Communication Sciences and Disorders Commons^™

Aura: An Ai-Powered Multimodal Prototype For Adaptive Apraxia Of Speech Therapy And Communication Support, Omotayo Omoyemi, Rachel K. Johnson

Speech-Language Pathology Faculty Publications

Apraxia of Speech (AOS) is a motor speech disorder that significantly limits communication and requires intensive, long-term therapy. Access to consistent treatment is often constrained by shortages of speech-language pathologists, high costs, and limited opportunities for continuous monitoring outside clinical settings. Recent advances in Artificial Intelligence (AI) provide new opportunities to support scalable and personalized speech therapy.

This paper presents AURA (Adaptive Understanding and Relearning Assistant for Apraxia), a multimodal AI framework designed to support speech therapy, progress monitoring, and communication for individuals with AOS. The system integrates speech analysis, machine learning–based error detection, reinforcement learning for adaptive therapy, and …

A Review Of Replications Over 88 Years Of The American Speech-Language Hearing Association Journal Publications, Andrea L.B. Ford, Jessica S. Riccardi, Austin Thompson, Helen L. Long, James C. Borders, Scott R. Schroeder, Alisa Baron, Mariam El Amin, Danika L. Pfeiffer

Speech-Language Pathology Faculty Publications

Purpose: This review aimed to determine the prevalence of replication studies in the field of Communication Sciences and Disorders and examine longitudinal changes in this prevalence across American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) journals from 1936 to 2024. It is a conceptual replication of Cook and colleagues' review of replications in special education journals.

Method: Our data source comprised 17,843 journal articles published in seven ASHA peer-reviewed journals between 1936 and 2024. We identified 3,903 articles, excluding duplicates, that had at least one instance of replicat*. Two research team members screened articles independently, and then one research team member coded each article, …

Accelerometer-Measured Physical Activity Among Children And Adolescents With And Without Neurodevelopmental Disorders: A Systematic Review And Meta-Analysis, Xiao Liang, Raffy C.F. Chan, Justin A. Haegele, Sean Healy, Richard H. Xu, Chang Liu, Ming Chen, Minghui Li, Hui Zhang, Cindy H.P. Sit, David H.K. Shum

Human Movement Studies & Special Education Faculty Publications

Purpose

Physical inactivity is a health concern for children and adolescents with neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs) as it directly increases their risk of developing various health problems. Evidence on differences in accelerometer-assessed physical activity between children and adolescents with and without NDDs is inconclusive. And age- and body mass index (BMI)-related effects on physical activity remain unclear.

Methods

The systematic literature searches were performed in 6 databases up to March 2025. Methodological quality was evaluated by the Newcastle-Ottawa Scales. Data were pooled using a random-effects model. Hedges' g was used to express the effect size index with 95 % confidence interval …

Millennial And Gen-Z Experiences In Healthcare And Education In The Us, Zabia Evans, Anastasia Raymer, Beverly Khabo

Graduate Student Government Association Research Conference

In the United States, healthcare and educational institutions have a deep-rooted history of discrimination based on race, ethnicity, and other demographic factors, resulting in unequal access to services and mistreatment of minority populations. This history extends to the field of speech-language pathology, with disparities in service being cited in the literature due to lack of clinician knowledge, non-diverse standardized testing measures, lack of resources and support, among other factors. Policies and legislation in recent decades have attempted to address these serious issues. This survey research investigates the childhood healthcare and educational experiences of individuals born during or after 1981, focusing …

76 - Cochlear Implant Candidacy In Adults: Evidence From Systematic Reviews, Madison Hastain, Stacie Raymer

Undergraduate Research Symposium

This poster provides recommendations for cochlear implant candidacy in adults based on data collected from several systematic reviews, along with information regarding the efficacy of cochlear implants in adults with varied types of hearing loss.

Practice Patterns In Pediatric And Adult Dysphagia: Implications For Clinical Training, Jane Grothaus, Kaitlyn Hill, Marlee Nebesniak, Anastasia Raymer

Speech-Language Pathology Faculty Publications

Objective: Most speech language pathologists (SLPs) receive training to work with patients with swallowing disorders in graduate school, focusing primarily on adult dysphagia. Although SLPs share common foundational knowledge and skills for adult and pediatric dysphagia populations, there are considerable differences in these two specialized areas of practice. We aimed to query SLPs’ practice patterns for dysphagia assessment and management for adults and pediatric populations to consider differences and guide training efforts.

Methods: We distributed two comprehensive anonymous surveys to explore practice patterns of SLPs who provide assessment and management of dysphagia for adult or pediatric populations. The 118 respondents, …

An Observational Study Of Discourse Tasks And Running Speech Sampling In The Assessment Of Paediatric Voice Quality, Victoria Reynolds, Kristin Scavo-Smith, Kate Oteng-Bediako, Sophie Scanlon

Speech-Language Pathology Faculty Publications

Introduction

Running speech sampling is an essential component of a paediatric voice evaluation, in that it should provide the examiner with a representative vocal sample of the child's everyday voice use outside of the clinic setting. Current speech sampling practices, consisting of reading tasks, informal conversation sampling and the voice question ('Tell me about your voice problem'), may not elicit consistent samples or samples of sufficient length to allow the examiner to make a reliable and valid judgement about vocal quality. The aim of this study is to compare the voice quality of children produced in response to existing running …

Revealing Spatiotemporal Neural Activation Patterns In Electrocorticography Recordings Of Human Speech Production By Mutual Information, Julio Kovacs, Dean Krusienski, Minu Maninder, Willy Wriggers

Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering Faculty Publications

Background

Spatiotemporal mapping of neural activity during continuous speech production has been traditionally approached using correlation coefficient (CC) analysis between cortical signals and speech recordings. A prior study employed this approach using electrocorticography (ECoG) data from participants who underwent invasive intracranial monitoring for epilepsy. However, CC cannot detect nonlinear relationships and is dominated by the correspondence between periods of silence and of non-silence.

New Method

We introduce the mutual information (MI) measure, which can capture both linear and nonlinear dependencies. We validated CC and MI on the sub-second spatiotemporal brain activity recorded during continuous speech tasks. To refine the results, …

Autistic Young Adults' Experiences And Recommendations For Strength Training, Ashlyn Barry, Justin A. Haegele, Daniel Schaefer, Kristen A. Pickett, Luis Columna

Human Movement Studies & Special Education Faculty Publications

Strength training can be a beneficial form of physical activity (PA), but little research has examined how autistic individuals experience it or what makes programs accessible and supportive. Therefore, the purpose of this study was twofold: (1) to explore autistic young adults’ experiences with strength training, and (2) examine their recommendations for designing programs that meet their needs. Thirteen autistic young adults (ages 22–25) participated in semi-structured interviews about their strength training experiences and preferences for program design. A qualitative descriptive approach with a constructivist lens guided reflexive analysis. Participants described key factors that influenced their participation in strength training, …

Physical Activity For Anxiety For Autistic People: A Systematic Review, Kathryn Riis, Brittany Samulski, Kristina A. Neely, Patricia Laverdure

Rehabilitation Sciences Faculty Publications

Clinical anxiety is a common comorbidity in autistic people. Due to the prevalence of anxiety in the autism population and the adverse effects it causes, there is a critical need to develop effective interventions which address anxiety symptoms for autistic people. Therefore, the purpose of this systematic review was to examine the effectiveness of the use of physical activity as an intervention to reduce anxiety in autistic people. Three databases PubMed, PsychInfo, and Cochrane RCTs, were searched utilizing key terms. PRISMA systematic search procedures identified 44 studies meeting predetermined inclusion criteria. Participant characteristics, the type of physical activity performed, the …

A Global Comparison Of Communication Intervention Strategies For Justice-Involved Youth, Sophia Janeiro Martinez

OUR Journal: ODU Undergraduate Research Journal

Purpose: This paper explores the intricate relationship between communication disorders and delinquent youth behavior. It will explore the detrimental impact of zero-tolerance policies and their contribution to the school-to-prison pipeline. It will introduce issues, such as complex Miranda warning diction, and the benefits of including speech-language pathologists (SLPs) to aid in youth comprehension. Additionally, it will propose the integration of SLPs within the juvenile justice system to assist in communication between justice-involved youth (JIY) and justice professionals during conversations, questioning, and trials or hearings. Furthermore, this paper examines the roles of SLPs within juvenile justice systems abroad, including Canada, …

Global Strategies For Addressing Communication Disorders In Justice-Involved Youth, Sophia Martinez, Anne Marie Perrotti, Brooke Baker, Allison Chappell

Undergraduate Research Symposium

Throughout all stages of processing, most juveniles who encounter the justice system demonstrate cognitive-communicative difficulties (CCDs). Empirical evidence reveals that 19-22% of female and 28-38% of male youth offenders, culminating in approximately 50-60% of youth offenders, demonstrate language disorders that require intervention, but most have never received services (Snow et al., 2014; Winstanley et al., 2021). Speech-language pathologists (SLPs) are communication experts certified to assess and treat CCDs. While nations abroad recognize the value of SLP involvement in all stages of processing for justice-involved youth (JIY), America lags in utilizing SLPs to improve JIY outcomes and lower youth's risk of …

1-800-Help-Me-With-Open-Science-Stuff: A Qualitative Examination Of Open Science Practices In Communication Sciences And Disorders, Danika Pfeiffer, Austin Thompson, Brittany Ciullo, Micha E. Hirsch, M. El Amin, Andrea Ford, Jessica Salley Riccardi, Elaine Kearney

Speech-Language Pathology Faculty Publications

Purpose: The purpose of this qualitative study was to examine the perceptions of communication sciences and disorders (CSD) assistant professors in the United States related to barriers and facilitators to engaging in open science (OS) practices and identify opportunities for improving OS training and support in the field.

Method: Thirty-five assistant professors (16 from very high research activity (R1) institutions, 19 from institutions with other Carnegie classifications) participated in one 1-hour virtual focus group conducted via Zoom recording technology. The researchers used a conventional content analysis approach to analyze the focus group data and develop categories from the discussions.

Results: …

Diagnostic Certainty During In-Person And Telehealth Autism Evaluations, Natasha N. Ludwig, Calliope Holingue, Ji Su Hong, Luther G. Kalb, Danika Pfeiffer, Rachel Reetzke, Deepa Menon

Speech-Language Pathology Faculty Publications

Background

Many diagnostic evaluations abruptly shifted to telehealth during the COVID-19 pandemic; however, little is known about the impact on diagnosis patterns for children evaluated for autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The purpose of this clinical research study was to examine (1) the frequency of diagnoses evaluated beyond ASD; (2) the frequency of diagnoses made, including ASD; and (3) clinician diagnostic certainty for all diagnoses evaluated for children who received an evaluation due to primary concerns about ASD via telehealth during the pandemic compared to those evaluated in person before the pandemic at an ASD specialty clinic.

Methods

The sample included …

Caregivers' Perceptions Of Covid-19 Educational Disruptions On Children With Developmental Language Disorder And Typically Developing Peers, Katherine Radville, Danika Pfeiffer, Karynn Sheranian, Julie Wolter, Jessie Ricketts, Tiffany L. Hogan

Communication Disorders & Special Education Faculty Publications

Purpose: Understanding the experiences of families of children with developmental language disorder (DLD) during COVID-19 educational disruptions is essential for designing responsive supports during pandemic recovery efforts and beyond. This qualitative study describes the experiences of families of first-and second-grade children with DLD during the pandemic as compared to the experiences of families of typically developing (TD) peers.

Method: A conventional content analysis approach was used to analyze caregivers’ written responses to open-ended questions regarding their perceptions of COVID-19 educational disruptions. Responses were analyzed separately by group: caregivers of children with DLD (n= 23) and caregivers of TD children (n= …

Parent-Child Interaction Therapy For Children With Disruptive Behaviors And Autism: A Randomized Clinical Trial, Korrie Allen, John Harrington, Lauren B. Quetsch, Joshua Masse, Cathy Cooke, James F. Paulson

Psychology Faculty Publications

A relatively large number of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) exhibit disruptive behavioral problems. While accumulating data have shown behavioral parent training programs to be efficacious in reducing disruptive behaviors for this population, there is a dearth of literature examining the impact of such programs across the range of ASD severity. To evaluate the effectiveness of Parent–Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT), an evidence-based treatment for children with problem behaviors and their families, in reducing disruptive behaviors among children (4–10 years) with ASD (without intellectual disabilities). Fifty-five children (85.5% male, 7.15 years; SD 1.72) were enrolled from pediatric offices and educational …

Enhancing Nonverbal Communication Through Virtual Human Technology: Protocol For A Mixed Methods Study, Analay Perez, Michael D. Fetters, John W. Creswell, Mark Scerbo, Frederick W. Kron, Richard Gonzalez, Lawrence An, Masahito Jimbo, Predrag Klasnja, Timothy C. Guetterman

Psychology Faculty Publications

Background: Communication is a critical component of the patient-provider relationship; however, limited research exists on the role of nonverbal communication. Virtual human training is an informatics-based educational strategy that offers various benefits in communication skill training directed at providers. Recent informatics-based interventions aimed at improving communication have mainly focused on verbal communication, yet research is needed to better understand how virtual humans can improve verbal and nonverbal communication and further elucidate the patient-provider dyad.

Objective: The purpose of this study is to enhance a conceptual model that incorporates technology to examine verbal and nonverbal components of communication and develop a …

Age-Related Differences In Accelerometer-Assessed Physical Activity And Sleep Parameters Among Children And Adolescents With And Without Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Meta-Analysis, Xiao Liang, Justin A. Haegele, Sean Healy, Andy Choi-Yeung Tse, Hui Qiu, Shi Zhao, Chunxiao Li

Human Movement Studies & Special Education Faculty Publications

Importance: Physical inactivity and sleep disorders are health-related concerns of youth with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) that can persist from childhood and exacerbate core symptoms. However, evidence on group differences in accelerometer-assessed physical activity and sleep parameters among youth with and without ASD is inconclusive and age-specific effects remain unclear.

Objective: To synthesize evidence on group differences in accelerometer-assessed physical activity and sleep parameters and examine the moderating effects of age between children and adolescents with and without ASD.

Data Sources: American Psychological Association PsychInfo, CINAHL Ultimate, ERIC, MEDLINE, SPORTDiscus with Full Text, and Web of Science from inception to …

Feasibility And Reliability Of Health-Related Physical Fitness Tests In Children And Adolescents With Hearing Impairment, Jiafu Huang, Jianmei Yang, Justin A. Haegele, Lijuan Wang, Sitong Chen, Chunxiao Li

Human Movement Studies & Special Education Faculty Publications

Although research supports the feasibility and reliability of health-related physical fitness (HRPF) tests in typically developing children and adolescents, little is known regarding the feasibility and reliability of these tests for those with hearing impairments (HI). The aim of this study was to evaluate the feasibility and reliability of a HRPF test battery for children and adolescents with HI. A test–retest design with a one-week interval was conducted with 26 participants with HI (mean age: 12.7 ± 2.8 years; 9 male). The feasibility and reliability of seven field-based HRPF tests (i.e., body mass index, grip strength, standing long jump, vital …

Exploring Correlates Of Student Preferences For Virtual Or In-Class Learning Among Neurodiverse Adolescents Using A Single-Case Design Methodology, Taryn A. Myers, John D. Ball, Mindy Gumpert, Mary Roberts

Human Movement Studies & Special Education Faculty Publications

The purpose of the current study is to explore several correlates of adolescent students’ preferences for at-home virtual or in-class in-person learning in a single case of a school that serves students with learning differences. Correlates of interest were the Big Five personality traits (Openness to Experience, Conscientiousness, Extroversion, Agreeableness, Neuroticism) and the students’ self-reported learning engagement. Participants were recruited from a single independent school for students with neurodiversity and special learning needs, where they had high exposure to computer-/internet-assisted learning. Twenty-seven students responded to questionnaires measuring preferred learning modes, personality traits, and learning engagement. Despite teacher reports …

Improving Caregiver Implementation Of Communication Supports For Young Children With Autism, Heather Coleman, Selena J. Layden, Lynda Gayle Horner

Communication Disorders & Special Education Faculty Publications

The use of evidence-based practices (EBPs) in the child's natural setting is critical for young children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) to improve communication skills and promote generalization. Yet, to implement EBPs effectively, caregivers often require training. The purpose of this study is to explore the efficacy of behavior skills training (BST) to teach a caregiver to implement a parent-implemented discrete trial training (DTT) intervention in their home. Using a multiple baseline design, one caregiver was taught to implement the intervention focused on three verbal behavior operants. Results demonstrated a functional relation between the BST and caregiver implementation. This study …

Investigating The Quality Of Life For Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder Scale Using Rasch Methodology, Laura C. Chezan, Jin Liu, Ruiqin Gao, Erik Drasgow

Communication Disorders & Special Education Faculty Publications

Our purpose in this study was to provide additional psychometric evidence of the Quality of Life for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (QOLASD-C) scale. We used Rasch modeling to investigate the QOLASD-C functioning, the characteristics of the items comprising the scale, and the item functioning across subgroups of children with ASD based on gender and race/ethnicity. Results showed that QOLASD-C was unidimensional, met the local independence assumption, and measured quality of life (QOL). The items showed excellent fit to the model and good discriminating ability between low and high QOL. Most items showed a moderate difficulty level. No differential item …

Let's Count The Ways We Can Utilize Technology To Improve Instructional Practices For Individuals With Autism, Heather Coleman, Annemarie L. Horn, Selena J. Layden, Christian Coogle

Human Movement Studies & Special Education Faculty Publications

To maximize instruction and learning outcomes, it is essential that educators and family members who support individuals with autism have adequate training and support required to implement evidence-based practices (EBPs) with fidelity. Research shows various coaching methods, including self-coaching and classroom-based feedback, yield positive outcomes in terms of increasing practical application and sustained use of EBPs. With the growing prevalence of autism, it is essential to find effective coaching methods that can be utilized equitably across geographic locations and learning environments. Fortunately, technology affords educators and others the opportunity to receive quality coaching and feedback without facing traditional barriers (e.g., …

Comparison Of Machine Learning Methods For Classification Of Alexithymia In Individuals With And Without Autism From Eye-Tracking Data, Furkan Iigin, Megan A. Witherow, Khan M. Iftekharuddin

Electrical & Computer Engineering Faculty Publications

Alexithymia describes a psychological state where individuals struggle with feeling and expressing their emotions. Individuals with alexithymia may also have a more difficult time understanding the emotions of others and may express atypical attention to the eyes when recognizing emotions. This is known to affect individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) differently than neurotypical (NT) individuals. Using a public data set of eye-tracking data from seventy individuals with and without autism who have been assessed for alexithymia, we train multiple traditional machine learning models for alexithymia classification including support vector machines, logistic regression, decision trees, random forest, and multilayer perceptron. …

Effects Of Teacher-Delivered Ecoaching On Paraeducators And Students With Autism Spectrum Disorder, Annemarie L. Horn, Marcia L. Rock, Karen H. Douglas, Kimberly M. Bean, Selena J. Layden, Jane Roitsch

Communication Disorders & Special Education Faculty Publications

Paraeducators often support students with the most intensive academic, life, and behavioral needs, which includes students with intellectual and other developmental disabilities (IDD; e.g., autism spectrum disorder; ASD), yet they typically enter the classroom with inadequate preparation to perform their roles effectively. Using a multiple-baseline research design replicated across participants, we evaluated the effects of job-embedded bug-in-ear (BIE) coaching delivered by the teacher on paraeducators’ use of behavior specific praise (BSP) while teaching transition-age students with ASD. Findings confirmed each of the three paraeducators immediately increased the percentage of occurrence and rate per minute in which they offered BSP. They …

School Provided Speech-Language Therapy Plans Amid The Coronavirus Pandemic And Correlating Provider Attitudes, Zabia Evans

OUR Journal: ODU Undergraduate Research Journal

As the Coronavirus pandemic continues to be a threat for those of all ages, schools were a main concern when discussing how we should attempt to return to our “normal” lives. A considerable amount of speech therapy is done in schools, and speech-language pathologists nationwide are also being impacted by the changes during this school year. This research examined many aspects of providing speech therapy during the 2020-2021 school year, beginning with introductory statistics concerning the number of children participating in each session, the instruction styles, and grade levels taught. Respondents answered a set of questions concerning their attitudes towards …

Administrators' Roles In The Use And Training Of Evidence-Based Practices For Students With Autism Spectrum Disorder, Selena J. Layden, Ann S. Maydosz, Teresa G. Crowson, Annemarie L. Horn, Amanda Faye Working

Communication Disorders & Special Education Faculty Publications

Federal mandates require special education teachers to use instructional practices grounded in scientific research. Accordingly, the National Professional Development Center on Autism Spectrum Disorder (NPDC) identified 27 evidence-based practices specific to teaching students with autism spectrum disorder (ASD; Wong et al., 2014). Though these practices have undergone a rigorous identification process, less is known about the level of training and confidence in implementation of these instructional practices by education professionals who work with students with ASD. Our study assessed education professionals' (including administrators, teachers, and related services personnel) ratings of their level of training, confidence in implementation, and frequency of …

Profiles And Correlates Of Language And Social Communication Differences Among Young Autistic Children, Rachel Reetzke, Vini Singh, Ji Su Hong, Calliope B. Holingue, Luther G. Kalb, Natasha N. Ludwig, Deepa Menon, Danika L. Pfeiffer, Rebecca J. Landa

Communication Disorders & Special Education Faculty Publications

Delays in early language development are characteristic of young autistic children, and one of the most recognizable first concerns that motivate parents to seek a diagnostic evaluation for their child. Although early language abilities are one of the strongest predictors of long-term outcomes, there is still much to be understood about the role of language impairment in the heterogeneous phenotypic presentation of autism. Using a personcentered, Latent Profile Analysis, we first aimed to identify distinct patterns of language and social communication ability in a clinic-based sample of 498 autistic children, ranging in age from 18 to 60 months (M = …

Conversation As An Outcome Of Aphasia Treatment: A Systematic Scoping Review, Jamie H. Azios, Brent Archer, Nina Simmons-Mackie, Anastasia Raymer, Marcella Carragher, Shriya Shashikanth, Eleanor Gulick

Communication Disorders & Special Education Faculty Publications

PURPOSE: Conversation-focused speech-language pathology services are a top priority for people living with aphasia, but little is known about how researchers measure conversation as an outcome of treatment. This scoping review was undertaken to systematically review the evidence regarding the measurement of conversation in aphasia studies and to identify current practices and existing gaps.

METHOD: A systematic literature search was conducted for studies published between January 1995 and September 2019 in multiple electronic databases. Covidence software was used to manage search results, study selection, and data charting processes. Data were extracted from each study and then collated and organized to …

Identification Of Opportunity Barriers And Supports For Individuals Using Augmentative And Alternative Communication (Aac) And Stakeholders, Meredith K. Gohsman

Rehabilitation Sciences Theses & Dissertations

Individuals using augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) are supported by many AAC stakeholders and communication partners. Clinical decision making and AAC assessment models consider the capabilities and access needs of the individual using AAC, as well as opportunity barriers and supports imposed by communication partners and environments. The purpose of this research was to investigate opportunity barriers and supports identified by two critical AAC stakeholders: speechlanguage pathologists and caregivers. The first study investigated characteristics of AAC service provision reported by post-professional speech-language pathologists. Speech-language pathologists reported lack of perceived knowledge related to AAC service delivery, inconsistent use of AAC modalities, …