Special Education and Teaching Commons^™

3d Dynamic Visualization Of Swallowing From Multi-Slice Computed Tomography, Andrew K. Ho, Mark A. Nicosia, Angela Dietsch, William Pearson, Jana Rieger, Nancy Pearl Solomon, Maureen Stone, Yoko Inamoto, Eiichi Saitoh, Sheldon Green, Sidney Fels

Department of Special Education and Communication Disorders: Faculty Publications

Human swallowing and its disorders (dysphagia) are still poorly understood, and yet many speech-language pathologists (SLPs) need to be trained to recognize correct, incorrect, and potentially dangerous swallows. The anatomy of the head and neck region is notoriously complex and difficult to visualize and study. Currently, training programs that teach SLPs to recognize swallowing disorders use artistically derived animations of swallowing, rendered at fixed viewpoints, to help students visualize the anatomy of the head and neck region.

This work improves on these animations by using state-of-the-art medical images to create a dynamic, interactive, 3D simulation of human swallowing. Images of …

Testing Of The Vocalog Vocal Monitor, Jeff Searl, Angela M. Dietsch

Department of Special Education and Communication Disorders: Faculty Publications

Objective. To elucidate capabilities and limitations of the VocaLog, a device marketed to log-calibrated dB sound pressure level (SPL). Study Design. The study design varied depending on the experiment. All were prospective. Some were case series, and others were cohort studies without controls.

Method. Experiments were conducted to determine (1) whether the VocaLog logged phonatory activity and silence when it should, (2) if nonphonatory activities were detected, (3) correlation of VocaLog dB values to an external sound level meter (SLM), and (4) accuracy of phonation time (PT) and speaking time (ST) estimates from the VocaLog.

Results. Silence …

The Effect Of Barium On Perceptions Of Taste Intensity And Palatability, Angela M. Dietsch, Nancy Pearl Solomon, Catriona M. Steele, Cathy A. Pelletier

Department of Special Education and Communication Disorders: Faculty Publications

Barium may affect the perception of taste intensity and palatability. Such differences are important considerations in the selection of dysphagia assessment strategies and interpretation of results. Eighty healthy women grouped by age (younger, older) and genetic taste status (supertaster, nontaster) rated intensity and palatability for seven tastants prepared in deionized water with and without 40 % w/v barium: noncarbonated and carbonated water, diluted ethanol, and high concentrations of citric acid (sour), sodium chloride (salty), caffeine (bitter), and sucrose (sweet). Mixed-model analyses explored the effects of barium, taster status, and age on perceived taste intensity and acceptability of stimuli. Barium was …

Characterization Of Sex-Based Differences In The Mechanical Properties Of Human Finger Glabrous Tissue Using A Fiberoptic Sensor, Lalit Venkatesan, Steven M. Barlow

Department of Special Education and Communication Disorders: Faculty Publications

TAC-Cell is a custom-built somatosensory stimulator that delivers pneumatic cutaneous tactile inputs to virtually any skin target on the body and by virtue of its non-ferrous materials is compatible with functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and magnetoencephalography (MEG) brain scanners. In this study, we describe the method to measure apparent skin displacement induced by TAC-Cell stimulation of the glabrous surface of the distal phalanx of the index finger. Specifically, we studied the effect of four servo controller input voltages (0.4V to 1.0V) on resultant skin displacement among eighteen, neurotypical adult male and female participants. A fiberoptic displacement sensor, commonly used …

Amplitude-Integrated Eeg And Range-Eeg Modulation Associated With Pneumatic Orocutaneous Stimulation In Preterm Infants, Steven M. Barlow, Priya Jegatheesan, Sunshine Weiss, Balaji Govindaswami, Jaehoon Lee, Austin Oder, Dongli Song

Department of Special Education and Communication Disorders: Faculty Publications

Background—Controlled somatosensory stimulation strategies have demonstrated merit in developing oral feeding skills in premature infants who lack a functional suck, however, the effects of orosensory entrainment stimulation on electrocortical dynamics is unknown.

Objective—To determine the effects of servo-controlled pneumatic orocutaneous stimulation presented during gavage feedings on the modulation of aEEG and rEEG activity.

Methods—Two-channel EEG recordings were collected during 180 sessions that included orocutaneous stimulation and non-stimulation epochs among 22 preterm infants (mean gestational age = 28.56 weeks) who were randomized to treatment and control ‘sham’ conditions. The study was initiated at around 32 weeks post-menstrual age (PMA). The raw …

Modulation Of Eeg Spectral Edge Frequency During Patterned Pneumatic Oral Stimulation In Preterm Infants, Dongli Song, Priya Jegatheesan, Sunshine Weiss, Balaji Govindaswami, Jingyan Wang, Jaehoon Lee, Austin Oder, Steven M. Barlow

Department of Special Education and Communication Disorders: Faculty Publications

Background—Stimulation of the nervous system plays a central role in brain development and neurodevelopmental outcome. Thalamocortical and corticocortical development is diminished in premature infants and correlated to electroencephalography (EEG) progression. The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of orocutaneous stimulation on the modulation of spectral edge frequency, f_c=90% (SEF-90) derived from EEG recordings in preterm infants.

Methods—Twenty two preterm infants were randomized to experimental and control conditions. Pulsed orocutaneous stimulation was presented during gavage feedings begun at around 32 weeks postmenstrual age (PMA). The SEF-90 was derived from 2-channel EEG recordings.

Results—Compared to the control …

The Impact Of Interface Design During An Initial High-Technology Aac Experience: A Collective Case Study Of People With Aphasia, Aimee R. Dietz, Kristy S.E. Weissling, Julie Griffith, Miechelle L. Mckelvey, Devan Macke

Department of Special Education and Communication Disorders: Faculty Publications

The purpose of this collective case study was to describe the communication behaviors of five people with chronic aphasia when they retold personal narratives to an unfamiliar communication partner using four variants of a visual scene display (VSD) interface. The results revealed that spoken language comprised roughly 70% of expressive modality units; variable patterns of use for other modalities emerged. Although inconsistent across participants, several people with aphasia experienced no trouble sources during the retells using VSDs with personally relevant photographs and text boxes. Overall, participants perceived the personally relevant photographs and the text as helpful during the retells. These …

Reading Acceleration Training Changes Brain Circuitry In Children With Reading Difficulties, Tzipi Horowitz-Kraus, Jennifer J. Vannest, Darren Kadis, Nicole Cicchino, Yingying Y. Wang, Scott K. Holland

Department of Special Education and Communication Disorders: Faculty Publications

Introduction: Dyslexia is characterized by slow, inaccurate reading. Previous studies have shown that the Reading Acceleration Program (RAP) improves reading speed and accuracy in children and adults with dyslexia and in typical readers across different orthographies. However, the effect of the RAP on the neural circuitry of reading has not been established. In the current study, we examined the effect of the RAP training on regions of interest in the neural circuitry for reading using a lexical decision task during fMRI in children with reading difficulties and typical readers. Methods: Children (8–12 years old) with reading difficulties and typical readers …

Treating Myofunctional Disorders: A Multiple-Baseline Study Of A New Treatment Using Electropalatography, Alana Mantie-Kozlowski, Kevin M. Pitt

Department of Special Education and Communication Disorders: Faculty Publications

Purpose: This study assessed the benefit of using electropalatography (EPG) in treatment aimed at habilitating individuals with nonspeech orofacial myofunctional disorders (NSOMD).

Method: The study used a multiple-baseline design across 3 female participants who were referred for an evaluation and possible treatment of their NSOMD. Treatment sessions were 30 min and provided twice weekly. Participant 1 received 8 treatments, Participant 2 received 6 treatments, and Participant 3 received 4 treatments. The patterns of sensor activation produced when participants’ tongues made contact with the electropalate during saliva swallows were compared with the patterns of age-matched peers. Individualized goals were developed on …

Phonological And Lexical Influences On Phonological Awareness In Children With Specific Language Impairment And Dyslexia, Kelly Farquharson, Tracy M. Centanni, Chelsea E. Franzluebbers, Tiffany Hogan

Department of Special Education and Communication Disorders: Faculty Publications

Children with dyslexia and/or specific language impairment have marked deficits in phonological processing, putting them at an increased risk for reading deficits. The current study sought to examine the influence of word-level phonological and lexical characteristics on phonological awareness. Children with dyslexia and/or specific language impairment were tested using a phoneme deletion task in which stimuli differed orthogonally by sound similarity and neighborhood density. Phonological and lexical factors influenced performance differently across groups. Children with dyslexia appeared to have a more immature and aberrant pattern of phonological and lexical influence (e.g., favoring sparse and similar features). Children with SLI performed …

Tiers 2 & 3 Intervention: Corporal Punishment, A Traditional Discipline Consequence, Reece L. Peterson, Ann O'Connor

Department of Special Education and Communication Disorders: Faculty Publications

Conclusion

Corporal punishment is a controversial form of discipline that can evoke strong emotions from parents and the general public based on ethical and moral issues. In states that allow corporal punishment, it is important to make sure policies and procedures are in place to administer corporal punishment in order to let parents know what to expect with this form of discipline and to maintain legality of the procedures. Corporal punishment does in fact offer an alternative to exclusionary disciplinary consequences. As a result, schools where it is employed might have lower numbers of suspensions compared to schools where it …

Tier 3 Intervention: Discipline Recovery, Reece L. Peterson, Ann O'Connor, Jenna Strawhun

Department of Special Education and Communication Disorders: Faculty Publications

Conclusion

Clearly, further research on discipline recovery and education programs for students that have been expelled is warranted. Several states and programs appear to be making strides in providing students opportunities to accumulate credits and/or prepare for the workforce while expelled from public school, and clearly this is better than no such programs. However, there is little formal evidence to support or guide specific implementation or programming details for these types programs.

Educators' Perceptions About African American Student Referrals To Special Education, Ydeaira Erica Ely

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The overrepresentation of African American (AA) students in special education is a problem in the United States, with concerns about the lack of uniformity in AA students' referrals to special education, and whether the referral process is applied consistently for all students. The purpose of this qualitative case study was to examine the perceptions of teachers, school counselors, and school administrators concerning the special education referral process, and whether the process was applied consistently for all students. The 2 theories providing the theoretical foundation were critical race theory and zone of proximal development. Criterion sampling was used to select 6 …

Effective Learning Strategies For College Students With Asperger's Syndrome, Jamie Susanne Gilbert

All Master's Theses

More and more students with Asperger’s Syndrome (AS) are being accepted into college without having the proper foundation in place to successfully graduate with a Bachelor’s degree. Students with AS need support systems in place to properly prepare them to face the challenges of college. The purpose of this study is to discuss the current research in regards to effective learning strategies that lead to academic success for college students with AS and to further discuss how to implement the learning strategies in higher education institutions. A single-subject study, using both qualitative and quantitative analysis, was performed. It involved one …

Disability And Access: Leadership Opportunities For Students With Disabilities In High School, Tori A. Klisz

Senior Honors Theses and Projects

Many students at public high schools enrich their high school experience and gain valuable skills through their participation in extra-curricular activities including, but not limited to, high school student leadership organizations. In this study, the researcher aims to present qualitative data obtained from semi-structured interviews that provide insight into the accessibility of high school student leadership organizations to students with disabilities. This study examines the perspectives of both student leaders in high school student leadership organizations and students with disabilities at three public high schools. The findings indicate that high school student leadership organizations provide limited accessibility to some students …

Joint Attention In The Child With Autism: An Appropriate Play Intervention For Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder, Taylor P. Basso

CMC Senior Theses

The effects of an Appropriate Play Intervention program, given to three children diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder, were evaluated through a multiple-baseline design across subjects. The research targeted two main skills, appropriate play and joint attention engagement, through the use of an Appropriate Play Intervention program. Children were taught the appropriate use of toys in play behavior with another individual, and measurements collected pre- and post-treatment were used to assess their progress. Upon introduction to the intervention, children showed a rapid increase in their acquisition of appropriate play skills and joint attention engagements, revealing a new perspective from which researchers …

Autism And Computer Assisted Learning, Shea Silver, Doris L. Watson

McNair Poster Presentations

Autism is a learning and social disorder that has seen increased diagnosis within school-age populations. As educators grapple with overwhelmed and understaffed classrooms, finding ways to address the educational needs of this particular population can be very challenging. However, technology may serve to create alternative “virtual” world opportunities and thus, begin to expand learning possibilities for these students.

Silent Voice: Buberian Philosophy And Nonverbal Disability, Elizabeth M. Minium

Communication & Leadership Dissertations and Theses

Individuals who are developmentally disabled and nonverbal, possessing little if any symbolic expressive or receptive language, are virtually invisible in the United States. This study presupposes that all persons, including those who are nonverbal and/or developmentally disabled, have a unique “voice” and contribution to the communication practices of humanity and society. This philosophical study analyzes the qualities of communication of developmentally disabled, nonverbal individuals and their communication partners through the lens of Martin Buber’s dialogic philosophy. Conclusions suggest: 1) developmentally disabled, nonverbal persons do relate and communicate, and definitions of “communication” and “dialogue” should include those who do not think …

Supporting Middle School Students With Emotional Or Behavioral Disorders In Blended Learning: A Fraction Intervention Using Virtual Manipulatives, Barbara Serianni

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Students with emotional or behavioral disorders (EBD) are more likely than other students with disabilities to drop out of school (Blackorby & Wagner, 1996) and suffer societal consequences that include higher probabilities and rates of incarceration, poverty, drug abuse, homelessness, low wages, and unemployment (Bradley, Doolittle, & Bartolotta, 2008; Wagner, 1995). High school graduation is a critical factor to improve post-secondary outcomes for students with EBD; yet it is often mathematics, specifically algebra, that stands in the way of graduation (Blackorby & Wagner). Students with EBD often enter middle school lacking foundational mathematics skills, such as fractions, which sets them …

Food Landscapes: A Case Study Of A Cooking And Art- Focused Program For Teens Living In A Food Desert, Jessica R. Norris

Theses and Dissertations

This study constructs themes and propositions about the experiences of youth participants in the fall 2013 Food Landscapes program at the Neighborhood Resource Center in Richmond, Virginia. During the program, youth participated in cooking-based volunteerism with adults with disabilities and created short videos about their experiences. In this study, I analyzed pre- and post-program participant interviews, twice-weekly program observations, and facilitator reflections to understand how Food Landscapes affected youths’ conception of community engagement and communication strategies. This case study offers insight into how youth experience after-school programming of this design. Based on my findings, youth develop and rely upon a …