Communication Sciences and Disorders Commons^™

Enhancing Intercultural Competence: Can It Be Done Without Studying Abroad?, Lata A. Krishnan, Lan Jin, Charles A. Calahan

Teaching and Learning in Communication Sciences & Disorders

Participation in intensive, immersive, service-learning study abroad programs with intentional intercultural activities embedded in the course curriculum has been shown to enhance cultural competence as measured via the Intercultural Development Inventory (IDI®) (Krishnan, Masters, Holgate, Wang & Calahan, 2017; Krishnan, Lin & Benson, 2020). The purpose of this study was to evaluate the relative impact of embedding intercultural learning activities on students’ intercultural competence when included in an on-campus course compared to a study abroad program. The intervention group consisted of 34 students enrolled in the on-campus course which incorporated intentional intercultural activities. Forty-one students who did not take the …

Perceptions Of Immediate Written Feedback Provided To Slp Graduate Clinicians During Tele-Therapy Sessions, Darya Hinman, Sarah Patten, Mahchid Namazi

Teaching and Learning in Communication Sciences & Disorders

Given the status of clinical practice and the heavy reliance on technology due to COVID-19, it is important to investigate clinical supervision practices. The purpose of this study was to determine whether immediate feedback using technology was beneficial for a university clinical setting specifically where current supervision of students is undertaken via a virtual platform. The chat function via the Zoom teletherapy platform was used to deliver immediate written feedback to SLP graduate clinicians. Utilizing technology allowed supervisors to provide immediate, in-session written feedback to SLP graduate clinicians. The objective was to investigate the perceptions of immediate feedback for the …

A Pilot Investigation Of Critical Thinking In Undergraduate Students Of Communication Sciences And Disorders, David M. Rehfeld, Tracey N. Sulak, Deborah Rainer, Janice Stewart, Nadine Welch

Teaching and Learning in Communication Sciences & Disorders

Speech-language pathologists use critical thinking on a daily basis to identify, evaluate, and implement evidence-based practices with their clients. Currently, however, there are minimal data describing the critical thinking of undergraduate students in the field of communication sciences and disorders. Without these data, it is unclear if and how students’ critical thinking differs at various points during their pre-service training. In the present study, we used the Cornell Critical Thinking Test – Level Z to describe the general critical thinking skills of 142 undergraduate students enrolled in two lower- (n = 95) and upper- (n = 47) level courses at …

Fostering Clinical And Academic Faculty Collaborations To Improve Graduate Education, Nicole M. Etter, Aarthi Madhavan, Elise M. Lindquist, Amanda J. Byrd, Anne Marie Kubat

Teaching and Learning in Communication Sciences & Disorders

Accredited graduate programs in Communication Sciences and Disorders (CSD) work to integrate academic coursework, a breadth of clinical experiences, and an overarching capstone project (e.g. summative assessment). The best graduate programs focus on integrating these three elements through high quality collaborations between academic and clinical faculty. These collaborations are fostered when clinical and academic faculty attempt to provide students with experiences that intersect academic, research, and clinical areas of speech language pathology. The purpose of this paper describes the collaborative efforts undertaken by the CSD department at the Pennsylvania State University. We present a model for collaborations in graduate education …

Intercultural Competence Gains From Study Abroad In India, Lata A. Krishnan, Horane Diatta-Holgate, Charles A. Calahan

Teaching and Learning in Communication Sciences & Disorders

Participation in a study abroad program to Zambia with intentional intercultural activities embedded in the course curriculum has been shown to enhance cultural competence as measured by the Intercultural Development Inventory (IDI®) (Krishnan, Masters, Holgate, Wang & Calahan, 2017). The purpose of this study was to assess whether a new program to India, developed using a. similar model, was effective in increasing student intercultural competence and to compare student outcomes with the previous program to evaluate possible differences in outcomes related to the destination country. Participants included 21 students who participated in the SLHS in India study abroad program, and …

Vestibular Case Studies: A Case Of Cva And Vestibular Paroxysmia, Jennifer Banovic B.S., Nicholas Stanley Ph.D. Au.D.

AuD Capstone Projects - Communication Sciences and Disorders

Case 1:

Introduction: One of the leading causes of centrally based vestibular impairment is a cerebrovascular accident (CVA). Patients typically present with limb or facial weakness, dizziness and imbalance, impaired vision, and speech or language dysfunction, however, these symptoms can vary depending on the site of lesion. Case presentation: An 85-year-old female presented with dizziness, bilateral tinnitus, aural fullness, and aphasia, occurring after she suffered a CVA. Three months after the CVA, she was seen by a balance clinic for a videonystagmography (VNG) and audiologic evaluation. Discussion: CVAs can alter the blood supply to the inner ear and its nerve …

Working With Bilingual Children: Speech Language Pathology, Paola Prado

Graduate Independent Studies - Communication Sciences and Disorders

No abstract provided.

Student Perceptions Of A Simulated Clinical Experience: A Pilot Study, Haley Elliott, Klaire Brumbaugh

Teaching and Learning in Communication Sciences & Disorders

Purpose: The purpose of this qualitative study was to document the experience of using a computer-based simulated (Simucase, 2019) learning opportunity in a Master of Science in speech-language pathology program.

Method: Focus groups were held utilizing a semi-structured interview format. Themes were identified using a qualitative methodological approach. Participants were first year graduate students (N=10) that were interviewed after completing an eight-week simulated learning opportunity.

Results: Seven themes emerged from the data. The themes were as follows: setup of the computer-based simulation, the incorporation of computer-based simulation in courses, supplemental information that assisted in development of clinical knowledge, …

Establishing Diagnostic Skills In Novice Bilingual Clinicians: A Scaffolded Approach, Carlos D. Irizarry-Pérez, Mirza J. Lugo-Neris, Lisa M. Bedore, Elizabeth D. Peña

Teaching and Learning in Communication Sciences & Disorders

This study sought to scaffold administration performance of a standardized bilingual screener to sufficient levels of accuracy for data collection using principles of Cognitive Load Theory by managing task complexity when training pre-service clinicians. Before training administration skills, two students were given copies of the manual for the Bilingual English Spanish Oral Screener (BESOS) and asked to administer the protocol independently. During the intervention phase, students were scaffolded through administration tasks of increasing complexity and given explicit instruction, which included tailored goals, modeling and feedback. Performance for four skills was assessed using a fidelity rubric and analyzed using visual analysis. …

A Pilot Study Investigating The Effect Of The Supervision-Questioning-Feedback Model Of Supervision On Stimulating Critical Thinking In Speech-Language Pathology Graduate Students, Samantha J. Dalessio (Procaccini), Nancy Carlino, Mary G. Barnum, Denise Joseph, Melissa M. Sovak

Teaching and Learning in Communication Sciences & Disorders

Purpose

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of the supervision-questioning-feedback (SQF) model of supervision on critical thinking in graduate students studying speech-language pathology. The researchers hypothesized that students who were provided with the SQF model of supervision would score higher than students who received the non-SQF (NSQF) style of supervision on the selected critical thinking measures.

Method

Seventeen out of 24 first semester graduate students in speech-language pathology completing their on-site university-based clinical practicum experience consented to participate in the study. Of the 17 participating first semester students, 9 were randomly assigned to 1 of 3 …

Three Speech-Language Pathology Graduate Programs, One Model: Using Systematic Instruction To Develop Students’ Clinical Decision-Making Skills, Bryan M. Ness, Therese O'Neil-Pirozzi, Peter Meulenbroek

Teaching and Learning in Communication Sciences & Disorders

To prepare graduate students to implement evidence-based practice effectively, educators must integrate instruction on rational clinical decision-making into course curricula. Three faculty members at different universities adopted an educational approach derived from the Rehabilitation Treatment Specification System (RTSS) to teach and assess clinical decision-making in the context of treating acquired cognitive-communication disorders for people with traumatic brain injury. Using treatment theory illustrated in the RTSS, the authors piloted instruction and assessment materials to examine potential usefulness of the approach and effects on student knowledge and confidence in clinical decision-making. The results indicated that the instructional approach effectively bolstered students’ knowledge …

A Capstone Course In Speech-Language Pathology, Linda C. Murdock, Carson M. York

Teaching and Learning in Communication Sciences & Disorders

Capstone courses are considered a high impact practice with the potential to positively affect student learning. This article describes the design and implementation of a capstone in speech-language pathology designed to round out the undergraduate experience by shifting the learning focus away from disorder characteristics and onto individuals living with disabilities. The course is designed to teach students compassion, self-evaluation, and strategies for personal growth.

Interprofessional Experience For Future Education Professionals: School Psychology And Speech-Language Pathology Students, Shari L. Deveney, Brian Mckevitt

Teaching and Learning in Communication Sciences & Disorders

Educational training programs are tasked with addressing potential barriers to interprofessional practice through experiences that promote interprofessional collaborations. The present study of interprofessional experiences (IPE) had both research and pedagogical purposes. The research purpose was to describe graduate student self-perceptions related to interprofessional teaming/collaboration before and after an IPE involving two educational training programs, school psychology and speech-language pathology. The pedagogical purpose was to convey a detailed description of a case-based IPE offered as a course assignment and offer implementation suggestions. Participants in this course-based IPE were 109 students in the school psychology and speech-language pathology graduate programs at a …

The Effects Of Complex Listening Environments On Semantic Processing In Young And Middle-Aged Adults, Emily Ferguson B.S., Nicholas Stanley Ph.D. Au.D.

AuD Capstone Projects - Communication Sciences and Disorders

The purpose of this research study is to determine how young adults and middle-aged adults process speech in different complex listening environments. Young adult and middle-aged adult volunteers will complete a cognitive screening and audiological evaluation to establish inclusionary status for experimental speech understanding in noise testing. If they meet the requirements of the study and wish to participate further, they will continue with a semantic judgement task, in which they will be asked to listen and respond to words presented in different background noises. Within the task, participants will be asked to identify word pairs into either a "match" …

Pathogenesis And Onset Of Tinnitus And Use Of Holistic And Traditional Audiological Approaches For Management, Christy Mahrt, Antony Joseph

AuD Capstone Projects - Communication Sciences and Disorders

Introduction: Tinnitus is the subjective sensation of noise perceived at the peripheral or central level. Occasionally, tinnitus perception may be severe enough to present debilitating effects on daily activities. The occurrence of tinnitus can be related to occupational or non-occupational hazardous noise exposure. Case Presentation: A 60-year-old male presented with bilateral tinnitus with an initial onset at age 21. The progression of his tinnitus has caused disruptions in sleeping patterns and concentration. His history included extensive occupational and non-occupational noise exposure. Discussion: Hearing conservation is an important aspect of facilitating tinnitus management for individuals who have noise-related tinnitus. Hearing aids, …

Benefits Of Therapy Dogs Among College-Aged Communication Sciences And Disorders Students, Allison Szramek

Graduate Independent Studies - Communication Sciences and Disorders

There are many current strategies and techniques proven to help college age students reduce their stress. However, there is limited research about the use of therapy dogs to help reduce stress among this population. This literature review investigates the relationship between therapy dogs and the power to reduce stress among college students, especially those majoring in Communication Sciences and Disorders (CSD). The analysis shows a strong correlation between utilizing a therapy dog and the reduction of stress for college students. Further research and implementation should be done to determine the effectiveness of therapy dog interactions with college student and the …

Simulation-Based Training Improves Student Assessment Of Oral Feeding Skills In Preterm Infants, Courtney K. Broadfoot, Julie M. Estis

Teaching and Learning in Communication Sciences & Disorders

Advancements in medical technology have contributed to increased rates of preterm birth. Prematurity places infants at high risk for feeding difficulties, however. Early identification and assessment of preterm infant dysphagia is critical to maximize nutrition and hydration, feeding safety, and growth and development. The purpose of this study was to assess the ability of a simulation-based training toolto increase non-health care and entry-level clinical student sensitivity to signs of feeding distress in preterm infants. Data were collected from 60 students (20 masters-level Speech-Language Pathology, 20 undergraduate nursing, 20 undergraduate non-health care) in a pre-test/post-test design. All participants completed a …

Assessing Outcomes Of Simulation In Communication Sciences And Disorders, Erin S. Clinard

Teaching and Learning in Communication Sciences & Disorders

Assessment is an ongoing process that is necessary at every stage of designing, implementing, and evaluating simulation-based learning experiences (SBLEs). Designing and aligning a high-quality assessment process provides instructors and researchers with valuable data to understand if students have met the desired simulation learning objectives, where students are in their learning, and opportunities to enhance the SBLE. This reflection discusses the importance of assessing student learning outcomes as well as the effectiveness of all simulation-based learning experiences (SBLEs) in communication sciences and disorders (CSD). While the benefits and effectiveness of simulation have been demonstrated in other health professions, simulation research …

Developing An Acute Care Simulation Lab And Practicum, Erin Clark, Lori Lombard

Teaching and Learning in Communication Sciences & Disorders

The benefits of simulation-based education have been well-documented in health-related disciplines and are emerging in speech-language pathology. Several clinical training paradigms for acute care speech-language pathology skills have been successful when implemented in high fidelity, nursing simulation labs with price tags that are cost prohibitive for most speech-language pathology programs. Through funding support from a grant and a four-phased simulation development program, the authors developed an acute care simulation lab dedicated to speech-language pathology students for under $9,000 and simultaneously piloted a one-credit, acute care, adult- and geriatric-focused clinical practicum course. The clinical practicum was structured to scaffold student learning …

Standardized Patients In Communication Sciences And Disorders: Past, Present And Future Directions, Richard I. Zraick

Teaching and Learning in Communication Sciences & Disorders

Standardized patients (SPs) are increasingly being used with students in the field of communication sciences and disorders (CSD). The purpose of this paper is to describe the use of SPs with CSD students. Challenges to the clinical education of students are described, and a call is made to expand the use of SPs to facilitate student learning of clinical skills and to assess students’ clinical competency.

Comparing In Vivo Versus Simulation Training For Transnasal Endoscopy Skills, Laura L. Wolford, George W. Wolford

Teaching and Learning in Communication Sciences & Disorders

Fiberoptic endoscopic evaluations of swallowing (FEES) is as important of a swallowing evaluation as the videoflouroscopic swallow study, but far fewer speech-language pathologists are competent in its use (Ambika, Datta, Manjula, Warawantkar, & Thomas, 2019; Brady & Donzelli, 2013; Pisegna & Langmore, 2016). One hurdle in FEES training is the necessity of practicing transnasal endoscopy on volunteers. The primary aim of this study was to compare the learning effectiveness of practicing transnasal endoscopy via simulation with practice in vivo for a student’s first passes of the endoscope. The end goal of this study was to determine the most cost-effective and …

Feeding And Swallowing Development In Children, Lauren Kaiser, Taeok Park

Graduate Independent Studies - Communication Sciences and Disorders

The feeding and swallowing developments are involved in maturation of anatomy, food textures, and utensils. As children grow, the dependence of feeding moves to self-feeding. Understanding and educating individuals about feeding and swallowing development is critical. The knowledge of feeding and swallowing development can help parents support nutrition and growth in their children by learning timelines and normal feeding and swallowing expectations. This project is to provide clinical resources in order to assist in providing proper care for patients, recognizing signs demonstrating difficulty swallowing, and implementing appropriate self-feeding and consistency development timetables. Caregivers and clinicians will benefit from this information.

Using Think-Alouds To Uncover Expert-Novice Gaps In Aac Intervention Planning Skills, Allison M. Sauerwein, Jane R. Wegner

Teaching and Learning in Communication Sciences & Disorders

Because few studies have explored preservice speech-language pathologists’ (SLP’s) learning outcomes in augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) coursework and clinical practica, there is a need to investigate student learning in this area. This article represents a portion of a larger study that explored the expert-novice gap in planning for intervention with children who use AAC. The companion article reports clinical reasoning skills, whereas the present study revealed intervention planning skills. The methods are the consistent with those reported in the companion article. In summary, eight novice (i.e. preservice) SLPs and eight expert SLPs completed think-aloud tasks while they developed intervention …

Clinical Reasoning Skills In Aac Intervention Planning: Investigating The Expert-Novice Gap, Allison M. Sauerwein, Jane R. Wegner

Teaching and Learning in Communication Sciences & Disorders

Clinical reasoning skills underlie the decisions speech-language pathologists (SLPs) make during practice. Although clinical reasoning is included in speech-language pathology accreditation standards in the United States, there is limited research on preservice SLPs’ development or use of clinical reasoning skills. Because clinical reasoning skills specific to augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) service provision have not been identified or reported in depth, this qualitative study focused on two cases of children with developmental disabilities who used AAC systems. Eight novice (i.e. preservice) SLPs and eight expert SLPs completed think-aloud tasks while they developed intervention plans, which made their clinical reasoning skills …

Communication Sciences And Disorders Faculty Perceptions Of Interprofessional Education, Janine L. Schmedding-Bartley, Courtney Karasinski

Teaching and Learning in Communication Sciences & Disorders

Engagement in interprofessional collaborative practice is critical for communication disorders professionals to provide quality clinical services. Given limited research on implementation of interprofessional education (IPE) within communication disorders pre-professional training programs and research highlighting potential barriers to implementation of IPE, this investigation assessed communication sciences and disorders (CSD) faculty attitudes toward IPE. One hundred fifty-eight CSD faculty from accredited CSD graduate programs completed the Interprofessional Attitudes Scale (Norris, Carpenter, Eaton, Guo, Lassche, Pett, & Blumenthal, 2016). Collectively, the faculty supported CSD students learning from and with students from different disciplines and endorsed IPE as beneficial. Faculty with master’s degrees were …

The Impact Of Active Learning In A Speech-Language Pathology Swallowing And Dysphagia Course, Rebecca H. Affoo, Justin L. Bruner, Angela M. Dietsch, Ciara E. Nellenbach, Theresa M. Jones, Mark E. Lehman

Teaching and Learning in Communication Sciences & Disorders

The signature pedagogy in Speech-Language Pathology (SLP) higher education programs has been criticized for its instructor-centric lecture format and emphasis on the lower tiers of Bloom’s taxonomy (simply memorizing knowledge) at the expense of helping students develop the clinical problem-solving skills required for a lifetime of practice and learning. The purpose of this study was to examine the responses of a cohort of graduate speech-language pathology students to an active learning-oriented swallowing and dysphagia course design. A potential relationship between student perceptions of the active learning pedagogy and academic performance was also explored. The results suggest that active learning positively …

Guiding Students' Clinical Writing And Critical Thinking: Utilizing Scholarly Teaching To Develop And Implement A Clinical Writing Rubric, Bonnie Halvorson-Bourgeois, Mary Riotte, Susan Lambrecht Smith, Lesley Maxwell

Teaching and Learning in Communication Sciences & Disorders

The purpose of this paper is to describe the scholarly teaching approach used to develop, implement and refine a clinical writing rubric used to provide formative feedback to graduate students in an in-house Speech-Language Pathology graduate clinic. In addition to outlining the approach, details of the rubric and supporting documentation are provided.

Sound Exposure Characterization For Student Musicians: A Hearing Loss Prevention Initiative, Heather Maze, Antony Joseph

AuD Capstone Projects - Communication Sciences and Disorders

There is an increased risk for occupational and recreational noise induced hearing loss (NIHL) and tinnitus among those who are exposed to prolonged and elevated sound intensities. For musicians, education and hearing conservation programs are rarely accessible. The purpose of this project was to measure, quantify, and more clearly understand the exposure risk for student musicians. Dosimetry and area sound level data were used to evaluate the exposure levels of students in a university music department while they practiced in ensemble rooms and a concert performance hall. Sound maps were used to illustrate the most intense positions in each music-practice …

Sound Exposure Characterization For Faculty Musicians: A Hearing Loss Prevention Initiative, Hannah Mahon, Antony Joseph

AuD Capstone Projects - Communication Sciences and Disorders

The primary aim of this project was to characterize the sound exposure of faculty musicians at a university music department, specifically for hearing loss prevention purposes. Sound measurements were obtained as a major portion of the project to calculate the risk for over-exposure to hazardous sound intensities. Excessive sound exposure can cause permanent injury to the human auditory system. This type of injury is diagnostically classified as noise-induced hearing loss and tinnitus. To verify risk-exposure status, dosimeters were used to sample a variety of accessible musician training environments. Sound samples obtained from personal noise dosimetry instrumentation were used to obtain …

A Comparison Of Face-To-Face Versus Online Instruction In The Correct Pronunciation Of Anatomical Terms In Communication Sciences And Disorders. An Initial Investigation, Ann L. Cralidis, Shannon W. Salley

Teaching and Learning in Communication Sciences & Disorders

Accurate pronunciation of anatomical terms in the clinical practice of speech-language pathology (SLP) and audiology (AUD) enables a clinician to express and comprehend a conversation with peers and other professionals. It is also an important component of ensuring patient safety and in providing quality, patient-centered care. To date, no studies have explored whether differences may exist between the pronunciation skills of students who elect to complete a human anatomy and physiology course online versus in a face-to-face (FTF) format. This pilot study explored the ability of 98 undergraduate student participants to correctly pronounce 20 identical key terms that were a …