Communication Sciences and Disorders Commons^™

Staff Perspectives Of Deaf And Hard Of Hearing College Students’ Alcohol Use, Christine L. Gannon, Theresa H. Gibble, Retta Evans

Journal of Social, Behavioral, and Health Sciences

A predominant health issue at colleges and universities is alcohol use. This is also true for deaf and hard of hearing college students. Key stakeholders who observe and witness this alcohol dynamic are staff. Researchers used a semi-structured qualitative guide to interview Gallaudet University staff (N = 26) to learn about their perspectives on and experiences with student alcohol use. Through thematic analysis, they identified several dominant themes that were then grouped into the three levels of the social-ecological model. First, they identified intrapersonal factors, including fear of missing out and coping strategies. Second, they identified interpersonal factors such …

The Effect Of Phonomotor Treatment In A Telepractice Model: An Experimental Study, Jessica Mulch

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

This study provides an investigation into the effectiveness of a modified version of Phonomotor Treatment (PMT) for treating apraxia of speech (AOS) in a telepractice model. A single-subject design was utilized to provide treatment to a participant with post-stroke apraxia of speech and aphasia. Treatment occurred two hours a day, five days a week, for four weeks. Targets were selected specifically for the participant after initial probing and testing. Data was taken to measure the chosen targets for acquisition, maintenance, and generalization. The data collected includes pre-treatment (before starting treatment), post-treatment (directly after treatment), and follow-up (10 weeks after the …

Cortical And Subjective Measures Of Individual Noise Tolerance Predict Hearing Outcomes With Varying Noise Reduction Strength, Subong Kim, Susan Arzac, Natalie Dokic, Jenn Donnelly, Nicole Genser, Kristen Nortwich, Alexis Rooney

Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders Faculty Scholarship and Creative Works

Noise reduction (NR) algorithms are employed in nearly all commercially available hearing aids to attenuate background noise. However, NR processing also involves undesirable speech distortions, leading to variability in hearing outcomes among individuals with different noise tolerance. Leveraging 30 participants with normal hearing engaged in speech-in-noise tasks, the present study examined whether the cortical measure of neural signal-to-noise ratio (SNR)—the amplitude ratio of auditory evoked responses to target speech onset and noise onset—could predict individual variability in NR outcomes with varying strength, thus serving as a reliable indicator of individual noise tolerance. In addition, we also measured subjective ratings of …

Standardizing Attention Process Training-Iii For A Multisite Clinical Trial Of Neuromodulation, Jessica D. Richardson, Honey Isabel Hubbard, Sarah Grace Dalton, Sloan Davidson, Tiana Maple, Tyler B. Smith, Mo Chen, Rebecca Hiltner, Thomas Jones, Andrew R. Mayer, Orrin Myers, Cassandra Nelson, Sarah Pirio-Richardson, Cidney Robertson-Benta, Scott R. Sponheim, Joel Upston, Lindsay Worth, Nicholas Davenport, Davin K. Quinn

Speech Pathology and Audiology Faculty Research and Publications

Introduction

The Control Network Neuromodulation to Enhance Cognitive Training in Complex Traumatic Brain Injury (CONNECT-TBI) study is an ongoing randomized, double-blinded, sham-controlled multisite clinical trial to determine the enhancing effects of noninvasive neuromodulation when paired with cognitive training in military participants (Veterans and active duty) with mild TBI. Attention Process Training-III (APT-III) was selected for its strong evidence base, manualized procedures, and computerized program. However, many aspects of APT-III that make it ideal for personalization make it less ideal for reliable implementation across participants, clinicians/technicians, and sites. The purpose of this feature article is to highlight APT-III procedures that require …

The Role Of The Dorsolateral Prefrontal Cortex In Bilingual Language Switching And Non-Linguistic Task-Switching: Evidence From Multi-Voxel Pattern Analysis, Kelly A Vaughn, Benjamin J Tamber-Rosenau, Arturo E Hernandez

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Previous research suggests that bilingual language control requires domain-general cognitive control. Recent research suggests that exploration of individual differences is key for understanding the relationship between bilingual language control and cognitive control. The current study used multi-voxel pattern analysis (MVPA) to examine within-subject patterns of fMRI activity in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) during bilingual language switching and non-linguistic task-switching. We hypothesized that bilinguals would have identifiable, within-subject patterns of DLPFC activity for both types of switching and that bilinguals and monolinguals would differ in patterns of DLPFC activity for task-switching. We were unable to identify patterns of DLPFC activity …

Genomic Data Science Approaches For Understanding Human Diseases, Snehal Shah

All Dissertations

The intricate interplay of genetic predisposition, environmental influences, and lifestyle acts as the multifactorial landscape of diseases. Understanding this complexity presents a significant challenge. Molecular insights into disease mechanisms, particularly the interactions of DNA, RNA, and proteins with environmental and lifestyle factors, have revolutionized disease diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment. High-throughput technologies, such as next-generation sequencing, generate large amounts of molecular data, holding a wealth of knowledge. These datasets unveil the roles of genes and their interactions with various factors through analysis, shedding light on previously unknown molecular mechanisms underlying disease pathogenesis. Furthermore, they facilitate the discovery of biomarkers crucial for …

Emphasizing Interprofessional Education Through A Virtual Case Study In A Medical Nutrition Therapy Course, Natalie B. Allen, Traci A. Garrison, Wendy R. Jackson, Bonnie K. Slavych

Journal of Dietetic Education

This observational research presents multi-year findings of a project using an online case study implemented in an undergraduate Medical Nutrition Therapy class that fostered interprofessional collaboration among students from various healthcare disciplines. The case study focused on a fictional patient with an ischemic stroke and all work was virtual. Students from various allied healthcare fields were represented: dietetics and nutrition, occupational therapy, speech-language pathology, and social work. Both undergraduate and graduate students participated in developing a virtual care plan for the patient, with an emphasis on helping students explain their role to the team, while simultaneously learning how to collaborate …

Hearing At The Mall: Multibeam Processing Technology Improves Hearing Group Conversations In A Real-World Food Court Environment, Paula Folkeard, Niels S. Jensen, Homayoun K. Parsi, Sascha Bilert, Susan Scollie

Communication Sciences and Disorders Publications

How can hearing aids make group conversations easier in noisy public spaces?

Hearing aids often struggle to help users follow conversations in noisy, real-world environments like busy food courts. This study found that a new hearing aid technology using multiple adaptive beams to track different speakers improved users' ability to understand and focus on group conversations in a mall food court setting. These results suggest that advancements in hearing aid algorithms that account for the natural head movements and multiple conversation partners could significantly enhance the listening experience for people with hearing loss in challenging everyday situations.

The Harding University Speech Clinic As A Community Outreach Program In White County, Melaney Binkley

McNair Scholars Research

A university speech clinic provides, at no cost to clients, more selective, limited speech and language services by a student clinician in the Communication Sciences and Disorders program under the supervision of a certified speech-language pathologist (SLP). A private speech clinic requires certified speech-language pathologists and assistants. The purpose of this study was to analyze the Harding University Speech Clinic’s client population, particularly in terms of socioeconomic status, since the city in which the university is located has a higher average poverty rate than the state. Additionally, the study sought to measure the level of client satisfaction with the services …

Persevering Through Communication Challenges: A Qualitative Descriptive Exploration Of Communication Experiences In Aphasia, Tyson G. Harmon, Camille Williams, Garrett Cardon, William S. Evans

Faculty Publications

Background

People with aphasia often experience activity limitations and participation restrictions despite wanting to engage in communication activities that are satisfying and meaningful. Communication partner support, the complexity of the communication environment, and the thoughts and feelings of people with aphasia have important implications for both language processing and communicative participation. The perspectives of PWA about the role that environmental and personal factors (e.g. thoughts and feelings) play in their communication experiences could inform clinical practice.

Aims

To qualitatively explore the communication experiences of people with aphasia and how environmental demands and personal factors (especially emotional responses) affect these experiences. …

The Impact Of Hearing Impairment On Patient Care And Autonomy, Savannah Baimbridge, Julie Neil, Gabriel M Aisenberg

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Sensory deficits, including hypoacusis, can cause a barrier to communication between healthcare providers and patients, which in turn can lead to misdiagnosis and loss of patient autonomy. Such deficits are frequently overlooked in clinical encounters. We present a 92-year-old Spanish-speaking female who presented twice to the Emergency Department for complications of a diabetic foot infection. Limited evaluation, documentation, and accommodations regarding the patient's hypoacusis led to a misinterpretation of her mental status and a transfer of decision-making to surrogates. A two-toe amputation, mechanical intubation, and intensive care unit stay were followed. It was only after these events that the caregivers …

Lexical Access In Women With The Fmr1 Premutation, Nadia Sabeh Ayon

Theses and Dissertations

Background: Emergent research indicates that women carrying the FMR1 premutation (FXpm) may encounter difficulties in language skills, including increased dysfluencies, a reduction in the quantity and diversity of words produced, and increased word retrieval errors with age (Sterling et al., 2013; Bredin-Oja et al., 2021). Objectives: The present study aims to assess semantic and phonological lexical access skills in FXpm women as well as to examine the impact of cognitive load (time pressure) on lexical access.

Methods: Forty-two FXpm women and 25 control women, aged 26-65 years (M=46.22, age-matched: p=.115), participated. The Network Production Task (Oomen & Postma, 2001), featuring …

Nonverbal Iq Test Performance In Preschool-Age Children With Varying Language, Sandra Danelle Irvin

Theses and Dissertations

Purpose – This study aims to investigate the impact of two types of factors on IQ test performance in children with variation in language ability. The two types of factors studied here are: a) test characteristics (i.e., complexity of test directions) and test-taker characteristics (i.e., language ability). Method – Four participants, ages 4-7, completed norm referenced assessments for language and intelligence. Results – Descriptive results suggest no discernable trends between performance on language assessments and nonverbal IQ measures. The results demonstrated a discernable negative trend between performance on nonverbal IQ measures and linguistic complexity of instructions. Implications – While the …

Working With Bilingual Populations: Clinical Practices Of Speech-Language Pathologists In New Mexico, Wylie L. Skillman

Speech and Hearing Sciences ETDs

New Mexico is uniquely positioned as a state that has more bilingual speakers than the United States on average, meaning that Speech Language Pathologists (SLPs) here are more likely to work with bilingual speakers than elsewhere. Best practices for bilingual evaluation and treatment are taught in graduate education for SLPs but the extent to which they are known and utilized by school-based SLPs differs based on many factors.

As the body of research supporting culturally responsive bilingual assessment and intervention continue to grow, it is unknown how or if clinicians are using this knowledge to assess and treat students who …

The Reading And Phonological Awareness Skills Of Elementary English Language Learners Post Covid-19 Pandemic, Mollie Virginia Jane Breckenridge

Student Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of the study was to examine the reading skills of English language learning (ELLs) elementary students post-COVID-19. Furthermore, this study analyzed the relationship between phonological awareness (PA) and the reading skills of the students. The participants included 22 ELL students in 1st, 2nd, and 3rd grade that attended an after-school program offered by the local Hispanic Center in Jonesboro, Arkansas. To measure the participants’ literacy skills, the primary investigator administered select portions of the Woodcock Reading Mastery Tests-Third Edition (WRMT-III: (Woodcock, 2011) as well as select portions of the DIBELS (DIBELS: University of Oregon, n.d.) assessment. According to …

What Do Nurses Know About Stuttering? A Preliminary Study, Baleigh Nicole Boling

Student Theses and Dissertations

This study investigated what nurses know about stuttering and their perceptions of people who stutter to contribute to research concerning building medical professionalism with people who stutter. An electronic survey was distributed to licensed nurses in the United States through a social media post. Results revealed that nurses are unsure of the cause of stuttering, which aligns with current research on the cause of stuttering.

Understanding Perceptions Of Speech Therapy And Willingness To Continue Seeking Speech Therapy Among Adults Who Stutter, Jaclyn Lucey

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This project investigates factors associated with treatment-seeking behaviors among adults who stutter (AWS). Specifically, we hypothesized that perceptions of previous speech therapy, including satisfaction with therapy and perceived effectiveness would be related to willingness to seek continued speech therapy. Our project was motivated by a widely used theoretical framework of health service use, and it expands on existing ancillary evidence in stuttering research.

To achieve our objective, we used both qualitative and quantitative methods to gain a more holistic understanding of barriers and facilitators to seeking continued speech therapy. Simultaneously, across two studies, we conducted and analyzed semi- structured interviews …

Auditory Sensory Gating: Effects Of Noise, Fan-Yin Cheng, Julia Campbell, Chang Liu

Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders Faculty Scholarship and Creative Works

Cortical auditory evoked potentials (CAEPs) indicate that noise degrades auditory neural encoding, causing decreased peak amplitude and increased peak latency. Different types of noise affect CAEP responses, with greater informational masking causing additional degradation. In noisy conditions, attention can improve target signals’ neural encoding, reflected by an increased CAEP amplitude, which may be facilitated through various inhibitory mechanisms at both pre-attentive and attentive levels. While previous research has mainly focused on inhibition effects during attentive auditory processing in noise, the impact of noise on the neural response during the pre-attentive phase remains unclear. Therefore, this preliminary study aimed to assess …

Speech & Language Services: Examining The Experiences Of Deaf / Hard Of Hearing People, Milayna N. Barker

University Honors Theses

The purpose of this study is to examine the experiences of Deaf and Hard of Hearing (HoH) adults and parents of Deaf/HoH children related to speech and language services, and their recommendations for service providers. Historically, professionals have focused on the development of speech and aural/oral skills of Deaf and HoH people. As such, when working with families of newly-identified children with hearing loss, hearing professionals may be ill-equipped to provide culturally-responsive, fully inclusive information and education regarding communication options and opportunities.

Method: This study used a qualitative research design to examine participant experiences related to speech and language services …

The Covid-19 Pandemic & Language Development Of Preschool Children Living In The Arkansas Delta, Molly Grace Williams

Student Theses and Dissertations

This study investigated the potential effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on preschool children’s language development. Children from the Arkansas Delta Region were examined to determine the significance. Existing data consisting of BRIGANCE III screeners from the 2019 cohort and 2022 cohort were analyzed. Researchers examined the scores from the screener's language and cognitive/academic sections. BRIGANCE III screeners from 73 three-year-olds were collected from the School of the 21st Century Preschool in Paragould, AR. Data from the screeners analyzed the 2019 and 2022 cohorts. A two-tailed t-test was used to measure the relationship between the eight dependent variables. The results yielded …

Under Pressure: The Interplay Of Hypertension And White Matter Hyperintensities With Cognition In Chronic Stroke Aphasia, Jade Hannan, Natalie Busby, Rebecca Roth, Janina Wilmskoetter, Roger Newman-Norlund Ph.D., Chris Rorden, Leonardo Bonilha, Julius Fridriksson Ph.D.

Faculty Publications

While converging research suggests that increased white matter hyperintensity load is associated with poorer cognition, and the presence of hypertension is associated with increased white matter hyperintensity load, the relationship among hypertension, cognition and white matter hyperintensities is not well understood. We sought to determine the effect of white matter hyperintensity burden on the relationship between hypertension and cognition in individuals with post-stroke aphasia, with the hypothesis that white matter hyperintensity load moderates the relationship between history of hypertension and cognitive function. Health history, Fazekas scores for white matter hyperintensities and Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale Matrix Reasoning subtest scores for …

Quality Of Life Factors In Children With Dual Diagnosis Stuttering And Autism Spectrum Disorder, Kristen N. Rollins

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Addressing quality of life is a critical part of speech-language pathology. Understanding quality of life deficits and challenges in our patients’ lives allows us to provide well-rounded treatment. Quality of life in children who stutter and children with autism spectrum disorder has been heavily researched (children with autism spectrum disorder to a lesser extent). However, despite approximately 1 in 1000 children being dually diagnosed with stuttering and autism spectrum disorder (Briley & Ellis, 2018), quality of life in this population has never been researched. This thesis aims to determine whether children diagnosed with both conditions experience similar quality of life …

The Acceptability Of Relationship-Centered Communication Partner Training For Couples Impacted By Aphasia: A Mixed Methods Pilot Investigation, Kathryn-Anne Pertab, Tyson G. Harmon, Jonathan Sandberg, Jon L. Pertab, William S. Evans

Faculty Publications

Purpose: This study explored the acceptability and impact of Relationship-Centered Communication Partner Training (RC-CPT) in couples impacted by aphasia. In particular, couples considered whether discussing their relationship roles and responsibilities was important and relevant to the changes they desire. Preliminary quasi-experimental data regarding perceived communication confidence and the marriage relationship were also obtained.

Method: Three couples participated in RC-CPT across two sessions. Surveys were used to measure communication confidence and the marital relationship before and after participation in RC-CPT. The quantitative findings were analyzed using descriptive statistics. Couples also participated in a semi-structured interview about the acceptability of RC-CPT, during …

How To Get Started With Sotl: Reflections From A Novice Sotl Researcher, Janine L. Schmedding-Bartley

Teaching and Learning in Communication Sciences & Disorders

The purpose of this paper is to provide a reflection on successfully engaging in the scholarship of teaching and learning (SoTL) after overcoming common barriers to engagement in SoTL. The author identifies barriers commonly experienced by scholars interested in engaging in SoTL. The author identified a variety of frameworks in the literature that were reported to be helpful in assisting novice SoTL scholars in overcoming barriers related to research question formation. An example is shared to demonstrate how the complementary frameworks can be used to develop answerable research questions.

Finding My Path: Transitioning From Clinician To Professor, Jordan Tinsley

Teaching and Learning in Communication Sciences & Disorders

This manuscript is a reflection on the author’s transition from practicing as a clinical speech-language pathologist (SLP) to entering the academic arena as a clinical assistant professor. The author considers various steps that may be supportive of the transition from clinical practice to academia for SLPs without a research degree (i.e., Ph.D.). Lessons learned throughout the job transition process are shared to illuminate the path for SLPs who are curious entering a university setting. Additionally, the author’s experience in the TLCSD SoTL Fellows Program is discussed.

Qualitative Inquiry: The Case For The Importance Of Considering Student Perspectives In Sotl Research, Aleah S. Brock

Teaching and Learning in Communication Sciences & Disorders

Quantitative methods are often viewed as superior to qualitative methods for clinical research in communication sciences and disorders; however, quantitative methods are unable to answer questions of why or how. Qualitative methodology can be used to address research questions that seek to understand human perspectives. In Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL) research, qualitative research can be used to understand student experiences and perspectives. The merit of the application of qualitative methodology in SoTL research is explored here.

Speech-Language Pathology Graduate Students’ Experiences With The Use Of Case-Based Learning To Develop Skills For Evidence-Based Practice, Aleah S. Brock

Teaching and Learning in Communication Sciences & Disorders

The American Speech-Language Hearing Association (ASHA) states that practitioners should use the principles of evidence-based practice (EBP) for clinical decision making. However, speech-language pathologists (SLPs) often report a lack of understanding, time, and resources to implement EBP. Clinicians who were exposed to EBP training during their graduate program or clinical fellowship are more likely to use EBP in their clinical practice; therefore, graduate programs in SLP must provide explicit EBP training to upcoming clinicians. At present, no consensus exists on the best way to train students in the principles of EBP. The present study sought to investigate student experiences and …

Establishing A Scholarship Of Teaching And Learning Fellows Program, Jennifer Friberg, Mark Deruiter

Teaching and Learning in Communication Sciences & Disorders

Teaching and Learning in Communication Sciences and Disorders established a scholarship of teaching and learning (SoTL) Fellows program in 2022. The SoTL Fellows program engaged with five different mentored projects over the course of one year. Fellows were invited to submit manuscripts regarding their reflections on SoTL, as well as their original research, for this issue of TLCSD.

Postural Control In Adults With Age-Related Hearing Loss, Elizabeth Tobener

Alternative Theses and Dissertations (AETDs)

The present study investigated postural control measures in adults with age-related hearing loss (ARHL). Individuals between the age of 50 and 70 were recruited (10 with normal hearing, 32 with ARHL) and evaluated using pure-tone audiometry, vestibular function assessments, and postural control measures. Results of this study revealed significant correlations between ARHL and cervical vestibular evoked myogenic potential (VEMPs) and ocular VEMPs. As ARHL increased, amplitude of cervical VEMPs and ocular VEMPs decreased. There were no significant correlations for ARHL and video head impulse test (vHIT) gain. Single leg stance with head tilt was significantly associated with ARHL. As ARHL …

Representation Of Nouns And Verbs During Play Between Caregivers And Children With Developmental Language Disorder, Alaina Grissom

Alternative Theses and Dissertations (AETDs)

Purpose. This project compared how children and caregivers use gestures and objects to contribute to the representation of nouns and verbs during play interactions between children with developmental language disorder (DLD) and their caregivers. Observations were used to determine if there was any differentiation in how children or caregivers used gestures and/or objects when nouns and verbs were presented within the play context.

Methods. Observations of parent-child dyads were recorded at a local children’s museum. All dyads included children with DLD between four and six years of age. The child and caregiver’s use of gestures and objects within the interaction …