Q: I still cannot seem to explain to colleagues the difference between articulation, oral motor, and phonology. Can you help me one more time?

This is the line of thinking I use. It may help you explain these ideas to others––

• Movements are used to make phonemes.
• Phonemes are used to make syllables.
• Syllables are used to make words.
• Words are used to make phrases.
• Phrases are used to make sentences.
• Sentences are used to make paragraphs.
• Words, phrases, sentences, and paragraphs are used to express the language.
• The language is used to communicate with others.

Our clients can have trouble in any one or more of these areas––

• The client may have difficulty moving the speech mechanisms (oral-motor).
• The client may have trouble producing individual phonemes (articulation).
• The client may have problems sequencing phonemes into syllables (phonology).
• The client may not be able to put syllables into words (phonology/morphology).
• The client may not be able to organize words into phrases (syntax).
• The client may have difficulty putting phrases into sentences (syntax).
• The client may have trouble arranging sentences into paragraphs (syntax).
• The client may be unable to use words, phrases, sentences, and paragraphs to express ideas (language in general).
• The client may not be able to use the language to communicate with others (functional communication/pragmatic language skills).

When viewed simply — as in this list — the differences and cross-overs between the three become plain.