Speech therapy reference guide for parents!

The following are some explanations of words your speech therapist may use to when describing your child’s communication:

Articulation Delays or Disorders

Phonological Disorder: it’s when a child struggles to know how to correctly make certain sounds or how to combine them to form words.
Articulation Delay: Your child is developing speech at a slower pace than expected but might eventually catch up with age.
Articulation Disorder: Your child consistently has trouble pronouncing certain sounds, even when they should have mastered them by a certain age.

Expressive Language Delays

Difficulty expressing wants or needs
Limited vocabulary
Struggles with grammar and sentence structure
Trouble finding the right word

Receptive Language Delays

Trouble pointing to or showing common objects
Difficulty understanding verbal instructions or information
Trouble answering “wh-” questions (who, what, where, when, why)

Apraxia of Speech

The child knows what they want to say but struggles to coordinate mouth muscles to speak. Speech may be unclear with errors like:

Backing of sounds (e.g., “guck” for “duck”)
Fronting of sounds (e.g., “tat” for “cat”)
Deleting sounds (e.g., “oop” for “hoop”)
Sound substitutions (e.g., “deap” for “leap”)
Difficulty with /r/ sounds (e.g., “wace” for “race”)

Stuttering

Repeating sounds, syllables, or words
Blockages (getting “stuck” on sounds or words)
Overuse of fillers like “um” or “you know”

Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD)

Challenges with communication and social interactions
Difficulty with language understanding and expression
Attention, problem-solving, and speech difficulties
Trouble with nonverbal communication (e.g., eye contact, gestures)

Dysphagia

When a child has difficulty swallowing food, liquids, or even their saliva. In simple terms, it means the child has trouble getting things down the throat and into the stomach.
Dysphagia can happen for different reasons, like muscle weakness or a problem with how the throat works. Treatment can include therapy to help the child swallow more easily and safely.

Signs of Dysphagia:

Coughing or choking while eating or drinking
Taking a long time to eat or drink
Avoiding certain foods because they are hard to swallow
Trouble breathing or a runny nose after eating
Drooling more than usual

Executive Function Deficits are when a child has difficulty with the mental skills needed to plan, organize, remember things, and control their impulses. In simple terms, it’s like having trouble with the “brain tools” that help you manage tasks, follow rules, and stay on track.

What It Looks Like:

Difficulty planning or organizing tasks (e.g., struggling to complete homework or chores in order)
Trouble focusing or paying attention for long periods
Forgetfulness (e.g., forgetting things like assignments, appointments, or instructions)
Impulsiveness (e.g., making decisions without thinking about the consequences)
Difficulty managing emotions (e.g., getting upset or frustrated easily when things don’t go as planned)

These skills are important for everyday activities like schoolwork, following routines, and handling social situations. Children with executive function deficits may need support and strategies to help them develop these skills over time.

If you need more information, just call and speak to a speech therapist directly at: 443-875-7606.