What does SLP stand for?

 What does SLP stand for?

• SLP stands for Speech Language Pathologist or ST for Speech Therapist
• SLPs' field is known as Communication Disorders - you can visit  https://www.asha.org for more information
• SLPs' areas of expertise are Speech, Language, and Hearing including the social/emotional aspects of language and Cognition, voice, dysphagia (swallowing difficulties - oropharyngeal function), Hearing (impact on speech and language), Aphasia due to stroke, Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI), etc. 
• SLPs work with infants, children, and adults.
• SLP does not mean "Speech Teacher"
• Many have asked what the difference is between Speech and language. So, let's explain first things first.
• Communication is a process of exchanging information and ideas between a speaker and a listener. It involves encoding, transmitting, and decoding intended messages.
• Modes of communication: verbal, non-verbal (i.e. gestural), written, visual.

What is Language? 

Language consists of:

• Form: Phonology, Morphology, Syntax
• Content: semantics (meaning - synonyms, antonyms)
• Use: Pragmatics (manner of communication - turn-taking, coherent/cohesive conversations, humor, etc.

Language also involves:

• Social/emotional aspect: challenging behaviors, ineffective social skills, lack of communication opportunities, (social interactions, impact of emotional state on language - let's think of Autism)
• Cognition: mental processes  (attention, memory, sequencing, problem-solving, executive function; Piaget: sensorimotor, preoperational, concrete, and formal)

If your
child demonstrates difficulties with any of the above: consult with an SLP

SLPs area of expertise, as mentioned earlier, is Communication. Reading and writing is part of communication. SLPs know and apply evidence-based strategies for prevention and intervention.

What is Speech?

• Articulation - the production of sounds to form syllables, words, and sentences
• Fluency -involves Stuttering: speech that habitually shows abnormal interruptions in the form of hesitations, repetitions, or prolongations, and Cluttering: rapid rate of utterances
• Voice

1. Pitch (high or low pitch, monotone, etc.)
2. Loudness 
3. Quality (hyper/hyponasality, strident voice)

Alexandra Kolioradakis, MS, CCC-SLP

Speech Therapy Center

1825 N. Pinellas Ave Suite 105

Tarpon Springs, FL 34689

Tel: (727) 940-3114