Speech and Hearing Science Commons^™

Ancillary Data For Refining Computer Adaptive Algorithms For The Assessment Of Anomia, Emily Kathryn Tudorache

Dissertations and Theses

Computer adaptive testing formats, based in item response theory (IRT), are becoming an increasingly popular approach to testing in healthcare because they offer numerous psychometric and practical advantages to assessment when compared to static tests that rely on classical test theory. Fergadiotis and colleagues (2015) have developed computer adaptive versions of the Philadelphia Naming Test (PNT) short-forms, which have demonstrated acceptable precision and standard error of measurement when compared to the static short-forms and original full-length assessment. This study sought to use synthetic data simulations using the catIrt R package (Nydik, 2014) to investigate possible advantages of the use of …

Word Retrieval Behaviors Of Aphasic Adults In Conversational Speech : A Preliminary Study, Priscilla Jane Blake

Dissertations and Theses

Word retrieval difficulties are experienced by almost all aphasic adults. Consequently, these problems receive a substantial amount of attention in aphasia treatment. Because of the methodological difficulties, few studies have examined WRBs in conversational speech, focusing instead on confrontational naming tasks in which the client is asked to retrieve a specific word. These studies have left unanswered questions about the WRB processes.

The purposes of this study were to: (1) develop profiles of WRB for moderately impaired aphasic adult clients and examine these profiles for evidence that reflects the level of breakdown in the word retrieval process, and (2) determine …

Reading Comprehension Of Literal, Translational, And High Inference Level Questions In Aphasic And Right Hemisphere Damaged Adults, Ute Kongsbak

Dissertations and Theses

The purpose of this study was to examine and compare inferential abilities on a reading comprehension task in two groups of adults who had suffered cerebrovascular accidents (CVA). Sixteen subjects with a CVA to the right hemisphere of the brain were compared to an equal number of left hemisphere damaged subjects. Subjects were selected after they had demonstrated an adequate level of functioning on the Short Porch Index of Communicative Ability (SPICA), a test which measures communicative efficiency, to perform the tasks required in this study. All subjects were administered the revised version of the Nelson Reading Skills Test (NRST). …

Coverbal Behavior Of Aphasic And Right Hemisphere Damaged Subjects In Conversation, Jill Duvall

Dissertations and Theses

The frequency and duration of six coverbal behaviors were examined in two experimental groups and one control group. Conversational samples of ten aphasic subjects, ten right hemisphere damaged (RHD) subjects, and ten matched, non-brain damaged (NBD) control subjects were scored for frequency and duration of eye contact, head nod, head shake, head tilt, smile and eyebrow raise. Only the frequency of smile was found to differ significantly; the RHD subjects smiled less often than either of the other two groups.

The Use Of Telegraphic Reading Material By Aphasic Patients, Sylvia Diane Tovey

Dissertations and Theses

The purpose of this study was to determine if aphasic patients have significantly more correct answers for telegraphically written material when compared to normally written material.

Twenty subjects from the greater Portland metropolitan area were selected to be included in this study. The ages or the subjects ranged from forty-two through sixty-five years with a mean of fifty-four years.

The test material consisted of two paragraphs controlled for fourth grade grammar and vocabulary and two paragraphs controlled for sixth grade grammar and vocabulary. A normally written and a telegraphically written paragraph were used for each of the four paragraphs for …