Communication Sciences and Disorders Commons^™

Enhancing Ecological Validity In Speech-In-Noise Testing: Integrating Virtual Reality For A Multisensory Audiological Experience, Paulina Lee

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

Despite the remarkable advances in hearing healthcare technology, the speech recognition tests used in routine clinical audiological assessment have remained essentially the same for decades.  Monosyllabic word recognition tests in quiet, such as the Northwestern University Auditory Test No. 6 (NU-6; Tillman & Carhart, 1966), have served as the audiology field’s default measure of speech understanding.  Modern speech-in-noise (SIN) tests, such as the QuickSIN (Killion et al., 2004), have emerged, yet they remain auditory-only, leaving an unignorable gap between what clinical tests measure and how patients communicate in daily life.  The present study examined whether pairing a standard SIN test …

A Comparison Of Manufacturers’ Claims Of Attenuation Rates In Non-Custom Earplugs, Skyler M. Shipley

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

Recreational and social environments frequently expose individuals to high intensity noise environments; however, the use of hearing protection devices (HPDs) remains limited. This study evaluated whether non-custom, over-the-counter musicians’ earplugs provide attenuation consistent with manufacturers’ claims and whether cost is associated with performance. Six commercially available earplug models were tested using both human participants and a KEMAR manikin system. Attenuation was measured across frequencies from 250–8000 Hz (octave and inter-octave frequencies) and were tested using different ear tip sizes. Results indicated that several earplugs achieved attenuation levels comparable to or exceeding their advertised noise reduction ratings (NRR), though consistency varied …

Music Appreciation In Cochlear Implant Users: A Questionnaire, Hanna Davidson

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

Cochlear implants provide significant benefits for speech perception in individuals with severe to profound hearing loss; however, music perception and appreciation remain challenging due to limited spectral and temporal resolution. This study examined music appreciation in post lingually deafened adult cochlear implant users, focusing on changes in enjoyment, listening behaviors, and subjective experiences following implantation. Sixteen adults completed a 36-item questionnaire assessing pre- and post-implant music engagement, perceived sound quality, and emotional responses to music. Quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and inferential statistics, and qualitative responses were analyzed thematically.

Results indicated a moderate decline in music enjoyment following …

Accepts: Advancing Communication Competence And Equitable Practices When Training Students, Imani Smith, Jamie Mayer, Tertia Jeppson

Honors Capstones

This project aims to collaboratively create an online, interactive experiential learning program to enhance students’ communication skills when engaging with adults who have cognitive-communication disabilities (CCD). Effective communication is vital for patient-centered care, yet training often lacks contributions from those with lived experience. Using a community-based participatory research framework, this pilot study centers on a needs assessment through focus groups  involving adults with CCD (n=4-8 participants). Initial pilot work will involve structured discussions to examine views on communication barriers and strategies. Data will be analyzed qualitatively to identify main themes that guide program development. Early findings are expected to emphasize …

Empowering Women: Understanding Neurological Changes In The Aging Brain, Joy Mckenzie

InnovateHER Meeting 2026

Women tend to have more neurological changes than men as they age starting in their mid-30s (Mosconi, 2024). While aging is a natural process, the neurological changes can impact a woman’s personal and professional quality of life (Faubion et al., 2023; Gravini, 2023). For years, women’s neurological symptoms have been ignored by being told that their experiences are normal and just a part of life (Haver, 2025). That narrative is starting to shift with the increased awareness of changes specific to women. There are resources to assess cognitive changes such as memory, processing speed, and word finding and strategies to …

Learner-Centered Education As A Model For Promoting Client-Centered Care In Communication Sciences And Disorders, Shanna R. Callewaert, Sarah M. Ginsberg

Teaching and Learning in Communication Sciences & Disorders

As the student voice is increasingly valued in teaching and learning within higher education, learner-centered education (LCE) has gained traction as a method of creating classrooms that are unique to students’ desires and expectations (Barr & Tagg, 1995; Weimer, 2002). Similarly, client-centered care can be employed as a way for clinicians to shape treatment based on clients’ individual goals (Barry & Edgman-Levitan, 2012; Epstein & Street, 2011). This paper explores the relationships between LCE and client-centered care, noting the importance of engaging communication sciences and disorders students in LCE as it can promote the use of client-centered care in their …

Faculty And Student Perspectives On Course Collaborations Within Communication Sciences And Disorders, Shanna R. Callewaert, Sarah M. Ginsberg

Teaching and Learning in Communication Sciences & Disorders

The collaborative course (re)design (CCRD) process provides faculty and students with an opportunity to collaborate in partnership to redesign a course that the faculty teaches and that the student has previously taken. This process amplifies student voices and allows faculty to increase their understanding of students’ learning and experiences. However, barriers of CCRD, such as faculty members’ desires to retain decision-making control, students’ hesitations to share feedback, and logistical concerns, prevent many faculty and students from taking part in the process. This qualitative study sought to gain insight into the perspectives held by students and faculty in the communication sciences …

A Qualitative Job Posting Analysis From Missouri To Guide Competency-Based Curriculum In Slp Education, Megan Batzer

Teaching and Learning in Communication Sciences & Disorders

Competency-based education is a major trend for health professions education and one of the topics the Ad Hoc Committee to Plan Next Steps to Redesign Entry-Level Education for Speech-Language Pathologists (SLPs) recently explored. Competency-based education is an outcomes-based educational model where the focus is on development and mastery of specific knowledge and skills through instruction, assessment, and feedback. Competency-based education encompasses multiple educational theories including the self-determination theory, self-directed learning, self-assessment, and self-efficacy. Understanding the perspectives of key constituents, such as employers, on the setting-specific and across-setting knowledge, skills, and attributes required for the clinical fellowship (CF) experience could guide …

Improving Speech-Language Pathology Graduate Student Confidence In Evidence-Based Practice, Courtney Olson, Carla Tierney-Hendricks

Teaching and Learning in Communication Sciences & Disorders

Evidence-based practice (EBP) is widely acknowledged to be beneficial and necessary for the treatment of patients. However, a gap between evidence-based practice research and use is present. One way to improve EBP implementation is by focusing on incorporating explicit EBP instruction at the graduate student level. This study describes the development of a series of learning modules based on key EBP principles in order to increase graduate student confidence in EBP. Twenty-four first-semester graduate students were followed over the course of 8-weeks, with one group of twelve students receiving structured supplemental learning and the other group receiving only their traditional …

Exploring Direct Support Professionals' (Dsps) Attitudes Regarding Trauma Informed Care And Its Impact On Turnover Intention, Lorraine D'Sylva-Lee

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

The relationship between Direct Support Professionals’ (DSPs’) attitudes toward trauma-informed care (TIC) and their turnover intention has remained empirically untested, despite DSPs’ exposure to primary and secondary trauma. An estimated 8.38 million Americans with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) depend on this workforce, yet 2024 turnover rates reach 53.7%. This convergent mixed methods study examined TIC attitudes, turnover intention, and their relationship among 109 DSPs in IDD provider agencies in New Jersey. Grounded in the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB), the cross-sectional design used the ARTIC-10, TIS-6, and two open-ended items. DSPs with more favorable TIC attitudes were significantly less …

Family Quality Of Life And Infant Language Development: A Pilot Study Of Infants Without A History Of Chronic Otitis Media, Aubreigh Cartwright

Dissertations, 2020-current

Chronic otitis media (COM) is a condition associated with hearing fluctuations, recurrent medical interventions, and speech-language concerns. While the audiological impacts for children are well documented, there is less research pertaining to parents’ and caregivers’ experiences. The goal of the overall line of inquiry was to examine the impact of chronic otitis media on parent and caregiver quality of life. Parents and caregivers of ten typically developing infants from six to twelve months of age without COM were administered parent-proxy instruments to determine quality of life, as well as expressive and receptive lexicon. The parents were administered a family intake …

A Measure Of Spatial Orientation In Healthy Adults, Lauren Maloney

Dissertations, 2020-current

Spatial orientation is essential for effective navigation and movement, relying on the integration of sensory inputs from systems such as proprioception, vision, audition, and the vestibular system. The vestibular system, responsible for detecting rotational and linear movements, plays a crucial role in maintaining balance and spatial awareness. However, its specific influence on spatial orientation remains underexplored. This study investigates how vestibular input influences spatial orientation accuracy by examining participants' ability to estimate angular displacement during rotational stimuli. Twenty participants underwent testing using a rotational chair, with stimuli at varying rotational amplitudes (5-400 degrees). Along with their perceived angular displacement (i.e. …

The Effect Of Head Coverings On Directional Microphone Performance, Mariam Mohamed

Dissertations, 2020-current

Background: Directional microphones in hearing aids are a well-established strategy for enhancing speech intelligibility in background noise. While previous studies have examined the effects of hair, spectacles, and earmold venting, no systematic research has addressed whether head coverings, commonly worn for cultural, religious, or personal reasons, affect directional performance.

Objective: This study aimed to determine whether a thin cotton head covering alters the directivity index (DI) of premium receiver-in-canal hearing aids from four leading manufacturers, using laboratory-controlled conditions. 

Methods: A Knowles Electronics Manikin for Acoustic Research (KEMAR) was positioned within a sound-treated room to measure DI for both omnidirectional and …

How Audiologists Are Using Adapted Cognitive Behavioral Therapy For Tinnitus Management: A Preliminary Study, Katherine M. Mueller

Dissertations, 2020-current

Audiologists interact with patients reporting bothersome tinnitus frequently, however there is no standardized protocol to follow when treating/counseling these patients. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is highly researched and has been proven to alleviate bothersome tinnitus symptoms, yet audiologists are not clinically trained in this tinnitus management. Specific forms of CBT that were analyzed in this study include Attention Shifting, Neurophysiological Education, and Progressive Muscle Relaxations. This study surveyed current audiologists to determine how they are using adapted CBT techniques (aCBTt) for tinnitus management. This questionnaire aimed to investigate a) the effect of audiologists’ practice duration on their frequency to recommend …

Stigma Predicts Participation And Autonomy In Chronic Vestibulopathy: An Explanatory Mixed Methods Study, Brandy L. Hollins

Dissertations, 2020-current

Many vestibular disorders are “invisible”, not widely recognized, and challenging for patients to describe. However, its impact is visible and leads to significant challenges. Research has shown that stigma associated with other chronic health conditions can detrimentally affect patient outcomes, suggesting a greater need in this area. The World Health Organization’s (WHO) International Classification of Functioning, Disability, and Health (ICF) elucidates the role of physical, social, and cultural factors in the manifestation of health conditions within a universal framework. A critical aspect of the ICF’s contextual factors for individuals with vestibular loss is societal perception. Few studies have reported stigmatization …

Novel Paradigm For Assessing Vestibular Perception In Children, Nicole Kirk

Dissertations, 2020-current

While objective vestibular reflexive testing has been heavily researched, there are few studies analyzing subjective vestibular perception and to date no progress has been reported on motion perception in children. It is unknown if children perceive motion like adults creating a need for research comparing these age groups for thorough clinical profiles. This study adapted an adult psychophysics protocol for school-aged children and collected data on ten typically developing children and ten healthy adults. Participants rotated at various peak velocities and frequencies in a rotary chair and were asked to report their spatial orientation (i.e., how far around they rotated) …

Influence Of Semantic Richness On Word Form Learning In Children With Developmental Language Disorder, Mckenzie Scoppa, Sara Benham, Allison Gladfelter, Amanda Steeb, Lisa Goffman

CISLL Publications

Purpose:

Children with developmental language disorder (DLD) show a word form learning deficit, characterized by inaccurate and variable productions of novel words. We investigated whether, when a novel word form is introduced, incremental exposure to either a sparse visual referent or a relatively semantically rich story influences the phonetic accuracy and the phonological and articulatory variability of production in children with DLD and their typically developing (TD) peers.

Method:

Thirty-six preschoolers (18 DLD, 18 TD) aged 4;1–5;11 (years;months) were exposed to six novel words, two in each of three semantic cue conditions: no cues, sparse cues (visual referent), and rich …

Parent Attitudes Toward Augmentative And Alternative Communication (Aac) In Children With Speech And Language Disorders, Megan N. Wells, Jane Grothaus

Undergraduate Research Journal

Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) systems support individuals who experience difficulty communicating through spoken language. While research demonstrates that AAC can significantly improve communication outcomes, caregiver perceptions play a critical role in the successful implementation of these systems. The purpose of this study was to examine parent and caregiver attitudes toward AAC use among children with speech and language disorders. A fifteen-question online survey was distributed to caregivers of children currently using AAC systems. Responses from caregivers (n = 17) were analyzed using descriptive statistics and thematic analysis of open-ended responses. Results indicated that most caregivers reported improvements in their …

How Screen Time Affects Language Development In Children Ages Three To Five Years, Alyssa R. Sherman

Honors Thesis

Screen time has become an increasingly prominent part of early childhood, particularly following shifts in daily routines after the COVID-19 pandemic. This literature review examines how screen time affects language development in children ages three to five, a critical developmental period for expressive and receptive language skills. The review synthesizes current research on the use of passive and interactive screens and their associations with language acquisition, cognitive development, social communication, and physical health outcomes. Across studies, a consistent pattern emerges: excessive screen time is strongly associated with delayed language milestones, reduced social communication skills, poorer sleep quality, and increased physical …

Orthographic Representations In American Sign Language Fingerspelling, Zed Sehyr, Lauren Fillet, Kiana Billot-Vasquez, Emily Saunders, Karen Emmorey

Communication Sciences and Disorders Faculty Articles and Research

This study examined fingerspelling accuracy and error patterns in deaf American Sign Language (ASL) signers and written spelling in hearing English speakers to investigate how orthographic representations are shaped by phonological, visual, and motor encoding strategies. Deaf participants (n = 39) completed a fingerspelling repetition task, while hearing participants (n = 35) completed a written dictation task using the same word and pseudoword stimuli. While overall accuracy did not differ significantly between groups, deaf participants exhibited qualitatively distinct error patterns, including higher rates of deletions and transpositions, compared to hearing participants who made more substitution errors. Deaf participants also produced …