Terminology

At Melbourne Swallowing Clinics we realise that professional terminology can be confusing.
To help you, here is an array of terminology you may encounter.
If you require any further clarification please contact us.

Speech is the production of individual speech sounds and their combination into sequences to form words. There are various impairments of speech including disorders of respiration, phonation, resonance and articulation. Speech diagnoses include dysarthria, cleft lip and palate, velopharyngeal incompetency, phonological disorders, articulation disorders, hypernasality, hyponasality, hoarseness, breathiness, apraxia, dyspraxia and stuttering.

Language is the ability to use and understand meaningful verbal and non verbal symbols.
Impairments include disorders of understanding what is heard or read, and disorders of expression, use of gestures or words. Diagnoses include aphasia, dysphasia, developmental language delay, language impairment, Autism Spectrum Disorder, Aspergers Syndrome, language disorder, language disability and phonological disorders.

Cognition is the mental action or process of acquiring knowledge and understanding through awareness, thought, experience, reasoning and judgement. Impairments may occur which affect communication in the areas of attention, memory and the retention and retrieval of information, sequencing of information, reasoning, problem solving, concentration and thought organisation and controls. Cognitive disorders have a significant impact on language
functioning.

General Terminology

Abdomen The belly, that part of the body that contains all of the structures between the chest and the pelvis. The abdomen is separated anatomically from the chest by the diaphragm.

Achalasia A disease of the esophagus that mainly affects young adults. Abnormal function of nerves and muscles of the esophagus causes difficulties swallowing and sometimes chest pain. Regurgitation of undigested food can occur. The underlying problem is the failure of the lower esophageal region and sphincter to relax and open to allow for the passage of food into the stomach.

Apraxia is a motor speech/ sequencing disorder. The ability to find the immediate place of articulation and to move smoothly from one place of articulation to another is impaired.

Articulation Disorder is the individual substituting, omitting or distorting sounds in specific positions of word structure.

Aspergers Syndrome is an Autism Spectrum disorder that is characterised by significant difficulties in social interaction with associated repetitive and restrictive patterns of behaviour and interests. Pragmatic language skills are often reduced. It differs from Autism Spectrum disorder due to the relevant preservation of linguistic and cognitive development.

Aspiration The accidental entry into the respiratory tract of food or fluids through the vocal cords into the lungs.

Atrophy A wasting away or diminution. Muscle atrophy is a decrease in muscle mass often due to ongoing immobility or interrupted nerve supply.

Auditory Processing Disorder is the impaired ability to receive, screen, interpret, process, store and retrieve sounds, words and information.

Barium A metallic element that belongs to the Alkaline earths with an atomic number of 56. In medicine, a chalky solution of barium used to coat the inside of organs such as the pharynx, stomach or intestines so that they will show upon X ray.

Barium Swallow A test that involves filling the esophagus, stomach and small intestines with a barium solution in preparation for an X ray to define the anatomy of the upper digestive tract. It is otherwise known as an Upper Gastrointestinal Series.

Cerabrovascular Pertaining to the blood vessels and especially the arteries that supply the brain, as in Cerebro Vascular Accident (C.V.A) / Stroke.

Diaphragm A dome shaped muscular partition separating the thorax from the abdomen in humans/mammals. It plays a major role in the act of breathing as it`s contraction increases the volume of the thorax and so inflates the lungs.

Dilate To stretch or enlarge.

Dilation The process of enlargement, stretching or expansion.

Diverticulum A small bulging sac pushing outward from the mucosal layer of the colon wall. Diverticula can occur throughout the colon but are most common near the end of the left side of the colon, the sigmoid colon.

Dysarthria: is the reduction of articulatory skill and precision due to nerve and/ or neural impairment causing slurred speech.

Dysphagia is the disturbance of the swallowing pattern that may lead to a decreased ability to control fluids or foodstuffs orally, delay of swallow initiation, penetration of or aspiration of food or fluid into the airway.

Dysphasia is impaired expressive/ receptive language skills due to neurological impairment.

Dyspraxia (oromotor) is the partial impairment of oromotor sequencing skills due to neurological impairment.

Endoscope A lighted optical instrument that is used to get a deep look inside the body. An endoscope, which may be rigid or flexible, can be used to examine organs such as the throat or esophagus.

Endoscopy An examination of the inside of the body using a lighted flexible instrument called an endoscope. In general an endoscope is introduced into the body through a natural opening or sphincter such as the mouth or anus. The most common endoscopic procedures investigate the esophagus, stomach and portions of the intestine.

Epiglottis The muscular flap that covers the trachea during the act of swallowing so that food does not enter the airway and lungs.

Esophagus The tube that connects the pharynx (throat) with the stomach. The esophagus lays between the trachea (windpipe) and the spine. It passes down the neck, pierces the diaphragm just to left of the midline and joins the cardiac (upper) end of the stomach. In adults the esophagus is about 25cm (10 inches) long. When a person swallows, the muscular walls of the esophagus contract to push food down into the stomach. Glands in the lining produces mucous that keeps the passageway moist and helps to facilitate swallowing.

Expressive Language is our ability to transfer and express our thoughts and ideas through verbal or nonverbal channels.

Feeding Disorder is usually associated with young children experiencing difficulties in establishing a regular and competent feeding regime. It may be associated with a swallowing disorder (Dysphagia).

Fistula An abnormal passageway in the body. A fistula may go from the bodies’ surface to a blind pouch or to an internal organ or go between two internal organs.

Gastroesophageal Pertaining to both the stomach and the esophagus as in the gastroesophageal junction, the place where the esophagus connects to the stomach.

Gastroesophageal Reflux The return of the stomach contents back up into the esophagus. This frequently causes heartburn because of the irritation of the walls of the esophagus by stomach acid or gastric fumes. Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (G.E.R.D.) can lead to scarring and stricture of the esophagus requiring dilation. Approximately 10 % of patients with G.E.R.D. develop `Barrett`s Esophagus` which increases the risk of cancer of the esophagus. 80% of patients with G.E.R.D also present clinically with a Hiatus Hernia.

Hypernasality is an excessive amount of nasal airflow and nasal vocal quality that detracts from a person`s voice.

Hyponasality is an inadequate amount of nasal airflow and nasal quality that detracts from a person`s voice.

Infection The invasion and multiplication of micro-organisms, such as bacteria, viruses and parasites that are not normally present in the body.

Inflammation is a localised reaction that produces redness, warmth, swelling and pain as a result of infection, irritation or injury. Inflammation can be external or internal.

Intestine is the long, tube like organ in the abdomen that completes the process of digestion. It consists of the small and large intestines.

Larynx is the part of our respiratory tract between the pharynx and trachea having walls of cartilage and muscle that houses and protects the vocal cords, all enveloped in mucous membrane. The central thyroid cartilage which houses and protects the vocal cords is usually prominent and is also known as the `Adams Apple`. The larynx is located between the pharynx and trachea.

Linguistics is the study of the nature, structure and variations of a language, including phonetics, phonology, syntax, morphology, semantics, sociolinguistics and pragmatics.

Otitis Media is the inflammation and infection of the middle ear cavity behind the eardrum.

Palate The roof of the mouth. The front portion of the palate is bony (hard palate), with the rear portion of the palate being muscular (soft palate). The palate is important when it stretches back and makes closure with the pharyngeal wall to effect nasal closure.

Pervasive Developmental Disorder is a persistent and usually severe set of disorders that include Autism Spectrum disorder and Asperger`s syndrome. These disorders reduce the ability to engage in a communicative exchange, process information, learn at a normal rate for age correlation and develop meaningful language and communication skills.

Pharynx The hollow tube that is about 5 inches long and starts behind the nose and ends at the top of trachea (windpipe) and esophagus. The pharynx serves as a vestibule or entry for the trachea and esophagus.

Phonology The study of the sound systems of a language.

Pneumonia Inflammation of one or both lungs with dense areas of lung inflammation. Pneumonia is frequently, but not always due to infection. The infection may be bacterial, viral, fungal or parasitic. Symptoms may include fever, chills, cough with sputum production, chest pain, back pain or shortness of breath. Pneumonia is suggested by presence of symptoms and confirmed by chest X Ray testing. Treatment includes antibiotics and chest physiotherapy.

Pragmatics The skill of using language to communicate functionally in a social exchange.
This involves topic initiation, awareness of `speaker dominance`, turn taking, topic maintenance and shift and various support behaviours to successfully maintain the verbal exchange of information, ideas, purpose and comment.

Radiation Rays of energy. Gamma rays and X rays are two of the energy waves often used in medicine. The use of energy waves to diagnose or treat disease.

Receptive Language is the ability to receive, process and understand incoming speech and language.

Reflux The term used when liquid or gas backs up into the esophagus from the stomach below.

Regurgitation A backwards flowing. For e.g. Vomiting is a regurgitation of food from the stomach and the sloshing of blood back into the heart valve is the regurgitation of blood.

Saliva A watery secretion in the mouth produced by the salivary glands that aids in the digestion of food. Saliva also serves to moisten and cleanse the mouth including the tongue and the teeth and contains substances that can play a role in the prevention of infection.

Speech Pathology is the study of assessing, evaluating and treating communication and swallowing disorders.

Stammering is an alternate term for stuttering.

Stomach The digestive organ that is located in the upper abdomen under the ribs. The upper part of the stomach connects to the esophagus and the lower part leads into the small intestine. When the food enters the stomach muscles in the stomach will create a rippling motion (peristalsis) that mixes and mashes the food. At the same time acidic juices made by glands in the lining of the stomach help to digest the food. After approximately 3 hours, the food becomes a liquid and moves into the small intestine where digestion continues.

Stricture An abnormal narrowing of a body passage, especially a tube or canal. The stricture may be due for e.g. to scar tissue or a tumour. Stricture refers to both the process of narrowing and to the narrowed structure itself.

Stroke The sudden death of brain cells due to a lack of oxygen caused by a blockage of blood flow or a rupture of an artery to or within the brain.

Stuttering is the involuntary repetition of sounds and or words. This disordered pattern of speech may also include a blocking or delay of voice and airflow initiation for speech.

Thyroid Cancer When a cancer develops in the gland in the front of the neck that normally produces thyroid hormone which is important in the normal regulation of the metabolism of the body. Thyroid cancer effects women more often than men and usually occurs in people between the ages of 25 – 65 years.

Tongue A strong and complex muscle that is anchored to the floor of the mouth. The tongue is covered by the lingual membrane which has special areas to detect different types of tastes. The tongue muscles are attached to the lower jaw and to the Hyoid bone, a small u shaped bone that lies deep in the muscles at the back of the tongue and above the larynx. The muscle fibres of the tongue are heavily supplied with nerves. Babies have more taste buds than adults and they have them almost everywhere in the mouth including the cheeks. The tongue aids in the formation of sounds for speech and is crucial in swallowing.

Trachea A tube like portion of the respiratory tract that connects the larynx with the bronchial parts of the lungs. Also known as the windpipe.

Tympanic membrane is an alternate term for the eardrum. The tympanic membrane separates the middle ear from the outside world and is responsible for the transmission of sound waves via mechanical movement into eventual electrical impulses within the inner ear. These impulses are then interpreted by the brain`s auditory processing centres as sounds and speech.

Ulceration The process or fact of tissue being eroded away by an ulcer.

Ultrasound High frequency sound waves. Ultrasound waves can be bounced off tissues by using special devices. The echoes are then converted into a picture called a sonogram. Ultrasound imaging allows an inside view of soft tissues and body.

Vascular Relating to blood vessels. The vascular system in the body includes all the veins and arteries.

Velopharyngeal Incompetence is the inability to close off the nasal space due to inadequate closure of the posterior pharyngeal wall (back of throat) and the soft palate.

Ventricular Phonation is the distorted production of voice and reduction in vocal quality caused by the movement, approximation and vibration of the ventricular bands (false vocal cords) that are positioned above the true vocal cords within the walls of the laryngeal tract.

Voice Disorders are a range of disorders that impair the voice`s quality, clarity, power, pitch, endurance, resonance and function. They can be caused by vocal abuse/ overuse, neurological conditions, trauma, psychological origin or pathology.

Zenker`s Diverticulum The most common form of out pouching in the esophagus due to increased pressure causing the mucous membrane of the esophagus to herniate through a defect in the wall of the esophagus. Zenker Diverticuli are usually located in the posterior hypopharyngeal wall. Small Zenker Diverticuli may not cause symptoms but larger ones may collect food and obstruct the esophagus.