speech therapy meaning in chinese

• Blog Contact

• Specialist Courses
• Business Chinese
• Chinese for Singaporeans

Name * Email Address * Whatsapp / Wechat / Mobile Message

Contact Me Directly

Hi, my name is Brendan. I am from the US and I am a Student Advisor at LTL.

Fancy coming to study with us in Singapore? Drop me a message.

Email: [email protected] Phone: +84 931 924 067

Contact LTL Singapore

Email : [email protected] Address: 531A Upper Cross Street #04-95 Hong Lim Complex Singapore 051531

A Practical Guide to Therapy in Chinese

How to talk about therapy in chinese.

Having worked as a speech therapist in China I learnt something interesting.

It is really hard to talk about therapy in Chinese !

Therapy is, of course, a broad term that can mean so many things. Generally, people in China understood ‘therapy’ or a ‘therapist’.

治疗 zhìliáo 治疗师 zhìliáo shī

However as a speech therapist trying to explain my occupation I was constantly finding myself saying “ kind of, but not really “.

China is opening up more and more to the world. There is a curiosity growing to better understand all types of therapy.

There are big differences between Chinese and Western Medicine .

This article isn’t a critique of either but simply trying to make it easier to express the types of therapy in Chinese as well as some standard terminology to help explain further.

When you’re done learning the names of all the types of therapy, test yourself with our Chinese Therapy Quiz .

Therapy in Chinese – Psychology in Chinese Therapy in Chinese – Speech Therapy Therapy in Chinese – Occupational Therapy Therapy in Chinese – Behavioural Therapy Therapy in Chinese – Physiotherapy in Chinese Therapy in Chinese – Therapy Dogs

Psychology in Chinese

Psychology – is the science of behaviour and mind.

心理学 – 是研究行为和心理活动的学科 xīnlǐ xué – shì yánjiū xíngwéi hé xīnlǐ huódòng de xuékē

However, if you wanted to elaborate on that here are some helpful psychological terms:

• Assessment : 评估 píng gū
• Counselling : 心理咨询 xīnlǐ zīxún
• Cognition : 认知 rèn zhī
• Developmental : 发展 fā zhǎn
• Mental state : 精神状态 jīngshén zhuàngtài

Speech Therapy in Chinese

Speech Therapy – is the treatment of people who have difficulties with speech, language, fluency, voice and social communication.

言语辅导 – 是对那些在演讲，语言表达，说话流利，声音跟社交沟通方面有问难的人的治疗 yán yǔ fǔ dǎo – shì duì nàxiē zài yǎnjiǎng, yǔyán biǎodá, shuōhuà liúlì, shēngyīn gēn shèjiāo gōutōng fāngmiàn yǒu wèn nàn de rén de zhìliáo

Another way to say Speech Therapy is 言语干预 yán yǔ gān yù

If you want to go a bit further in your explanation here are some standard speech therapists terminology:

• Speech : 演讲 yǎn jiǎng
• Language : 语言 yǔ yán
• Fluency : 流利 liú lì
• Voice : 声音 shēng yīn
• Social Communication : 社会交流 shèhuì jiāo liú

Occupational Therapy in Chinese

An occupational therapist (OT) helps people participate in everyday activities. This could be throwing a ball, writing, using a shower or eating.

职能辅导（OT）帮助人们参与日常活动。这可能是丢球，写字，洗澡或吃饭。 zhí néng fǔ dǎo (OT) bāngzhù rénmen cānyù rìcháng huódòng. Zhè kěnéng shì diū qiú, xiězì, xǐzǎo huò chīfàn.

Another way of saying OT is 职能干预 zhí néng gān yù

Here are some terms to help explain OT in Chinese

• Fine Motor : 小肌肉群运动技能 xiǎo jī ròu qún yùn dòng jì néng
• Gross Motor : 大肌肉群运动技能dà jī ròu qún yùndòng jìnéng
• Sensory : 感官 gǎnguān
• Handwriting : 手写 shǒuxiě
• Play : 玩 wán

Behavioural Therapy in Chinese

Behavioural therapy – seeks to identify and help change potentially self-destructive or unhealthy behaviours.

行为辅导 – 旨在识别和帮助改变(患者)潜在的自我毁灭或不健康行为。 xíng wéi fǔ dǎo – zhǐ zài shí bié hé bāng zhù gǎi biàn huànzhě qián zài de zì wǒ huǐ miè huò bù jiàn kāng xíng wéi。

Another option to say behavioural therapy is 行为干预 xíng wéi gān yù

Helpful terms for behavioural therapists to explain their occupation are:

• Autism : 自闭症 zì bì zhèng
• Behaviour : 行为 xíng wéi
• Intervention : 干预 gān yù
• Prompt : 提示 tí shì

Physiotherapy in Chinese

Physiotherapy – is the treatment of disease, injury, or deformity by physical methods such as massage, heat treatment, and exercise.

物理疗法 – 是通过按摩，热处理和运动等物理方法来治疗疾病，损伤或畸形。 wùlǐ liáofǎ shì tōngguò ànmó, rèchǔlǐ hé yùndòng děng wùlǐ fāngfǎ lái zhìliáo jíbìng, sǔnshāng huò jīxíng.

A shorter way to say physio in Mandarin is 理疗 lǐliáo

Helpful vocabulary to explain physiotherapy:

• Muscles : 肌肉 jī ròu
• Ligaments : 韧带 rèn dài
• Stretch : 伸展 shēn zhǎn
• Massage : 按摩 àn mó
• Exercise : 练习 liàn xí

Therapy Dog in Mandarin

治疗狗 zhìliáo gǒu

Chinese Therapy Quiz

Welcome to the Fish quiz! Enter your First name and email to begin. Don't worry you can unsubscribe at any time!

Dog Breeds in Chinese

Learn how to talk about dogs in Chinese. Breeds, commands, body parts and more!

Opposites in Chinese

Learn over 50 opposites in Chinese.

Verbs in Chinese

Learn over 130+ verbs in Chinese.

Therapy in Chinese – FAQ’s

Therapy is pronounced “zhìliáo” (治疗) in Mandarin Chinese.

Chinese therapy balls are called ‘Baoding balls’ 保定健身球 bǎodìng jiànshēn qiú.

They are two small balls you can hold in one hand.

To use them you must rotate both balls in one hand.

They’re intended to reduce stress, improve finger dexterity and aid in the recovery of muscle.

The claimed benefits of cupping are pain relief, muscle relaxation and improved overall health by removing the energy blockages in the body.

Disclaimer: studies on cupping therapy are said to be ‘low quality’ and the evidence supporting it is ‘not very strong’.

Chinese massage therapy is the name for a group of massage therapies practised within traditional Chinese medicine .

Meaning it accompanies other remedies such as dietary regulation, herbal medicine, acupuncture, exercise.

Want more from LTL?

If you wish to hear more from LTL Mandarin School why not join our mailing list.

We give plenty of handy information on learning Chinese, useful apps to learn the language and everything going on at our LTL schools!

Sign up below and become part of our ever growing community!

139 Verbs in Chinese | A Simple Guide

Monopoly Game in Chinese - The Definitive Guide

Breakthrough Learning Chinese for Beginners 7 Powerful Tips and Tricks

Leave a reply cancel reply.

You will get a reply from us Your email address will not be published. Name and Email are required.

Notify me of follow-up comments by email.

Cantonese Speech and Language Development

Cantonese is a Chinese language that is spoken by around 60 million people worldwide, primarily in the Guangdong province of China, Hong Kong, Macau, and in Chinese communities around the world. It is a tonal language, with nine distinct tones that can change the meaning of words. You can imagine that this huge variety of tones influences Cantonese speech and language development and creates unique communication patterns for Cantonese children learning English.

The Cantonese language belongs to the Sino-Tibetan language family, which is one of the world’s largest language families, containing over 400 languages. Within the Sino-Tibetan family, Cantonese is classified as a part of the Yue Chinese subfamily, which also includes several other dialects spoken in Guangdong, Guangxi, and other regions of southern China.

In China, Cantonese is not an official language and is primarily spoken in Guangdong province, including its capital, Guangzhou. In Hong Kong and Macau, Cantonese is one of the official languages, alongside English and Portuguese, respectively. Cantonese is also spoken by Chinese communities in other parts of the world, including Canada, the United States, and Australia.

In the United States, Cantonese is spoken by a significant number of Chinese immigrants and their descendants. Many Cantonese speakers came to the United States in the mid-19th century, seeking work in the California Gold Rush and later in other industries. Cantonese has remained a popular language among Chinese immigrants, particularly in urban areas such as San Francisco and New York City, where there are large Chinese-American communities.

Interesting Facts About Cantonese Speech and Language Development

One interesting fact about Cantonese is that it has influenced the development of Chinese cuisine around the world. Many popular Chinese dishes, such as dim sum and wonton noodles, have their roots in Cantonese cuisine, which has a long history of using fresh ingredients and bold flavors. Cantonese cuisine is also famous for its use of various cooking techniques, such as stir-frying and steaming.

The Cantonese language uses a writing system based on Chinese characters, which are also used in other Chinese languages like Mandarin. However, Cantonese has its own unique set of colloquial characters, which are used in informal writing or when Cantonese-specific vocabulary is required. In Hong Kong, the government has introduced a system of romanization called the Hong Kong Government Cantonese Romanization system, which is used for official purposes.

Cantonese Speech Language Development

Cantonese consonant phonemes in comparison to english, cantonese vowel phonemes in comparison to english, the use of phonotactic constraints in cantonese speakers.

See the chart below for information about when phonological processes are suppressed in the development of Cantonese.

* Based on the work of To, Cheung, & McLeod (2013) (Cantonese) and Shriberg (English).

DEVELOPMENTAL NORMS FOR SPEECH (age of acquisition, 90% mastery)

(based on So & Dodd, 1995; Stokes & Wong, 2002)

Language Specific Differences Between English and Cantonese

• Cantonese is a tonal language. There are 9 tones. The last three tones are very similar to the first, third and sixth tones except that they have a shorter duration.  Tones are phonemic.  In other words, they mean different things even when the same consonant-vowel combination is uses. The tones are described as high falling, medium rising, medium level, low falling, low rising, low level.
• Now, we have to talk a bit about language differences, too. This following table highlights a few of the linguistic differences between Cantonese and English. These differences help you to know what language influence errors you might see. And remember, if the errors result from an influence from the other language, we don’t have to worry. That is a normal part of learning a second language.

So, L. K., & Dodd, B. J. (1995).  The acquisition of phonology by Cantonese-speaking children.  Journal of Child Language, 22 (3), 473-495.

Stokes, S. F., & Wong, I. M. (2002).  Vowel and diphthong development in Cantonese-speaking children.  Clinical Linguistics & Phonetics, 16 (8), 597-617.

To, C. K. S., Cheung, P. S. P., & McLeod, S. (2013).  A population study of children’s acquisition of Hong Kong Cantonese consonants, vowels, and tones.  Journal of Speech, Language, Hearing Research, 56 (1), 103-122.

If you work with diverse children you need this book.

• About HKAST
• Board of Directors
• HKAST Documents
• Announcements
• How to Become a Member
• Membership Categories and Fees
• HKAST-Exclusive Members Benefit
• What is Speech Therapy
• Becoming a Speech Therapist
• Clinical Settings and Institutions

Finding a Speech Therapist

• Useful Links
• Job Opportunities
• Participate in Research
• Volunteer Opportunities
• REGISTRATION
• FIND THERAPISTS

WHAT IS SPEECH THERAPY

Who is a speech therapist.

Speech therapists are clinicians, professors, managers, researchers and professionals working in different settings. However, one thing we have in common is our work to improve the quality of life for our patients and clients. Speech therapists work with people of all ages with speech, language, communication, and swallowing problems. These difficulties can be caused by a myriad of issues, including developmental delays, physical/learning disabilities, injuries, mental health, and illnesses.

Speech therapists also work together with parents, caregivers and other professionals, such as teachers, occupational therapists, psychologists and doctors.

What do Speech Therapists do?

related information

Mental health in Mandarin Chinese: a starter kit for dialogue

October 31, 2023

By Helen Li , Phi Do and Ada Tseng

When my sister and I were growing up in Richmond, Va., my mother would make subtle comments about my sister’s body — noting how she was 胖 (pàng), which means fat in Chinese, or that her skin was too dark 黑 (hēi). My mother didn’t intend to bring harm. In fact, she always insisted that she told us the truth for our own good — 為了你好 为了你好 (wèile nǐ hǎo) — or that we were too sensitive — 敏感 (mǐngǎn). I watched as my sister lost confidence.

I want to read this story with simplified or traditional Chinese characters? Choose one.

Chinese characters

At school, we were taught to embrace body positivity and to speak up for ourselves. But at home, we could not find the right words in Mandarin to describe English words we had learned in school. We did not know how to say words like “depression,” “anxiety” or “fat-shaming” in Mandarin. The only Chinese vocabulary we knew was from what we heard in the house and saw on TV. Mental health was not a casual topic of conversation.

The intersection of mental health and language is personal. As bilingual second-generation immigrants trying to speak in our parents’ language, we were often sputtering and grasping at words to adequately express what we were going through.

Even bilingual therapists say translating English mental health terms into Mandarin is challenging.

The Times hosted listening sessions with Mandarin-speaking mental health professionals, academics, translators and community members. We asked them to list words that often led to cross-cultural misunderstandings. They also cited language they found useful to help open up dialogue. Some common themes popped up.

eating bitterness

saving face

he/she/they

psychotherapy

They told us that although there are official words for diagnoses in Mandarin, the terms often feel so clinical that many people don’t recognize them. Some emotional concepts, like being vulnerable, don’t have direct translations. Others carry harsher connotations in Mandarin. For example, while the word “boundaries” can allude to a healthy way to give someone space, if you translate it to 邊界 边界 (biānjiè), it sounds like you’re referring to a border that is rigid and meant to keep people out. And terms vary among the many cultures and dialects across China, Hong Kong, Taiwan and other Chinese-speaking diasporas.

But the greatest barrier to conversations, especially in older generations, are the cultural stigmas, experts agreed.

It was not until I learned new words — such as 自卑 (zìbēi), which means “insecure”  — that I was able to narrow the communication gap with my parents. Instead of just saying, “I don’t like it when you say that,” I could articulate the effect their words had on me.

Experts also emphasized the importance of understanding why your parents might be saying these things. For my immigrant parents, not being “sensitive” was the only way to survive. Our worldviews and words to express them were shaped by the culture of the communities where we grew up. Finding the differences in vocabulary became a starting point for us to heal.

Inspired by stories about the nuances and power of language, we wanted to share a collection of words and phrases that have been helpful for others to talk about mental health in Mandarin. It’s important to note that talking about mental health can be delicate and triggering, and many people will never feel safe enough to broach these topics with loved ones. But we hope that these words spark conversations between you and your families.

There are some Chinese cultural values that may paint the inability to cope as a sign of weakness, laziness or ineptitude. The guilt that comes with these cultural expectations can also keep people from recognizing or admitting they need help.

吃苦 chīkǔ eating bitterness

“Eating bitterness” is a Chinese term referring to the importance of persevering through life’s hardships. 吃得苦中苦 方為人上人 吃得苦中苦 方为人上人 (chī dé kǔ zhōng kǔ fāng wéi rén shàng rén) is similar to the English proverb “no pain, no gain,” but it literally translates to “only those who suffer can become masters.”

It’s not a bad lesson because a good work ethic is worth striving for, said Jessie Li , a bilingual couples therapist and supervisor at Yellow Chair Collective.

But it can be used to invalidate a younger generation’s struggles; for example, 你不知道什麼是吃苦 你不知道什么是吃苦 (nǐ bù zhīdào shénme shì chīkǔ) — “You don’t know what hardship is.”

To Li, 吃苦 (chī kǔ) is about endurance, and when she’s talking to her clients, the question is whether enduring a particular situation is necessary. Is this stress part of what you need to overcome to find success, or are you in a situation where it’s better to move on from the suffering?

面子 miànzi saving face

In Chinese culture, the concept of saving face, 面子 (miànzi), is about maintaining your reputation, dignity and honor. But your personal reputation is inherently tied to your family’s reputation.

“There’s this idea that you keep issues, especially mental health issues, within your own family. If an outside person finds out about it, 很丟臉 很丢脸 (hěn diūliǎn), — you’ll lose face, said Roy Ho, a graduate student in social work studying to become a therapist.

Lance Chen-Hayes, an author and LGBTQ+ advocate based in Taiwan, said 面子 (miànzi) is a concept he’ll often deconstruct with parents of queer children who are worried about stigma. “It’s about helping them prioritize what’s important,” he said. “And when they really think about it, saving face is on the bottom of the list. It’s not as important as they think it is. What’s more important is their queer childrens’ well-being.”

為了你 为了你 wèile nǐ for you

“No matter the age of my clients, everyone talks about their relationship with their parents,” Li said. The values of filial piety and respecting elders are strongly ingrained in traditional Chinese culture. She said parents will often use the term 為了你 为了你 (wèile nǐ) to emphasize the sacrifices they’ve made “for you” or even “because of you.” Similarly, 為你好 为你好 (wèi nǐ hǎo) — “for your own good” — is a way parents can otherwise justify harsh actions or criticism toward their children.

“If the parent says, ‘I came here to this country for you,’ and all they’re asking in return is good grades, it puts a lot of pressure on the children,” Li said.

Sharing your past sacrifices with your kids can lead to good conversation, she said. “But when it is used as a weapon, it is not healthy for the relationship, and usually there is no good conversation that comes out of that.”

The parents might have left their home country and started all over in another because they wanted a better life for their children, but it's unfair to put sole responsibility for the sacrifice on them, she added.

Body image -->

Comments on people’s bodies are thrown around extremely casually in Mandarin. Family members will greet each other with 你長胖了 你长胖了 (nǐ zhǎng pàngle) – “You’ve gained weight” – or 你變瘦了 你变瘦了 (nǐ biàn shòule) – “You’ve gotten skinny” — as nonchalantly as they ask how a job is going. How do these cultural differences sometimes create misunderstandings about body image that affect mental health?

Being called fat growing up is a common source of insecurity among her clients, Li said, and she thinks it’s helpful to remind people that Mandarin speakers might not have the same notion of body-shaming as Americans do.

For immigrants who may have grown up without enough to eat, gaining weight may be seen as a compliment. And when used among relatives and friends, it may be seen as playful, innocent teasing. But one way Li suggests explaining how hurtful these comments can be, in the context of American culture, is to say: 用我的體重來攻擊我 用我的体重来攻击我 (yòng wǒ de tǐzhòng lái gōngjī wǒ), which means “It seems like you’re using my weight to attack me.”

壯 壮 zhuàng strong

The word 壯 壮 (zhuàng) — strong — describes the body as muscular. It’s meant to be neutral, but for men, it could be seen as a compliment, and for women, it could be interpreted as a way to criticize them for not being thin enough.

Chao Zhao , a psychotherapist and art therapist at Yellow Chair Collective, understands what it’s like to go to her grandparents’ place and have them say “Look at your chubby face” with good intentions. But when she sees her daughter’s insecurity about her arms, she wants her to think of the term 壯 壮 (zhuàng) in a positive way.

She’ll tell her 你不要瘦成桿一樣 你不要瘦成杆一样 (nǐ bùyào shòu chéng gān yīyàng). “You don’t want to be as skinny as a stick.”

“You have to be strong,” she’ll add. “That’s how to be healthy.” 你要壯。 這樣才健康. 你要壮。 这样才健康. (Nǐ yào zhuàng. Zhèyàng cái jiànkāng).

曬黑 晒黑 shài hēi tan

Another common way to comment on physical appearance in the Chinese community is to talk about skin tone. For example, it’s common to hear the phrase: 你曬黑了 你晒黑了 (nǐ shài hēile), which means “You’re tan.”

Chinese skincare brands sell their products based upon the verb 美白 (měibái), to whiten. (Literally, the phrase is a combination of the words “beautiful” and “white.”) They also use the same term 美白 to refer to sun safety and prevention.

Zhao said that this type of colorism stems from outdated stereotypes about how lower-class outdoor workers tend to have darker skin, but she said these preferences and prejudices are still very prevalent in the community. “My clients who have fair skin will talk about tanning proudly, whereas my darker-skinned clients will tend to avoid getting darker,” she said.

There’s a collection of essays edited by Nikki Khanna and published in 2000 called “Whiter: Asian American Women on Skin Color and Colorism.” The clashing interpretations of skin color can lead to a lot of insecurity, confusion and resentment.

Gender and sexuality -->

In Mandarin, there’s one term that encompasses both gender and sexuality: 性別 (xìngbié). This can be confusing for English speakers who are used to talking about these ideas as separate concepts. Also, talking about sex, even between men and women, is taboo, so speaking about LGBTQ+ identities provides an extra challenge, as a lot of the newer Mandarin terms aren’t standardized — or even commonly used. So it’s extra important to come up with your own language to explain who you are, Zhao said.

同志 tóngzhì LGBTQ+

Chen-Hayes said that when he was translating the Family Acceptance Project , a resource to decrease mental health risks of LGBTQ+ youth, they thought a lot about the words they used to represent different identities. There isn’t a literal translation of LGBTQ+ in Mandarin, but many use 同志 (tóngzhì). This is a term started in Hong Kong in the ‘90s when people wanted to move away from 同性戀 同性恋 (tóngxìngliàn), the more formal word for “gay,” which was associated with mental illness. It also didn’t include other queer identities, he said.

“同志 (tóngzhì) was used by the Communist Party to describe comrades,” Chen-Hayes said, “but the literal translation refers to people with the same goal or the same intention.”

“Language is such a living thing,” he added. “It evolves according to social movements, according to pop culture.”

他/她/TA/X也 tā he/she/they/they

Gender pronouns in Mandarin bring about a unique conundrum, because while the words for he (他) and she (她) are written differently, they sound the same (tā).

The history of pronouns in Chinese is also complicated, Chen-Hayes explained. The term for he (他) started as a gender-neutral pronoun. The radical on the left of the character is 人 (rén) — person. The term for she (她) — which has the radical 女(nǚ) for female — was created for the women’s movement in the early 20th century. There also isn’t a natural equivalent for the singular “they” — 他們 / 他们 (tā men) — pronoun, because 們 / 们 implies plurality. In more recent years, some have advocated using X也 (which use the English X as a gender-fluid radical) or TA (the pinyin Romanization of both pronouns), Chen-Hayes said.

While misgendering through pronouns doesn’t come up in conversation because the pronouns sound the same, it’s still an issue because in Chinese culture, it’s common to address everyone with salutations like 姊姊 (jiějiě) — big sister, 哥哥 (gēgē) — big brother, 女士 (nǚshì) — Ms., 先生 (xiānshēng) — Mister, 阿姨 (āyí) — aunt, and 叔叔 (shūshu) uncle. And all of them are gendered.

“What we’re trying to teach people is that instead of addressing a person, someone can ask, 請問你要我怎麼稱呼你 请问你要我怎么称呼你 (qǐngwèn nǐ yào wǒ zěnme chēnghu nǐ)? ‘How do you prefer me to call you?’” Chen-Hayes said.

老大不小 lǎodàbùxiǎo not young anymore

In both Western and Chinese cultures, there are different expectations for women. Themes that emerged in the interviews and listening sessions included pressure for daughters to be proper, obedient and submissive, as well as to wear makeup, be in shape, take care of the family, be sympathetic to other family members’ emotions and contribute financially.

“The daughter is always being watched,” Zhao said. “‘Why can’t you do this?’ ‘What about this?’”

There’s also a term 老大不小 (lǎodàbùxiǎo), which literally refers to someone growing up, not being young anymore. While the words itself are neutral, it’s used more often for women, she said. One example is 你老大不小。 該考虑結婚了 你老大不小。 该考虑结婚了 (Nǐ lǎodàbùxiǎo. Gāi kǎolǜ jiéhūnle) — “You’re not young anymore. It’s time to think about marriage.”

Depression -->

In English, we often say phrases like “I am depressed” or “this is depressing.” But the Mandarin words for 鬱悶 郁闷 (yùmèn) — depressed — and 憂鬱症 忧郁症 (yōuyù zhèng) — depression — sound very clinical. How can we express these feelings of sorrow, grief and stress while preserving some of the nuances behind commonly-used Mandarin phrases?

壓力 压力 yālì pressure

Rayna Wang , a social worker who provides counseling to first-generation Chinese American children and their parents, explains that in the Chinese community, people often talk about mental health through physical symptoms. Worry or stress may be described as changes in energy or “qi” (氣 (气 ), or 上火 (shàng huǒ), referring to changes in the balance of heat and cold inside the body, she said. People may also be more likely to seek treatment from traditional Chinese (or herbal) medicine to soothe these physical signs of stress.

“To me, ‘anxious’ and ‘depressed’ are foreign words,” Zhao said, and she’s seen many of her Asian clients shut down when talking about emotions. When people are feeling depressive symptoms, they’ll instead say, 我最近可能壓力太大 我最近可能压力太大 (wǒ zuìjìn kěnéng yālì tài dà), which translates to “I may have had too much pressure recently” or “I may have been too stressed recently,” she said.

When they attribute their struggles to high pressure, it’s easier for them to acknowledge the issue, she said. “ 壓力大 压力大 (yālì dà)” means the problem is outside of me, out of my control, and not my problem,” she said. “I think it’s part of the instinctual defense mechanism that will make people feel less overwhelmed and stay in the narrative of ‘I’m not sick, and I’m OK.’ Also, it’s the intention not to burden their loved ones.”

Sometimes talking about physical symptoms (headaches, stomach aches, insomnia) is a way of masking their experiences with stress, anxiety or depression, said JR Kuo — founder of CoffeeWithJR , which specializes in culturally-appropriate mental health and diversity/inclusion training. It can be a way to brush off any mental health challenges by saying, “It’s nothing, there’s just a lot of pressure at work.”

“Also, we know that people having severe mental health issues often feel physical pain too,” he said.

悲傷 悲伤 bēishāng grief

When Wendy Guo tried to translate materials for the Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health into Chinese, she found it difficult to find the right words for “grief.” Guo, who now works at Mental Health Assn. for Chinese Communities , said she uses 失去親友 失去亲友 (shīqù qīnyǒu) to express losing family and friends. But in English, "grief" can be used to describe a loss of anything: relationships, jobs, pets or friendships.

Chen-Hayes adds that there may be words for grief in Mandarin — for example, 悲傷 悲伤 (bēishāng) or 哀傷 哀伤 (āishāng) — but there isn’t a direct translation for the verb “to grieve.” Grief is about sorrow, he said, “but the grieving process includes more than just sadness.”

Li recommends describing grief as as a process — 過程 过程 (guòchéng) — and addressing each emotion (anger and denial, for example) as a series of separate emotions, because there isn’t one Mandarin term that encompasses everything that comes with grief.

遺憾 遗憾 yíhàn pity

Because the Chinese term for “grief” is more commonly associated with the loss of a loved one, it’s harder to find the right word to talk about the need to grieve a lost opportunity, whether it’s the end of a job or the end of a relationship.

Li said the word 遺憾 遗憾 (yíhàn) is a good way to talk about the feeling you get when you think, “It would be great if the person was still here” or “It would be great if I still had this job.”

There’s a lot of room for imagination, she said. It may be that something or someone leaves a strong memory, and you revisit that from time to time. It may make you nostalgic — 留戀 留恋 (liúliàn). It can be beautiful. It’s not the quite the same as regret, which is 後悔 后悔 (hòuhuǐ), she said.

“Regret is if you did something already and you regret it. 遺憾 遗憾 (yíhàn) is you never got a chance to do it at all sometimes,” Li said.

Therapy and self-care -->

Explaining concepts like therapy or self-care can be challenging due to strong stigmas. People might not want to admit that their issue is that severe, or they might not want to spend the money. How do experts reframe this topic for anyone who might be resistant to treatment?

心理治療 心理治疗 xīnlǐ zhìliáo psychotherapy

The term for psychotherapy is 心理治療 心理治疗 (xīnlǐ zhìliáo), and the term for counseling is 輔導 辅导 (fǔdǎo). But for clients who question why they need to see a therapist, Alison Hu likes to start the conversation by assuring that there’s nothing wrong with them. Hu, a bilingual therapist who was born in Taiwan and currently practices in the Bay Area, tells them, “Sometimes we need a little help.” 有時侯我們需要一點幫助 有时候我们需要一点帮助 (yǒu shíhòu wǒmen xūyào yīdiǎn bāngzhù).

Another term she sometimes uses is 諮詢 咨询 (zīxún), which means “consultation.” “A brief phone consultation provides an excellent opportunity for individuals to delve into the advantages and drawbacks of psychotherapy, ask questions, and learn more about the psychotherapy process,” she said. “When it comes to 輔導 辅导 (fǔdǎo) [counseling], there’s often the implicit belief that ‘something is wrong, and I need to fix it,’ whereas the term ‘consultation’ may not carry the same underlying assumption.”

自我關愛 自我关爱 zìwǒ guān’ài self-care

A literal translation of self-care is 照顧自己 照顾自己 (zhàogù zìjǐ), which means to “take care of yourself.” But that is mostly associated with physical needs like eating, sleeping and showering, Ho said.

So when he talks about the importance of self-care for your mental health with his Mandarin-speaking clients, Ho likes to phrase it as a question. He’ll ask, “What do you like to do to relax?” 你平時喜歡做什麼來放鬆呢 你平时喜欢做什么来放松呢？ (nǐ píngshí xǐhuān zuò shénme lái fàngsōng ne)? What do you like to do for fun? What are your hobbies?

He notes that he uses this strategy for English-speaking patients as well, if people assume that self-care is self-indulgent — or that you shouldn’t spend money on self-care. And sometimes physical self-care can be a good way to de-stress — 減壓 减压 (jiǎn yā).

“Hygiene and eating is a boost not only to your physical health, but also your mental health,” Ho said. “A lot of times, one of the things that can help break stigma is breaking away from this model of having physical and mental health as separate, distinct things. … You can’t have one without the other.”

It's OK to not always have the words.

“The tension and conflict that we are observing and experiencing arise because some of the things we advocate in psychotherapy or mental health might seem, on the surface, to go against traditional Chinese values,” said Hu.

We’re supposed to embrace hardships, even if we suffer. We’re supposed to respect our elders, even if they criticize us. We’re not supposed to air our dirty laundry, even when silence is painful.

But as a therapist, Hu is passionate about serving this in-between generation, whose members can bridge the gap between cultures.

Wang said it’s also important to understand that the lack of Mandarin terminology and lack of understanding of certain concepts is not necessarily a weakness or a bad thing. It’s just that many of these English mental health words are Western concepts, and historically, Chinese culture thinks about mental health differently, she said.

That’s why Li thinks that when it comes to having mental health conversations with your friends and family members, the goal doesn’t have to be to find the perfect words every time. It’s more important — and meaningful — that you’re putting in the effort.

Additional resources

• Asian American Psychological Assn.
• APA Division 45
• National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI)
• Chinatown Service Center
• Mental Health Association for Chinese Communities
• Yellow Chair Collective
• Family Acceptance Project ( posters available in traditional and simplified Chinese)
• Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health Resources (available in traditional and simplified Chinese)
• For Your Mind

Effective communication and safe swallowing

is a human right which should be accessible and achievable for all people.

Latest News

Endorsement period of accredited speech therapy programme in hong kong.

The Chinese University of Hong Kong (Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology) Oct 2023 – Sept 2028

Update on title for HKIST Members

Since April 2018, HKIST has been fully accredited under the Government’s Pilot Accredited Registers Scheme for Healthcare Professions and is responsible for managing the register of speech therapists. Individuals listed in the Register of Speech Therapists have been entitled to use the title of “Member of Register of Speech Therapists accredited by Department of Health”. As the government has updated the registrant titles of all accredited healthcare professional organizations, HKIST members should use the following title with immediate effect:

Extending the EHCV Scheme to include speech therapists under the Accredited Registers Scheme for Healthcare Professions

The 2022 Policy Address announced that the Elderly Health Care Voucher Scheme (HCVS) would be extended to include primary healthcare services provided by speech therapists under the Accredited Registers Scheme for Healthcare Professions of the Government (AR Scheme). Subsequent to the discussions with the Department of Health, we are pleased to inform you that speech therapists who have already registered with Hong Kong Institute of Speech Therapists (HKIST) can now enrol to HCVS.

For enquiry, please contact us at [email protected] .

The University of Hong Kong (Bachelor of Sciences in Speech and Hearing Sciences Programme): Jun 2019 – May 2024

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (Master of Speech Therapy Programme): Aug 2018 – July 2023 (postpone 1 year to Aug 2024 due to COVID)

The Education University of Hong Kong (Master of Science in Educational Speech-Language Pathology Learning Disability) Aug 2018 – July 2023 (postpone 1 year to Aug 2024 due to COVID)

The Chinese University of Hong Kong (Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology, provisional endorsement) Jun 2020 – May 2023 (Remarks: Provisional endorsement is the highest endorsement level awarded for new speech therapy programmes)

Membership 2023 Renewal

Dear members, you may now renew the membership 2023 via our website. Please follow the steps below to complete the renewal procedure.

• Go to the HKIST website, then click “Log In” to enter to Membership Portal.
• Click “My CPD” to enter your CPD record of 2022.
• Go to “Renewal for Next Year”, upload your update Professional Individual Indemnity Insurance, complete the renewal declaration and membership renewal payment.
• Your membership 2023 renewal is completed.

Please note that if you have not renewed your membership 2022, you must submit your renewal application from 01 January 2023. Otherwise, you can only renew the membership 2022 which will expire on 31 December 2022.

Thank you very much for all your support to HKIST. If you have any enquiry, please contact us  [email protected] .

Guidelines for Speech Therapy Service in Residential Care Homes for the Elderly and under COVID-19 Pandemic

For the guidelines for speech therapy service in residential care homes for the elderly and infection control under COVID-19 pandemic, you may refer to Guidelines and Policies for Speech Therapy Service in Hong Kong under Information to Registrants or the below quick links.

Guideline for Speech Therapy Service in Residential Care Homes for the Elderly

Infection Control Guideline under COVID-19 Pandemic

Website upgrade completed

We are happy to announce that our website upgrade has been competed. New speech therapists can now apply for the membership through our website.

For enquiry, please contact [email protected].

Registration application during website maintenance

Dear Speech Therapists, Our website is undergoing maintenance, the registration application and member log-in functions are temporarily unavailable. If you would like to apply to be the Member of Register of Speech Therapists accredited by Department of Health, you can refer to the below Application Guide for details and instruction. The declaration form of no criminal conviction record form can be downloaded here. For speech therapists who have completed the professional training oversea, please contact us for further details for application. For enquiry, please contact [email protected]. Thank you very much.

Application Quick Guide

Declaration of No Criminal Conviction Record

The Hong Kong Association of Speech Therapists (HKAST) and Hong Kong Institute of Speech Therapists (HKIST) Joint Statement on Commitment to Ethical Speech Therapy Practice

Speech therapists (STs) are a group of professionals who practice in the areas of communication and swallowing disorders across the lifespan. STs are responsible for the assessment, diagnosis, rehabilitation, and prevention of communication and swallowing disorders resulting from dysfunctions of the oral, laryngeal, resonatory, respiratory, esophageal, or neurological mechanism.

At present, STs are not among the healthcare professionals that are subject to statutory registration of the HKSAR Government. Since April 2018, the Government has launched the Pilot Accredited Registers Scheme for Healthcare Professions and granted full accreditation status to the HKIST. STs who voluntarily register with HKIST are to meet stipulated educational standards and to be governed by the Code of Ethics for Speech Therapy in Hong Kong and the Continuing Professional Development Framework. HKAST, on the other hand, strives to promote and strengthen the professionalism among the speech therapists in Hong Kong since early 1980s.

HKAST and HKIST jointly reinforce the principles embodied in our Code of Ethics. Ethical speech therapy practice is a cornerstone of our standing as a profession to serve the public. All STs have shared responsibility in ensuring that the Code of Ethics are followed.

31 May 2022 Hong Kong time 7:00 pm

香港言語治療師協會及香港言語治療師公會關於承諾遵守言語治療專業操守之聯合聲明

言語治療師是專責預防、處理及研究溝通和吞嚥障礙的專業人士，其工作貫穿人生各個階段。言語治療師的職責包括評估、診斷、復康和預防由口腔、喉部、共鳴、呼吸、食道或神經機能引起的溝通和吞嚥障礙。

現時，言語治療師並不是政府要求須法定註冊的醫療專業人員。自2018年4月起，政府推展「認可醫療專業註冊先導計劃」，並頒發正式認證予香港言語治療師公會。自願向香港言語治療師公會註冊之言語治療師須達到訂明的教育標準，並受《香港言語治療倫理守則》及《持續專業發展框架》規管。另一方面，香港言語治療師協會自1980年代初以來，一直致力提升和加強香港言語治療師的專業水平。

香港言語治療師協會及香港言語治療師公會共同重申《香港言語治療倫理守則》所體現的原則。言語治療專業操守乃我們作為一個服務公眾的專業之基石。所有言語治療師皆有責任確保倫理守則得以遵守。

Statement of the Hong Kong Institute of Speech Therapists on selection of training materials

The Hong Kong Institute of Speech Therapists (HKIST) is aware of the recent publication of a picture book titled “The Twelve Warriors in Sheep Village” by the General Union of Hong Kong Speech Therapists (GUHKST). The picture book has aroused great public concerns. Members of the Legislative Council also expressed their concerns about the picture book in the Subcommittee to Study the Development of Textbooks and Teaching Materials for Kindergartens, Primary and Secondary Schools of the Legislative Council on 12 January. They pointed out that the content included strong political propaganda and requested the Education Bureau to follow up the issue. The Under Secretary for Education, Dr. Choi Yuk-lin, pointed out at the meeting that the picture book was not suitable for use as teaching materials and urged schools and parents not to use them. She further stated that if schools or speech therapists were found to use the concerned picture book as training materials, the Education Bureau would stop such use immediately and take follow-up actions seriously.

In view of this, HKIST urges speech therapists practicing in Hong Kong to refrain from using training materials with political overtones to avoid any possible legal consequences.

HKIST is established to ensure that the public could obtain professional speech therapy service from qualified speech therapists. HKIST understands and absolutely respects the diverse views and positions held by individuals on social incidents. However, HKIST reiterates that the main professional responsibility of speech therapists is to provide speech therapy service and support the communication and swallowing needs of clients. During the provision of speech therapy service, speech therapists must observe the Code of Ethics, and provide only professional information within the scope of practice of speech therapy, to prevent any potential public misconceptions about the professional image of speech therapists.

Progress on handling membership and renewal applications

We have received a large amount of membership and renewal applications for the year 2021. Our secretariat is currently making great effort in checking the documents received, and please understand that it may require an extra period of time for the procedures. Upon review by the Registration Committee, the updated list of the registered members of the HKIST would be uploaded to this website (under “Information to Public”), and a certificate of registration would be sent to the successful applicants. Please stay tuned for our news.

Reminder on the approaching deadline for application through the “grandfathering” criteria

Please refer to the following excerpt from the HKIST application guide, and note that the “grandfathering” criteria would lose effect after 31 December 2020 for new applications. New applicants may submit an online application form, provide the necessary documents and submit a pro rata membership fee of HKD 300. For details, please refer to our Quick Application Guide at https://hkist.org.hk/page/message-registrants.

2.3 Grandfathering

2.3.1 A person is eligible to apply to be Member of Register of Speech Therapists if he/ she: –

(i) holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Speech and Hearing Sciences awarded by The University of Hong Kong on or before 31 December 2020;

(ii) once has been a Full Member of the Hong Kong Association of Speech Therapists on or before 31 July 2018; or

(iii) on the date on which HKIST first awarded the Certificate of Accreditation by the Director of Health to manage the Register of Speech Therapists (i.e. 19 April 2018), has carried a title of “Speech Therapist” and worked locally as a speech therapist for at least ten years.

2.3.2 A person who has fulfilled the criteria listed in 2.3.1 is eligible to apply to be Member of Register of Speech Therapists on or before 31 December 2020.

Related Information

• No any related information

Dear Members, We will be performing a website upgrade from 00:00am on 31 March 2022. Members will temporarily unable to login the website until further notice. For enquiry, please contact [email protected] .

An official website of the United States government

The .gov means it’s official. Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

The site is secure. The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

• Publications
• Account settings

Preview improvements coming to the PMC website in October 2024. Learn More or Try it out now .

• Advanced Search
• Journal List
• Med Sci Monit
• PMC10314716

Effects of Conventional Speech Therapy with Liuzijue Qigong, a Traditional Chinese Method of Breath Training, in 70 Patients with Post-Stroke Spastic Dysarthria

1 Research Service Office, The Second Rehabilitation Hospital of Shanghai, Shanghai, PR China

2 School of Rehabilitation Science, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, PR China

3 Department of Rehabilitation, Renhe Hospital of Baoshan District, Shanghai, PR China

Post-stroke spastic dysarthria (PSSD) is a motor speech impairment that impacts patient communication and quality of life. Liuzijue Qigong (LQG), a traditional Chinese method of breath training, could serve as an effective treatment for PSSD. This study compared the effects of conventional speech therapy and conventional speech therapy combined with LQG in patients with PSSD.

Material/Methods

Seventy patients with PSSD were randomly divided into a control group (conventional speech therapy, n=35, 77.14% cerebral infarction, 22.86% cerebral hemorrhage) and experimental group (LQG combined with conventional speech therapy, n=35, 85.71% cerebral infarction, 14.29% cerebral hemorrhage). Conventional speech therapy included relaxation, breath control, organ articulation, and pronunciation training. LQG involved producing 6 different sounds (Xu, He, Hu, Si, Chui, and Xi) accompanied by breathing and body movements. Patients were treated once a day, 5 times a week, for 4 weeks. The Frenchay Dysarthria Assessment scale (FDA), speech articulation, maximum phonation time (MPT), loudness, and Montreal Cognitive Assessment scale (MoCA) were evaluated.

At 4 weeks, the experimental group showed significant improvements compared with the control group in the change of FDA (13.26±6.84 vs 18.03±5.32, P =0.028), speech articulation (63.17±22.40 vs 76.51±15.28, P =0.024), MPT (1.34±1.30 vs 3.89±3.98, P <0.001), loudness (3.46±2.74 vs 7.14±2.56, P =0.009), MoCA (19.40±3.72 vs 22.20±5.30, P =0.020), total effective rate (68.57% vs 88.57%, P =0.041).

Conclusions

LQG, when combined with conventional speech therapy, enhanced the comprehensive speech ability of patients with PSSD compared with conventional treatment alone.

In recent years, stroke, characterized by high prevalence, incidence, and mortality, has emerged as a primary cause of disability and death [ 1 ]. A significant number of stroke survivors, approximately 25% to 42%, experience concurrent dysarthria [ 2 ], with spastic dysarthria being common in cases involving upper motor neuron lesions [ 3 ]. Post-stroke spastic dysarthria (PSSD) is an acquired speech disorder that arises from neurological injury and impairs speech intelligibility due to tense, imprecise, slow, or uncoordinated muscle control [ 4 ]. PSSD results in abnormalities in breathing, vocalization, resonance, and rhythm, manifesting as slow and laborious speech, unclear pronunciation, and hypernasality, thereby causing issues in linguistic function, social participation, and psychological and emotional dimensions [ 5 ]. Various treatment methods, including relaxation, breath control, organ articulation, and pronunciation training, are employed in the clinical treatment of PSSD to improve fluency and pronunciation clarity [ 6 ].

Liuzijue Qigong (LQG), a 6-word breathing exercise, integrates coordinated body-posture and movement, breathing, and meditation for health, spirituality, and martial-arts training purposes [ 7 ]. It is a slow and gentle exercise that combines breathing with lip and tongue movement and is performed simultaneously with a whole-body exercise [ 8 ]. LQG has been used in the rehabilitation of respiratory disorders, cognitive impairments, stroke, and other diseases, offering advantages such as being time-saving and labor-saving and having clinical efficacy [ 8 – 10 ]. Although patients with spastic dysarthria process a normal cortical language center, their difficulties in controlling breathing, vocalization, rhythm, and resonance lead to speech impairment. As nondrug therapy is recommended for integration into post-stroke dysarthria rehabilitation by clinical practice guidelines, LQG could serve as an effective and clinically significant treatment for the PSDD population [ 11 ]. However, no studies have yet investigated the effect of LQG in this population.

The purpose of this study was to compare the effects of conventional speech therapy and conventional speech therapy combined with LQG in patients with PSSD. The hypothesis of this study is that LQG combined with conventional speech therapy has better clinical outcome measures than conventional speech therapy alone.

Material and Methods

The study enrolled 70 patients with PSSD from the Second Rehabilitation Hospital of Shanghai. The patients were recruited consecutively and divided into 2 groups: control (n=35) and experimental (n=35) groups using the random number table method. In the control group, there were 35 patients, with ages ranging from 38 to 75 years, and the disease course ranged from 4 to14 weeks. Of the 35 patients, 28 (80.00%) were men and 7 (20.00%) were women; 20 (57.14%) had left paralysis and 15 (42.86%) had right paralysis; 27 (77.14%) had cerebral infarction and 8 (22.86%) had cerebral hemorrhage; 16 (45.71%) had mild stroke, 17 (48.57%) had moderate stroke, and 2 (5.71%) had severe stroke; 31 (88.57%) had hypertension, 16 (45.71%) had diabetes mellitus, and 23 (65.71%) had dyslipidemia. In the experimental group, there were 35 patients, with ages ranging from 36 to 75 years, and the disease course ranged from 4 to13 weeks. From the 35 patients, 29 (82.86%) were men and 6 (17.14%) were women; 14 (40.00%) had left paralysis and 21 (60.00%) had right paralysis; 30 (85.71%) had cerebral infarction and 5 (14.29%) had cerebral hemorrhage; 19 (54.29%) had mild stroke, 15 (42.86%) had moderate stroke, and 1 (2.86%) had severe stroke; 33 (94.29%) had hypertension, 12 (34.29%) had diabetes mellitus, and 24 (68.57%) had dyslipidemia. No significant difference in age, sex, duration of stroke, side of hemiplegia, type of stroke, severity of stroke, or comorbidities were found between the 2 groups ( P >0.05, Table 1 ).

Participant characteristics at baseline (n=35).

SD – standard deviation; NIHSS – National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale.

The diagnostic criteria for PSSD in Western medicine conform with the diagnostic criteria of neurology and are manifested as focal dystonia with arduous speech and spasmodic pronunciation after stroke [ 12 ]. The inclusion criteria were as follows: (1) patients met the diagnostic criteria of PSSD; (2) had stable clinical signs; (3) spoke standard Mandarin and had primary school education or above; and (4) voluntarily participated in this study. The exclusion criteria were as follows: patients with aphasia and/or buccofacial apraxia, mental illness, or severe liver and kidney dysfunction.

Ethical Statement

This study protocol was reviewed and approved by the Ethics Committee of the Second Rehabilitation Hospital of Shanghai (approval number 2020-01-03). The registration number for the clinical trial was ChiCTR2000038726. All patients provided written informed consent to participate in the study, and all research carried out in participants was in compliance with the Helsinki Declaration.

Control Group

Treatments were administered once a day, 5 times a week, for a period of 4 weeks. Patients in the control group received 20-min of conventional speech therapy, including relaxation training, breath control training, organ articulation training, and single vowels, diphthongs, syllables, and sentence repetition training [ 13 ].

Experimental Group

Treatments were administered once a day, 5 times a week, for a period of 4 weeks. In addition to the 20-min conventional speech therapy session, patients in the experimental group also received a 20-min LQG session, as detailed by the 2003 LQG standards of the General Administration of Sport [ 10 ].

LQG adopts rhythmic abdominal breathing. The method involves inhaling slowly through the nose and exhaling through the mouth while producing 6 different sounds (Xu, He, Hu, Si, Chui, and Xi), supplemented by corresponding synchronous body movements [ 8 ]. In this study, patients were required to pay attention to the movements of the limbs and the torso in coordination with breathing, and to master the pronunciation with the correct tongue and mouth positions. Table 2 describes and compares conventional speech therapy and LQG.

Description and comparison of conventional speech therapy and Liuzijue Qigong.

The 6 words and their pronunciation were as follows ( Figure 1 ):

Movement and mouth shape of Liuzijue Qigong in pronunciation. Liuzijue Qigong: ( A ) movement and mouth shape in pronunciation “XU”; ( B ) movement and mouth shape in pronunciation “HE”; ( C ) movement and mouth shape in pronunciation “HU”; ( D ) movement and mouth shape in pronunciation “SI”; ( E ) movement and mouth shape in pronunciation “CHUI”; and ( F ) movement and mouth shape in pronunciation “XI”.

• XU – pronouncing the “Xu” sound, which required paying attention to the separation of the lips with the upper and lower incisors biting gently.
• HE – pronouncing the “He” sound, which required feeling the sound energy coming from the base of the tongue and opening the mouth naturally with the root of the tongue forced backward.
• HU – pronouncing the “Hu” sound, which required feeling the sound energy coming from the throat and rounding and protruding the lips like a tube.
• SI – pronouncing the “Si” sound, which required feeling the sound energy coming from the teeth when the upper and lower lips are slightly opened, and the corners of the mouth pulled backward.
• CHUI – pronouncing the “Chui” sound, which required feeling the energy coming from the centers of the lips, with the lips slightly opened.
• XI – pronouncing the “Xi” sound, which required feeling the corners of the mouth being pulled backward when the upper and lower teeth bit together.

The experimental participants were trained in the proper technique for performing LQG by an experienced therapist, as follows. The body should remain relaxed, quiet, and maintain a relaxed mood while training. LQG started from a slight squat with a bent knees position. Before the treatment, the tongue and mouth positions were taught to each patient while they performed the breathing and pronunciation exercises. The patients were required to gradually feel the tongue and mouth positions of corresponding pronunciations to improve the accuracy of the pronunciation and breathing, rather than only forcing the pronunciation. Different pronunciations were completed with different body movements. In the training process, patients who failed to complete the tasks independently were assisted by the therapist or asked to change the body position appropriately.

Each pronunciation lasted for 5 to 8 s, including an inhalation and an exhalation. After 6 pronunciations of each sound, the breathing of each patient was adjusted twice before the pronunciation training for the next sound. All breathing, pronunciation, and actions were carried out in order and recorded as a complete cycle of LQG. In addition, the patients were asked to maintain mild exertion or mild fatigue, namely, reaching a score of 11 or 12 on the Borg Rating of Perceived Exertion Scale [ 14 ].

Evaluation Index

The current literature does not report any guidelines for clinical assessment of patients with post-stroke dysarthria [ 12 ]. Therefore, according to the recent systematic reviews, we selected the following scales and assessments, which are simple to use in clinical operation and have good patient compliance, for the diagnosis and quantification of dysarthria.

Frenchay Dysarthria Assessment

The Frenchay Dysarthria Assessment scale (FDA), an objective test for assessing vocal organs and the severity of speech disorders, was used [ 15 ]. The test comprises 8 major items and 28 subitems. Each subitem is divided into 5 levels according to the degree of damage (from level A to level E), in which level A represents the norm, B mild severity, C moderate severity, D considerable severity, and E very high severity. Level A serves as the normal baseline to quantify recovery from dysarthria. Each item of level A was collectively recorded as 1 score, with the total score ranging from 0 to 28. The test evaluates functions such as swallowing, breathing, and performance of the tongue, lips, soft palate, and jaw, as well as reflexes, voicing, and intelligibility, among others. The test scores the degree of dysarthria as normal (27–28), mild (18–26), moderate (14–17), severe (7–13), or extremely severe (0–6).

Perceptual Subjective Voice Assessment

The grade-roughness-breathiness-asthenia-strain (GRBAS) scale is a perceptual subjective voice assessment to evaluate pathological voice quality [ 16 ]. We used the GRBAS of the Japan Society of Logopedics and Phoniatrics to evaluate the vocal disorders in the 2 groups, including grade, roughness, breathiness, asthenia, and strain. Each item was divided into 4 levels: level 0 (normal); level 1 (mild); level 2 (moderate); and level 3 (severe). Evaluators asked participants the same content and manner in a quiet environment and required them to answer in a natural tone and volume, followed by a recording of the score. Results of strain and roughness related to the patients with spastic dysarthria were used as evaluative indicators for the effective rate in this study.

If the severity of dysarthria was improved by one or more grades and either strain and roughness reduced by one or more levels, the intervention was considered effective. No change was considered ineffective. Total effective rate=effective number of people/total number of people in each group×100%.

Assessment of Speech Articulation

We used 2 word tables for the Chinese phonetic articulation test [ 17 ] to evaluate speech articulation, including Word Table I, designed according to the abnormal phonetics that patients are likely to encounter in clinical practice, and Word Table II, designed according to the initial consonant and vowels of the phonological rules of Mandarin Chinese. Each table contains 100 high-frequency Chinese characters. During the test, patients were asked to read the list of words one by one, and their pronunciations were recorded. A therapist not involved in the treatment, an untrained volunteer, and a patient’s family member performed dictation comparisons. The calculation of the percentage of independently correctly pronounced words were then taken from the average of the 3 measurements to record the result. Each patient was assessed by the same volunteer, speech therapist, and family member.

Maximum Phonation Time

Maximum phonation time (MPT) has been identified as a reliable measurement in voice assessment [ 12 ]. Each patient was instructed to sit normally and continuously pronounce the vowel /a/ at maximum loudness until the end of expiration after a deep inhalation. A stopwatch was used to record the duration of the sound, with the maximum value obtained after 3 measurements. MPT measurements required: (1) the longest possible procuration duration, (2) uniform breathing flow, and (3) consistent loudness and tone.

Loudness is an indicator of acoustic characteristics [ 18 ]. A Xima AR824 decibel meter recorded patients’ pronunciations loudness during quiet conversation, positioned 1 cm away from the lips.

Montreal Cognitive Assessment Scale

The Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) scale assesses 8 cognitive domains: visual-spatial and executive functions; naming; short-term memory; attention; language fluency; abstraction, delayed memory; and orientation [ 19 ]. The total MoCA scale score is 30, with patients scoring below 26 points considered to have cognitive dysfunction. Patients with 12 or fewer years of education received an additional point.

All results were evaluated and recorded at baseline and at the 4-week study completion. The primary observation indicator was the FDA, followed by the GRBAS, speech articulation, MPT, loudness, MoCA, and effective rate.

Statistical Analysis

Data processing and statistical analysis were conducted using SPSS 22.0 software (IBM, Armonk, NY, USA). General statistical descriptions, such as the number of cases (%) or mean±standard deviation, were used for demographic and clinical characteristics. The FDA, speech articulation, MPT, loudness, and MoCA were expressed as mean±standard deviation. Difference between sexes, paralysis sides, stroke types, National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale scores, comorbidities, and effective rates were performed using the chi-square test. The evaluation data conformed to the normality test. Intergroup comparisons were performed using an independent sample t test for variables such as age, duration of stroke, FDA, speech articulation, MPT, loudness, and MoCA. Intragroup comparisons were performed using a paired t test for the FDA, speech articulation, MPT, loudness, and MoCA. A P value <0.05 was considered statistically significant.

Baseline Comparison

No significant differences were found between the 2 groups at baseline for FDA (10.54±7.02 vs 10.54±7.02, P =0.299), speech articulation (44.09±23.71 vs 46.26±20.09, P =0.460), MPT (9.60±4.51 vs 8.63±5.13, P =0.176), loudness (38.23±9.13 vs 36.71±8.44, P =0.951), and MoCA (17.91±4.14 vs 18.20±5.48, P =0.240; Tables 3 ​ 3 ​ – 6 ).

Comparison of Frenchay Dysarthria Assessment (FDA) and speech articulation (mean±standard deviation, n=35).

Comparison of maximum phonation time (MPT) duration (in seconds) between the 2 groups before and after treatment (mean±standard deviation, n=35).

Comparison of the pretreatment and posttreatment loudness in calm communication (dB; mean±standard deviation; n=35) between the 2 groups.

Comparison of the pretreatment and posttreatment Montreal Cognitive Assessment scale scores between the 2 groups (mean±standard deviation, n=35).

Intragroup Comparisons After the Interventions

After 4 weeks of intervention, statistically significant differences were observed within the control group before and after intervention in FDA (10.54±7.02 vs 13.26±6.84, P <0.001), speech articulation (44.09±23.71 vs 63.17±22.40, P <0.001), MPT (9.60±4.51 vs 10.94±4.54, P <0.001), loudness (38.23±9.13 vs 41.69±8.58, P <0.001), and MoCA (17.91±4.14 vs 19.40±3.72, P <0.001).

Similarly, significant differences were found within the experimental group before and after the interventions in the FDA (10.54±7.02 vs 18.03±5.32, P <0.001), speech articulation (46.26±20.09 vs 76.51±15.28, P <0.001), MPT (8.63±5.13 vs 12.51±5.04, P <0.001), loudness (36.71±8.44 vs 43.86±7.80, P <0.001), and MoCA (18.20±5.48 vs 22.20±5.30, P <0.001; Tables 3 ​ 3 ​ – 6 ).

Intergroup Comparisons After the Interventions

After intervention, significant differences between the control and experimental groups were found in the FDA (13.26±6.84 vs 18.03±5.32, P =0.028), speech articulation (63.17±22.40 vs 76.51±15.28, P =0.024), and MoCA (19.40±3.72 vs 22.20±5.30, P =0.020), indicating improvements in articulator movements, speech articulation, and MoCA scores in the experimental group were more pronounced than in the control group ( Tables 3 , ​ ,6 6 ).

No significant differences were found between the 2 groups in MPT (10.94±4.54 vs 12.51±5.04, P =0.334) and loudness (41.69±8.58 vs 43.86±7.80, P =0.606) after the interventions. However, the increase in MPT (1.34±1.30 vs 3.89±3.98, P <0.001) and loudness (3.46±2.74 vs 7.14±2.56, P =0.009) showed a significant difference between the 2 groups, with the experimental group exhibiting greater increases in MPT and loudness than the control group ( Tables 4 , ​ ,5 5 ).

The combined evaluation of strained and rough sounds after the interventions demonstrated that the total effective rates for the experimental and control groups were 88.57% and 68.57%, respectively. This result indicated a significant difference between the 2 groups ( P =0.041), suggesting that the experimental group experienced greater improvement in their strained and rough sounds than did the control group.

In this study, LQG was used for the first time in treating patients with PSSD. The findings demonstrated that combining LQG with conventional speech therapy significantly improved breathing control ability, speech articulation, articulator function, and cognitive ability in patients with PSSD, compared with conventional treatment alone. LQG, a traditional Chinese method of breath training, shows potential as an effective clinical treatment for PSSD. LQG, with its time-saving, efficient, and positive clinical effects, can be used as an independent supplementary training for patients with PSSD following conventional speech therapy.

PSSD is characterized by short vocalization duration, reduced speech articulation, slow and laborious speech, distortion of vowels and consonants, and changes in sound volume and pitch affecting patient daily life [ 20 ]. Conventional speech therapy is a widely used method for dysarthria treatment in China and worldwide; however, it involves separate training for relaxation, respiratory control, vocal organs, and pronunciation, which can be time-consuming, and its therapeutic effects vary among individuals [ 13 ]. LQG focuses on gentle, extended, unconscious, and prolonged breathing, which combines limb movement and pronunciation with breathing rhythm [ 21 ]. LQG could be a valuable rehabilitation strategy for patients with PSSD to train their pronunciation with relaxed articulation muscles, potentially saving time in conventional rehabilitation training.

LQG Effects on Breathing Regulation in PSSD

Speech output requires stable and effective breathing support to improve stability and airflow utilization efficiency. Establishment of a normal breathing pattern is fundamental to breathing regulation in LQG when treating PSSD [ 22 ]. Howard et al [ 23 ] found that patients with post-stroke dysarthria often exhibit abnormal breathing regulation. Restoring a proper and effective coordination pattern between breathing and speech facilitates normal speech recovery in these patients, as sound production relies on the volume and control of the breathing airflow [ 12 ]. Tang et al [ 24 ] demonstrated that the moderate strength of LQG positively impacts cardiopulmonary function and respiratory muscles. Exercises involving the 2 sounds “Hu” and “Si” increase lung volume. Traditional articulation training, such as blowing paper, blowing out a candle, and playing the flute, do not address the simultaneous pronunciation and breathing treatment and focus on muscle strengthening. LQG coordinates various body movements and lip shape changes during inhalation and exhalation. It improves aerobic metabolism and respiratory resistance in the thoracic and abdominal cavities, as well as improving peripheral blood circulation, respiratory muscle strength, endurance, and coordination [ 25 ]. Combined with the evaluation of MPT duration, the LQG breathing-regulation effect significantly improved respiratory function in patients with PSSD after intervention ( Table 3 ).

LQG Effects on Body Regulation in PSSD

The effects of LQG on pronunciation, resonance, and articulation in speech output constitute the body regulation process of LQG in PSSD treatment. Practicing lip syncing with 6 sounds, “Xu,” “He,” “Hu,” “Si,” “Chui,” and “Xi,” results in varying strain on the larynx, tongue, teeth, and lips, and the qi, blood, and meridian movement in the involved organs also differ, based on traditional Chinese medicine theory [ 26 ]. In the human body, pronunciation primarily relates to throughput breath, vocal cord vibration, and body part resonance, meaning different sounds require the involvement of various body parts [ 21 ]. LQG, a health preservation method developed by ancient practitioners, is based on vocal system principles. Sound production relies on vibration, implying that health-preserving LQG principles are founded on the resonance of the human body.

Pronouncing the 6 sounds involves guttural sounds, dental consonants, lingual sounds, labial sounds, and breathy voices, improving articulator movements. Generally, the consonants of the 6 sounds belong to the unvoiced consonants category. Natural vocalization requires low muscle energy consumption, reducing muscle tension in patients with PSSD. Pronouncing these soft pitches reduces laryngeal muscles tension and achieves more complete glottal closure [ 27 ]. Combined with FDA, GRBAS, speech articulation, and calm loudness communication evaluations, LQG body regulation significantly improved pronunciation resonance, articulator movement, strained sounds, rough sounds, and speech articulation in patients with PSSD in the experimental group after the intervention ( Tables 2 , ​ ,4). 4 ). Wang et al [ 10 ] showed that LQG, combined with basic articulation training, could improve the respiratory control ability of stroke patients with dysarthria. However, no significant difference was found in the loudness level between the groups, which might be due to the selection of 5 volume levels (whisper, soft, conversation, loud, and shouting) to evaluate loudness. Thus, the decibel value was used to quantify the loudness level, which might be a more objective evaluation method.

LQG Effects on Mind Regulation in PSSD

Cognitive processing affects the entirety of speech production in the body. Some researchers believe that cognitive processing, including concepts and language, interacts with the sensory-motor systems of the body [ 28 , 29 ]. The cognitive-motor-language system of patients with PSSD is activated in the LQG process. The cognitive component involves the visual, tactile, proprioceptive, and cognitive processing module. The motor component involves the torso, mouth, and facial movement, and the language component involves speech production. With long-term enhancement, this training engages patients in movement feedback and cognition, whereby cognition enhances speech and leads to improvements in movement [ 30 ]. For middle-aged and older post-stroke patients, aerobic exercises, especially moderate-intensity aerobic exercises, promote the production of neurotrophic factors, the formation of blood vessels in brain tissues, nerve maturation development, and neuroplasticity occurrence, thereby promoting cognitive function and improving speech performance. Combined with the MoCA scale, cognitive function in patients with PSSD after intervention was significantly improved through the effects of LQG in mind regulation ( Table 5 ).

Although this study demonstrated that LQG is an effective treatment for post-stroke patients with PSSD, there are some limitations. The study compared LQG with conventional therapy over only a 4-week period in post-stroke patients with PSSD, leaving the long-term effects unclear. The sample population primarily included patients with mild and moderate stroke, which means caution is needed when applying the outcomes to patients with severe stroke. Additionally, the mechanism of LQG’s effects on this population remains unclear. The study did not investigate the impact of LQG on variables related to neural pathways and brain function.

LQG, when combined with conventional speech therapy, could enhance the comprehensive speech ability of patients with PSSD, as the findings demonstrated improvements in breathing control ability, speech articulation, articulator function, and cognitive ability, compared with conventional treatment alone. LQG, a low-to-medium-intensity holistic exercise that combines the regulation of mind, breathing, and body, is not limited by time, space, venue, or equipment. Therefore, it can be used as an independent supplementary training for patients with PSSD following conventional speech therapy.

Acknowledgements

We thank the associate editor and the reviewers for their useful feedback that improved this paper.

Conflict of interest: None declared

Declaration of Figures’ Authenticity

All figures submitted have been created by the authors who confirm that the images are original with no duplication and have not been previously published in whole or in part.

Financial support: This work was supported by the Youth Project of Shanghai Municipal Health Commission under grant 20204Y0373; Youth Project of Shanghai Municipal Health Commission under grant 20204Y0369; Construction of Medical Key Disciplines in Baoshan District under grant BSZK-2023-BP09; and Renhe Hospital Excellent Youth Program in Baoshan District under grant BSRHYQ-2021-06

• Cambridge Dictionary +Plus

Translation of speech and language therapy – English–Traditional Chinese dictionary

Your browser doesn't support HTML5 audio

• But public schools can't afford to offer daily speech and language therapy .
• Pupils are also given physiotherapy , speech and language therapy , and are taught wheelchair driving skills .
• The organization wants speech and language therapy funding to be protected .
• She complained that the child had been waiting for a speech and language therapy assessment for almost a year .

(Translation of speech and language therapy from the Cambridge English-Chinese (Traditional) Dictionary © Cambridge University Press)

Translations of speech and language therapy

Get a quick, free translation!

Word of the Day

of or relating to birds

Dead ringers and peas in pods (Talking about similarities, Part 2)

Learn more with +Plus

• Recent and Recommended {{#preferredDictionaries}} {{name}} {{/preferredDictionaries}}
• Definitions Clear explanations of natural written and spoken English English Learner’s Dictionary Essential British English Essential American English
• Grammar and thesaurus Usage explanations of natural written and spoken English Grammar Thesaurus
• Pronunciation British and American pronunciations with audio English Pronunciation
• English–Chinese (Simplified) Chinese (Simplified)–English
• English–Chinese (Traditional) Chinese (Traditional)–English
• English–Dutch Dutch–English
• English–French French–English
• English–German German–English
• English–Indonesian Indonesian–English
• English–Italian Italian–English
• English–Japanese Japanese–English
• English–Norwegian Norwegian–English
• English–Polish Polish–English
• English–Portuguese Portuguese–English
• English–Spanish Spanish–English
• English–Swedish Swedish–English
• Dictionary +Plus Word Lists
• English–Chinese (Traditional)    Noun
• Translations
• All translations

Add speech and language therapy to one of your lists below, or create a new one.

{{message}}

Something went wrong.

There was a problem sending your report.