Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Perceptions And Intervention Practices Of Speech-Language Pathologists Serving Students With Emotional/Behavioral Disorders, Laura A. Getty

Dissertations

A relationship between emotional/behavioral disorders (E/BD) and language deficits has been validated by researchers in special education (Cantwell & Baker, 1991; Beichman, Cantwell, Forness, Kavale, & Kaufmann, 1998; Cohen, Barwick, Horodezky, Vallance, & Im, 1998) as well as researchers in speech-language pathology (Hyter, 2003; Hyter, Rogers-Adkinson, Self, Simmons, Jantz, 2001; Ruhl, Hughes, & Camarata, 1992; Gallagher, 1999; Fujiki, Brinton, Morgan, & Hart, 1999). The exact prevalence rate between E/BD and language deficits was not definitive as it varies between 35% and 97% depending on the study reviewed (Benner, Nelson, & Epstein, 2002). While it has been documented that a relationship …

Effects Of Delayed Auditory Feedback On The Bereitschaftspotential, Jennifer L. Johnson

Theses and Dissertations

This study examined the brain electrical activity of normal speakers in a non-delayed auditory feedback (DAF) condition and when experiencing DAF to determine the effect DAF would have on the Bereitschaftspotential (BP). The BP reflects the preparatory state of a person prior to motor execution of an act and can be observed 1500 to 500 ms prior to voluntary movement. The participants in the study included 10 adults with normal speech. Each read a series of 30 sentences, both without DAF and with DAF, while the BP was measured. Results indicate that the BP is present across the scalp in …

Psychometrically Equivalent Cantonese Bisyllabic Word Recognition Materials Spoken By Male And Female Talkers, Brooke Kristin Conklin

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to create psychometrically equivalent word lists in the language of Cantonese for word recognition testing. Frequently used bisyllabic Cantonese words were recorded by a native female and male talker. The word lists were evaluated by administering the word recognition lists to 20 native speakers of Cantonese with normal hearing. Each list was presented at 10 different intensity levels ranging from -5 to 40 dB HL in 5 dB increments. Logistic regression was used to determine the words with the steepest logistic regression slopes. The 200 words with the steepest slopes were then formulated into …

Split-Half Reliability Of Mlu And Mlu2 In Two Methods Of Utterance Segmentation, Alyse Diana Kemeny

Theses and Dissertations

Concerns regarding Mean Length of Utterance (MLU) has led to adaptations of this method of analysis. A recent study by Johnston (2001) introduced an alternative to MLU called MLU2. The current study investigates the split-half reliability of MLU and MLU2 as well as another alternative, Median Length of Utterance (Med-LU). Split-half reliability was found for these methods when segmented into Phonological and Communication Units. Split-half reliability of MLU2 was generally higher than that of MLU, and both were higher than Med-LU. The study suggests that MLU2 may also be a valuable tool for clinicians in analyzing child language.

Inter- And Intra-Subject Variability: A Palatometric Study, Marybeth Corey Sanders

Theses and Dissertations

Electropalatometry (EPM) has proven to be a useful clinical and research tool for measuring tongue-to-palate contact. The goal of this study was to determine whether the development of a database of standardized palatometric articulation files is feasible by examining the variability which exists within and between speakers. Twenty standard American English dialect speakers were fitted with palatometer pseudopalates. Test stimuli were VCV nonsense words using a schwa in the initial position, the 15 palatal consonants, and three corner vowels, /a/, /i/, /u/. From these palatometric recordings a variability index was created to examine intra- and interspeaker variability. Different aspects of …

The Relationship Between Pragmatic Language And Behavior Subtypes In Typically Developing Children, Lisa Jeppson Christensen

Theses and Dissertations

This study examines the relationship between syntactic and pragmatic language and reticence, solitary-active passive withdrawal, solitary-passive withdrawal, prosocial skills, and likeability. The Children's Communication Checklist (CCC-2), a language checklist, and Teacher Behavior Rating Scale (TBRS), a behavior checklist, were completed by three 2nd-grade teachers and three 4th-grade teachers about each of their students. Factor analysis was used to determine two composite language measures from the CCC-2 scales. The results of two hierarchal regression analyses indicated that social behaviors were significant predictors of pragmatic language, but not structural language. In particular, solitary-passive withdrawal and reticence were significant predictors of pragmatic language …

Work Stress, Non-Work Stress And Mental Health Among School-Based Speech-Language Pathologists: Effects Of Social Support, Lena Gloria Caesar

Dissertations

This study utilized secondary data from the Work and Well-being of SLPs survey (Caesar, 2004) to examine possible sources (predictors) of work stress, job satisfaction, and psychological distress among 409 speech-language pathologists (SLPs) employed in public school settings in Michigan. This study also investigated the relationship of work-related and non-work-related stress to the mental health status of SLPs and sought to determine the mediating and/or moderating effects of varied types of social support on the mental health of respondents. Data analysis was done in three stages. First, each of the dependent and independent variables were described statistically. Secondly, correlation analyses …

Social Outcomes Of Students With Language Impairment: An Eight-Year Follow-Up Study, Meghan A. Baldridge

Theses and Dissertations

This study re-examined the language and social skills of four females with language impairment who were initially studied eight years ago (Brinton, Fujiki, Montague, & Hanton, 2000; Fujiki, Brinton, Isaacson, & Summers, 2001). Language measures included the Clinical Evaluation of Language Fundamentals-Fourth Edition (Semel, Wiig, & Secord, 2003) and a thirty minute language sample. Social measures included the UCLA Loneliness Scale-Version 3 (Russell, 1996), parent, teacher and student forms of the Social Skills Rating System (Gresham & Elliott, 1990), and an interview with each participant's teacher or speech-language pathologist. Results of the current assessment were compared to results from the …

Vocal Efficiency In Trained Singers Vs. Non-Singers, Kristi Sue Fulton

Theses and Dissertations

Vocal efficiency is a measure of the efficiency of the energy conversion process from aerodynamic power to acoustic power. Few studies have been conducted to measure vocal efficiency in trained singers to determine whether "vocal athletes" are more efficient than non-singers. Data were collected from 20 trained singers (10 male and 10 female) and 20 non-singers (10 male and 10 female) to determine if there were any significant differences between the two groups. During the recording, each participant produced a series of syllables at combinations of three different levels of pitch and loudness. The acoustic and aerodynamic data were analyzed …

The Effect Of Language Ability Of Internalizing Students On Improvement In Strong Kids: A Social And Emotional Learning Curriculum For Students In Grades 4-8, Shelby Carrera Hansen

Theses and Dissertations

This study assessed the influence of language on the ability of children identified as being at risk for internalizing behavior disorders to successfully participate in a social skills intervention program. Fourth and fifth grade students participated in Strong Kids: A Social and Emotional Learning Curriculum in Grades 4-8, a program which promotes emotional resiliency. The Clinical Evaluation of Language Fundamentals-Fourth Edition (CELF-4) and Children's Communication Checklist-Second Edition (CCC-2) were both completed to obtain a global language score and pragmatic language score. The Teacher's Report Form (TRF), a shortened 10-item version of the Internalizing Student Symptom Scale (ISSC), and a 20-item …

The Impact Of Vocal Function Exercises On Normal Voice Production, Karen Hart Thomas

Theses and Dissertations

This study attempted to replicate and expand previously published research in order to increase our understanding of how Vocal Function Exercises (VFE) might improve vocal function in normal voices. Measures were made to reflect potential post-treatment changes in acoustic and aerodynamic variables, including a measure of vocal efficiency. The participants of the study included 35 adults with normal voices. Each completed a series of speech tasks (sustained vowels, maximum phonation time, reading of a standardized passage, and repetition of syllable strings) before and after a four-week treatment period. Testing of pre- and post-treatment data revealed no clear improvement in acoustic …

Narrative Skills In Children With Spina Bifida And Hydrocephalus, Melissa Ann Halliday

Theses and Dissertations

This study examined how 22 children with spina bifida and hydrocephalus (SBH) and 22 matched control children with the same vocabulary age (VA) performed on story retelling and story generation tasks. The children were asked to retell two stories of different lengths (Stein and Glenn's Melvin, the Skinny Mouse and The Tiger's Whisker) and generate two stories from different stimuli (wordless picture book and verbal story starter). Analyses were conducted in terms of global narrative organization (story structure), local connection of ideas (cohesion), and productivity (number of words and utterances). Two-way ANOVAs were conducted to analyze how the stories and …

Patterns Of Anticipatory Coarticulation In Adults And Typically Developing Children, Kurtt R. Boucher

Theses and Dissertations

Coarticulation is the kinematic and spectral overlap between adjacent sounds during speech production. Coarticulation patterns in typical adults have been well established; however, the manner in which coarticulation is developed in children is still unclear. Research has provided conflicting views, showing that children exhibit more, less, or an equal degree of coarticulation when compared to adult speakers. Considering the divergent findings present in the literature regarding coarticulation in children, the purpose of the present study is to further investigate anticipatory coarticulation in typically developing young children between the ages of three and six years. This study focuses on the acoustic …

Adolescents’ Perceptions Of Their Roles In Decision-Making In The Oral Cleft Clinic, Rebecca Ann Hague

Masters Theses

Background: The literature suggests adolescents have the cognitive abilities equivalent to an adult for health related decisions. Adolescents should participate in treatment planning at a level equivalent to their cognitive abilities and the extent they desire. Little is known regarding adolescents' perceived and desired level of involvement in decision making in an oral cleft clinic.

Purpose: To describe adolescents' perceptions of their roles and desired level of involvement in decision-making in an oral cleft clinic.

Methods: Four adolescents completed a questionnaire and participated in focus groups.

Results: Participants reported that they perceive they are involved in decision-making processes, are knowledgeable …

Perceptions Of Adolescents: Preferences Of Adolescents For Parental Presence And The Effect On Information Disclosure, Bethany Barrus

Masters Theses

Adolescents born with a cleft lip or palate are in a unique position because they have received a lifetime of interdisciplinary team care where decisions are frequently made by parents, yet they are transitioning into a stage of life in which they will make their own health related decisions. Because of the complexity of their health needs, the preferred method of care is interdisciplinary team care (Nackashi, Dedlow, Dixon-Wood, 1997; Kummer, 2001). Little research has been conducted regarding the perceptions of adolescents with oral cleft about their care and issues of confidentiality in the context of team care. This study …

Temperament And Early Communication In Premature Children., Nina King

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Premature children are at greater risk for developing communication delays than full-term children, although it is not inevitable. Recent research links specific temperament characteristics to early language development. Thus, temperament may provide a way to identify premature children who are at increased risk. The first purpose of this study was to determine if temperament characteristics of premature children are the same as full-term children when measured by the Infant Behavior Questionnaire-Revised. The second purpose was to determine if temperament and language acquisition, as measured by the MacArthur Communicative Development Inventory: Words and Gestures, are linked in premature infants …

Language Associations With Literacy Achievement In Children With Cochlear Implants, Trisha Christine Noble

Masters Theses

In order to succeed in normal academic environments, reading is a critical skill for children to develop (Catts, Fey, Proctor-Williams, 2000; Musselman, 2000). Unfortunately, literacy development is often delayed in children with hearing impairment (Harris & Beech, 1998). The purpose of this research was to advance the understanding of language and speech variables that predict literacy acquisition in children with cochlear implants. Participants in this study included children with severe or profound hearing impairments, ages 6;4-8;11 who received their cochlear implant before 3 years and 6 months of age. A battery of language, cognitive, reading, spelling and speech reading tests …

Psychometrically Equivalent Trisyllabic Words For Speech Reception Threshold Testing In Cantonese, Misty Noelani Kim

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to develop, digitally record, evaluate, and equate Cantonese trisyllabic words which could then be used in the measurement of the speech reception threshold. A selection of 90 frequently utilized trisyllabic words were selected and then digitally recorded by male and female talkers of Standard Cantonese and presented to 20 subjects with normal hearing beginning at 6 dB below their pure-tone average (PTA) and ascending in 2 dB increments until one of the following criteria had been met: (a) the participant responded correctly to 100% of the test items, or (b) the presentation level reached …

Perceptions Of Speech-Language Pathologists, Abby M. Spicko

Honors Theses

According to the American Speech-Language Hearing Association, speech-language pathologists practice in a wide variety of work settings including schools, hospitals, clinics, private homes, nursing homes, and more (ASHA, 2007). As a result of the diverse environments in which speech language pathologists are employed, they work in collaboration with people from many other professions, including teachers, psychologists, doctors, nurses, social works. and occupational and physical therapists. It is important to understand the relationships between the speech language pathologist and their co-workers and others' attitudes toward the profession. This paper examines how those working with speech language pathologists across various work settings, …

Classroom Acoustics And Intervention Strategies To Enhance The Learning Environment, Christal Savage

Doctoral Dissertations

The classroom environment can be an acoustically difficult atmosphere for students to learn effectively, sometimes due in part to poor acoustical properties. Noise and reverberation have a substantial influence on room acoustics and subsequently intelligibility of speech. The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA, 1995) developed minimal standards for noise and reverberation in a classroom for the purpose of providing an adequate listening environment. A lack of adherence to these standards may have undesirable consequences, which may lead to poor academic performance.

The purpose of this capstone project is to develop a protocol to measure the acoustical properties of reverberation time and …

A Protocol For Sound Localization Testing With Young And Aging Normal Hearing Subjects, Alison V. Huff

Doctoral Dissertations

An important aspect of processing auditory stimulus is the ability to localize the source of a sound within the environment. Localization has been defined as the ability to determine the direction of sound (Tonning, 1975; Cranford, Boose, & Moore, 1990; Middlebrooks & Green, 1991; Cranford Andres, Piatz, & Reissig, 1993; Lorenzi Gatehouse, & Lever, 1999; Abel, Giguere, Consoli, & Papsin, 2000). Previous researchers have used a variety of test stimuli, test environments, loudspeaker arrays, and ages and numbers of subjects to measure the ability to localize sounds. Despite the obvious need for individuals to identify the specific location of a …

Sound Localization Accuracy In The Blind Population, Mary Arrington Deloach

Doctoral Dissertations

The ability to accurately locate a sound source is crucial in the blind population to orient and mobilize independently in the environment. Sound localization is accomplished by the detection of binaural differences in intensity and time of incoming sound waves along with phase differences and spectral cues. It is dependent on auditory sensitivity and processing. However, localization ability can not be predicted from the audiogram or an auditory processing evaluation.

Auditory information is not received only from objects making sound, but also from objects reflecting sound. Auditory information used in this manner is called echolocation. Echolocation significantly enhances localization in …

A Communication Process Training Model For Use By Audiologists In Counseling, Heather Hendrix

Doctoral Dissertations

Audiologists must assume the role of a counselor when providing interpretation of test results to patients and/or family members. A successful audiologist will rely on the knowledge of auditory disorders and rehabilitation and will be willing to form an effective relationship with the patient through communicative counseling. The purpose of this capstone project is to develop a training protocol for audiologists based on a communication process model. This capstone project discusses the process of designing counseling training sessions.

The basic principles of the Adler and Elmhorst (2002) communication process model were used to develop a dialogue and scenarios (role-playing activity) …

Parental Views Of Otitis Media And Antibiotic Treatment, Courtney Leigh Ross

Doctoral Dissertations

Antibiotic resistance is a rapidly growing problem throughout the world. Antibiotic resistance can be due to a number of factors, including unnecessary antibiotic prescriptions, antibiotic misuse, and transmission of resistant bacteria.

Otitis media is the most often diagnosed childhood illness and accounts for the majority of the United States' annual antibiotic prescriptions. Both parents and physicians can contribute to unnecessary antibiotic treatment for otitis media. Understanding parental views of otitis media and antibiotic treatment may help reduce unnecessary antibiotic prescriptions and lead to the subsequent reduction in antibiotic resistance.

The purpose of this capstone project is to develop a questionnaire …

Neurophysiologic And Behavioral Measures Of Phonetic Perception In Adult Second Language Speakers Of Spanish, Jaden D. Hellewell

Theses and Dissertations

Infants 6-8 months old are able to identify nearly every speech sound contrast on which they have been tested, regardless of whether that contrast represents an across-category (two different phonemes) phonetic change in their native language or not. A child's ability to identify non-native consonant contrasts greatly diminishes by 11-12 months of age. The present study examined speech sound discrimination in three groups of listeners. Adult second language (L2) listeners of Spanish were compared with native English listeners with no knowledge of Spanish and native Mexican listeners to determine if they would show the ability to discriminate phonetic distinctions that …

A Day In The Life Of A Clinical Speech-Language Pathologist, Mackenzie Steger

Senior Honors Theses and Projects

No abstract provided.

Phonetic And Acoustic Analyses Of Two New Cases Of Foreign Accent Syndrome, Rosalie Perkins

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study presents detailed phonetic and acoustic analyses of the speech characteristics of two new cases of Foreign Accent Syndrome (FAS). Participants include a 48-year-old female who began speaking with an "Eastern European" accent following a traumatic brain injury, and a 45-year-old male who presented with a "British" accent following a subcortical cerebral vascular accident (CVA). Identical samples of the participants' pre- and post-morbid speech were obtained, thus affording a new level of control in the study of Foreign Accent Syndrome. The speech tasks consisted of oral readings of the Grandfather Passage and 18 real words comprised of the stop …

Alphabetic And Phonemic Awareness In Toddlers, Pamela A. Terrell

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

The ability of 20-24 month-old toddlers to recognize graphemes and phonemes was investigated by reading a Phonic Faces (PF) alphabet picture book. Phonic Faces iconically picture a letter in the mouth of a character producing the sound (the curve of the P looks like the top lip popping the /p/ sound). The book was composed of nine letters and was read individually to experimental subjects three times weekly for six weeks. The control group received no treatment, but engaged in individual play activities for comparable time. Following six-weeks the groups alternated so the former control group now received the alphabet …

Effects Of The Menstrual Cycle On The Vibratory Characteristics Of The Vocal Folds, Aimee Michelle Bonnette

LSU Master's Theses

The purpose of this study was to obtain preliminary data on several factors that may influence the vibratory patterns of the vocal folds in addition to the hormonal fluctuations present during the menstrual cycle. These factors included patient reports of severity of reflux symptoms, severity of premenstrual symptoms, and severity of negative vocal hygiene behaviors prior to each evaluation. Ten subjects who did not experience complaints of their voice participated in the study. Data from four subjects who were not on birth control and four on birth control were analyzed for the first cycle, which included self-perception, acoustic analysis, and …

Prevalence Of Family History Of Speech-Language Impairment In An African American Sample, Tricia Mccully Rodrigue

LSU Master's Theses

The purpose of this study was to examine the prevalence of a positive family history of speech and/or language impairments in an African American sample. The first phase of the study used questionnaires from the primary caregivers of 161 children. The questionnaires allowed for an examination of family history as a function of a child’s socioeconomic level (+/- high school level of maternal education), educational placement (+/- receipt of services by a speech language clinician), and clinical status (+/- profile consistent with a diagnosis of SLI). The second phase of the study included interviews that were collected from 17 families …