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Allison Fors, Inc.

Speech Therapy Tools for SLPs and Educators

A Guide to the Language Processing Hierarchy

The language processing hierarchy is a general overview of language acquisition skills that can serve as guide for professionals.

Language Processing Disorder (LPD) is a neurological condition that affects how language is processed in the brain. It affects the ability to understand spoken language and/or clearly express oneself. Some main characteristics of LPD are difficulties with any aspect of language, such as speaking, listening, rhyming, reading, and writing.

A Note about the Language Processing Hierarchy

It is important to note that there is no strict hierarchy for addressing language therapy and there are no ages attached to these steps. It would be amazing if we did have a clear roadmap when it came to language therapy, but language is much too complex!

This hierarchy is a general rule of thumb and allows us to see the big picture and prioritize what to target. Don’t view the hierarchy as a skill to discretely work on before moving on to the next skill. For example, some children may have an easier time stating the differences compared to similarities. Another important note is that it is critical to work on these skills functionally and within context!

This infographic is available for free download.

DOWNLOAD THE LANGUAGE PROCESSING HIERARCHY

Labeling

Labeling items is how a child begins to communicate, understand, and use language. Labels are typically nouns and familiar, everyday items.

Functions

Functions describe the way we use objects. Using verbs as a means of describing is a precursor to more advanced semantic language, such as adjectives and categories.

Associations

Associations are relationships between words or ideas. Working on associations helps expand vocabulary and metalinguistic awareness, which is the ability to think about language beyond its literal meaning.

Categorization

Types of categorization skills include labeling groups, providing examples of items in a group, sorting tasks, comparing and contrasting, and finding “what goes together” and “what doesn’t belong” in a group. Skills such as concepts, antonyms, and synonyms are the same level of cognitive demand as categorization. Read more about targeting categories.

Similarities

Identifying similarities between items includes both comparing information and sorting concepts into categories. This helps expand language and comprehension, as well as make inferences.

Differences

The ability to find and describe differences. This aids in learning new vocabulary and making new connections.

Multiple Meanings

These are words spelled the same way and usually sound the same but have different meanings. Working on knowledge of multiple meanings improves vocabulary and reading comprehension.

Higher-level skills, in no particular order, include figurative language, analogies, humor, and inferences.


You may be interested in the Speech-Language Development Handouts which includes a section on the language processing hierarchy!

allison fors handouts

Do you have any insights into using the language processing hierarchy?


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A Guide to the Language Processing Hierarchy

February 5, 2022 allisonfors Leave a Comment Filed Under: Speech Therapy Education, Therapy Ideas

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Hi, I'm Allison! A speech & language resource author who loves the creative process of making therapy materials and clipart, as well as connecting with educators world wide. Learn more about me here! Read More…

Echolalia is actually a positive prognostic indica Echolalia is actually a positive prognostic indicator for autistic children! We don’t treat it this way most of the time even though it’s a communicative function for the individual. Instead of ignoring or trying to get a child to stop, we should try to shape the content into meaningful communication by teaching the meaning of the words or modeling appropriate language.
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Echolalia is a repetition of another person’s spoken words. This often presents in a child quoting favorite movies or repeating a question directed towards them.
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(Prizant 1987)
Resurfacing this for Better Hearing and Speech Mon Resurfacing this for Better Hearing and Speech Month 👄🗣🧠👂🏼 

What are you!? Tag a friend!👇
Common Diacritics for Cleft Affected Speech 👇👇👇

Nasal emission: The audible release of bursts of air through the nose during speech while producing a consonant that requires a buildup of air pressure.

Nasal turbulence: The escape of air through the nasal cavity, but it is perceived as turbulent, a snort or nasal rustle.

Dentalized: When the tip of the tongue is pushed against the back of the upper teeth.

Hypernasailty: A condition when air flows through the nasal passage during voiced consonants and vowels causing too much nasal resonance. It may or may not be audible.

Hyponasality: A condition when there is not enough nasal resonance on nasal sounds due to a blockage in the nasopharynx or nasal cavity.

Fronted: When a sound produced in the back of the mouth is replaced with a sound made in the front of the mouth.

Backed: When a sound produced in the front of the mouth is replaced with a sound made in the back of the mouth.

Save this post to reference later!
SPEECH VS LANGUAGE. BHSM seems like a good time to SPEECH VS LANGUAGE. BHSM seems like a good time to share this again. 

Oh how many times I’ve explained these two terms! Do you find yourself breaking down the difference between speech and language?

This graphic is in the Free SLP Handouts download. 🔗 allisonfors.com/speech-therapy-handouts/
May is Better Hearing and Speech Month! Now if onl May is Better Hearing and Speech Month! Now if only there was an easy way to explain alllll the aspects of speech-language pathology! 👄🦻🏻
Want to know what the most horrific/best thing I e Want to know what the most horrific/best thing I ever did in therapy was?
Video myself.
😳😳😳
I realized I wasn’t giving enough wait time for my students. Turns out what feels like eternity after you ask a question, is really half a second. 😂 It took a lot of retraining to be ok with the quiet and not try to fill every moment with a teaching opportunity. Try counting to 10 before you jump in!

Have you ever filmed yourself in therapy? What was your biggest takeaway? 
If you’ve never done it or it’s been awhile...do it!

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