. It can also refer to someone modeling words or sounds for a child to imitate.
Speaking of imitation, in the context of communication development, it refers to when a child repeats what is modeled to them, whether it’s a gesture, sound, or word. Imitation is frequently used to teach new skills. Speech therapists watch for children to begin imitating a new skill before being able to do it independently.
When your speech therapist is helping your child with a new skill, they will provide cueing. Cueing refers to the different types of assistance a speech therapist gives your child to help them say a new sound or master a new skill.
For example, if your child is learning the /l/ sound, their speech-language pathologist may give them verbal cueing. They may say something like, “Remember, your tongue moves up for this sound,” instead of actually showing your child how to do it.
Children need different types of cueing, and the type and amount of cueing will likely change throughout the course of treatment. The objective is for your child to be meeting their goals with as minimal cueing as possible by the end of their time in speech therapy.
What does “fluency” mean? Fluency refers to the smoothness and continuity of a person’s speech. When people receive speech therapy for stuttering , it is often called fluency treatment.
What is “pragmatics”? Pragmatics refers to the social language we use when we’re interacting with others. Examples include being able to stay on topic within a conversation, not interrupting when someone else is talking, and using appropriate nonverbal communication with the person with whom you’re speaking.
A speech-language evaluation is often completed at the first visit with a speech therapist. An evaluation is the testing that a speech therapist performs to assess a child’s current communication strengths and weaknesses. The results of the evaluation determine whether the child needs speech therapy and what the goals of that therapy will be.
If you hear a speech therapist talk about “treatment” or a “treatment plan,” they’re simply referring to speech therapy.
If you’re seeking speech therapy for your child and you’re told you need a referral or a script, this means a referral from your doctor. Many people may not realize that in order for health insurance to authorize speech therapy, a statement from the pediatrician confirming the need for a speech-language evaluation is needed.
We hope this glossary of common terms sets you up for success in communicating with your speech therapist. But remember, you can always ask if there’s something that needs an explanation. Your speech therapist will be happy to address it!
More from tips and resources.
Our students may experience a myriad of emotions when they can and can’t express themselves effectively, ranging from feelings of accomplishment and equality with their peers to a sense of frustration and anxiety when they compare their communication skills with others in their environment.
As speech-language pathologists, one of our goals is to support students so that they stand out in a positive way when they communicate. WE CAN help them to effectively access their lexicons and answer questions in a timely manner. WE CAN help children with their phonological development. WE CAN help children with their writing. We CAN help second language learners learn vocabulary in another language in addition to navigating their communication impairment. How?
Here’s a research snapshot demonstrating the importance of vocabulary growth and its connection to literacy skills. Keep in mind the powerful role we can play in fostering vocabulary development by teaching synonyms and antonyms!
Flashcards/Matching/Concentration
Synonyms Activities
Antonym Match Up
Awesome Antonyms Match Up
Thesaurus Rex, by Laya Steinberg and Bobbie Harter | If you Were a Synonym, by Michael Dahl and Sara Gray |
Big, Bigger, Biggest, by Nancy Coffelt | Pitch and Throw, Grasp and Know: What is a Synonym?, by Brian Cleary |
Stroll and Walk, Babble and Walk: More about Synonyms, by Brian Cleary | If you Were an Antonym, by Nancy Loewen and Sara Gray |
Black? White! Day? Night!: A Book of Opposites, by Laura Vaccaro Seeger |
Thanks so much for this post. I love the books you listed.
We’re so glad that you found the resources helpful. I’ve had difficulty finding books to target synonyms/antonyms so it’s helpful for me to now have a list! This post is just one in a series that will provide you with resources to target different goal areas. Enjoy!!
Appreciating the dedication you put into your blog and detailed information you present. It’s great to come across a blog every once in a while that isn’t the same old rehashed information. Great read! I’ve bookmarked your site and I’m including your RSS feeds to my Google account.
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Hey there. Many of my students have goals for vocabulary and therefore work on synonyms. I wanted to get away from worksheets that they don’t really seem to enjoy and frankly neither do I . So I took matters into my own hands. My kids like games, I like games, so I figured it wouldn’t hurt to get creative. Soooo here we go. For my first, second, and third graders I made Synonym Sandwich. Partially inspired by my love for PB&J, yum!
I like to use this to progress monitor for my data tracking |
Students pick a card and state the synonym for the word on the card. If they draw an ant card, it eats their sandwich pieces. Your students can win by having the most amount of cards, being able to make the most sandwiches, etc., really whatever you want to play for that day. I like using synonyms to help my kids with vocabulary. Giving them another strategy and another verbal tool for their tool box is not a bad thing, as long as its not overloading them of course.
I cam across this great post from Speech Peeps, guest blogging on Speech Room News. Her post, (with research!) was really interesting. Here is the link to check it out. http://speechroomnews.blogspot.com/2012/11/evidence-based-vocabulary-instruction.html If you liked Synonym Sandwiches it is up on my TpT store. http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Synonym-Sandwiches-A-Common-Core-Aligned-Activity
My kids really enjoy it. Although playing it clothes to lunch can be dangerous 🙂 I use a black top hat for them to choose the cards out of instead of just choosing from a deck to kick up the fun factor.
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Hey there! I’m Maureen Wilson, a school-base SLP who is data driven and caffeine powered. My passion is supporting other pediatric SLPs by teaching them how to harness the power of literacy and data to help their students achieve their goals…without sacrificing time they don’t have.
Get the basics you need to administer and analyze Dynamic Assessments in a school setting. Dynamic Assessments are great for:
Language rubrics: a progress monitoring and data tracking tool, you might also enjoy....
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4 players can play this synonym underwater adventure game! Race thru space while practicing synonym words that you land on along the way!
4 players can play this synonym swamp adventure game! Race thru space while practicing synonym words that you land on along the way!
4 players can play this synonym space adventure game! Race thru space while practicing synonym words that you land on along the way!
What is a synonym?
Synonyms are words that mean the same thing!
For example, if we said the elephant is big or the elephant is large, that would mean the same thing!
A synonym for the word “synonym” could be “opposite”!
A synonym is like having two words that mean almost the same thing.
Imagine you have a big smile on your face, right? Now, if I say you’re ‘happy,’ that’s one way to say it. But guess what? I can also say you’re ‘joyful,’ and it means the same thing – it’s like a fancy friend for ‘happy’!
So, synonyms are like buddies that mean the same thing. They help make our talking and writing more interesting and fun!
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46 other terms for speech therapists - words and phrases with similar meaning.
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Create beautiful flowers while working on synonyms. Students match the words on the five petals to the flower that has a similar word. You can either print and cut out…
Here's a great way to practice and check your students' ability to identify synonyms. Mix up and pass out the cards to your students. Each of the game cards has…
If you are looking for a challenging vocabulary game for your older students, this may be just what you need! This game has students thinking of as many synonyms as…
Get ready for candy corn synonyms! These sweet synonyms are a hands-on exercise with visual appeal. Cut each of the candy corns into three pieces, mix the pieces up and…
Have your students figure out these Thanksgiving synonyms by using the context clues in the sentences. Using this worksheet, students pick words from choices in the word box that are…
Students match the words on the left side to their synonyms on the right. You can use this to assess their knowledge of these words or use it to reinforce…
Matching synonyms worksheet – level 1, synonyms – basic set.
This basic set includes: Ideas and instructions for the enclosed materials Synonym pair cards for levels 1, 2, and 3 Receptive practice sheets: Match the synonyms for…
This popcorn-themed activity is a fun way to build vocabulary skills. Students match popcorn pieces to the popcorn container that is labeled with its synonym. When using the interactive file,…
Vocabulary size is extremely important in developing reading skills.
“Children with larger vocabularies become better readers, writers, thinkers, and overall communicators.” – Kimberly Scanlon, M.A., CCC-SLP
An excellent way to grow your child’s vocabulary is to introduce categories of synonyms and antonyms.
Synonyms are words that have similar meanings, while antonyms are words that have opposite meanings.
Introducing your child to synonyms and antonyms will help him or her to communicate with more clarity and precision. Knowing exactly what you want to say is very empowering.
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Vocabulary Development: How to Use a Describer Reading Style
How to Make Connections While Reading with Your Child
Help My Child to Read Series: Going on a Picture Walk
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Synonyms, antonyms and homonyms.
Synonyms Level One |
Synonyms Level Two |
Antonyms Level One |
Antonyms Level Two |
Antonyms Level Three |
Homonyms Level One, group one pictures |
Homonyms Level One, group one sentence |
Homonyms Level One, group two pictures |
Homonyms Level One, group two sentences |
Homonyms Level Two, pictures and sentences |
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Synonyms may be easy to find online, but this selection is geared specifically for practicing speech therapy.
Synonyms for speech therapy include logopedics, logopedia, communication disorders therapy, speech-language pathology, speech-language therapy and speech pathology. Find more similar words at wordhippo.com!
Another way to say Speech Therapy? Synonyms for Speech Therapy (other words and phrases for Speech Therapy).
What's the definition of Speech therapy in thesaurus? Most related words/phrases with sentence examples define Speech therapy meaning and usage.
A speech pathologist, also known as a speech-language pathologist (SLP), is a highly trained professional dedicated to assessing, diagnosing, and treating various communication disorders. These disorders encompass difficulties in speech production, language comprehension and expression, voice, fluency, and swallowing.
Another way to say Speech-language Therapy? Synonyms for Speech-language Therapy (other words and phrases for Speech-language Therapy).
Speech therapy is not one thing. There are different types of speech therapy, each of which involves approaches and techniques that are specific to the issue that needs addressing. That could be related to speech itself—e.g., therapy for people who stutter—or it could relate to problems with memory swallowing, and more.
Answer. In a word: none. The terms "speech therapist" and "speech pathologist" have been used for years as titles for persons who work with persons having communication impairments. In the past, the term "speech pathologist" was used by professionals to describe themselves, but the term most commonly used today is "speech-language pathologist ...
Find 2 different ways to say SPEECH THERAPIST, along with antonyms, related words, and example sentences at Thesaurus.com.
Speech therapy word lists will help you spend less time finding the right target words to use for speech therapy practice.
Synonyms for speech therapist include logopedist, speech and language therapist, speech clinician, speech-language pathologist and speech pathologist. Find more similar words at wordhippo.com!
Activities and goal ideas to target vocabulary in speech therapy with well-designed, no-prep, printable or digital, evidence-based worksheets.
12. Treatment. If you hear a speech therapist talk about "treatment" or a "treatment plan," they're simply referring to speech therapy. 13. Referral/script. If you're seeking speech therapy for your child and you're told you need a referral or a script, this means a referral from your doctor. Many people may not realize that in ...
What's the definition of Speech therapist in thesaurus? Most related words/phrases with sentence examples define Speech therapist meaning and usage.
Discover The Numerous Benefits Of Speech Therapy For Older Adults. Improve Communication, Cognitive Function, And Quality Of Life With Expert Guidance.
Speech-language pathologists teach synonyms and antonyms to support children's vocabulary and literacy development. Check out these resources!
I like using synonyms to help my kids with vocabulary. Giving them another strategy and another verbal tool for their tool box is not a bad thing, as long as its not overloading them of course. I cam across this great post from Speech Peeps, guest blogging on Speech Room News. Her post, (with research!) was really interesting.
Learn synonyms with free, fun, and interactive games and activities. Perfect for speech therapy, language learning, and home practice.
Another way to say Speech Therapists? Synonyms for Speech Therapists (other words and phrases for Speech Therapists).
Matching Synonyms Worksheet - Level 1. Students match the words on the left side to their synonyms on the right. You can use this to assess their knowledge of these words or use it to reinforce….
An excellent way to grow your child's vocabulary is to introduce categories of synonyms and antonyms. Synonyms are words that have similar meanings, while antonyms are words that have opposite meanings. Introducing your child to synonyms and antonyms will help him or her to communicate with more clarity and precision.
Synonyms, Antonyms and Homonyms Synonyms, Antonyms and Homonyms are things that I've always had challenges finding good activities for. This year I've got more students with goals for these tricky things than ever before so I set forth to create something that I will use.