Communication Sciences and Disorders Commons^™

Attitudes Of Speech-Language Pathology/Audiology Students Towards Noise In Youth Culture, Lillian Law

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

In order to increase the use of hearing conservation strategies among youth, it is important to identify which populations are most amenable to potential behavior change. The purpose of the present study was to compare attitudes towards noise between undergraduate speech-language pathology/audiology majors and other majors. Participants (N = 119) responded to a survey used to compare attitudes toward noise in the two groups, as well as their perceived ability to influence their sound environment. In addition, a correlational analysis was performed to determine if a relation exists between attitudes towards noise and attitudes towards influencing one's sound environment. Findings …

Speech Adaptation To Electropalatography In Children's Productions Of /S/ And /ʃ/, Marissa Celaya

Theses and Dissertations

Previous research has investigated adults' ability to adapt their speech when a electropalatographic (EPG) pseudopalate is placed in the oral cavity; however, less is known about how younger speakers who are continuing to develop their motor speech abilities might adapt their speech to the presence of the device. This study examined the effect of an EPG pseudopalate on elementary school-aged children's ability to produce the fricatives /s/ and /ƒ/. Audio recordings of six children were collected at eight time intervals including before placement of the pseudopalate, at 30-minute increments for two hours with the pseudopalate in place, immediately following removal …

The Salience And Perceptual Weight Of Secondary Acoustic Cues For Fricative Identification In Normal Hearing Adults, Derek Petti

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

The primary cue used by normal hearing individuals for identification of the fricatives /s/ and /ʃ/ is the most prominent spectrum of frication, which is discrete for this fricative contrast. Secondary cues that influence the identification and discrimination of these fricatives are context dependent. Specifically, the secondary cues that have been found to most significantly impact fricative perception include (a) the second formant transition onset and offset frequencies of a fricative-vowel pair, and (b) the amplitude of the spectral peak in the 2500Hz region of frication relative to an adjacent vowel’s peak amplitude in the same frequency region. However, the …

The Use Of Mobile Technology In The Treatment Of Prosodic Deficits In Autism Spectrum Disorders, Elizabeth Schoen Simmons, Rhea Paul, Frederick Shic

Communication Disorders Faculty Publications

Objectives: The purpose of this study is to assess the feasibility and preliminary utility of an application, SpeechPrompts, for iOS devices in the treatment of prosodic disorders in school-age children with ASD.

Effect Of Retrieval Practice On Applied Knowledge: Evidence From A Professional Training Program, Jenna Voss

Arts & Sciences Graduate Student Theses and Dissertations

A primary goal of deaf education teacher preparation programs is to help students acquire a sufficient body of factual and pedagogical knowledge and retain it for future application while serving children with hearing loss and their families. One potential way to improve teacher preparation is through the implementation of retrieval practice, a strategy to promote learning and retention of material over time. This study examined whether retrieval practice could be used to improve learning in an authentic educational environment, using real content, and real materials. While this study provided important information regarding the implementation of retrieval practice authentic classrooms, it …

Effects Of Eph/Ephrin Mutations On Pre Pulse Inhibition In Mice, Andrea Marie Liuzzo

Dissertations, 2014-2019

The acoustic startle response (ASR) is a reliable reflexive behavioral response in mammals elicited by an unexpected intense acoustic startle eliciting stimulus (SES). It is mediated by a sub-cortical pathway that includes the inferior colliculus (IC). The ASR amplitude can be measured with an accelerometer beneath the subject attached to the cage, and can be decreased in amplitude by presenting a less intense, non-startling stimulus 20-300 ms before the SES. This reflexive decrement in ASR is called pre pulse inhibition (PPI) and indicates that the relatively soft pre pulse was heard. Murine species have been used to study this response …

Effects Of Auditory And Visual Distracters On Acceptable Background Noise Level In Hearing-Impaired Listeners, Elizabeth A. Ripley

Dissertations, 2014-2019

Acceptable Noise Level (ANL), is an established procedure for determining the amount of background noise a listener is willing to accept while listening to speech. ANL is established by having the listener select most amount of background noise they are willing to accept while listening to a speech stimulus presented at their most comfortable listening level (MCL). While ANLs have been established as good predictors of hearing aid use, little is known on how hearing aid users accept background noise while engaged in cognitively demanding tasks. Previous research in normal hearing listeners has demonstrated that listeners will allow the most …

The Neural Representation And Behavioral Detection Of Frequency Modulation, Daniel Elliott Shearer

Dissertations, 2014-2019

Understanding a speech signal is reliant on the ability of the auditory system to accurately encode rapidly changing spectral and temporal cues over time. Evidence from behavioral studies in humans suggests that relatively poor temporal fine structure (TFS) encoding ability is correlated with poorer performance on speech understanding tasks in quiet and in noise. Electroencephalography, including measurement of the frequency-following response, has been used to assess the human central auditory nervous system’s ability to encode temporal patterns in steady-state and dynamic tonal stimuli and short syllables. To date, the FFR has been used to investigate the accuracy of phase-locked auditory …

The Electromagnetic Articulography Mandarin Accented English (Ema-Mae) Corpus Of Acoustic And 3d Articulatory Kinematic Data, Jeffrey J. Berry, An Ji, Michael T. Johnson

Speech Pathology and Audiology Faculty Research and Publications

There is a significant need for more comprehensive electromagnetic articulography (EMA) datasets that can provide matched acoustics and articulatory kinematic data with good spatial and temporal resolution. The Marquette University Electromagnetic Articulography Mandarin Accented English (EMA-MAE) corpus provides kinematic and acoustic data from 40 gender and dialect balanced speakers representing 20 Midwestern standard American English L1 speakers and 20 Mandarin Accented English (MAE) L2 speakers, half Beijing region dialect and half are Shanghai region dialect. Three dimensional EMA data were collected at a 400 Hz sampling rate using the NDI Wave system, with articulatory sensors on the midsagittal lips, lower …

Sensorimotor Adaptation Of Speech Using Real-Time Articulatory Resynthesis, Jeffrey J. Berry, Cassandra North, Michael T. Johnson

Speech Pathology and Audiology Faculty Research and Publications

Sensorimotor adaptation is an important focus in the study of motor learning for non-disordered speech, but has yet to be studied substantially for speech rehabilitation. Speech adaptation is typically elicited experimentally using LPC resynthesis to modify the sounds that a speaker hears himself producing. This method requires that the participant be able to produce a robust speech-acoustic signal and is therefore not well-suited for talkers with dysarthria. We have developed a novel technique using electromagnetic articulography (EMA) to drive an articulatory synthesizer. The acoustic output of the articulatory synthesizer can be perturbed experimentally to study auditory feedback effects on sensorimotor …

Affects Of Occupational Noise Exposure And Hearing Loss, Susan Taylor Smith

Rehabilitation, Human Resources and Communication Disorders Undergraduate Honors Theses

The purpose of this study was to investigate the local prevalence of ear protection worn by the facilities management personnel at the University of Arkansas while working with loud equipment. The facilities management personnel who work in noisy environments were observed and surveyed to determine the prevalence of the use of hearing protective devices while on the job. There were thirty nine participants that completed the questionnaire and nine workers were observed while working with loud equipment on the University of Arkansas campus. The results of this study, both observation and questionnaire, showed that only about 60% of individuals working …

Sign Language And Early Childhood Development, Ellen C. Donoghue

Rehabilitation, Human Resources and Communication Disorders Undergraduate Honors Theses

The purpose of this study is to determine the degree to which early childhood professionals from various occupations perceive early childhood language development to be impacted by Sign Language. Early childhood specialists, including teachers, and, speech-language pathologists were asked to participate in this study. Of those asked to participate 79 responses were collected. An electronic questionnaire that included demographic information as well as questions about the contribution of sign language to language development was constructed from the literature. A questionnaire was electronically distributed using Survey Monkey. Findings showed that these early childhood specialist agreed sign language can be beneficial to …

The Impact Of Digital And Physical Play On Early Childhood Development, Hannah B. Smith

Rehabilitation, Human Resources and Communication Disorders Undergraduate Honors Theses

This study explored the impact of technology on the play development of young children. Seven families with children between the ages of 18 and 36 months of age participated in the study. Four of the children were from homes that did not allow their children to handle and play with electronic devices, and three of the children from were from home that did allow such play. A brief developmental questionnaire was used to categorize the technology status of the home. The data collection consisted of 30-minute video recordings of each child playing with real objects followed by play with that …

Impact Of Siblings On Pragmatic Development In Children With Cochlear Implants, Caitlin R. Mcafee

Rehabilitation, Human Resources and Communication Disorders Undergraduate Honors Theses

The purpose of this study was to investigate the development of pragmatics in young children who have received cochlear implants (CI). There are limited studies that focus specifically on the pragmatic development of these children. This led to the questions of this study that focused on the development of early pragmatics and the possible role of older siblings on this development. Three children and their families participated in this study, one with bilateral cochlear implants, one with a unilateral implant, and one with hearing aids in both ears (who was a cochlear implant candidate). The child with bilateral cochlear implants …

Audio-Visual Speech Perception Training For A Child With Autism Spectrum Disorders: A Case Study, April Parkridge

Rehabilitation, Human Resources and Communication Disorders Undergraduate Honors Theses

Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) often have difficulty acquiring normal language skills, a deficit that may stem from an inability to integrate audiovisual (AV) information. Audiovisual information is important for language development and enhances language skills. When added to speech, visible facial movements are known to enhance speech perception in noisy environments, removing the equivalent of 20 decibels of auditory background noise. As such, AV integration is critical to the acquisition of an adequate vocabulary in natural, noisy environments. Due to weaker lip reading skills than typically developing children, it has been demonstrated that children with ASD are less …

The Differences In Spelling When Practice Utilizes A Word Processor Versus Writing By Hand; Parent Perceptions, Lauren E. Bleakley

Rehabilitation, Human Resources and Communication Disorders Undergraduate Honors Theses

The purpose of this study was to investigate parent perceptions about how their children become successful spellers by asking about digital and hand written practice alignment with test taking. Thirty parents of children from the primary grades of school (1st to 4th grade) were sought as participants. There was no control for the type of school (e.g. private versus public). The materials of the study included a brief questionnaire developed from the literature that ask demographic information (age, grade, etc.) and specifics about spelling homework, spelling tests in school, and perceived benefits of types of practice for spelling success. The …

The Impact Of Fluency On Word Choices And Functional Vocabulary In Children Who Stutter, Caillouet M. Clark

Rehabilitation, Human Resources and Communication Disorders Undergraduate Honors Theses

The purpose of this study is to determine if stuttering affects word selection and/or narrative word usage in school-age children. Ten school-aged children who are either active stutters or who have a history of stuttering will be sought as participants. A brief questionnaire will separate the participants into two groups, i.e. active vs. history of stuttering. Two vocabulary tests, one receptive and the other expressive, and a written and oral narrative will be used to gather data on word selection and usage. Each child will be seen individually for data collection. Audio recordings will be used throughout this collection and …

Spouse Perception Of Speech Therapy For Individual's With Parkinson's Disease, Emily Katherine Mclain

Rehabilitation, Human Resources and Communication Disorders Undergraduate Honors Theses

The purpose of this study was to investigate the spousal perceptions of a partner with Parkinson’s disease undergoing speech therapy versus a partner with Parkinson’s disease (PD) without any form of therapy. A case study approach was used to complete this research project. Two couples with one spouse in each of the couples having a diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease were sought through nomination as participants. The gender, age, and length of time since diagnosis were matched for the individual with PD. One of the couples will have been enrolled in speech therapy while the other couple will have not. A …

The Complexity Of Diagnosis For Co-Occurring Minor Speech, Language And Hearing Problems: Perception Of Parents, Bethany Anderson

Rehabilitation, Human Resources and Communication Disorders Undergraduate Honors Theses

The purpose of this study was to explore the understanding that parents have about the diagnostic process associated with co-occurring minor speech, language, and hearing problems in young children. The participants were 16 parents of young children between the ages of 2 and 5 years. The materials consisted of a questionnaire that delineated the diagnoses of the problem and referrals experienced by parents, which was electronically distributed by posting the link to social media sites. Results of the study indicate most parents reported only single issues such as ear infections or differences in oral structures/functions. Only 5 respondents indicated that …

Private Practice In Speech Language Pathology And Audiology: Experience, Preparation And Confidence Levels Of Practicing Professionals, Mary Kate Fortson

Rehabilitation, Human Resources and Communication Disorders Undergraduate Honors Theses

The purpose of this study is to focus specifically on private practice in speech-language pathology by exploring the relationship between educational preparations and running a successful business that is also personally rewarding. Fifty speech-language pathologists and audiologists working in private practices will be given a questionnaire developed from the literature review. The questionnaire will include variables such as education, experience, and background as well as items specific to private practice. The questionnaire link will be sent to the Academy of Private Practitioners in Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology and current private practitioners across the state of Arkansas. Participants will complete the …

Parent Perceptions Of The Relationship Between Pacifier Use, Thumb Sucking And Speech Production, Kelsey Elizabeth Wendt

Rehabilitation, Human Resources and Communication Disorders Undergraduate Honors Theses

The purpose of this study is to investigate the perceptions of parents about the relationship between speech production and the usage of pacifiers and thumb sucking. One hundred and twenty five participants with children below the age of ten completed a digital questionnaire sent out through social media. The results revealed that the parents who let their child use a pacifier or suck their thumb use a variety of sources to gain information and form opinions about this. These ranged from print materials to website to friends and family. Pacifier use was more frequent than thumb sucking. Most parents did …

Media Framing Of Yusuf Islam’S An Other Cup: Music, Religion, And Narrative Construction, Joshua Hamburg

Honors Capstones

No abstract provided.

Eeg Measurement Of Neural Oscillations At High And Low Frequencies Across Languages, Lauren Nicole Stewart

Health, Human Performance and Recreation Undergraduate Honors Theses

The comprehension and understanding of language depends upon two critical things: first, the acoustic integrity of the linguistic signal that is sent and received as well as the knowledge of the phonology and meaning that is in a given language. However, little is known about how brain rhythms that track these properties involved in comprehension and understanding. A 14 channel telemetric headset measuring electroencephalography (EEG) was used in this study to track the brain’s response at both high (30-50Hz) and low frequencies (3-30Hz) while language samples at varying levels of intelligibility were presented to a native Spanish speaker under the …

Auditory Versus Cursive Writing Drills In Learning New Vocabulary In 4th Grade Children, Rachel S. Tyrone

Honors Theses

Vocabulary acquisition is fundamental in order for children to succeed not only academically, but also socially. Throughout the years, many scholars have researched various techniques to aid children in learning new vocabulary. Two of the techniques to aid vocabulary can be seen by utilizing an auditory and a writing technique. A teacher will present the students with several vocabulary words multiple times throughout a regular school year. These words are vital to the success of the child. Consequently, there is a need to discover a technique that will aid the students in learning the new vocabulary words. In order to …

“Birth Order’S Effect On Language Delay Detection In Young Children”, Victoria C. Souhlas

Honors Theses

In the field of Speech-Language Pathology, research has shown that the earlier a child is diagnosed with a speech and language disorder, the better the prognosis is for a favorable therapy outcome (Carroll, Bowyer-Crane, Duff, Hulme, Snowling, 2011). This researcher concentrated on how the birth order of a child can affect the prognosis of a speech and language delay. For this study, the goal was to collect quantitative data in order to view the extent of the correlation between birth order and the age of diagnosis. A sample population was found at the DuBard School of Language Disorders at the …

The Comparison Of The Effectiveness Of Using A Traditional Approach To Speech Therapy To Using A Traditional Approach To Speech Therapy Plus Non-Speech Oral Motor Exercises In Children With Articulation Disorders, Alanna D. Buckley

Honors Theses

This study focuses on an area of debate in the field of Speech-Language Pathology with little prior research on the topic. The thesis considers the use of non-speech oral motor exercises in children with Articulation Disorders. Understanding the reasoning behind the use of these exercises as well as the reasons that cause the exercises to be controversial are discussed. Data is collected from four clients at the University of Southern Mississippi Speech and Hearing Clinic. All four clients have Articulation Disorders; non-speech oral motor exercises are used in therapy with two of the clients in addition to a Traditional Approach …

Language Skills, Oral Narrative Production, And Executive Functions Of Children Who Are Deaf Or Hard Of Hearing, Hyejin Park

Theses and Dissertations (ETD)

This study assessed the language skills, oral narrative abilities, and executive functions (EFs) of children who are deaf or hard of hearing (DHH) and normal hearing (NH), and examined the differences between two groups as well as the relationships between oral narrative production and EFs.

Eleven children who are DHH and ten who are NH, between 9 and 11 years of age, participated in the study. All of the children in the DHH group had bilateral hearing losses ranging from moderate through profound, and had no other diagnosed social, emotional or intellectual problems. All had more than 4 years 10 …

Assessment Of Morphosyntactic Development Of Preschool Children With Hearing Loss Using The Clinical Evaluation Of Language Fundamentals-Preschool Second Edition, Angela Anderson

All Graduate Plan B and other Reports, Spring 1920 to Spring 2023

It is recommended that children with HL are assessed using standardized assessments normed on hearing peers (Houston & Caraway, 2009; Joint Commission on Infant Hearing (JCIH), 2007). However, as these assessments are more commonly administered to children with HL there is reason to further investigate the sensitivity of these assessments particularly in their ability to identify weaknesses specific to HL. The CELF-Preschool 2 (Clinical Evaluation of Language Fundamentals – Preschool (Wiig, Secord & Semel, 2004)) has been found to be a valid tool for diagnosing language impairment in normal hearing children (Spaulding, Plante, & Farinella, 2006). However, this assessment has …

April 30, 2014, Communication Disorders & Sciences

Faculty Meeting Minutes & Agendas

Meeting minutes of the April 30, 2014 Faculty Committee meeting.

Art And Aphasia: A Literary Review And Exhibition, Jessica Parrish

Honors Theses

My honors thesis explores aphasia, my primary topic of interest, through procedures spanning both of my degrees. Communication makes interaction possible for exchanging ideas, feelings, concepts, and events. Aphasia, an acquired disorder, impacts language areas that are responsible for expression, comprehension, literacy, and symbolic understanding. Aphasia interrupts the mental process responsible for converting thought to language. Literature involving both traditional speech and art therapy is discussed. Once the aphasia disorder type is assessed, a speech language pathologist designs a therapy plan. Art, which has been used in therapy and research for rehabilitation, shares a connection with language and symbolic thought. …