Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

The Impact Of Bowl Feeding On Infant Muscle Activity And Kinematics - An Executive Summary, Kendall Steer

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

Addressing difficulties with swallowing is a small, yet critical portion of a speech-language pathologist’s role. Infants often experience challenges associated with swallowing safely, yet the ability of SLPs to prescribe effective interventions is limited by the lack of knowledge on how anatomy and physiology interact to drive these challenges. The goal of my Honors Research Project is to address this lack of knowledge by determining how the infant pig tongue moves during feeding from a bottle versus drinking from a bowl, as well as how the muscles controlling the tongue differ in these behaviors. I used infant pigs for this …

Speech-Language Pathology Students' Perspective Of Working With Older Adults, Anna Hamill

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

There is an increasing demand for speech language pathologists (SLPs) willing to work with older adults. Demographic trends warn that the number of people over 65 will double by 2050 (Vincent, 2010). Studies reveal that only 37.3% of SLP students prefer to work with older adults after graduation (Leonard et al., 2016). Ageism is affecting speech-language pathology and related health care professions. Research within the last five years has shown that ageism towards older adults exists across multiple medical professions in all fields and settings (Heape et al., 2020). Interdisciplinary fields report negative feelings towards older adults (Ortiz-Rubio et al., …

The Effects Of Exercise On Adolescents With Autism Spectrum Disorder, Julia Hofacker

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

This Honors Research Project will look at the impact of various types of exercise on the speech, language, and behavior of adolescents with autism spectrum disorder. The goal of this research project is to determine how exercise can be implemented into speech and therapy programs in order to better improve the communication skills of adolescents with autism spectrum disorder. To accomplish this, recent studies and publications will be analyzed to compare traditional therapy methods and therapy methods that include exercise. These studies will provide data on how various types of exercise impacted adolescents with autism spectrum disorder speech, language, behavior, …

Traumatic Brain Injury In Pediatrics, Natalie Deibel

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) is an acquired brain injury as a result of an external force to the head. Common causes for these injuries include falls, motor vehicle accidents, sports, and abuse. The affected location of the brain, severity, and age at the time of injury affect what deficits are present. Resulting deficits can be in speech, language, behavior, motor, and cognition/executive functions (Manasco, 2020). Traumatic brain injuries can affect all ages. No parent wants to experience their child going through this. TBIs do not just affect the patient but also loved ones. During this difficult time, parents or caregivers …

The Impact Of The Covid-19 Pandemic On Special Education: A Case Study, Megan Cercone

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

The purpose of this research project is to explore the possible impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on special education by evaluating the experiences of one child with disabilities who attends public schools. METHODS: A semi-structured interview was conducted with the two parents of the child, who has physical disabilities and an IEP through his school, meaning he receives special education services through intervention teachers, physical therapists, occupational therapists, and speech therapists. The interview was recorded and transcribed, and then interview transcripts were evaluated to identify themes in the subjects’ responses regarding their child’s experience with public education during the pandemic. …

The Patterns And Prevalence Of Vestibular Disorders In Relation To Pediatric Concussions, Emma Vosniak

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

INTRODUCTION: Concussions are a movement of the brain that can cause damage to the cells of the brain and any surrounding structures. One of the closest structures is the vestibular system, a part of the inner ear, controlling our balance and bodily movement. Though it is known that vestibular disorders and related symptoms are common after a concussion, there remains limited research regarding approaches to better address these disorders. STUDY AIM: The purpose of this study is to identify patterns regarding the prevalence, assessment, and treatment of vestibular disorders in pediatric patients who have sustained past concussions. METHODOLOGY: An online …

Musicians Who Use Cochlear Implants Proposal, Leanne Bunnell

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

The purpose of this scoping review was to provide information about the current research related to audiological practices regarding the population of musicians who use cochlear implants technology. This scoping review included studies that investigated post implantation therapy/activities designed to assist users who were also musicians. A scoping review identifies trends and gaps in available evidence. This information can be used to inform on practices currently being used in the audiologic field and identify areas for further research. A scoping review was conducted in April 2021 to identify English-language peer-reviewed journal articles published from 2010 to March 2021. Thematic analysis …

Parent/ Caregiver Burnout With Autism Due To Covid, Leah Recker, Erin Babcock

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

The purpose of this project is to gain an understanding how parents of children with autism are affected by caregiver burnout. We want to understand the different factors that contribute to this burnout and analyze how individuals are affected differently. To do this, we are sending

out a survey using Likert scale items to assess parents’ stress and burnout. We will be carefully selecting statements based off information we gather through peer reviewed journal articles. We would then like the parents to decide how strongly they agree or disagree with each question. This will create a more in-depth picture of …

Qualitative Analysis Of An Interdisciplinary Team’S Treatment Of Velocardiofacial Syndrome, Marissa Meredith

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

In this project two members of the 22q center from Nationwide Children’s Hospital will be interviewed to collect qualitative data about the operations and functions of the clinic. These interviews will provide information about which types of professionals are necessary for the operation of the team, how the team conducts research, how the team treats patients, how research is used to advance treatment, and why such a diverse team is necessary in the treatment of Velocardiofacial Syndrome. Upon completion of data collection, this information will be analyzed to determine the different perspectives of team members and how they interact with …

Identifying Molecular Pathways Underlying Noise-Induced Tinnitus, Mckenzie Rice

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

Tinnitus is a serious neurological condition effecting 10-15% of adults, and can lead to other symptoms such as difficulty concentrating and sleeping, anxiety, and depression. Currently there are no FDA approved drugs to prevent or treat tinnitus, mainly due to a lack of understanding of its cellular and molecular pathways. T- and L- type calcium channels have been implicated in the modulation of tinnitus, as well as the dysfunction of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) neurons. This study used the sound-based avoidance detection (SBAD) method in order to detect tinnitus and determine whether pharmacological treatments had an effect in mediating tinnitus. T-type …

Qualitative Survey Of A Collaborative Team Approach To Treating Autism Spectrum Disorder, Theresa Duff

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

PURPOSE: To examine a unique interdisciplinary approach to ASD care that is utilized at KidsLink School/Neurobehavioral Center through a qualitative survey. This study determines the role of each interdisciplinary team member, the advantages and disadvantages of KidsLink’s approach, what is unique about their approach, and how a collaborative approach affects individual team members. METHODS: An online qualitative survey was distributed to KidsLink’s professional staff who are members on the interdisciplinary care teams. The survey results were read over three times in order to identify common themes and conduct a frequency analysis of codes across all participant responses. RESULTS: There were …

Spectrographic Analysis Of The Lombard Effect, Julia Saxon

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

In my honors project I will study the feasibility of using spectrographic analysis to measure the Lombard effect. The Lombard effect is a well-known phenomenon in which talkers reflexively increase the intensity of their voices in the presence of background noise. We hypothesize that other measurable features of speech will also change with vocal intensity consistent with what is shown in literature. However, the current authors will discuss findings in terms of its potential value as a test of pseudohypoacusis, also known as nonorganic or functional hearing loss. The author and a licensed audiologist will examine the /i/ and /u/ …

Cochlear Implants And Executive Function In Children: A Current Review Of Literature, Jessica Bonezzi, Dr. Alex Meibos

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

We systematically reviewed existing research on cochlear implantation and executive function to determine if children with bilateral profound hearing loss with cochlear implantation have executive functioning levels similar to their normal hearing peers. Overall, we wanted to know if cochlear implantation resulted in executive functioning in deaf children. A systematic analysis of research was performed using the Preferred Reporting of Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) technique. Research comparing unilaterally implanted children to bilaterally implanted children shows that bilaterally implanted children scored higher on verbal IQ tests. Research comparing predominately bilaterally implanted children to norms presents split results.

Voice Therapy Techniques In Combination With The Group Therapy Setting For Individuals With Parkinson’S Disease, Zoë E. Sommers

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

This report aims to provide background information related to voicing in Parkinson’s Disease (PD), review the various therapeutic approaches used to benefit individuals diagnosed with PD, and examine how voice impairments affect the lives of individuals with PD. Specifically, therapy techniques focusing on voice and techniques applied in the group therapy setting will be reviewed. PD has a multitude of consequences on an individual’s life, and speech is an area that is greatly affected. This project will highlight some of the interventions that can positively impact the lives of those with Parkinson’s Disease and reflect on how the group therapy …

Total Laryngectomy Surgery In The United States And Spain: A Tale Of Two Healthcare Systems, Anna Nyszczy

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

For individuals entering the field of health professions, an understanding of variation among global health systems can foster more informed viewpoints when working with multicultural populations. To investigate this relationship between the Spanish and U.S. systems, I analyzed the macro-structure of the healthcare systems in the United States and Spain to better understand plans of treatment, economic burden to patients and quality of life of patients undergoing total laryngectomy surgery in each country. A critical review of scholarly journals and studies relating to the healthcare systems of each country and total laryngectomy surgeries showed a unique picture of each system. …

Assessment And Intervention Of Young Spanish Speakers Who Are Learningenglish As A Second Language, Nicole Katherine Wiswesser, Terry Hallett Ph.D., Ccc-Slp

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

This project reviewed: a) a summary of research articles on assessment for children who are learning English as a second language; b) a summary of research articles on intervention for children who are learning English as a second language; c) an appendix that includes assessment materials for evaluating children who speak English as a second language such as case history forms, interview questions for clients, teachers, and parents, measures of language milestones, and informal language assessment instruments, and; d) an appendix that includes evidence based treatment strategies such as vocabulary teaching methods, literacy learning strategies, and other intervention materials.

The Psychosocial Effects Of Hearing Loss On Adults, Holly Reed

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

Adults with hearing loss report experiencing isolation, depression, a decreased satisfaction with their self - image and quality of life, cognitive problems and communication obstacles. These effects of a hearing loss can manifest in social situations, within the family and even at the workplace. How one copes with their hearing loss can affect how much of an impact their hearing loss has on their lives as well as what rehabilitative programs or assistive technology they may seek out. It is important to for audiologists to understand the psychosocial effects of hearing loss, how they affect the individual in the workplace …

Play To Say: A Speech Therapy Activities Website, Lauren Stover

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

Play to Say is a speech therapy website designed to provide activities for both at home and in-clinic facilitation. Play to Say.com was initially designed in conjunction with the Articulation & Phonological Disorders class at The University of Akron, taught by Dr. Scott Palasik. This class involved collegiate students working together to create therapy activities for various speech disorders in children. This website was created in effort to provide aspiring and current licensed speech-language pathologists with new ideas for therapy with children. In addition, the website addresses the much-needed push for continued therapy and practice at home. Parent-friendly activities are …

The Effect Of Yoga And Breathing Exercises On Children With Autism, Leah Brausch

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

The purpose of this case study was to determine the effects of yoga and breathing exercises on children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Common characteristics of children with ASD were noted and observed throughout the study in order to determine effectiveness of the therapy at hand. Yoga therapy was implemented for nine (9) weeks through an at-home program. It was determined that, while long-term effects were not evident, there is reasonable evidence to implement yoga therapy to assist with focus and attention. This paper serves to review characteristics of children with ASD, typical therapies used to assist them and the …

A Guide To Functional Communication Training And Autism, Elizabeth M. Connolly

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

Individuals diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder have complex communication needs, and many use challenging behaviors to express themselves. This study focused on the effectiveness of the three-step Functional Communication Training process to decrease self-injurious behaviors, when used with a child with an Autism Spectrum Disorder. After conducting an extensive review of existing studies, the current project focused on areas of weakness in the literature. One case study subject participated in therapy that utilized Functional Communication Training. The participant was taught to functionally communicate via a speech generating device and picture symbols, while the numbers of self-injurious behaviors were recorded. At …

Exploring Student Understanding Of The Connections Between Music And Literacy, Heather Owens, Scott Palasik

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

It has been found that music training improves attention and recall of memory, two skills that are linked to literacy. Music is also strongly correlated with phonological and phonemic awareness. More research is needed to pinpoint therapy methods that integrate music and are Evidence- Based Practices. The purpose of this project was to discover the extent to which aspiring speech language pathologists are aware that musical experiences aid learning and literacy by conducting a survey of undergraduate speech-language pathology and audiology students at The University of Akron. For the methods of this survey, twenty-eight participants completed a survey that was …

The Success Of An Aided Language Stimulation Training Video For Communication Partners Working With Children With Autism Spectrum Disorders, Hannah Peterson

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

Aided language stimulation (ALS) is an effective intervention method for nonverbal children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) learning to use an augmentative-alternative communication system to communicate with others. Communication partners can use ALS to stimulate the use of the augmentative alternative communication (AAC) system. The purpose of this paper is to develop a research study that will be completed in the future to determine the success of an ALS training video. The intended participants of the study include 30 special education teachers who work with children with ASD who use Proloquo2go formatted AAC systems. The participants of the study will …

The Effects Of Music Therapy On Stuttering, Nicole Baumann, Dr. Scott Palasik

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

Across time and culture, music has been used to augment and treat a variety of psychological and physical diseases. The current study therefore aims to identify the effects of music on stuttering. For this study, one individual was selected to participate for a total of five weeks. The procedure included documenting the participant’s percentages of syllables stuttered in monologues and structured reading passages as well as completing pre and post mindfulness assessments during the course of the study. Results indicate that music positively affects percentages of syllables stuttered in reading passages, the types of disfluencies and overall mindfulness levels of …

Assessment Protocol For Cognitive And Auditory Processing Skills For Clients Receiving Neurofeedback Treatment For Traumatic Brain Injury & Concussion: Literature Review, Elexea N. Aurilio, Miranda Hendrus

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

Neurofeedback has become increasingly popular in the medical world and will hopefully become more commonly used in the fields of speech-language pathology and audiology. Currently, there is a lack of a singular, baseline and progression diagnostic tool to measure a client’s cognitive and auditory processing skills once they are referred for neurofeedback treatment.

A Literature Review On Accent Modification, Alyssa Pennington 6978027

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

Accents reflect the unique social aspects and backgrounds of the speaker. Unfortunately, some accents result in communication problems that affect speech intelligibility. This is especially true for those who speak English as a second language (ESL). As a result, non-native English speakers may avoid social interactions with those who find them difficult to understand. For those who elect to modify their accents, clinicians may offer accent reduction therapy services to help ESL speakers improve their ability to communicate with others across the home, school, work, and community setting.

Therapy designed to change accents is within the scope of practice for …

Suicide Prevention: The Professional And Moral Responsibilities Of The Speech-Language Pathologist, Madelyn Anderson

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

The purpose of this paper is to explore the possible connection between suicide and stuttering, identify warning signs and risk factors of suicide as they apply to our clients, and examine the moral implications and professional responsibilities of speech-language pathologists as they pertain to suicide prevention. From the research I conducted, I found that, as a whole, the national community of speech-language pathologists does not recognize any correlation between stuttering and suicide. However, as dictated by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association’s (ASHA) Code of Ethics, we as speech-language pathologists are obligated to make referrals outside of our profession as the need …

Understanding The Stigma Of Hearing Loss And How If Affects The Patient And Treatment Process, Carolyn M. Zaitzew

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

This project is a literature review on the topic of hearing loss related stigma and the effects it has on persons with hearing loss. There has not been very much research conducted on this topic, which limited the paper’s content. Through researching and analyzing previous studies, it was found that a stigma related to hearing loss still exists today and has multiple effects on persons with hearing loss. The stigma can put negative stress on patients with hearing loss, both psychologically and socially, and may even cause them to not seek or accept treatment when needed. Younger adults are more …

Stuttering And Tourette's: A Comparative Study, Mary Kate Prokopius

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

Stuttering and Tourette’s: A Comparative Study

The purpose of this research study was to provide pilot data regarding the similarities and differences between stuttering and Tourette’s, specifically the physical, emotional and psychosocial aspects and the effects the behaviors had on the clients’ thoughts related to their disorder.

Recently published articles pertaining to stuttering and Tourette’s Syndrome were collected, analyzed and summarized in the paper. Once the literature review was completed, similarities and differences were deduced and explained in later chapters.

The overall results of this study showed that the two behavioral disorders have little overlap in terms of physiological and …

Exploring Speech And Language Skills In Gifted Children: A Parent Perspective, Amanda Brewer

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

The purpose of this research study was to examine the speech and language skills of gifted students, and to further look into gifted students who have previously had speech or language therapy. Information pertaining to gifted children, typical speech and language development, and gifted children who have a delay in speech was evaluated. The information was used to develop a survey instrument that asked parents about their gifted child’s speech and language. The overall results of this study confirmed many previously known characteristics of gifted students. It also showed that expressive language skills were less developed than receptive language skills. …

The Psychological Effects Of Cochlear Implants: A Comparison Of One Adult With A Cochlear Implant And One Without., Sarah Schwartzer

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

This study involved the development, implementation and analyzation of two qualitative case studies, with one involving a profoundly deaf individual who possesses a cochlear implant, the other with an individual who possesses normal hearing ranges. Participants were given two quantitative measures of observation, the Acceptance and Action Questionnaire and the Thought Control Questionnaire, before participating in a semi-structured interview that was intended to gather information about the individuals, their life experiences, and the factors of psychological flexibility, adaptability and resiliency as applied to their lives. The semi-structured interview involved a set list of questions that were posed to the individuals; …