Communication Sciences and Disorders Commons^™

A Comparative Analysis Of The Expressive Acquisition Of Locative And Directional Prepositions Between Severely-To-Profoundly Hearing Impaired Children Utilizing Total Communication And The Oral/Aural Approach, Cathleen Pew Edwards

Dissertations and Theses

Prepositions are not only important in functional syntax; they also relate meanings associated with the concepts of place and time. Furthermore, prepositions are critical in such everyday activities as producing and comprehending directions, using maps and diagrams, and in the fields of mathematics and music. Inefficient use or misuse of prepositional spatial terms may hinder a child's progress in many areas. Expressive acquisition of function words, which include prepositions, has been described as significantly delayed in the hearing impaired populations.

The purpose of this study was to conduct a comparative preposition analysis between hearing impaired children using two different modes …

A Comparison Of The Time Taken To Administer And Analyze Phonologic And Phonetic Tests, Beverly Alexander

Dissertations and Theses

The purpose of this study was to determine if the time it takes to complete a phonological test was significantly different than the time it takes to complete a phonetic test. It was hoped this study would identify an instrument that the public school speech-language pathologist could use more effectively and efficiently to analyze phonologically-impaired children.

Frequency Responses Of Hearing Aids Coupled With Fm Auditory Trainers, Robert Bruce Morrison

Dissertations and Theses

This study examined the frequency response characteristics of three behind-the-ear hearing aids alone and in combination with three FM auditory trainers. The hearing aids and FM auditory trainers were coupled using two different methods: direct audio input and personal mini-loop. Also, two different gain control settings were used. Frequency responses were evaluated using a template method specified in ANSI S3.22 1982 standards. A larger percentage of the personal mini-loop combinations failed to meet this ANSI standard as compared to the direct audio input combinations (72.3% vs. 50%). The frequency response curves for various combinations of hearing aids and FM auditory …

The Interaction Of Stimulus Rate And Polarity Effects On The Auditory Brainstem Response, Michelle Ann Nielsen Ziegler

Dissertations and Theses

Research on the Auditory Brainstem Response (ABR) has been dominated by attempts to develop techniques to enhance the clarity of the ABR waveform and to define the parameters that separate normal from abnormal responses. While the effects of stimulus rate are clearly documented, the effects of stimulus polarity on the ABR are not. There may be an interaction of polarity and rate which accounts for the inconsistent results reported in the literature.

This study examined the effect of stimulus rate and polarity for waves I, III, and V, on the ABR latency, amplitude, and amplitude ratio. Rarefaction and condensation clicks …

Disfluencies In Normal Four-Year-Old Alaska Native And Caucasian Children, Annette Cameron O'Connell

Dissertations and Theses

The purpose of this study was to compare the frequency of occurrence of specific speech disfluencies in 4-year-old Alaska Native children to those of 4-year-old Caucasian children. Specifically, eight disfluency types were investigated: part-word repetition, word repetition, phrase repetition, interjection, revision-incomplete phrase, disrhythmic phonation, tense pause, and intrusive schwa. The questions addressed in the study were:

1. Do 4-year-old Alaska Native children exhibit a higher frequency of disfluencies than 4-year-old Caucasian children?
2. Do 4-year-old Alaska Native children exhibit a greater frequency of specific disfluencies, in terms of part-word repetition, word repetition, phrase repetition, interjection, revision-incomplete phrase, disrhythmic phonation, tense pause, or …

A Longitudinal Study Of The Disfluencies Of Four And Six Year Old Children, Mary B. Cox

Dissertations and Theses

Investigations into the speech of normal children have indicated that disfluencies are common. It is important for the Speech Language Pathologist to have knowledge of normal disfluencies for differential diagnosis, parent counseling, and in order to plan strategies for intervention.

The purpose of this study was to compare the frequency of disfluencies in 4 year old and 6 year old normal male children to the frequency of disfluencies when they were 3 years old and 5 years old, respectively.

One year later, eighteen of the twenty normal male children study used in a previous study were reevaluated in this. At …

A Longitudinal Study Of Disfluencies In The Speech Of Normal Preschool Children, Susan Marto Crowell

Dissertations and Theses

The process of differentially diagnosing a child who is experiencing temporary normal disfluency from one who is beginning to stutter could be made objective by the establishment of normative data on fluency development. To date, there are no standardized norms on the development of fluency in children. Current investigations have contributed greatly to expectations of certain types and amounts of disfluencies in preschool-age children. Most of the research, however, has focused on observing children at discrete age levels from 2- to 7-years-of-age. Only one longitudinal study to date has been reported. Additional longitudinal data of preschool-aged children would benefit the …

In Situ Measurements Of Two Amplified And One Acoustic Stethoscope, Sara Ruth Ann Oliver

Dissertations and Theses

This study investigated the following questions: 1) What is the spectra of human heart sounds when transmitted to the listener's ear through amplified and acoustic stethoscopes? 2) How does the acoustic spectrum of normal heart sounds compare to the threshold of audibility for normal hearing sensitivity? 3) Do normal hearing listeners elect to listen to heart sounds at a higher intensity than the acoustic stethoscope is able to transmit?

Naive Listener Judgments Of Esophageal Air Intake Noise Acceptability, Janet Gordon Daucsavage

Dissertations and Theses

The purpose of this study was to determine the judgments by naive listeners of the acceptability of esophageal air intake noise and compare those ratings to their judgments of overall esophageal speech proficiency. The primary question this study sought to answer was: Are naive listener judgments of overall esophageal speech proficiency significantly correlated with naive listener judgments of esophageal air intake noise acceptability? The secondary question asked was: Are naive listener acceptability judgments of air intake noise significantly correlated with sophisticated listener acceptability judgments of air intake noise?

The Use Of Auditory Brainstem Responses In Determining The Maximum Outputs Of Hearing Aids, Kathryn Jean Merry

Dissertations and Theses

Uncomfortable listening level (UCL) is a behavioral measure which is currently used to set the maximum outputs of hearing aids. This study explored the feasibility of prescribing the maximum outputs of hearing aids by using results obtained from auditory brainstern response (ABR) testing. More specifically, this study compared ABR wave latencies with behaviorally-measured UCLs for a single cycle 3 kHz stimulus in normal-hearing adults.

The Preparation And Involvement Of Oregon Speech-Language Pathologists In Dysphagia, Christine Marie Gaynor

Dissertations and Theses

The purpose of this study was to determine the amount, type, and content of training acquired by SLPs presently working in dysphagia management, as well as their level of involvement. A questionnaire was sent to 97 Oregon SLPs. Of these, 77 (80%) responded, and 52 met criteria. The resulting data indicated that SLPs involved with dysphagia work in a variety of settings, including hospitals, nursing homes, home health agencies, and private practice. Seventy-two percent of the subjects have been involved with dysphagia management for less than 10 years; 79% treated between 1 and 10 patients for dysphagia the month prior …

Types Of Phonological Processes Occurring In Normal Black English Speakers, Eileen Rella

Dissertations and Theses

Black English (BE) is a rule-governed linguistic system with its own phonology, syntax, semantics, and pragmatics. BE is a dialect, not a disordered variation of standard English (SE). When compared to SE, BE phonology has been described in terms of omissions, substitutions, and additions. This study looked at normal BE speakers in Portland, Oregon and described their dialectal differences in terms of phonological processes.

The Output Of Compression Hearing Aids With A Transient Input Signal, Michael Andrew Berg

Dissertations and Theses

The output characteristics of five compression hearing aids in response to a transient signal were examined to determine if, the input-output function (i.e. output levels of the hearing aid as a function of input level) for a transient signal could be made to approximate that of a continuous signal, by activating the compression circuit with a second signal (activator). Input-output functions for three input compression and two output compression hearing aids were obtained in order to determine if: 1. the automatic gain control (AGC) was activated by the second signal and the transient signal output approximates that of a continuous …

Normative Data On The Auditory Memory Test Battery For Ages 9 Through 13 Years, Elisabeth Y. Carter

Dissertations and Theses

Auditory short-term memory (STM) is important for speech and language development and for learning new information presented auditorily. Research has shown that auditory STM ability is of a developmental nature in the 5 through 8 year age range for a variety of auditory stimuli. Many tests and subtests are available to measure auditory STM ability, however one test, the Auditory Memory Test Battery (AMTB) measures auditory memory span and memory for sequence for 5 types of stimuli.

The purpose of this study was to collect normative data on the AMTB scores of normal 9 through 13 year old students and …

Speech Reception Via Bone Conduction, Sherry G. Morris

Dissertations and Theses

The purpose of this investigation was to determine if the performance-intensity function for spondees delivered via bone conduction (using the Radioear E-72 and Pracitronic KH-70) differed from the performance-intensity function for air conduction (using TDH-39 earphones). A secondary consideration addressed in this study was the comparison of the discrimination scores using the three transducers. Performance-intensity functions for spondee thresholds were calculated on 12 normal hearing subjects using two bone conduction vibrators, the Radioear B-72 and Pracitronic KH-70, and TDH-39 earphones. Results indicated that there was no significant difference between the performance-intensity function of speech via bone conduction as compared to …

Reading Comprehension In Dementia Of The Alzheimer's Type : Factual Versus Inferential, Donna Jensen Graville

Dissertations and Theses

The purpose of this study was to investigate the reading comprehension abilities of those with mild and moderate dementia of the Alzheimer's type (DAT) and compare their performance to that of a sample of non-demented elderly. Thirty-eight male subjects were used, 20 non-demented elderly, nine mild DAT and nine moderate DAT. All were administered level B of the NRST. This test contains questions requiring three levels of inference: literal, translational, and high-level inference.

Coverbal Behavior Of Aphasic And Right Hemisphere Damaged Subjects In Conversation, Jill Duvall

Dissertations and Theses

The frequency and duration of six coverbal behaviors were examined in two experimental groups and one control group. Conversational samples of ten aphasic subjects, ten right hemisphere damaged (RHD) subjects, and ten matched, non-brain damaged (NBD) control subjects were scored for frequency and duration of eye contact, head nod, head shake, head tilt, smile and eyebrow raise. Only the frequency of smile was found to differ significantly; the RHD subjects smiled less often than either of the other two groups.

An Investigation Of The Effect Of Using Varying Stimuli To Assess Normal Children's Comprehension Of Five Locative Prepositions, Kathleen G. Versteeg

Dissertations and Theses

A recurring concern in recent research appears to be the role that assessment variables play in accurately measuring children's knowledge and use of prepositions. Age and order of acquisition of prepositions has become a dynamic rather than static standard, as different ways of assessing prepositions also give different results. These researchers have investigated assessment variables such as context (picture, object, no context) and response (self actions, manipulating, pointing) in assessing normal children's understanding and use of prepositions. Most have considered these variables separately, but a few have contrasted a limited number of variables with significant results for some age groups. …

Communication And Socialization Profiles In Toddlers With Expressive Language Delay, Shawn Spangle-Looney

Dissertations and Theses

The purpose of this study was to compare expressive communication, receptive communication, and socialization achievement in 18- to 34-month-old ELD toddlers to the same skills in normally-speaking children. The questions this study sought to answer were, how do the three skill areas in ELD toddlers compare with the same skills in normal toddlers?, will ELD subjects evidence specific profiles of deficits involving not only expressive but receptive and social skills as well? and, within the ELD subjects will two subgroups emerge, one group having poor expressive skills only, and a second group having deficits in addition to expression.

A Comparison Of Three Methods For Measuring The Attenuation Provided By Insert-Type Hearing-Protective Devices, Lois Jeanne Gaier

Dissertations and Theses

To effectively implement an occupational hearing conservation program, employers must know the amount of attenuation (noise reduction) provided by the hearing protective devices used by their employees. Currently standardized test methods, performed under laboratory conditions, cannot be easily implemented in industrial settings, and previously proposed field methods have depended upon the use of special headphones which are not typically available in the workplace. These problems have led many occupational hearing conservationists to use standard audiometric headphones to evaluate the attenuation provided to employees using insert-type hearing-protective devices. There has, however, been little research into the validity of using standard audiometric …

A Study Of The Capability Of The Computerized Visi-Pitch When Investigating Prosodic Features Of Motherese, Denise Leslie Clemens

Dissertations and Theses

With commercial availability of non-real and real-time spectrum analyzers, the speech-language pathologist has the means to objectively extract and measure pitch taken from speech samples. Though both types of spectrum analyzers provide the clinician with viable methods of measuring fundamental frequency and frequency range values, pitch extraction using real time allows for greater efficiency in acoustic measurements. The Kay Elemetrics Visi-Pitch is one such real-time spectrum analyzer that is less expensive and more accessible than other real time speech science hardware. The purpose of this study was to investigate the capability of a computerized Visi-Pitch to reflect elevation of fundamental …

The Differential Role Of The Ssi With Normal Preschool Children, Caroline Joy Semler

Dissertations and Theses

The onset of stuttering usually occurs between two and six years which is the same time most children exhibit normal disfluencies often making it difficult to differentiate between normally disfluent children and incipient stutterers. Clinicians need information on the types and frequencies of disfluencies exhibited by normal preschool children in order to determine if a child is more likely to be an incipient stutterer or normally disfluent child. Some clinicians feel uncomfortable relying on past literature since there is a limited amount of information available and the studies have shown a considerable amount of variability in the types and frequencies …

Disfluencies In Normal Three-Year-Old And Five-Year-Old Male Children, Pamela Paguia Christianson

Dissertations and Theses

The purpose of this study was to compare the frequency of specific disfluencies in 3 year old and 5 year old normal male children in terms of part-word repetitions, word repetitions, phrase repetitions, interjections, revision-incomplete phrases, disrhythmic phonations and tense pauses. The disfluencies were observed while each child spontaneously interacted with an investigator in a clinical room. Two questions were addressed:

1. Do three-year-old male children exhibit a higher overall frequency of disfluencies than five-year-old male children?
2. Do three-year-old male children exhibit a greater frequency of certain disfluencies than five-year old male children?

A Comparison Of The Expressive Speech Of Profoundly Hearing-Impaired Children : "Hearing Aids On" Versus "Hearing Aids Off", James Allen Henry

Dissertations and Theses

This investigation was conducted to determine whether the removal of hearing aids from these children for eighteen hours (+ 1/2 hour and including sleep time) would result in reduced speech intelligibility as perceived by a panel of listening judges who were unfamiliar with the speech of the deaf.

Data On The Ppvt-R For Black Kindergarteners, Christy Gail Stocks

Dissertations and Theses

The purpose of this study was to obtain data from the PPVT-R scores of low and middle SES black kindergartners in the Portland area to determine if there is a difference between their scores and the scores reported in the PPVT-R. The primary question to be answered was do the scores of black kindergartners in Portland vary significantly dependent upon SES? The secondary questions this study sought to answer were: what are the means, standard deviations, and ranges of scores for black kindergartners in Portland and what are the means, standard deviations, and ranges for each two-month age group of …

Discontinuities In Normal 30 To 36 Month Old And 54 To 60 Month Old Female Children, Shelley Louise Arnold-Cockburn

Dissertations and Theses

The purpose of this study was to compare the frequency of occurrence of specific discontinuities in 30 to 36 month old normal female children to normal 54 to 60 month old female children. Specifically, the discontinuities were categorized as follows: part word repetitions, whole word repetitions, and false starts. The discontinuities were observed while the child spontaneously interacted with an investigator in a clinical room.

The following questions were addressed:

1. Do 30 to 36 month old normal female children differ in their total frequency of specific discontinuities when compared to normal 54 to 60 month old female children?
2. Do 30 …

Repetitions In The Speech Of Normal Two Year Old Males, Stephanie Herrick

Dissertations and Theses

Development of fluency has always been an important focus of stuttering research. However, to date there are no standardized norms on the development of fluency. Reliable and valid information regarding the normal development of fluency is necessary in order to deferentially diagnose normal disfluency from incipient stuttering. Establishment of norms for part-word repetitions is especially important since this type of disfluency has traditionally been considered an indicator of early stuttering. The present study sought to contribute to the investigation of the development of fluency by examining the frequency of occurrence of repetitions in 30- to 36-month-old males.

A Comparison Of Behavioral Problems Between Speech And/Or Language Impaired Children And Normal Children, Jeannie S. Botelho

Dissertations and Theses

The questions posed in this study were: 1) Is there a significant difference in the prevalence of behavioral problems between speech and/or language impaired children and normal children as reported by parents and teachers? and 2) Is there a significant difference in the types of behavioral problems between speech and/or language impaired children and normal children, as reported by parents and teachers?

The Effects Of Two Management Techniques On The Generalization Of A Syntax Structure, Karin Jeanne Goodling

Dissertations and Theses

The effectiveness of any language training program is determined by generalization of the clinically trained behaviors to spontaneous speech. Traditional language programs which employ operant procedures to establish the behavior in the clinic and reinforcement from family, teachers and peers in a variety of settings to obtain generalization, have been successful in establishing the use of grammatical rules in the clinic setting, but reportedly have failed to promote generalization. Recent literature in the areas of semantics and pragmatics has produced a trend toward teaching language in natural contexts. The purpose of this study was to investigate: 1) whether a group …

The Performance Of Reading Disabled 3rd To 6th Graders On The Token Test For Children, Jane J. Kihara

Dissertations and Theses

Many different versions of the original Token Test (De Renzi and Vignolo, 1962) have been available to speech language pathologists as a language assessment tool with various populations. The most recently adapted version of the Token Test is the Token Test for Children developed by DiSimoni (1978) as a measure to detect subtle receptive language abilities in children.

The purpose of this study was to determine ii a significant difference existed between reading disabled and normal readers on syntactic and memory abilities on the Token Test for Children and if a difference existed between reading disabled students in grades 3 …