speech therapy

speech therapy

n.

Treatment of speech defects and disorders, especially through use of exercises and audio-visual aids that develop new speech habits.

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speech therapy

Etymology: AS, spaec + Gk, therapeia, treatment

the application of treatments and counseling in the prevention or correction of speech and language disorders. See also speech-language pathologist.

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speech,

n 1. communication through conventional vocal and oral symbols.
2. a basic biologic function of the maxillofacial structures. The essential characteristic of the speech function is the production and organization of sound into symbols.

speech aid,

n See aid, speech.

speech, delayed,

n failure of speech to develop at the expected age, usually resulting from slow maturation, hearing impairment, brain injury, mental retardation, or emotional disturbance.

speech device,

n a prosthesis that assists in the management of speech disorders associated with congenital or acquired defects of the palate.

speech disorder, cerebrovascular,

n a diminished capacity to speak due to the location of traumatic brain damage and the involvement of the throat, tongue, and oral cavity.

speech, infantile,

n a speech defect characterized by substitution of speech sounds similar to those used by the child who speaks normally in the early stages of speech development.

speech pathology,

n 1. the study of abnormalities of speech or organs of speech.
2. the diagnosis and treatment of abnormalities of speech as practiced by a speech pathologist or speech therapist.

speech phonation,

n See phonation, speech.

speech reading,

n See reading, lip.

speech resonance,

n See resonance, speech.

speech, retarded,

n slowness in speech development in which intelligibility is severely impaired; often preceded by late or delayed emergence of speech.

speech, slurred,

n abnormal speech in which words are not enunciated clearly or completely but are run together or partially eliminated. The most common causes are alcohol toxicity and drug abuse. It may also be a sign of damage to a motor neuron or cerebellar disease.

speech therapy,

n the application of treatments and counseling in the prevention or correction of speech and language disorders.

speech, visible,

n audible speech patterns that have been transformed by electronic devices into visual patterns that may be read by people who are deaf.

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therapy (ther´pē),

n the treatment of disease, injury, or illness.

therapy, antibiotic,

n the treatment of disease states by the local or systemic administration of antibodies.

therapy, antimicrobial,

n a treatment modality that attacks the microorganisms responsible for a specific disease or condition.

therapy, chlorhexidine chip,

n controlled delivery of the antimicrobial agent chlorhexidine in which a tiny, biodegradable dose of the drug is inserted into the periodontal pocket, where it continues to slowly release medication for approximately 7 to 10 days before disintegrating. This therapy is a means of attacking periodontal infection at its source without systemic involvement.

therapy, compromise periodontal maintenance,

n a program of continuing periodontal treatment designed to slow disease progression in patients for whom surgery is not an option because of specific health concerns or economic restrictions.

therapy, doxycycline polymer,

n delivery via syringe and cannula of a biodegradable liquid form of the antimicrobial agent doxycycline polymer directly into a periodontal pocket. The medication hardens upon contact with moisture, thus sealing the pocket and allowing the agent to destroy periodontal pathogens as it dissolves.

therapy, growth modification,

n a treatment employed to modify the growth of the jaw or other bones as they are still developing, usually to treat cases of malocclusion.

therapy, hormonal replacement,

n the administration of synthetic female hormones in order to ease the negative impacts of losing these hormones due to menopause, hysterectomy, or disease.

therapy, indirect pulpal,

n the application of a drug that heals the pulpal cells beneath a layer of sound or carious dentin, as in a moderately deep preparation for a restoration.

therapy, megavoltage radiation,

n a form of radiation therapy used in the treatment of oral cancer. It delivers a more precise point of contact than other forms.

therapy, myofunctional (myotherapeutic exercises),

n the use of muscle exercises as an adjunct to mechanical correction of malocclusion.

therapy, oxygen,

n the providing of additional oxygen for patients who need it.

therapy, periodontal,

n the treatment of the periodontal lesion. Such therapy has two principal objectives: the eradication or arrest of the periodontal lesion with correction or cure of the deformity created by it, and the alteration in the oral cavity of the periodontal climate that was conducive or contributory to the periodontal breakdown.

therapy, periodontal, maintenance phase,

n the part of periodontal therapy that is necessary for the preservation of the results obtained during active therapy and for the prevention of further periodontal disease; an extension of active periodontal therapy, requiring the combined efforts of both the periodontist and the patient.

therapy, pharmacotherapeutic nonsurgical pocket

n the use of both systemic and topical antibiotic compounds to fight bacterial infections in periodontal pockets.

therapy, pocket,

n the debridement or removal of deposits and endotoxins from the periodontal pocket in order to begin the healing process.

therapy, pulp canal,

n See endodontology.

therapy putty,

n a malleable, doughlike substance used in hand exercises to enhance the force and control of the hand muscles.

therapy, radiation (radiotherapy),

n the treatment of disease with a type of radiation.

therapy, radiation, external beam,

n a treatment for cancer in which a beam of high- or low-yield radiation is directed from outside the body at the site of the cancerous tumor or lesion; may cause unnecessary radiation to normal tissues.

therapy, radiation, internal,

n a treatment for cancer in which the radiation source takes the form of an interstitial implant. It is placed in the body among the affected tissues to provide a directed dose of radiation that is not possible using external methods.

therapy, radiation, orthovoltage,

n a form of cancer treatment in which a beam of low-yield radiation is directed from outside the body at a superficial lesion, such as those found in the oral cavity or on the lips.

therapy, radiation, supervoltage,

n See therapy, radiation, megavoltage.

therapy, replacement,

n the administration, as a therapeutic agent, of an essential constituent in which the body is deficient (e.g., insulin in diabetes mellitus).

therapy, root canal,

n See endodontology.

therapy, speech,

n the science that deals with the use of procedures, training, and remedies for the cure, alleviation, or prevention of speech disorders.