The Role Of Working Memory And Linguistic Knowledge On Language Performance, Theresa Ai Vy Pham

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

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The language system is highly flexible and draws on distinct but interconnected cognitive mechanisms, including verbal working memory and long-term linguistic knowledge. Verbal working memory is the ability to manipulate verbal information in mind. Long-term linguistic knowledge refers to our knowledge of the language (i.e., phonology, semantics, syntax), stored in long-term memory. The close interaction between verbal working memory and linguistic knowledge highlights a pressing need to investigate the construct of verbal working memory, its separability and its relationship with linguistic knowledge. To understand the way working memory influences and interacts with language abilities in children and adults, I ask …

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Looking Back And Moving Forward: A Scoping Review Of Research On Preschool Autism Interventions In The Field Of Speech-Language Pathology, Amanda Binns, Rachael Smyth, Allison Andres, Joyce Lam, Janis Oram Cardy

PRECISe Preschool Speech and Language Publications

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Background & Aims: Speech-language pathology services are frequently accessed by families of children who have suspected or diagnosed autism. This is expected given that social communication differences are a core feature of autism. This review looked broadly at the state of research in the field of speech-language pathology and preschool autism interventions in order to identify the types of studies that could be used to inform the practices of speech-language pathologists (SLPs), and to identify gaps in the field so they can be addressed in future research. Specifically, we examined the extent of research conducted on interventions delivered (at least …

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Development Of The Hafie Questionnaire - A Focus Group Based Study, Selina Liao

Undergraduate Student Research Internships Conference

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This research poster describes the development of a hearing aid questionnaire that is designed to facilitate pre-fitting hearing aid selection. Through the use of focus groups, feedback and suggestions were given to improve the hearing aid.

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Global Impact Of Social Determinants On Access To Childhood Hearing Healthcare: A Scoping Review, Bahar Rafinejad-Farahani

Undergraduate Student Research Internships Conference

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No abstract provided.

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Liam Briggs 2021 Usri - Audio Testing Device, Liam Briggs

Undergraduate Student Research Internships Conference

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Portable and cost-effective hearing testing device with a UI that can be accessed on a remote web server.

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Filling The Gap: Development Of Best Practice Guidelines To Support Speech-Language Pathologists Working With Autistic Clients, Lauren Choi

Undergraduate Student Research Internships Conference

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Speech-language pathologists (SLPs) are among the most important clinicians involved in providing assessment and therapy services for autistic children. Yet, a study found that 60% of graduate students in speech-language pathology only had one week of coursework that focused on autism. Our project aims to address this gap, by working with SLPs working in the community to create a best-practice-guidelines web-based tool SLPs can use to supplement their learning and inform their decision-making when assessing and providing support for autistic individuals. We used three phases to incorporate research and expert opinions to answer the question “What are considered best-practices when …

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Speech-Evoked Brain Activity Is More Robust To Competing Speech When It Is Spoken By Someone Familiar, Emma Holmes, Ingrid S. Johnsrude

Communication Sciences and Disorders Publications

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When speech is masked by competing sound, people are better at understanding what is said if the talker is familiar compared to unfamiliar. The benefit is robust, but how does processing of familiar voices facilitate intelligibility? We combined high-resolution fMRI with representational similarity analysis to quantify the difference in distributed activity between clear and masked speech. We demonstrate that brain representations of spoken sentences are less affected by a competing sentence when they are spoken by a friend or partner than by someone unfamiliar—effectively, showing a cortical signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) enhancement for familiar voices. This effect correlated with the familiar-voice …

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Typical And Atypical Development Of Compensation To Altered Auditory Feedback, Caitlin E. Coughler

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

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Auditory feedback, how we hear ourselves speak, plays an important role in the acquisition and maintenance of fluent speech. Although there is wide acceptance of the importance of auditory feedback control throughout development, little is known about how this develops or how the reliance on auditory feedback control may shift compared to other elements of speech motor control. This dissertation aimed to improve our understanding of the development of auditory feedback control and speech motor control in typically developing children and pediatric clinical populations through the exploration of responses to altered auditory feedback. In altered auditory feedback paradigms, small, often …

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The Similarities And Differences Between Distortion-Product Otoacoustic Emission Testing Instruments And Accuracy Settings, Maximilian Tran-Luong

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

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Advanced measures of the auditory system like otoacoustic emission (OAE) testing are essential for highlighting the subtle expressions of hearing loss if clinical care is to remain up to date with current scientific knowledge. The purpose of this study was to compare distortion product OAE (DPOAE) testing across three different measurement systems (Interacoustic Titan, Bio-logic Scout and Vivosonic Integrity) to determine if there are differences in DPOAE testing. Secondly, the study will look to evaluate the effect if varying accuracy settings on DPOAE testing within the Integrity system. DPOAE tests evaluating levels, noise floor levels, probe fit check time and …

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Developing A Spoken Language Outcome Monitoring Procedure For Early Hearing Detection And Intervention Programs, Olivia Daub

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

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Early Hearing Detection and Intervention programs are associated with improved spoken language outcomes for children who are deaf/hard-of-hearing. Best practice recommendations call for regular spoken language outcome monitoring to support decision making for all stakeholders (families, audiologists, speech-language pathologists, and program managers).

Despite the clear calls for spoken language outcome monitoring, there is no peer-reviewed guidance as to how Early Hearing Detection and Intervention programs can best accomplish this monitoring. This dissertation evaluates the assumptions underlying spoken language outcome monitoring and contributes a new procedure developed for a Canadian Early Hearing Detection and Intervention program: the Ontario Infant Hearing Program. …

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Speech Language Pathologists (Slps) Enactment Of Dysphagia Education And Counselling In Tbi Inpatient Rehabilitation., Stephanie Muir-Derbyshire

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

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Abstract

Background

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) incidence rates are rising significantly across all age groups, often requiring complex and expensive medical care. Common causes of TBI include motor-vehicle accidents, violence, sport injuries and falls. For some individuals, inpatient rehabilitation (IPR) is used as a care pathway to provide intervention(s) for the physiological, psychological, neurobehavioural and cognitive-communication sequelae of a TBI.Many patients with a TBI will also experience dysphagia, an impairment or disorder of deglutition (swallowing). Dysphagia affects hydration, nutritional intake, respiration and can significantly impact an individual’s quality of life. It has been identified as a contributing factor in the …

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Objective Measurement Optimization In Early Hearing Detection And Intervention, Matthew J. B. Urichuk

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

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Following the fitting of amplification devices, outcomes need to be evaluated to determine benefit of intervention. Objective measurements, which generally require rapid acoustic or electrophysiological measurement without active participation of the individual, are one subset of evaluation methods.

This thesis aimed to improve the reliability, accuracy, and efficiency of a subset of objective outcome measurements: the speech-evoked Envelope Following Response (EFR), and the wideband real-ear-to-coupler-difference (wRECD), which are used in hearing aid validation and verification respectively.

The speech-evoked EFR, a neural response reflecting phase-locked activity to the envelope of a speech stimulus, can be detected using a variety of statistical …

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Modelling Loudness: Acoustic And Perceptual Correlates In The Context Of Hypophonia In Parkinson’S Disease, Daryn Amory Cushnie-Sparrow

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

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Hypophonia (quiet speech) is a common speech symptom associated with Parkinson’s disease (PD), and is associated with reduced intelligibility, communicative effectiveness, and communicative participation. Studies of hypophonia commonly employ average speech intensity as the primary dependent measure, which may not entirely capture loudness deficits. Loudness may also be affected by the frequency components of speech (i.e. spectral balance) and speech level variability. The present investigation examined relationships between perceived loudness and intelligibility with acoustic measures of loudness, speech intensity, and spectral distribution in individuals with hypophonia secondary to Parkinson’s disease (IWPDs) and neurologically healthy older adults (HOAs).

Samples of sentence …

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Adopting A Conceptual Validity Framework For Testing In Speech-Language Pathology, Olivia Daub, Barbara Jane Cunningham, Marlene P. Bagatto, Andrew M. Johnson, Elaine Y. Kwok, Rachael E. Smyth, Janis Oram Cardy

Communication Sciences and Disorders Publications

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Purpose Limited evidence-based guidelines for test selection continue to result in inconsistency in test use and interpretation in speech-language pathology. A major barrier is the lack of explicit and consistent adoption of a validity framework by our field. In this viewpoint, we argue that adopting the conceptual validity framework in the Standards for Educational and Psychological Testing (American Educational Research Association et al., 2014) would support both the development of more meaningful and feasible clinical tests and more appropriate use and interpretation of tests in speech-language pathology. Method We describe and evaluate the (American Educational Research Association et al., 2014) …

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Reliability Of Speech-Language Pathologists’ Categorizations Of Preschoolers’ Communication Impairments In Practice, Bj Cunningham, Janis Oram Cardy

PRECISe Preschool Speech and Language Publications

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Abstract

Purpose An efficient and reliable way to categorize children's communication impairments based on routine clinical assessments is needed to inform research and clinical decisions. This preliminary study assessed interrater reliability of speech-language pathologists' categorization of preschoolers' speech, language, and communication impairments using a clinical consensus document.

Method

Six speech-language pathologists at three community sites worked in pairs to assess 38 children aged 1–5 years, then used the clinical consensus document to categorize children's communication impairments broadly. Identified language and speech sound impairments were further subcategorized.

Results

Speech-language pathologists had substantial to almost perfect agreement for three broadly focused impairment …

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The Relation Of Auditory Temporal Processing To Language Development And Other Cognitive Processes: Methodological And Conceptual Considerations, Rachael E. Smyth

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

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Separate lines of research have demonstrated relations between auditory temporal processing and language ability and between information processing speed and intelligence. Because these processes have rarely been studied in the same sample, it is unclear how auditory temporal processing and information processing speed may operate together and how they may relate to cognitive functions including language. The overarching aim of this dissertation was to integrate these lines of research to better understand whether auditory temporal processing has a unique relation with language, or whether it relates more broadly to language and other cognitive functions as a part of global information …

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Strengths And Challenges Of The Cosmin Tools In The Appraisal Of Outcome Measures: A Case Example For Speech-Language Therapy, Elaine Kwok, Peter Rosenbaum, Nancy Thomas-Stonell, Barbara Jane Cunningham

PRECISe Preschool Speech and Language Publications

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Background: The Consensus-based Standards for the selection of health Measurement Instruments (COSMIN) is an international initiative that offers standardized and validated tools to guide the appraisal of outcome measures in healthcare.

Aims: This study aimed to explore the use of a new set of tools from COSMIN to appraise studies on outcome measures available to speech and language therapists (SLTs).

Methods: We used the COSMIN tools to appraise seven studies and a user manual that reported the measurement properties of the Focus on the Outcomes of Children Under Six (FOCUS), a validated measure of preschoolers’ communicative participation that …

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Speech-Language Pathology Interventions And Ingredients That Support Social Communication And Language Of Preschoolers With Autism, Amanda Binns

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

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One of the best predictors of long-term outcomes for autistic children is development of language and social communication skills. Therefore, it’s not surprising that speech and language therapy is one of the most frequently accessed interventions for children with suspected or diagnosed autism. From a public health and family well-being perspective, identifying effective social communication interventions and better understanding the specific components that contribute to their effectiveness is critical. However, there is a lack of clarity about the most effective interventions. This dissertation addressed this important topic through three studies.

Study 1 examined the literature on interventions provided by speech-language …

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Exploring Speech And Language Intervention For Preschoolers Who Are Deaf And Hard Of Hearing: A Scoping Review, Janis Oram Cardy, Hillary Ganek

PRECISe Preschool Speech and Language Publications

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Purpose: The objective of this study was to summarize the extant literature on the effectiveness of speech and spoken language interventions for young children who are deaf or hard of hearing (DHH) to determine which types of speechlanguage interventions might be most effective, for which hearing levels and types of hearing losses, and at which dosage.

Methods: Using a scoping review methodology, a database search identified 10,360 studies of which 16 met the requirements for inclusion. Data was extracted from each for analysis.

Results: Due to the limited number of studies available, high variability in the nature of the studies, …

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Barriers And Facilitators To Implementation Of A Preschool Outcome Measure: An Interview Study With Speech-Language Pathologists, Elaine Yl Kwok, Sheila Tf Moodie, Bj Cunningham, Janis Oram Cardy

PRECISe Preschool Speech and Language Publications

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Barriers and Facilitators to Implementation of a Preschool Outcome Measure: An Interview Study with Speech-Language Pathologists

Abstract

Introduction: The Preschool Speech and Language Program in Ontario, Canada implemented the Focus on the Outcomes of Communication Under Six (FOCUS), an outcome measure, in 2012. This study aimed to investigate commonly experienced facilitators of and barriers to implementing the FOCUS in clinical practice from the perspectives of speech-language pathologists (SLPs). Methods: Thirty-seven SLPs participated in semi-structured interviews to share their experiences adopting the FOCUS in clinical practice. A deductive content analysis of interview transcripts was conducted using the Theoretical Domains …

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Investigating The Role Of Inattention And/Or Hyperactivity/Impulsivity In Language And Social Functioning Using A Dimensional Approach, Kaitlyn M.A. Parks, Janis E.Oram Cardy, Tiffany G. Woynaroski, Claudia G. Sehl, Ryan A. Stevenson

Communication Sciences and Disorders Publications

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© 2020 Elsevier Inc. The current study parsed out the distinct components of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) symptomatology to examine differential relations with language and social ability. Using a research domain criteria (RDoC) framework, we administered standardized tests and previously developed and validated questionnaires to assess levels of inattention and/or hyperactivity/impulsivity symptomatology, language, social responsivity and social competency in 98 young adults. Those with higher inattention and/or hyperactivity/impulsivity symptomatology had reduced language comprehension, social responsivity, and social competency. Inattention and hyperactivity/impulsivity both predicted language comprehension, but not language production. Interestingly, inattention uniquely contributed to social responsiveness and social competency, but hyperactivity/impulsivity …

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Perceived Sound Quality Dimensions Influencing Frequency-Gain Shaping Preferences For Hearing Aid-Amplified Speech And Music, Jonathan M. Vaisberg, Steve Beaulac, Danielle Glista, Ewan A. Macpherson, Susan D. Scollie

Communication Sciences and Disorders Publications

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© The Author(s) 2021. Hearing aids are typically fitted using speech-based prescriptive formulae to make speech more intelligible. Individual preferences may vary from these prescriptions and may also vary with signal type. It is important to consider what motivates listener preferences and how those preferences can inform hearing aid processing so that assistive listening devices can best be tailored for hearing aid users. Therefore, this study explored preferred frequency-gain shaping relative to prescribed gain for speech and music samples. Preferred gain was determined for 22 listeners with mild sloping to moderately severe hearing loss relative to individually prescribed amplification while …

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Developing A Spoken Language Outcome Monitoring Procedure For A Canadian Early Hearing Detection And Intervention Program: Process And Recommendations, Janis Oram Cardy, Olivia Daub University Of Western Ontario

PRECISe Preschool Speech and Language Publications

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Abstract

Purpose: Routine spoken language outcome monitoring is one component of Early Hearing Detection and Intervention (EHDI) programs for children who are hard of hearing and learning a spoken language. However, there is no peerreviewed research that documents how spoken language outcome monitoring may be achieved, or what processes EHDI programs can use to develop these procedures. The present article describes the process used by a Canadian EHDI program and the final recommendations that were developed from this process.

Methodology: Through consultation with the program’s stakeholders, consideration of the Joint Committee on Infant Hearing’s recommendations, and drawing on our own …

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Implementing Evidence-Based Assessment Practices For The Monitoring Of Spoken Language Outcomes In Children Who Are Deaf Or Hard Of Hearing In A Large Community Program, Barbara Jane Cunningham, Janis Oram Cardy, Olivia Daub University Of Western Ontario

PRECISe Preschool Speech and Language Publications

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The purpose of this quality improvement pilot was to evaluate the effectiveness of an online learning module for (a) changing speech-language pathologists’ perceptions about outcome monitoring and assessment protocols for children who are deaf or hard of hearing and (b) supporting speech-language pathologists’ understanding of evidence-based protocols to be implemented in their community-based program. Using principles of integrated knowledge translation and the Ottawa Model of Research Use, an online learning module was designed to support the implementation of evidence-based assessment protocols for these children in a large publicly funded program in Ontario, Canada. A pre–post study was then conducted with …

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Assessing Communicative Participation In Preschool Children With The Focus On The Outcomes Of Communication Under Six: A Scoping Review, Barbara Jane Cunningham, Nancy Thomas-Stonell, Peter Rosenbaum

PRECISe Preschool Speech and Language Publications

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Aim: To describe uses of the Focus on the Outcomes of Communication Under Six (FOCUS) in research since its publication in 2010. Method: Six databases were searched for the term ‘Focus on the Outcomes of Communication Under Six’. With additional searches we ascertained 70 articles, of which 25 met inclusion criteria for full review and data extraction. Results: The FOCUS has been used in research across multiple countries, purposes, populations, contexts, and versions. Evaluative studies have described the development of children’s communicative participation skills and factors that impact development of communicative participation; the impact of specific interventions …

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