Speech Therapy Practices Industry Terminology

AAC (Augmentative and Alternative Communication)

Any tool, strategy, or system that supports or replaces natural speech/language to improve communication (e.g., communication boards, PECS, speech-generating devices, symbol-based apps).

We trialed an AAC app with core vocabulary for classroom use.|Her AAC system includes a speech-generating device with eye-gaze access.|Document the AAC features in the plan of care and train caregivers for carryover.

ABN (Advance Beneficiary Notice of Noncoverage)

A Medicare form informing beneficiaries that a service may not be covered and that they may be responsible for payment if they choose to receive it.

We issued an ABN before providing a non-covered voice evaluation.|Without a signed ABN, you can’t bill the Medicare beneficiary.|Train front desk on when to present the ABN for maintenance therapy.

Aphasia

An acquired language disorder, typically from stroke or brain injury, affecting comprehension and/or expression (speaking, understanding, reading, writing).

Post-stroke aphasia impacted his naming and comprehension.|Our aphasia group targets functional communication and partner training.|Use supported conversation techniques with clients who have aphasia.

Apraxia of Speech (AOS)

A motor speech disorder characterized by impaired planning/programming of speech movements, resulting in inconsistent sound errors and groping despite adequate strength.

DTTC is our primary approach for childhood apraxia of speech.|She shows inconsistent errors consistent with apraxia of speech.|We built a motor-based hierarchy with intensive practice for AOS.

Articulation Disorder

Difficulty producing specific speech sounds correctly due to motor/phonetic production issues rather than phonological rule errors.

We targeted /r/ with a traditional articulation hierarchy.|The child’s frontal lisp indicates an articulation delay.|Minimal pairs were less effective than a motor-based articulation approach here.

ASHA (American Speech-Language-Hearing Association)

The U.S. professional, credentialing, and standards organization for speech-language pathologists and audiologists; oversees CCC certification, ethics, and practice standards.

Maintain ASHA CEUs to keep your CCC-SLP.|Follow ASHA’s Code of Ethics in documentation and billing.|We benchmark outcomes using ASHA’s NOMS.

ASLP-IC (Audiology & Speech-Language Pathology Interstate Compact)

An interstate agreement that streamlines licensure portability for SLPs and audiologists, facilitating practice (including telepractice) across participating states.

Licensure via ASLP-IC lets us expand telepractice to compact states.|Check if your state has enacted the ASLP-IC before advertising services.|Our hiring strategy favors clinicians in ASLP-IC states.

Assessment

The systematic evaluation of speech, language, cognition, voice, or swallowing using standardized, criterion-referenced, dynamic, and observational tools to inform diagnosis and treatment planning.

We used both standardized and dynamic assessment for a bilingual client.|Pre-therapy assessment established baseline intelligibility.|Assessment results drive goal writing and POC.

Authorization (Prior Authorization)

Payer approval required before providing certain services to confirm coverage and reimbursement for a defined number of visits or period.

Secure prior authorization before starting therapy to avoid denials.|We track auth expiration dates in the EHR.|The payer requires medical necessity notes for authorization.

Baseline Data

Initial, objective performance measures taken before intervention to guide goal setting and later compare progress.

Collect baseline data on /s/ accuracy in words and phrases.|Baseline swallowing measures inform the dysphagia POC.|Use baseline to set SMART goals and measure progress.

CCC-SLP (Certificate of Clinical Competence in Speech-Language Pathology)

A professional credential from ASHA indicating completion of graduate education, supervised clinical fellowship, national exam, and ongoing continuing education.

She is a CCC-SLP licensed in two states.|The job posting requires CCC-SLP within 12 months.|Supervision ratios differ for CFs vs. CCC-SLPs.

CFY (Clinical Fellowship Year)

A mentored professional experience following graduate training in which an SLP refines clinical skills under supervision to qualify for CCC-SLP.

Our clinic offers CFY supervision and mentoring.|CFs must document required supervision hours.|The CFY is the bridge to earning your CCC-SLP.

CMS-1500

The standard health insurance claim form used by non-institutional providers to bill Medicare and many other payers for outpatient services.

We submit outpatient claims on the CMS-1500.|Ensure the NPI and ICD-10 codes are correct on the CMS-1500.|Our clearinghouse rejects CMS-1500s with missing modifiers.

CPT Codes (Current Procedural Terminology)

Standardized procedure codes used to describe clinical services for billing and reimbursement (e.g., evaluations, treatment, swallowing studies).

Use 92507 for individual speech therapy and 92526 for dysphagia treatment.|Timed CPT codes must follow the Eight-Minute Rule.|Append modifier 95 for telepractice where required.

Cueing Hierarchy

An ordered progression of prompts (e.g., tactile, visual, verbal, semantic) from most to least supportive to systematically elicit accurate responses and promote independence.

We faded from maximal tactile cues to minimal visual cues.|The cueing hierarchy is documented to show skilled intervention.|PROMPT provided tactile input within the cueing hierarchy.

Denials Management

Processes to prevent, identify, appeal, and resolve payer claim denials to protect revenue and compliance.

Our RCM team appealed a medical necessity denial.|We reduced denials by correcting place-of-service modifiers.|Root-cause analysis of denials improved first-pass yield.

Dysarthria

A motor speech disorder resulting from weakness or incoordination of speech musculature, affecting articulation, phonation, resonance, and prosody.

ALS-related dysarthria required rate control and AAC backup.|We used intelligibility drills for spastic dysarthria.|Document respiratory-phonatory coordination in dysarthria goals.

Dysphagia

A swallowing disorder that can affect oral, pharyngeal, and/or esophageal phases, with risks including aspiration and malnutrition.

FEES showed residue requiring effortful swallows.|We targeted airway protection and bolus control.|Diet recommendations followed MBSImP impressions.

Eight-Minute Rule

Medicare guideline for timed CPT codes: at least 8 minutes must be provided to bill one 15-minute unit; additional units follow defined thresholds.

Two 15-minute timed units require at least 23 minutes of direct treatment.|Track direct contact time to comply with the Eight-Minute Rule.|Group codes may follow different rules than the Eight-Minute Rule.

EBP (Evidence-Based Practice)

Clinical decision-making that synthesizes the best available research, clinician expertise, and patient/caregiver preferences and context.

We selected DTTC based on EBP for CAS.|EBP integrates research, clinical expertise, and client values.|Our policy requires citing evidence in the POC.

EHR/EMR (Electronic Health/Medical Record)

Digital systems for storing, managing, and sharing patient health information, documentation, orders, scheduling, and billing data.

Templates in the EHR include SOAP notes and superbills.|Set role-based permissions in the EMR for HIPAA compliance.|We pull KPIs from the EHR dashboard.

ERA/EOB (Electronic Remittance Advice / Explanation of Benefits)

Payer documents detailing claim adjudication, including allowed amounts, patient responsibility, and reasons for denials or adjustments.

Post payments and adjustments from the ERA daily.|The EOB shows why 92526 was partially denied.|Our billing team reconciles ERAs with bank deposits.

FEES (Fiberoptic Endoscopic Evaluation of Swallowing)

A procedure using a flexible endoscope through the nasal passage to visualize pharyngeal swallowing function during intake of dyed foods/liquids.

FEES revealed laryngeal penetration with thin liquids.|We used FEES to assess secretion management and biofeedback.|Schedule FEES when MBS access is limited.

FERPA (Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act)

U.S. federal law protecting the privacy of student education records; governs information sharing in school settings.

School SLPs must comply with FERPA for student records.|Parent consent under FERPA is needed for data sharing.|Our clinic-to-school data exchange respects FERPA and HIPAA.

Fluency Disorder

Disorders affecting the flow of speech, including stuttering and cluttering, characterized by disruptions like repetitions, prolongations, and blocks.

We tracked stuttering frequency and avoidance behaviors.|Telepractice supports fluency shaping homework.|Counseling addressed the impact of stuttering on participation.

HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act)

U.S. federal law and regulations that safeguard protected health information (PHI), including privacy, security, and breach notification standards.

Use HIPAA-compliant telehealth platforms.|PHI must be encrypted in transit and at rest.|Our HIPAA risk assessment identified access control gaps.

ICD-10-CM (International Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision, Clinical Modification)

Standardized diagnostic codes used to describe conditions and justify medical necessity for billing and reporting.

Use R47.1 for dysarthria and R47.01 for aphasia when appropriate.|Link ICD-10 codes to CPT codes to show medical necessity.|Annual ICD-10 updates affect our diagnosis mapping.

IEP (Individualized Education Program)

A legally binding plan for eligible K-12 students receiving special education services, outlining goals, accommodations, and service delivery.

IEP goals focus on curriculum access and participation.|SLPs contribute present levels and service minutes to the IEP.|Progress reports align with IEP benchmarks.

IFSP (Individualized Family Service Plan)

A plan for early intervention (birth to 3) that sets functional outcomes and services in natural environments with a family-centered approach.

The IFSP emphasizes routines-based intervention and family priorities.|We provide coaching in the home per the IFSP.|Outcomes are written in functional, family-friendly language.

Language Sample Analysis (LSA)

A method of evaluating spontaneous language use by analyzing transcribed samples for measures like MLU, vocabulary diversity, syntax, and discourse.

We calculated MLU and type-token ratio from the LSA.|Narrative LSA revealed microstructure weaknesses.|LSA informs goals beyond standardized test scores.

LSVT LOUD

An evidence-based, intensive voice therapy program primarily for Parkinson’s disease focused on increasing vocal loudness and effort.

LSVT LOUD improved vocal intensity in Parkinson’s disease.|We scheduled 4 sessions/week for 4 weeks per LSVT protocol.|Carryover tasks support LSVT LOUD home practice.

MBS/VFSS (Modified Barium Swallow / Videofluoroscopic Swallow Study)

A radiographic assessment of swallowing using barium contrast to visualize oral and pharyngeal phases and guide management.

MBS showed silent aspiration on thin liquids.|We used MBSImP scoring to standardize findings.|Repeat VFSS is planned post-therapy to reassess safety.

Minimal Pairs

A phonological intervention method using word pairs differing by one phoneme to highlight meaning differences and promote sound system reorganization.

We contrasted /k/ vs. /t/ in minimal pairs for fronting.|Minimal pairs helped establish phonological contrasts.|Parents used minimal pair cards for home practice.

MLU (Mean Length of Utterance)

An index of language complexity calculated as the average number of morphemes per utterance in a language sample.

His MLU increased from 2.3 to 3.5 morphemes.|We tracked MLU growth alongside vocabulary gains.|MLU from LSA informed morphosyntax goals.

NOMS (National Outcomes Measurement System)

ASHA’s framework and database for tracking functional outcome measures (Functional Communication Measures) across disorders and settings.

We report functional gains using ASHA NOMS FCMs.|NOMS data supports payer negotiations.|Benchmark your outcomes against NOMS national averages.

No-Show Rate

The percentage of scheduled appointments missed without adequate notice; a practice management metric affecting access, productivity, and revenue.

Text reminders cut our no-show rate by 30%.|We monitor no-show rate as a key scheduling KPI.|A stricter cancellation policy reduced no-shows.

NPI (National Provider Identifier)

A unique 10-digit identification number for covered healthcare providers and organizations used in billing and administrative transactions.

Enter the rendering provider’s NPI on the CMS-1500.|Use the organizational NPI for group billing.|Credential your NPI with each payer before claims submission.

Parent Coaching

A collaborative approach training caregivers to use therapeutic strategies within daily routines to promote generalization and functional outcomes.

We used parent coaching to embed strategies in routines.|Video feedback enhanced caregiver implementation fidelity.|Parent coaching is central to early intervention models.

Payer Mix

The distribution of a practice’s revenue across payer types (e.g., commercial insurance, Medicaid/Medicare, private pay), influencing reimbursement and risk.

Our payer mix is 40% Medicaid, 35% commercial, 25% private pay.|Shifts in payer mix affect cash flow and rates.|Diversify referral sources to balance the payer mix.

PECS (Picture Exchange Communication System)

An AAC protocol using picture exchanges to teach functional communication through structured phases, often used with autistic learners.

Phase I PECS focused on initiating exchanges.|We trained the team on PECS prompting hierarchy.|PECS is part of his AAC plan at school and home.

Plan of Care (POC)

A formal document detailing diagnosis, goals, intervention methods, frequency/duration, and discharge criteria; often requires physician signature and payer approval.

The POC outlines frequency, duration, and measurable goals.|We updated the POC after the progress review.|Payers require signed POCs for authorization.

Pragmatics

The social use of language, including conversational skills, perspective-taking, nonverbal communication, and context-appropriate language.

Goals target turn-taking and topic maintenance.|We used social stories to address pragmatic language.|Peer groups support pragmatic skills generalization.

Productivity

A practice management metric indicating the proportion of clinician time that is billable or direct-service relative to total paid time.

Clinicians have a 70% billable productivity target.|No-show buffers help maintain productivity.|We track productivity by CPT unit and visit.

PROM (Patient-Reported Outcome Measure)

Standardized questionnaires completed by patients/caregivers that assess symptoms, function, or quality of life from their perspective.

We added the CPIB as a communication-related PROM.|PROMs capture the client’s perspective on participation.|Use PROMs alongside clinician measures for a full picture.

PROMPT (Prompts for Restructuring Oral Muscular Phonetic Targets)

A tactile-kinesthetic approach to speech therapy using structured touch cues to support speech movement patterns and sound production.

PROMPT provided tactile cues for bilabial closure.|Certification in PROMPT expanded our motor-speech toolkit.|We documented skilled tactile cueing per PROMPT framework.

RCM (Revenue Cycle Management)

End-to-end processes that capture, manage, and collect patient service revenue—from scheduling and verification to coding, billing, posting, and collections.

Our RCM dashboard tracks days in A/R and denial rates.|Clean claims and eligibility checks improved RCM.|We outsourced RCM to reduce administrative burden.

Referral Pipeline

The sources and flow of incoming patient referrals and inquiries that sustain caseload and practice growth.

Pediatricians and schools are our main referral pipeline.|Community outreach grew our referral pipeline by 20%.|CRM tools help manage the referral pipeline stages.

RTI/MTSS (Response to Intervention / Multi-Tiered System of Supports)

A tiered framework in schools providing increasing levels of support based on student need; data-driven and often precedes special education evaluation.

We provided Tier 2 interventions within MTSS.|RTI data informed the decision to evaluate for an IEP.|Consultation at Tier 1 reduced referrals.

SOAP Notes

A structured clinical documentation format: Subjective, Objective, Assessment, and Plan, used to record each session and support medical necessity.

Document measurable data in the Objective section.|The Assessment links performance to skilled needs.|Use SOAP notes to justify continued services.

Telepractice

Delivery of speech-language pathology services via telecommunication technologies (synchronous or asynchronous) to provide assessment, treatment, and consultation.

Modifier 95 used for synchronous telepractice sessions.|Ensure HIPAA-compliant telehealth platforms and consent.|Telepractice increased access for rural clients.