The Most Common Speech-Language Pathology Abbreviations

Speech-language pathology professionals rely on abbreviations daily—but they can sometimes be difficult to interpret. Strengthen your understanding by reviewing some of the most commonly used ones.

If you work in speech-language pathology, chances are you encounter numerous abbreviations in your daily practice. However, keeping up with them all can be a challenge, particularly as new terms emerge regularly. In a profession where clarity is critical, a misinterpreted abbreviation can lead to errors.

To support clear and effective communication, we've gathered a list of commonly used speech-language pathology abbreviations across various settings. While this list isn't exhaustive, and each workplace may have its own unique terminology, it provides a valuable foundation for reference.

We also have created a list of common Physical Therapy abbreviations & Occupational Therapy abbreviations.

Common Clinical and Nonclinical Speech-Language Pathology Abbreviations

Clinical Abbreviations

A:

AAC: augmentative and alternative communication

ABA: applied behavior analysis

ABG: arterial blood gas

ABR: auditory brainstem response

AD: assistive device

ADL: activity/activities of daily living

AEB: as evidenced by

AFIB: atrial fibrillation

AFO: ankle foot orthosis

AICD: automatic implantable cardiac defibrillator

AKA: above-knee amputation

ALS: Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

AMA: against medical advice

Amb: ambulation

AMS: altered mental status

AOS: apraxia of speech

A/O: alert and oriented

A/P: anterior/posterior

ARF: acute renal/respiratory failure

ASD: autism spectrum disorder

ASHA: American Speech-Language-Hearing Association

AWM: auditory working memory

B:

B: bilateral

BID: twice a day

BKA: below-knee amputation

BM: bowel movement

BMI: body mass index

BMP: basic metabolic profile

BPH: benign prostatic hypertrophy

BUN: blood urea nitrogen

Bx: biopsy

C:

c (with a line over it): with

C: consonant

CA: cancer/carcinoma

CABG: coronary artery bypass graft (open heart surgery)

CAD: coronary artery disease

CAS: childhood apraxia of speech

CBC: complete blood count

CGA: contact guard assist

CHF: congestive heart failure

CHI: closed head injury

CI: cochlear implant

CKD: chronic kidney disease

CMP: comprehensive metabolic profile

C/O: complains of

Cont: continue(d)

COPD: chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

CP: cerebral palsy or chest pain

CPAP: continuous positive airway pressure

CPR: cardiopulmonary resuscitation

CPSE: Committee on Preschool Special Education

CR: cluster reduction

CRF: chronic renal failure

CRI: chronic renal insufficiency

CSF: cerebrospinal fluid

CT: computerized tomography

CTA: clear to auscultation

c/w: consistent with

CVA: cerebrovascular accident

CVI: cortical visual impairment

D:

DBP: Developmental-Behavioral Pediatrician/Developmental Behavioral Pediatrics

dB HL: decibels hearing level

DC or D/C: Discharge or discontinue

DDD: degenerative disc disease

DDK: diadochokinesis

DEAP: Diagnostic Evaluation of Articulation and Phonology

DF: distinctive features

DM: diabetes mellitus

DNR: do not resuscitate

DNT: did not test

d/o: disorder

DOE: dyspnea on exertion

d/t: due to

DTTC: dynamic temporal and tactical cueing

DVT: deep vein thrombosis

Dx: diagnosis

E:

EBP: evidence-based practice

EEG: electroencephalogram

EENT: eyes, ears, nose, and throat

EGD: esophagogastroduodenoscopy

EI: early intervention

EOB: edge of bed

ESTRD: end stage renal disease

Estim or ES: electrical stimulation

ETOH/etOH: alcohol

Ex: exercise

Ex Lap: exploratory laparotomy or laparoscopy

F:

F:___: field of ___

FAPE: free and appropriate public education

FCD: final consonant deletion

FEES: fiberoptic endoscopic evaluation of swallowing

FIM / FIM score: functional independence measure

FiO2: fraction of inspired oxygen

FTT: failure to thrive

f/u: follow up

Fx: fracture

FWW: front-wheeled walker

G:

GI: gastrointestinal or gastroenterologist

GP: generative phonology

GSW: gunshot wound

H:

HA: headache

HAPP-3: Hodson Assessment of Phonologic Patterns, 3rd Ed

HD: hemodialysis

HEP: home exercise program

HEENT: head, eyes, ears, nose, and throat

HFNC: high flow nasal cannula

HL: hearing loss

HME: heat and moisture exchange

HNC: head and neck cancer

H/o: history of

HOB: head of bed

HOH: hard of hearing

HOHA: hand over hand assist

H&P: history and physical

HP: hot pack

HTN: hypertension

Hx: history

Hz: hertz

I:

I (or Ind): independent

ICD-10: 10th revision: International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems

IADL: instrumental activities of daily living

IALP: International Association of Logopedics and Phoniatrics

ICD: Initial Consonant Deletion

ICF: International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health

ICF-CY: International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health - Children and Youth

IDDSI: International Dysphagia Diet Standardization Initiative

IEP: individualized education program

IFSP: individualized family service plan

IPA: International Phonetic Alphabet / International Phonetic Association

IV: intravenously

L:

L: left

LBQC: large-base quad cane

LBW: low birth weight

LCL: lateral collateral ligament

LE: lower extremity

LIS: low intermittent suction

LLE: left lower extremity

LOA: level of assist/level of alertness

LOS: length of stay

LRE: least restrictive environment

LSHSS: language, speech, and hearing services in schools

LTAC: long-term acute care

LTG: long-term goals

LUE: left upper extremity

M:

Max A: maximum assist

MBS: modified barium swallowing study

MBSImP: Modified Barium Swallow Impairment Profile

MHP: moist hot pack

MI: myocardial infarction

Min A: minimum assist

MIT: Melodic Intonation Therapy

MLU: mean utterance length

MRI: magnetic resonance imaging

MRSA: methicillin resistant staphylococcus aureus

MS: mental status/multiple sclerosis

mTBI: mild traumatic brain injury

MVA/MVC: motor vehicle accident/motor vehicle collision

Mod I: modified independent

N:

NAD: no acute distress

NAS: no added salt

NBQC: narrow base quad cane

NC: nasal cannula

NG: nasogastric

NGT: nasogastric tube

NH: nursing home

NICU: neonatal intensive care unit

NKA: no known allergies

NMES: neuromuscular electrical stimulation

NNS: non-nutritive suck

NPH: normal pressure hydrocephalus

NPO: nothing by mouth

NS-OME: non-speech oral motor exercises

NS-OMT: non-speech oral motor treatments

NSTEMI: non-ST elevated MI

N/V: nausea and vomiting

NVD: nausea, vomiting, diarrhea

O:

O2: oxygen

ODD: oppositional defiant disorder

OGT: orogastric tube

OM: otitis media

OMA: oral musculature assessment

OME: otitis media with effusion / oral musculature examination

ORIF: open reduction internal fixation

OSA: obstructive sleep apnea

OTO: otolaryngology

OOB: out of bed

P:

P: pain

p (with a line over it): following/after

PA: phonological awareness

PACS: phonological assessment of child speech

PACT: parents and children together

PCC: percentage of consonants correct

PCP: primary care provider

PD: Parkinson’s disease

PE: pulmonary embolism

PECS: picture exchange communication system

PEDS: pediatrics

PEG: percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy

PICC: peripherally inserted central catheter

PLOF: prior level of function

PM&R: physical medicine and rehabilitation

PMH: past medical history

PNF: proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation

PO: by mouth

PROM: passive range of motion

PROMPT: Prompts for Restructuring Oral Muscular Phonetic Targets method

PRN: as needed

PSxHx: past surgical history

Pt: patient

PTA: prior to admission

PVC: percentage of vowels correct

PVD: peripheral vascular disease

PVM: place voice manner

PWB: partial weight bearing

Q:

Q: every

QC: quad cane

QD: every day

QID: four times a day

R:

R: right

RA: rheumatoid arthritis

RCT: randomized controlled trial

RD: registered dietitian

RICE: rest, ice, compression, elevation

RLE: right lower extremity

ROM: range of motion

r/o: rule out

r/t: related to

RT: respiratory therapist/therapy

RUE: right upper extremity

RW: rolling walker

Rx: treatment or prescription

S:

S (with a line over a lowercase S): without

SAD: schizoaffective disorder

SAH: subarachnoid hemorrhage/hematoma

SAMPA: Speech Assessment Methods Phonetic Alphabet

SBA: stand-by assist

SBO: small bowel obstruction

SC: straight cane

sCAS:  suspected childhood apraxia of speech

SDH: subdural hemorrhage/hematoma

SEIT: special education itinerant teacher

SBQC: small base quad cane

SETT Framework: Student, Environments, Tasks, & Tools

SFA: semantic feature analysis

SGA: small for gestational age

SGD: Speech-Generating Device

SL: under the tongue

SNF: skilled nursing facility

SOB: shortness of breath

s/p: status post

s/s: signs and symptoms

sx: symptom/surgery

SODA: Substitutions Omissions Distortions Additions

SOS Approach: sequential-oral-sensory approach to feeding

SPC: single-point cane

SPE: The Sound Patterns of English

SSD: Speech Sound Disorder(s)

SSP: Sonority Sequencing Principle

STS: sit-to-stand

SW: standard walker

Sz: seizure

T:

TB: tuberculosis

TBI: traumatic brain injury

TD: typical development

TEE: Transesophageal echocardiogram

TENS: transcutaneous electrical neuromuscular stimulation

THA: total hip arthroplasty

Ther Ex: therapeutic exercise

THR: total hip replacement

TIA: transient ischemic attack

TID: three times a day

TKA: total knee arthroplasty

TKR: total knee replacement

TMJ: temporomandibular joint

Total A: total assist

TOTS: tethered oral tissues

Trach: tracheostomy

Tx: treatment

U:

UE: upper extremity

URI: upper respiratory infection

US: ultrasound

UTI: urinary tract infection

V:

VCF: velo-cardiofacial syndrome

VPI:  velopharyngeal insufficiency

VFSS: videofluoroscopic swallow study

VSS: vital signs stable

W:

WBC: white blood count

WBQC: wide-base quad cane

WC (or w/c): wheelchair

WFL: within functional limits

WNL: within normal limits

WSD: weak syllable deletion

w/u: work up

WW: wheeled walker

4WW: four-wheeled walker

X:

X (with a line over it): except

XRT: radiation therapy

Nonclinical Abbreviations

Auth: Authorization

COTA: Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant

Cx: Cancel

DC: Discharge

Ded: Deductible

DOB: Birth date

DN: Daily note

EMR: Electronic medical record

f/b: Followed by

HC: Home care

HHA: Home health aide

IE: Initial evaluation

Ins: Insurance

IV: Insurance verification

l/m: Left message

MC: Medicare

ML: Monthly letter

N/A: not applicable

n/s: No show for appointment

OB/GYN: obstetrics and gynecology

OON: Out of network

OT: Occupational therapy

OTA: Occupational therapy assistant

PA: Physician’s assistant

POA: power of attorney

POC: Plan of care

PN: Progress note

RE: Re-evaluation

SLA: Speech-Language Assistant

SLP: Speech-Language Pathologist/Pathology

SLPA: Speech-Language Pathology Assistant

TEAM Model: Transforming Episode Accountability Model

Tsp: teaspoon

Via: by the way

Check the Facts Before You Jump to Conclusions!

Abbreviations are a time-saving tool in speech-language pathology, but they also pose a risk of miscommunication. As you can see from the list above, some abbreviations (such as Rx) can have multiple definitions, which may lead to confusion.

While this resource is designed to help you navigate abbreviations more confidently, always take the extra step to confirm their meaning when uncertainty arises. Face-to-face communication remains essential for ensuring accuracy and maintaining patient safety.