Communication Sciences and Disorders Commons^™

Band Directors: Risk Factors For Vocal Dysphonia, Brianna Bumpous

Student Theses and Dissertations

The voice is an extensively utilized tool for high school marching band directors, which places them at risk for vocal disorders due to the profession's demands. Responsibilities such as leading rehearsals, teaching instrumental techniques, and directing require extensive vocal use in acoustically challenging environments, including football fields, large open indoor practice areas, and loud acoustic spaces. Research exists regarding vocal health for teachers, coaches, and musicians, yet little research has been conducted for high school marching band directors. This non-experimental exploratory study aimed to analyze if high school marching band directors experience dysphonia due to their occupation and if female …

Psychological Impacts Of Caring For Individuals With Fluent Versus Nonfluent Aphasia, Allisyn Rae Converse

Student Theses and Dissertations

This investigation sought to explore the mental health differences between caregivers of individuals with fluent aphasia versus caregivers of individuals with nonfluent aphasia with a focus on their levels of depression, anxiety, and stress. This study had a quantitative, non-experimental between group research design, utilizing a Qualtrics survey including the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale and the Perceived Stress scale to collect all data. Both caregivers of individuals with nonfluent and fluent aphasia can experience psychological impacts of serving as a caregiver such as elevated stress, anxiety, and depression. However, this study reveals that caregivers of individuals with nonfluent aphasia …

The Knowledge And Perceptions Of Noise-Induced Hearing Loss Among Agricultural Education Students, Madyson Hufstedler

Student Theses and Dissertations

Noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) is a preventable yet widespread occupational hazard, especially among agricultural workers who are regularly exposed to high levels of noise from equipment, machinery, and firearms (Lander et al., 2007; Milz et al., 2008). Young and future farmers may be particularly vulnerable due to early and prolonged exposure combined with limited awareness about the risks of noise and the importance of hearing protection (Balanay & Kearney, 2015; Martin et al., 2006). This study examined the perceptions and knowledge of NIHL among 83 students (76 high school and 7 college) in northern Arkansas and southern Missouri. A pretest–posttest …

Communication Disorders Graduate Student: Perspective Of Voice, Maycie Brentney Terrell / Blankenship

Student Theses and Dissertations

This study examined the influence of training in SPEAK OUT!® on the perceptual ratings of voice and speech made by communication disorders (CD) graduate students. The purpose of this study was to investigate the influence of SPEAK OUT!® training by comparing those who have undergone SPEAK OUT!® training with those who have not. To address this, 36 participants who attend communication disorders graduate programs within the United States were recruited. Data were collected through a Qualtrics survey distributed via email and analyzed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS). The findings indicate that perceptual ratings across most voice …

The Impact Of Bilingual Home Literacy Practices On The Emergent Literacy Skills Of Hispanic Youth, Sophie Watkins Roberts

Student Theses and Dissertations

This study examined the impact of bilingual home literacy environments (HLEs) on the emergent literacy skills of Hispanic children enrolled in an after-school program in Jonesboro, Arkansas. Thirteen Spanish–English bilingual children in kindergarten through third grade and their parents participated. Parent-reported data were collected using an adapted Spanish–English Reading Questionnaire (SER-Q), and children’s literacy skills were assessed with the Dynamic Indicators of Basic Early Literacy Skills (DIBELS) and the Spanish Reading Inventory–Second Edition (SRI-2). Descriptive and correlational analyses explored within- and cross-language relationships between HLE practices and early reading performance. Results indicated that even modest access to books and daily …

Cognitive Dysfunction In Women With The Fmr1 Premutation During Midlife: The Lassi-L Reveals Curvilinear Cgg-Dependent Risk Buffered By College Education, Jessica Klusek, Jillian Gierman, Amanda Fairchild, Andreana M. Benitez, Elizabeth Berry-Kravis, Marsha R. Mailick

Faculty Publications

Background

The FMR1premutation (FXPM) is a common genetic variant (∼1:151 females) linked to increased risk for neurodegenerative disease. Midlife cognitive phenotypes remain poorly defined.

Objective

To characterize episodic memory performance in midlife FXPM women and examine potential risk moderation via genetic (i.e., FMR1CGG repeat expansion size) and environmental (i.e., college degree attainment) influences.

Methods

Eighty-eight FXPM women and 84 matched controls, aged 30–55, completed the Loewenstein-Acevedo Scales for Semantic Interference and Learning (LASSI-L), a measure of specific episodic memory processes sensitive to subtle Alzheimer's disease (AD)-related cognitive and neuropathological changes.

Results

FXPM women demonstrated deficits in proactive semantic …

Interprofessional Collaboration In Inpatient Rehabilitation For Patient With Thiamine Deficiency-Related Sensorimotor And Cognitive Deficits – Case Report, Christina Thomas, Tahreem Hashmi, Joanne Delgado-Lebron, Rania Massad

Journal of Interprofessional Practice and Collaboration

Purpose: We aim to describe the clinical presentation, interprofessional management, and functional outcomes of a patient with thiamine deficiency. Problem: Thiamine deficiency can result in peripheral polyneuropathy and cognitive deficits that limit function and participation. Despite deficits that warrant interprofessional neurorehabilitation, previous reports focus narrowly on medical management. Case: A 36-year-old female was admitted to inpatient rehabilitation with a diagnosis of Guillain Barre. She underwent evaluation by the interprofessional team that revealed cognitive deficits inconsistent with Guillain Barre. Further medical workup identified a thiamine deficiency. Comprehensive treatment included supplementation managed by the physiatrist; promotion of motor learning and neuroplasticity to …

Cortical Hierarchy And Aphasia Severity: The Sensorimotor–Association Gradient Modulates Lesion Effects Within Language-Specific Networks, Ida Rangus, Natalie Busby, Nicholas Riccardi, Sigfus Kristinsson, Janina Wilmskoetter, Dirk B. Den Ouden, Chris Rorden, Roger Newman-Norlund, Julius Fridriksson Ph.D., Leonardo Bonilha

Faculty Publications

Aphasia severity after stroke varies widely and is not fully explained by lesion size or location. We propose that incorporating the brain’s sensorimotor-association (S-A) gradient, reflecting cortical hierarchy, offers a biologically grounded framework for predicting language outcomes. In 236 individuals with chronic left-hemisphere stroke, we examine whether the hierarchical position of lesions in language-specific (LS) and domain-general (DG) areas modulates aphasia severity. We parcellate lesions using a cortical atlas and weigh them by each region’s S-A rank. We apply hierarchical linear regression to test whether S-A ranking and its interaction with lesion volume improves prediction of Western Aphasia Battery-Revised Aphasia …

Cv: E. Maria Wheeler (Speech-Language Pathology), E. Maria Wheeler

Rehabilitation and Health Sciences Department Faculty Curricula Vitae

No abstract provided.

Cv: E. Maria Wheeler (Speech-Language Pathology), E. Maria Wheeler

Rehabilitation Sciences Department Curricula Vitae

No abstract provided.

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 …

Independence Of Spectral Contrast Effects Across Different Frequency Regions In Speech Perception, Christian E. Stilp, Matthew B. Winn

Speech Pathology and Audiology Faculty Research and Publications

Identification of speech sounds is influenced by spectral contrast effects (SCEs), the perceptual magnification of spectral differences between successive sounds. SCEs result in the categorization of a target sound being biased away from spectral properties in the preceding acoustic context. Given remarkable consistency in the magnitudes of these contrast effects within the same frequency region, it was hypothesized that they would also show stable relationships across different frequency regions. In this study, normal-hearing listeners’ phoneme categorization and contrast effects were assessed where phonetic contrasts were driven by changes in low-frequency F₁ (“big”-“beg” continuum), mid-frequency F₃ (“dot”-“got”), or high-frequency …

The Effects Of Speak Out! On Hypokinetic Dysarthria In Individuals With Idiopathic Parkinson’S Disease, Linden King

Murray State Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this single subject research study was to prove the efficacy of SPEAK OUT! therapy in improving loudness, rate of speech, and quality of life for individuals who have hypokinetic dysarthria due to Parkinson’s Disease. In this A-B-A design, five weeks of SPEAK OUT! therapy was provided twice a week to four individuals with a diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease. Results showed an increase in loudness in conversation and improved quality of life measured by statistical and visual analysis. These findings contribute to the research behind the use of SPEAK OUT! therapy for individuals with HKD due to PD.

Preserved Artificial Grammar Learning In Individuals With Parkinson’S Disease: A Systematic Review, Sarah I. Cranna

Honors Theses and Capstones

Abstract

            Implicit statistical learning is a crucial cognitive function that is highly involved in the learning and processing of language. Since both language and implicit statistical learning are supported by the basal ganglia through cortico-striatal networks, disruptions to this network could result in their impairment. Parkinson’s Disease (PD) can therefore be used to model disruptions to this system as it is primarily characterized by dysfunction in the basal ganglia. Thus, this review aims to examine the current literature studying the performance of individuals with PD on artificial grammar tasks in order to investigate the impact of impaired basal ganglia function …

Guitar Amplifier Directivity, Rachel C. Edelman, Brian E. Anderson, Samuel D. Bellows, Timothy W. Leishman

Directivity

No abstract provided.

Vestibular Migraine And Ssri Withdrawal, Grace Fairchild, Sarah Redding, Ashley Flagge

V&B Posters

No abstract provided.

Vestibular Migraine And Ssri Withdrawal: A Case Presentation, Grace Fairchild, Sarah Redding, Ashley Flagge

V&B Presentations

No abstract provided.

Brainstem Encoding Of Speech In The Extended High Frequencies And Its Behavioral Correlates, Sajana Aryal, Fan-Yin Cheng, Srikanta K. Mishra, Spencer Smith

Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders Faculty Scholarship and Creative Works

Whether the auditory nervous system can extract and use speech information carried in the extended high-frequency (EHF; >8 kHz) range is an unresolved question in auditory neuroscience. Although EHF sensitivity is increasingly recognized as important for speech perception, it is unclear whether EHF hearing is directly or indirectly involved in real-world listening. This study examined brainstem neural encoding of EHF speech components and the relationship between EHF hearing sensitivity and both neural and perceptual speech processing. Envelope following responses (EFRs) to broadband and high-pass filtered (>4 kHz and >8 kHz) speech stimuli, along with digits-in-noise speech recognition thresholds under …

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, …

Integrating Hippotherapy Into Interprofessional Aphasia Rehabilitation: A Feasibility Pilot Study, Bethany H. Wenger

Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers

Background and Significance: Stroke remains a leading cause of disability in the United States, affecting over 2.5 million individuals annually. Stroke-related motor and communication deficits often co-occur, increasing challenges for recovery, increasing social isolation, depression, and dependency. Hippotherapy has emerged as a novel treatment approach for neurorehabilitation; however, its application within interprofessional models for individuals with stroke-related motor and communication impairments remains underexplored. This study examines the feasibility, fidelity, and acceptability of an interprofessional intervention using hippotherapy for adults with chronic post-stroke aphasia, the purpose of which is to generate methodological guidance for future controlled trials.

Methods: A non-randomized, single-group …

Exploring Tonal Focus: Qualitative Perspectives And Acoustic Correlates In Slps And Singers, Lily C. Carpenter

Theses and Dissertations--Communication Sciences and Disorders

Tonal focus is a complex construct that has variable definitions and interpretations across professions and within existing literature. Although tonal focus is widely described both clinically and pedagogically, both fields differ in their perspectives and goals related to the concept. This study aims to understand singers’ and speech language pathologists’ (SLP) conceptual perception and acoustic demonstration of tonal focus. Eleven SLPs and six singers were recruited to participate in the study. Participants completed an interview with the primary investigator and were recorded producing forward, neutral, and backward tonal focus in various contexts. Acoustic and qualitative analysis indicated that tonal focus …

Communication Access In Action: Evaluating Aac Supports For Young Children In A Community Museum, Amy L. Yacucci, Sarah L. Ballard

Faculty Publications – Communication Sciences and Disorders

This utilization-focused evaluation study aimed to describe augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) supports to enhance communication accessibility for children with significant communication support needs in a children’s museum. Most of the participants had a diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder (ASD), which informed the design and interpretation of AAC strategies implemented in the museum setting. Utilizing feedback from museum staff and parents of children with communication disabilities, the study sought to identify practical strategies to improve the effectiveness of AAC supports in creating more inclusive community spaces. A utilization-focused evaluation framework guided the assessment of embedded-aided communication supports within the museum, …

Exploring The Impact Of Age On Traumatic Brain Injury Cause And Recovery In Arkansas: A Retrospective Review, Abby Jones, Steven Wheeler, Jessica Danley

2026 Honors Symposium

Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) remain a major public health concern, and increasing evidence goes to show the significance of the effect of age in quality of care, diagnosis, and recovery outcomes. In rural states, such as Arkansas, where research has shown a lack of resources and higher fatality rates among TBI patients, healthcare professionals can become better informed and equipped as a result of research efforts to uncover the effects of age on cause and recovery for inpatient TBI individuals in the early stages (Daugherty et al., 2022). Current research and prior evidence suggests that older individuals are more likely …

Aac In Schools: How District Infrastructure And At Specialists Shape Implementation Practices, Grace T. Clark, Lesley Rytel, Endever* Corbin, Madison Skibicki, Gabriella Pesantes

Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders Faculty Scholarship and Creative Works

Purpose

Research on barriers to augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) implementation in schools has focused primarily on individual clinician factors rather than district infrastructure. This clinical focus article examined how the presence or absence of a dedicated assistive technology (AT) specialist was associated with differences in AAC implementation and the use of AAC as a Tier 1 support.

Method

Eighteen educators, including AT specialists, SLPs, and a special educator, from 17 U.S. school districts participated in a 75-minute structured Zoom focus group. They rated 11 statements about district AAC practices using a 4-point Likert scale and discussed their responses in …

Spanish-Speaking Parents' Health Literacy And Comprehension Of Idea Terminology, Daria Hernandez

Honors Undergraduate Theses

This study aims to examine how personal health literacy can affect Spanish-speaking parents’ comprehension of special education documentation, specifically within the scope of Communication Sciences and Disorders (CSD) and Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) terminology; in order to gain insight into the readability of commonly used terms within special education documents. Across the United States, limited health literacy across organizations and individuals is an extremely pressing issue as it can limit the ability for individuals to make the proper decisions involving their healthcare and education. This issue is exacerbated when considering Hispanic populations, with their personal health literacy levels …

Effect Of Clinical Expertise On Efficacy Of Vocal Function Exercises In Individuals With Typical Voice, Maria H. Bane, Vrushali Angadi, Richard D. Andreatta, Joseph C. Stemple

Communication Sciences and Disorders Faculty Publications

Objectives/Hypothesis: To determine the effect of clinical expertise on efficacy of Vocal Function Exercises (VFEs) as measured by change in percent of maximum phonation time goal attained. The hypothesis was that clinical expertise would result in greater increases in percent of maximum phonation time goal attained.

Study Design: Randomized controlled trial.

Methods: A convenience sample of 19 individuals with typical voice was recruited in a university academic clinic setting. All participants completed baseline assessment and 17 completed all study procedures. Participants were randomized to receive VFEs from an expert voice clinician with more than 40 years’ experience (expert group (EG)) …

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 …

When Speech Speaks Louder Than Truth: Language Variation And Credibility In The Courtroom, Melanie E. Spinnie

Graduate Theses/Dissertations

This study aims to investigate how linguistic variation affects perceptions of credibility in courtroom settings. It focuses on how jurors, judges, and other individuals in the legal system may exhibit bias (consciously or unconsciously) based on how a defendant or witness speaks-- this could include speech disorders as well as differences in dialect, accent, and speech style. Through review of relevant literature, review of a relevant historical case, conducting a survey, and conducting a semi-structured interview, this study explores whether certain speech patterns or characteristics are disproportionately associated with negative judgments during legal proceedings, such as reduced credibility and trustworthiness. …

Belting In Musical Theatre: Vocal Pathologies, Injuries, And Pedagogical Implications, Kaylee Piatt

Theses and Dissertations--Music

Belting has become one of the most defining and contested vocal styles in contemporary musical theatre. Valued for its dramatic immediacy, speech-like intensity, and ability to cut through amplified orchestration, belting is frequently associated with heightened injury risk and pedagogical controversy. This thesis examines the relationship between belting, vocal pathology, and pedagogy through an interdisciplinary lens that integrates voice science, clinical literature, and professional performance practice. Rather than framing belting as an inherently harmful or stylistically aberrant technique, this study conceptualizes belting as a functional vocal coordination shaped by physiological mechanisms, cumulative vocal load, and occupational demands.

Drawing on existing …

Integrating Perspectives Of People With Aphasia: A Holistic Approach To Community Aphasia Groups Within An Intensive Comprehensive Aphasia Program, Mckinlee A. Mihelish

Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers

Introduction: People with aphasia (PWA) experience chronic communication deficits that impact daily life. Community Aphasia Groups (CAGs) are commonly used to address these challenges and have demonstrated psychosocial and communicative benefits; however, they lack standardized structure and are implemented with variability across settings. Additionally, much of the existing research focuses on group-level outcomes rather than participant-driven priorities, limiting clinicians’ ability to tailor interventions. This study examined what PWA want from CAG participation and how these priorities may change over time.

Methods: This quantitative study investigated priority changes among PWA participating in a CAG within a summer 2025 Intensive Comprehensive Aphasia …