Communication Sciences and Disorders Commons^™

Exploration Of The Environmental Contexts And The Social And Emotional Health And Wellness Of Individuals With Intellectual Developmental Disorders, Melanie Perez, Pamela A. Kasyan-Howe, Sabina Khan

Fall 2024 OTD Capstone Symposium

This research-based capstone project is intended to convey background evidence about the problem of adults with intellectual developmental disorders (IDD) experiencing decreased social participation, physical activity, stress, and environmental factors.

Early Detection Of Pediatric Permanent Hearing Loss: A Population-Based Retrospective Cohort Study, Janet Olds, Elizabeth M Fitzpatrick, Stuart G. Nicholls, Laura C. Rosella, Sarah G. Spruin, Marie M. Pigeon, Joanne M. Whittingam, James Macdougall, David M. Schramm, Eric I. Benchimol

Journal of Early Hearing Detection and Intervention

Evidence has indicated that Early Hearing Detection and Intervention (EHDI) programs have lowered the age of identifying permanent hearing loss (PHL) in childhood, a first step to intervention. However, limited research has compared the age of diagnosis before and after implementation in one jurisdiction across the full range of PHL.

Methods: Children diagnosed with PHL in Ottawa, Canada were identified from the Child Hearing Lab database at the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario and linked to Ontario health administrative data. Age of identification of PHL of children born in the pre-infant hearing program (IHP) era (1991-2002) was compared to those …

Improving Newborn Hearing Screening For Community Births: Update From The Michigan Midwives Newborn Hearing Screening Program, Shannon B. Palmer, Nan Asher, Gina Cooper

Journal of Early Hearing Detection and Intervention

Objectives. To determine the effectiveness of a hearing screening training program for midwives who attend community births.

Methods. The data for this study was obtained from the mandatory reporting data to the Michigan Early Hearing Detection and Intervention Program (MI EHDI). Data included the total births and screening rates of babies born at home or in a birthing center in Michigan in the years 2020 and 2021. There were 90 birth attendants who oversaw 2711 community births across the two study years.

Results. The results of this study found that having a midwife who possessed a hearing screening machine increased …

Supporting Entry-Level Speech-Language Pathologists Who Serve Children Who Are Deaf Or Hard-Of-Hearing In Early Intervention, Kristina Blaiser, Hannah Daw, Blair Richlin, Jenn Gallup

Journal of Early Hearing Detection and Intervention

The aim of this study was to increase understanding of what is considered key information for entry-level speech-language pathologists (SLPs) serving children who are DHH. Specifically, this study explored skills and strategies that could be integrated into SLP graduate curriculum to increase entry-level provider confidence and knowledge. An online survey was distributed to providers of the DHH within the United States and included a) key skills and strategies recommended for entry-level providers serving children who are DHH b) barriers experienced by entry-level providers and c) demographics. The skills and strategies that emerged as most important according to participants (n …

Real-World Assessment Of Listener Preference For Hearing Aid Technology Levels In Socially Involved Situations, Danielle Glista, Robin O'Hagan, Krystal Beh, Jeff Crukley, Susan Scollie, Leonard Cornelisse

Communication Sciences and Disorders Publications

Introduction: Current hearing aids have an abundance of feature options and technologies. It is important to understand the clinical impact of hearing aid technology selection and how to individualize fittings to optimize hearing aid performance according to listening environment. To probe the naturalistic listening experiences researchers can use in-situ outcome measures. Survey based real-world assessments can increase knowledge of hearing aid users’ everyday scenarios, beyond the limits of lab-based scenarios. This study aimed to assess the relationship between subjective preference ratings of adult listeners and hearing aid technology level using Ecological Momentary Assessment (EMA). A secondary research question explored survey …

Analyzing Errors Across Nonword Repetition Tasks For Clinical Utility Among Children Who Speak African American English, Tatum Carver-Dews

LSU Master's Theses

Purpose

Within the context of African American English (AAE), this study aimed to examine the clinical utility of three different types of NWR tasks to differentiate children with Developmental Language Disorder (DLD) from those who are typically developing (TD), by percentage of phonemes correct (PPC) and by type of error (e.g., consonants or vowels; omissions or substitutions). Additionally, this study allowed for examination of the relationship between the children’s NWR performance and their density of dialect-specific forms.

Methods

The data came from 50 kindergarteners (25 females, 25 males) who had participated in a multi-year study of childhood DLD within the …

Verbal Working Memory And Syntactic Comprehension Segregate Into The Dorsal And Ventral Streams, Respectively, William Matchin, Zeinab K. Mollasaraei, Leonardo Bonilha, Christopher Rorden, Gregory Hickok, Dirk B. Den Ouden, Julius Fridriksson

Communication Sciences and Disorders Faculty Articles and Research

Syntactic processing and verbal working memory are both essential components to sentence comprehension. Nonetheless, the separability of these systems in the brain remains unclear. To address this issue, we performed causal-inference analyses based on lesion and connectome network mapping using MRI and behavioural testing in two groups of individuals with chronic post-stroke aphasia. We employed a rhyme judgement task with heavy working memory load without articulatory confounds, controlling for the overall ability to match auditory words to pictures and to perform a metalinguistic rhyme judgement, isolating the effect of working memory load (103 individuals). We assessed non-canonical sentence comprehension, isolating …

Neurodivergent Experiences In Communication Sciences And Disorders Programs As Reflected In Reddit, Shadha Al Kalbani

Honors Theses

By definition, neurodivergent students are those whose brain function differs significantly from societal expectations (Walker, 2014). The term ‘neurodivergent’ is associated with the Neurodiversity Movement. Although the Neurodiversity Movement was spearheaded by the Autistic1 community, the term commonly includes other forms of neurodivergence such as ADHD and dyslexia. The purpose of this study was to explore the experiences of neurodivergent students in Communication Sciences Disorders (CSD) programs, where systematic data on their demographics and experience is relatively limited. Specifically, this study analysed posts from the online social media platform Reddit that are dedicated to the college experience of neurodivergent students …

The Impacts Of Co-Occurring Developmental Language Disorder On The Academic, Interpersonal, And Behavioral Profiles Of Children With Adhd, Kirsten M. Hannig Russell, Sean M. Redmond

Faculty Publications

Purpose: Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a multifactorial disorder that has been linked to increased risk for behavioral, academic, and interpersonal problems. Developmental language disorder (DLD) has also been linked to poor outcomes in these areas. The presence of co-occurring disorders in children’s profiles is generally associated with poorer outcomes relative to profiles consisting of only one disorder. This study investigated the extent to which co-occurring DLD in children already identified with ADHD presented increased risk for severity of their primary ADHD symptoms, the presence of secondary behavioral problems, and/or increased problems in the tertiary areas of academic performance and interpersonal …

A Comparison Of Vestibular Function In Young Adult Musicians And Non-Musician Peers, Alexandria W. Greene, Ashley G. Flagge, Nicholas S. Stanley

Ashley Flagge Publications

Purpose: The majority of college-level musicians exceed the daily recommended noise dose level during instrumental practices and performances, although less than one-third report wearing hearing protection while playing their instruments. Although the hazardous effects of music on the auditory system have been established, even in young adult musicians still early in their musical careers, the effects of music on the vestibular system are still unclear. The purpose of the present study was to examine vestibular/balance differences between young adult musicians and non-musicians to determine the effects of music exposure on the vestibular system.

Method: Young adult participants aged 18-27 years …

Caregiver Involvement In Pediatric Speech-Language Pathology, Kathryn Ticknor

Theses & Honors Papers

This study explores how caregivers and speech-language pathologists (SLPs) perceive caregiver involvement in pediatric speech therapy services. The research addresses how and when caregiver input is solicited, and to what extent the services children receive reflect caregivers’ expressed concerns and priorities. Using a two-phase survey design, caregivers and speech-language pathologists from private practices in Virginia provided quantitative responses on the importance, frequency, and effectiveness of collaboration. Overall, caregivers reported moderate levels of involvement (mean score: 3.88/5). Contrary to conventional wisdom, caregivers’ level of involvement was not directly correlated with their level of satisfaction, suggesting other factors, such as communication quality …

Inattentional Deafness And Musical Training: Effects Of Perceptual Load On Tonal And Verbal Auditory Suppression, Annelise Coffey

All-Inclusive List of Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Inattentional deafness (ID) is a cognitive phenomenon of which we have relatively little understanding. The current study attempted to address this by considering current cognitive theories of thought and examined how musical training affects incidence rates of inattentional deafness. This study utilized a cognitive task and auditory stimuli previously designed to elicit inattentional deafness and measured musical training by administering the Goldsmith’s Musical Sophistication Index. Participants were instructed to engage in a high-load cognitive task, providing a condition in which inattentional deafness is likely to occur. During the task, a brief pure tone was presented simultaneously with the visual task …

Telerehabilitation For Aphasia (Terra) Phase Ii Trial Design, Christy Cassarly, Alexandra Basilakos, Lisa Johnson, Janina Wilmskoetter, Jordan Elm, Argye E. Hillis, Leonardo Bonilha, Chris Rorden, Gregory Hickok, Dirk B. Den Ouden, Julius Fridriksson

Communication Sciences and Disorders Faculty Articles and Research

Background and purpose

Methods

How Speech-Language Pathologists Can Collaborate With A Well-Meaning Judiciary To Improve Jury Instructions, Lillian N. Stiegler, Rebecca L. Parker

Journal of Interprofessional Practice and Collaboration

Abstract

Purpose: Many U.S. adults are called upon to fulfill civic responsibilities through jury duty. Jury participation is a responsibility, but it is also a privilege that ensures the balance of power between government and citizens. Problems arise when jury instructions are presented using complex language that challenges the comprehension of laypersons with and without language and literacy differences, negatively influencing the juror’s participation experience and trial outcomes. In spite of plain language mandates and clear findings regarding the average literacy abilities of U.S. adults, much of the legal community persists in the use of difficult jury instructions.

Method: Academic …

The Impact Of Hearing Aid User Speech On Environment Classification And Own Voice Listener Preferences, Robert Andrew Budinsky Iii

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Hearing aids (HA) have improved over the past few decades with advanced signal processing, such as environment classification and background noise reduction, but are still limited by challenges related to when the user is speaking. These challenges include the potential interference a HA user’s voice has on device environment classification and the potential influence a HA has on own voice (OV) sound quality. However, the effects of OV on HA environment classification and signal processing are not well established, nor are the desired HA program settings regarding OV listening preferences. In this study, a combination of electroacoustic and behavioral methods …

Systematic Review And Meta-Analysis Of Outcomes In Type 1 Thyroplasty Comparing Silastic To Gore-Tex, Dylan G Vance, David Z Allen, Amy B Leming, Madisyn Cox, Sonya E Fogg, Sameer H Siddiqui, Hallie R Wilson, Andrew G Tritter

Library Staff Publications

OBJECTIVE: Type 1 Thyroplasty is a well-established procedure used for medializing an immobile vocal fold. Silastic and Gore-Tex are the two most common materials used to accomplish this, but comparative data on their relative efficacy are scarce. We sought to compare outcomes between Silastic and Gore-Tex implants via systematic review and meta-analysis for unilateral vocal fold immobility.

METHODS: We collected available data from PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science on demographics, maximum phonation time (MPT), voice handicap index (VHI-10/30) score, and any other relevant metrics encountered before comparatively evaluating differences in outcomes.

RESULTS: The search yielded 1,534 records with 55 …

Mentorship Of New(Er) School-Based Speech-Language Pathologists Beyond The Clinical Fellowship: A Pilot Study, Robyn Becker

Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders Faculty Scholarship and Creative Works

Purpose:

The purpose of this pilot study was to explore the perspectives of school-based speech-language pathologists (SLPs) with varying levels of experience to identify the components of a postclinical fellow (CF) school-based speech-language pathology mentorship program, barriers to implementation, and potential solutions.

Method:

After seeking feedback from school-based SLPs, a survey was created and distributed via e-mail and national social media sites. Topics included gathering perspectives about experiences with school-based speech-language pathology mentorship, components of a possible post-CF mentorship program, barriers to implementation, and potential solutions.

Results:

Sixty-five school-based SLPs with varying years of experience responded to the survey. Results …

Thoughts From The Frontlines: Canadian Perspectives In Adopting And Implementing Recommended Clinical Labels In Preschool Speech-Language Pathology, Alison Lynn Csercsics, Lauren Denusik, Barbara Jane Cunningham

PRECISe Preschool Speech and Language Publications

Purpose:

Method:

Efficacy Of Complexity-Based Target Selection For Treating Morphosyntactic Deficits In Children With Developmental Language Disorder And Children With Down Syndrome: A Single-Case Experimental Design, Kirsten M. Hannig Russell, Julie L. Wambaugh, John L. Davis, Sean M. Redmond

Faculty Publications

Purpose: Selecting targets for morphosyntactic intervention is a critical compo-nent of treatment planning. The complexity approach suggests that, by treating a complex morphosyntactic target, improvements will occur for the treated structure and for related, simpler structures. This study evaluated the efficacy of the complexity approach for treating morphosyntactic deficits by targeting a complex BE verb question structure for children with developmental language disorder (DLD) and children with Down syndrome (DS) and observing its impact on treated and untreated BE verb structures. We also explored whether etiology impacted our participants’ treatment responses.

Method: Three participants with DLD and three with DS …

A Global Comparison Of Communication Intervention Strategies For Justice-Involved Youth, Sophia Janeiro Martinez

OUR Journal: ODU Undergraduate Research Journal

Purpose: This paper explores the intricate relationship between communication disorders and delinquent youth behavior. It will explore the detrimental impact of zero-tolerance policies and their contribution to the school-to-prison pipeline. It will introduce issues, such as complex Miranda warning diction, and the benefits of including speech-language pathologists (SLPs) to aid in youth comprehension. Additionally, it will propose the integration of SLPs within the juvenile justice system to assist in communication between justice-involved youth (JIY) and justice professionals during conversations, questioning, and trials or hearings. Furthermore, this paper examines the roles of SLPs within juvenile justice systems abroad, including Canada, …