Communication Sciences and Disorders Commons^™

Elementary School-Based Speech-Language Pathologists' Perspectives On The Management Of Pediatric Feeding And Swallowing Disorders, Kelsi L. Szakovits

Senior Honors Theses and Projects

Speech-language pathologists (SLPs) frequently serve autistic students in the school setting. Research reveals a correlation between autism, sensory processing, and pediatric feeding disorder (PFD). As a result, autistic students may have compromised nutritional health and safety, which stands to impact their ability to access the curriculum. PFD is under the scope of the school-based speech-language pathologist’s practice. However, data has shown a perceived lack of confidence and a limited number of support and resources in the educational setting for SLPs to carry out interventions. This qualitative study will seek to understand the perspectives of elementary school-based SLPs regarding the implementation …

Clinicians Perspective On The Implementation Of Person-Centered Care In Persons With Aphasia, Carmen S. Alderman

Theses and Dissertations--Communication Sciences and Disorders

This paper examines speech-language pathologist perspective on implementing person-centered care for persons with aphasia. Person-centered care is based on the social model, which emphasizes the importance of including the client. The survey addressed clinicians’ use of person-centered care related to collaborative goal setting and treatment planning, as well as facilitators and barriers to implementing person-centered care for individuals with aphasia based on the view of practicing clinicians across a variety of settings. The results indicated most speech-language pathologists have heard of person-centered care, understand the importance of involving clients in goal setting, ask clients about their preferences when setting goals, …

Multiple Timescales Of Context Influence Perceptual Sensitivity To Common Pairings Of Musical Pitch And Timbre, Christian E. Stilp, Isabel Adames, Anya E. Shorey

Speech Pathology and Audiology Faculty Research and Publications

Previous studies have established that musical pitch and timbre (specifically, spectral shape) perceptually covary: lower pitches are associated with darker timbres (less higher-frequency energy) and higher pitches are associated with brighter timbres (more higher-frequency energy). In four experiments, perceptual sensitivity to this relationship was assessed in pitch labeling tasks when instrument timbre varied in ways that respected or violated this pattern (Consistent or Reversed trials). Performance was influenced by context at multiple timescales: block-level (stimulus type), experimental session-level (block order or configuration), and longer-term experience (musical training background). Across experiments, participants performed near ceiling accuracy for Consistent stimuli, but were …

Revealing Spatiotemporal Neural Activation Patterns In Electrocorticography Recordings Of Human Speech Production By Mutual Information, Julio Kovacs, Dean Krusienski, Minu Maninder, Willy Wriggers

Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering Faculty Publications

Background

Spatiotemporal mapping of neural activity during continuous speech production has been traditionally approached using correlation coefficient (CC) analysis between cortical signals and speech recordings. A prior study employed this approach using electrocorticography (ECoG) data from participants who underwent invasive intracranial monitoring for epilepsy. However, CC cannot detect nonlinear relationships and is dominated by the correspondence between periods of silence and of non-silence.

New Method

We introduce the mutual information (MI) measure, which can capture both linear and nonlinear dependencies. We validated CC and MI on the sub-second spatiotemporal brain activity recorded during continuous speech tasks. To refine the results, …

Fundamental And Formant Frequencies Of Vowels In Ventriloquial And Normal Speech, Corrie S. Wiesner, Manish Rami

Communication Sciences & Disorders Faculty Publications

This study explored the fundamental frequency and the first and second formant frequencies of vowels produced in ventriloquial and normal speech. It tested whether these frequencies differ by speech type and vowels. Voice recordings were collected from a participant who produced words containing ten target English vowels in normal and ventriloquial speech. Digitized recordings were analyzed to determine formant frequencies. A multivariate analysis detected statistically significant differences in the three frequency measures across speech type. Speech type by frequency interaction was examined via overlapping vowel quadrilateral plots that explored differences in formants of vowels across speech type and the vowel …

Examining The Relationship Between Cognitive Auditory Processing And Sex Hormones, Trey A. Cline

Theses and Dissertations--Gerontology

Estrogen and progesterone have demonstrated modulatory effects on central auditory nervous system (CANS) function. Post-menopausal females often present to audiology clinics with complaints of difficulty hearing in background noise. However, these individuals often have normal peripheral hearing sensitivity on standard audiometry. Previous studies using the auditory brainstem response (ABR) in post-menopausal females demonstrated longer response latencies compared to their premenopausal counterparts, suggesting that sound does not transmit through the CANS as efficiently. However, to date, the available literature focused on sex hormones and the CANS relies mainly on objective measures, predominantly the ABR. The ABR reflects physiologic function through the …

Pediatric Hearing Loss: Screening For Developmental Delays Among Children With Hearing Aids, Kelsey Wallace

Entry-Level Occupational Therapy Doctorate - Doctoral Capstone Symposium

Children with hearing impairments are at risk for developmental delay, and research has shown that children born with sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) are at a higher risk for delays in motor, sensory, and social skills development. The literature points to an obvious impact of hearing loss on development, but also a lack of screening for this phenomenon beyond language development skills. A doctoral capstone project was conducted to pilot a process for the implementation of developmental screening for children with hearing aids (HAs), as well as subsequent therapy referrals and parent education, in collaboration with a hospital-based pediatric audiology department. …

Practicing Clinicians' Views Of The Life Participation Approach To Aphasia Therapy, Stephanie H. Mays

Theses and Dissertations--Communication Sciences and Disorders

The Life Participation Approach to Aphasia therapy (LPAA) aligns with a person-centered, functional approach to speech therapy. Past research has demonstrated that persons with aphasia (PWA) benefit from this approach and prefer it when compared to the traditional medical model to therapy. However, a disconnect between PWA preferences and SLP treatment approaches in therapy persists. This study aims to identify both barriers and facilitators that SLPs face when implementing LPAA. Five CCC-SLPs practicing in the state of KY with experience working with PWA were recruited as participants. Participants were placed into two focus groups, with each group meeting for 2-3 …

Critical Appraisal Of Language Assessment Tasks For African American Children, Tamara Diana Jacobs

Selected Full-Text Master Theses 2021-

Language assessment is a fundamental aspect of the speech-language therapist's role. However, a critical examination of standardized assessments reveals their historical association with constructing disability and exerting control over individuals with a disability, often rooted in the medical model of disability (Nair et al., 2023). As a result, there has been a growing interest in developing alternative methods for evaluating language and speech, particularly in diverse populations (Hyter, 2022). This interest has extended to the study of assessment methods within urban communities, including African American English (AAE) speakers.

Language assessment is a fundamental aspect of the speech-language therapist's role. However, …

Exploring Physicians/Physician Assistants Perspectives On The Challenges And Communication Approaches When Communicating With People With Aphasia, Alexandra M. Rogers

SURF Posters 2025

Aphasia is an acquired language disorder that results from damage to the language areas of the brain, typically located within the left hemisphere. Individuals with aphasia often experience significant challenges while communicating with other individuals, including physicians and healthcare professionals. These barriers can ultimately lead to negative impacts on the quality of care, patient experiences, and overall health outcomes. The lack of consistent use of communication strategies as well as a general misunderstanding of aphasia by medical staff, further contributes to communication breakdowns. As a result, medical assessments can be misinterpreted, treatments may be delayed, and patients may feel less …

Promoting Parent-Child Connectedness: Insights From A Parent Education Training., Bisola E. Duyile, Robyn Becker, Kate Papas, Shanta K. Pamphile

Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders Faculty Scholarship and Creative Works

Purpose: This study explores the interrelationship of speech, language, and literacy development, parentchild connectedness, and children’s mental health when viewed as social determinants of health, specifically among families of children with developmental disabilities. Through interprofessional collaboration, researchers aim to identify effective strategies that parents can use to enhance their children’s communication skills and emotional well-being.

Methods: A mixed methods design was employed, involving a post-workshop survey completed by five mothers. The quantitative component included Likert scale items to measure satisfaction with social support. We also evaluated satisfaction with the workshop. The qualitative component comprised openended questions about newly learned tools …

Autistic Young Adults' Experiences And Recommendations For Strength Training, Ashlyn Barry, Justin A. Haegele, Daniel Schaefer, Kristen A. Pickett, Luis Columna

Human Movement Studies & Special Education Faculty Publications

Strength training can be a beneficial form of physical activity (PA), but little research has examined how autistic individuals experience it or what makes programs accessible and supportive. Therefore, the purpose of this study was twofold: (1) to explore autistic young adults’ experiences with strength training, and (2) examine their recommendations for designing programs that meet their needs. Thirteen autistic young adults (ages 22–25) participated in semi-structured interviews about their strength training experiences and preferences for program design. A qualitative descriptive approach with a constructivist lens guided reflexive analysis. Participants described key factors that influenced their participation in strength training, …

Clear Speech Intervention In Parkinson’S Disease: A Single Case Design Examining Acoustic And Aerodynamic Outcomes Following A Structured Protocol, Zachariah Jordan Backus

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

ABSTRACT

Clear Speech Intervention in Parkinson’s Disease: A Single Case Design Examining Acoustic and Aerodynamic Outcomes Following a Structured Protocol

Zachariah Backus

Purpose:

Parkinson Disease (PD) is a neuro-progressive movement disorder that impacts all movement of the body, including speech production. Ninety percent of individuals living with PD will experience hypokinetic dysarthria, a motor speech disorder, during the progression of their disease. Clear speech instruction is a treatment strategy used to increase motor speech outcomes in those with PD. Studies have shown positive changes in articulation, prosody, voice, and listener perception measures in those with PD after clear speech instruction …

The Relationship Between Motor Abilities And Cultural Factors In Autistic Children, Lindsey Marie Anderson

Graduate Research Theses & Dissertations

Autism and motor abilities have been found to be closely related. Culture affects motor development as well as the various diagnostic criteria for an autism diagnosis, yet it is rarely considered in research and in diagnostics. This study aimed to explore the relationship between cultural factors, the social characteristics of autism, and motor abilities in autistic and non-autistic children by utilizing a demographic survey, the SRS-2, and the MABC-2 Balance subtest. The information and scores were analyzed to determine if the relationship between autism characteristics still stands when cultural factors are considered, and to determine which cultural factors mediate the …

An Aphasia Friendly Questionnaire For Post-Stroke Fatigue, Abigail Best

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

A stroke is when there is lack of blood flow to part of the brain. It can cause permanent damage, such as paralysis, sensory changes, difficulty with speech and language (such as aphasia), and decreased memory. Within this project, we will discuss individuals post-stroke who are diagnosed with aphasia, which is the inability to understand and express language. Currently, there are minimal resources available to help a healthcare worker define and assess the fatigue level of a patient post-stroke who is also diagnosed with aphasia. The first objective of this research is to discuss stroke and aphasia. The second objective …

Isapa 2025: Program Guide, Catherine Carty, Gerard Masdeu Yelamos

Publications

ISAPA 2025 is a landmark international event that brings together global leaders, researchers, practitioners, and advocates in Adapted Physical Activity to ignite systemic change under the unifying theme “Shifting the Dial: From Awareness to Transformation.” Hosted in Kerry, Ireland, under the patronage of UNESCO, the symposium integrates five major events into one dynamic platform.

The program reflects IFAPA’s mission to advance inclusion, research, professional excellence, and international cooperation, while also contributing meaningfully to the implementation of global frameworks such as the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD), the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the Paris 2024 Call …

The Ethics Of Patient And Public Involvement Across The Research Process: Towards Partnership With People With Aphasia, Deborah Hersh, Mark Israel, Ciara Shiggins

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Background: Conducting Patient and Public Involvement (PPI) in health research is a way of building knowledge that incorporates the experience of service users, adds research impact, and helps avoid wasting resources on findings that have little relevance to people or cannot be implemented. We argue that there is a need to extend ethical considerations currently focused on research participants with aphasia to encompass and guide expectations of involvement in partnerships with people with aphasia across the research lifecycle.

Method: We use the 2018 revision of the Australian National Statement on Ethical Conduct in Human Research as the framework for this …

Faculty And Student Perspectives On Course Collaborations Within The Communication Sciences And Disorders Discipline, Shanna R. Morrison

Master's Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

Collaborative course (re)design (CCRD) allows faculty and students to redesign a course together that the faculty teaches and the student has previously taken. This process amplifies student voices and helps faculty better understand students’ perspectives. However, barriers such as faculty’s feelings of ownership, students’ hesitations to share feedback, and logistical challenges often discourage participation. This qualitative study explores the perspectives of students and faculty in the communication sciences and disorders discipline following their engagement in CCRD. Findings include shifts in participants’ teaching and learning perspectives, insight into partnership dynamics, logistical challenges of CCRD, and ideas for future CCRD implementation. This …

Interprofessional Collaboration To Create Visual Supports In Preschool Classrooms: Perspectives Of Speech-Language Pathology Graduate Students, Shelby L. Klick

Master's Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

This study explored the perspectives of speech-language pathology (SLP) graduate students following participation in a Preschool Visual Supports interprofessional education (IPE) project. Though IPE initiatives have become more prevalent in healthcare, they are limited in preparing future education professionals. Using qualitative inquiry, this study aimed to explore and assess the impact of an interdisciplinary collaborative project and how participation might influence SLP students’ future approach to creating visual supports for young children and their confidence to do so. Thematic analysis was used to identify themes across five semi-structured interviews conducted with SLP graduate students at a Midwest university. The data …

Elementary-School-Based Speech-Language Pathologists’ Perspectives On Implementing Literacy, Samantha Kadian

Master's Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

This study explores elementary-school-based speech-language pathologists’ (SLPs) perspectives about implementing literacy. Though the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) standards specify literacy is within their scope of practice, many school-based SLPs may not be addressing reading and writing competencies. The literature indicates that several constraints may contribute to this lack of involvement, including a lack of preparation, varied expectations, and ambiguous definitions. The purpose of this study was to gain an understanding of the perspectives of elementary-school-based SLPs. Three SLPs were interviewed in a semi-structured format, and the data from the interviews was examined using qualitative analysis. The findings indicated that SLPs …