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ICD Code 

A universal billing system that utilizes a numeric format (codes) that differ as related to specific diagnosis. ICD stands for International Classification of Diseases. Impairment An abnormality of structure or function.

Identification 

See Screening.

Idiopathic 

Denoting a disease or disorder of unknown etiology. Idiopathic is an adjective used mainly in medicine meaning arising spontaneously or from an obscure or unknown cause. It is often used interchangeably with the term ‘functional’ which is sometimes used in medicine to describe symptoms that have no current visible organic basis.

Idiosyncratic 

Used to describe a structural or behavioral characteristic peculiar to an individual.

Idiosyncratic Language 

Language with private meaning that only makes sense to those in the situation where the language originated.

Imitation 

In articulation therapy, the client’s response to the clinician’s model of the target production.

Impedance Audiometry 

Testing to measure the ability of the middle ear to conduct sound to the inner ear. This information can be useful to the otologist in determining whether a middle ear problem exists which requires medical treatment.

Impulsivity 

Acting without thought and concern of the consequences.

Inattention 

The inability to direct attention to a specified object or task in, also being easily distractible.

Inclusion 

Practice of educating children with special needs in regular education classrooms in neighborhood schools. See also mainstreaming and least restrictive environment.

Independent Analysis 

See Core Speech Assessment Battery.

Independent Educational Evaluation (IEE) 

Federal law defines an IEE broadly as “an evaluation conducted by a qualified examiner who is not employed by the public agency responsible for the education of the child in question.” 34 C.F.R. 300.503. Thus, an IEE is not limited to evaluating only a child’s academic or cognitive skills, but may include the evaluation of any skill related to the child’s educational needs. Evaluations of neurological functioning, adapted physical education, sensory needs, even music therapy, are but a few examples of the types of IEEs covered under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. Parents may obtain an IEE, for virtually any purpose if it impacts the child’s education.

Individualized Education Program Team (IEPT) 

The IEPT is a group of individuals involved in the planning and implementation of a student’s IEP including a principal, teaching consultant (TC), general education teacher, psychologist, social worker, speech-language pathologist, occupational therapist, and parent/guardian.

Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP) 

This document describes what services and infant or toddler less than three years of age, and his or her family will receive. It is developed in collaboration with the family and professionals.

Individualized Family Service Program (IFSP) 

A team-developed, written plan for infants and toddlers (aged 0 to 3 years) which addresses:

  • Assessment of the child’s strengths and needs, and identification of services to meet such needs.
  • Assessment of family resources and priorities, and the identification of supports and services necessary to enhance the capacity of the family to meet the developmental needs of the infant or toddler with a disability.
  • A written individualized family service plan developed by three members of a multidisciplinary team including the parent or guardian.
Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) 

IDEA Mandates free and appropriate education for all children with disabilities over the age of 3 years and encourages early intervention services for children below 3 years of age.

Individuals with Disabilities Education Act of 1997 (IDEA) 

The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act is a law ensuring services to children with disabilities throughout the nation. Individuals with Disabilities Education Act governs how states and public agencies provide early intervention, special education and related services to more than 6.5 million eligible infants, toddlers, children and youth with disabilities.

Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act (IDEIA) 

The current special education law in the United States, which requires all states to provide a free appropriate public education (FAPE) in the least restrictive environment to children and students who have disabilities.

Individualized Education Plan (IEP) 

A written plan for every student receiving special education services within the public school system. The plan contains information such as the student’s special learning needs and the specific special education services required by the student.

Individualized Education Plan (IEP) Team 

This multidisciplinary team is made up of regular and special education teachers, other professionals, and the parents of the child. The team is responsible for identifying and evaluating children with disabilities who are in need of special education; developing, reviewing their progress on, or revising an IEP; determining the student’s placement; and determining that the child is no longer a child with a disability.

Individualized Education Program (IEP) 

A team-developed, written document. The IEP outlines the goals for education and therapy for a student with disability, and provides a guideline for achieving them. An IEP for a deaf child should take into consideration such factors as: Communication needs and the child’s and family’s preferred mode of communication. Linguistic needs, severity of hearing loss and potential for maximizing auditory ability. Academic level, social and emotional needs, including opportunities for peer interactions and communication.

Infantile Autism 

A spectrum of neuropsychiatric disorders characterized by deficits in social interaction and communication, and unusual and repetitive behavior. Typically occurs within the first three years of life. Some, but not all people with autism, are non-verbal. Please see Autism in this glossary for more information.

Inference 

Any conclusion which one can reasonably be entitled to draw from a sentence or utterance (Hurford et al 1993). Inference uses implied or assumed information. Children begin to infer meaning from approximately 5-6 years but the skill continues to develop until at least 13 years (M Johnson).

Inferencing 

Using reasoning abilities to draw conclusions given partial information. For example, if someone walks in the door with wet clothes and carrying an umbrella, you can infer that it is raining.

Inflection 

A change in the pitch of the speaking voice to add meaning or emphasis to a word or phrase.

Informal Testing 

The audiologist presents a variety of sounds ranging from low pitch to high pitch, and from soft to loud, out of the child’s sight. The child’s response to each sound is noted.

Information Carrying Words (ICW) 

The number of key words that must be understood for the overall meaning of a spoken or signed utterance to be carried out e.g. “Show me the teddies nose” = 2ICW (also known as key words).

Infrared Systems 

See Audio loops/Induction Loops.

Initial Consonant Deletion 

Initial Consonant Deletion (ICD) is a phonological process (phonological pattern) that occurs when a child omits the first sound of many (but not necessarily all) words or syllables. For example, ‘Get me that nice orange Lego piece’ might sound like ‘Et me at ice or-ee eh-oh eese’. ICD is only found in typical development of Hebrew, Finnish and French. Any child learning English who deletes initial consonants should be referred to a SLP/SLT.

Insistence on Sameness 

Rigid adherence to routines or activities. Disruptions may be described as “catastrophic.” Children with ASD may use sameness as a coping mechanism.

Insurance Coverage 

A. Coverage by a contract binding a party to indemnify another against specified loss/conditions in return for premiums paid. B. The sum or rate for which such a contract insures something. C. The periodic premium paid for this coverage.

Intellectual Disability / Learning Disability 

This is characterized by significant limitations in an individual’s intellectual functioning and adaptive behavior. This covers many everyday social and practical skills. Intellectual functioning refers to a person’s learning ability, reasoning and problem solving skills. Adaptive behavior refers to conceptual skills (e.g. language, concepts of time and money etc); social skills (e.g. interpersonal skills, social responsibility, ability to follow rules, to avoid being victimized etc); and practical skills (e.g. personal care, safety, use of money, healthcare, schedules / routines etc).

Intelligence Quotient 

The ratio of tested mental age to chronological age, usually expressed as a quotient multiplied by 100.

Intelligibility 

The degree or level with which an individual’s speech is understood by others. In typical speech development, children’s comprehensibility steadily increases. By their fourth birthday typically developing children are 100% intelligible to strangers.

Intensity 

Force or stress with which a sound is produced by a speaker, and the attribute of loudness of the sound to the listener. The loudness of a sound, measured in decibels (dB).

Intensive Table Teaching (ITT) 

Programs that are taught in the client’s room sitting at a table.

Intent 

What a person planned or wanted to communicate prior to speaking or writing. The underlying message a person is trying to convey.

Interaction 

The social relationships and communication between two or more people. This may involve actions such as acting and reacting with each other or sharing experiences.

Interjection 

Interjecting a filler word to either delay the moment of stuttering or to make the following word easier to produce. For example:

  • “I went to the….um….store today.”
  • “She….uh….plays the guitar.”
Intermediate School District (ISD) 

Set up in 1962, there are 57 regional educational service agencies (i.e., ISDs) in the State of Michigan that help local school districts educate students (especially those with disabilities). ISDs coordinate programs and services that are often highly specialized and too costly for local districts to support.

International Phonetic Alphabet 

IPA Consonant Chart– The International Phonetic Alphabet is a system used to write down the sounds, syllables, intonation and separation of words in spoken language. It is based on the Latin alphabet with additional symbols. The (pulmonic) consonant chart is below, followed by the most recent version of the Full Chart (IPA, 2005).

International Phonetic Alphabet
International Phonetic Association 

The International Phonetic Association (IPA) is responsible for the development of the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA).

Interpersonal Communication 

Expressing ideas, thoughts and feelings to another person. There are many ways a person can improve their communication skills, including increased knowledge of social situations, practice and personal reflection.

Interpreter or Transliterator for the Deaf 

A person who facilitates communication between hearing and deaf or hard-of-hearing persons through interpretation or transliteration. Interpretation translates language from one modality to another, such as between Spoken English and American Sign Language. Transliteration (usually by a cued Speech or Oral Transliterator) conveys spoken information into more clear and readily speechreadable form or voices over difficult to understand speech into more clear speech.. The Educational Interpreter specializes in classroom interpreting.

Interrogative 

Also known as “question words”, interrogatives are words that are used to ask questions (e.g., who, what, when, where, why, how).

Intervention 

A structured way of putting into effect new skills, behaviors, and knowledge through an increase in using behaviors that are appropriate.

Intonation and Stress 

The rhythm and ‘music’ of the way we speak. See Prosody.

Intonation 

The aspect of speech made up of changes in pitch and stress in the voice. The voice may go higher or lower during speech to emphasize certain words or parts of words more than others.

Intraverbals 

A response to something a person says which relates to an item, action or property that is not present. For example:

Therapist Client
“Twinkle, twinkle little” ? “star”
“What is your name?” ? “Sam”