Communication Sciences and Disorders Commons^™

Factors Contributing To Late Identification Of Deaf/Hard Of Hearing Children In Louisiana, Danielle D. Mercer, Tri Tran, Dawne Mccabe, Terri Ibieta, Dana Hubbard

Journal of Early Hearing Detection and Intervention

To ensure children who are Deaf/Hard of Hearing (D/HH) receive supports they need to reach their full potential, it is imperative that they be identified as early as possible. Early Hearing Detection and Intervention benchmarks stipulate children who are D/HH be enrolled in early intervention no later than 6 months of age. A major barrier to early enrollment is late identification. We reviewed records of children identified as D/HH in Louisiana after 6 months of age for 2015-2020 birth cohorts to determine factors contributing to the late identification. Cases were examined in-depth after it was determined that a diagnosis was …

Motivating Factors Contributing To Speech-Language Pathology Assistant Students’ Choice Of Career Path, Nicole Wells, Danielle Osmelak, Angela M. Riccelli, Ravi Nigam

Journal of Applied Disciplines

Speech Language Pathology Assistants (SLPAs) are important support personnel who play a key role in the field of communication sciences and disorders. As the client base for communication disorders grows and diversifies, there is a continuous need for service providers, including SLPAs. Given the notable shortage of skilled communication sciences and disorders professionals and the advantages that assistants can provide, exploring SLPA career decision making is especially timely and important. The current study surveyed 75 students enrolled in SLPA programs across the United States via an online 12 question survey tool, regarding their demographics, reasons for choosing to become an …

An Slp Graduate Student’S Analysis Of Language In Children With Speech Sound Disorders, Madeline Janney, Donna Thomas

Journal of Interprofessional Practice and Collaboration

Purpose

Students in allied health professional (AHP) programs are instructed in evidenced-based evaluation practices and participate in interprofessional education and practice in order to identify disorders (e.g., speech, language, gross motor, fine motor) and provide effective treatment. The purpose of this paper is to present a small-scale research study of one graduate student in an AHP program that trains speech-language pathologists.

Method

A graduate student used retrospective methodology to examine the language skills of nine children with speech sound disorders (SSD) to determine if language impairment (LI) co-existed. The student learned and used a method of language sample analysis known …

Seven Years Of Csd Book Club: Nurturing Skills And Enhancing Worldviews, Lillian N. Stiegler, Rebecca Davis, Donna Thomas, Rebecca L. Parker, Martha Sherrill

Journal of Interprofessional Practice and Collaboration

Abstract

Purpose: CSD faculty at a mid-sized public university invited students and alumni to join a monthly book club focused on topics relevant to professional practice. The goals were (1) to create a pleasurable activity that would serve as a social and intellectual forum for open dialogue; (2) to attempt to address gaps in the less tangible “soft” skills that may not be directly or thoroughly taught in courses; and (3) to help participants see beyond personal interest silos and explore new topics.

Method: The work reviews and summarizes book club research from health care, education and CSD. It describes …

The Effectiveness Of An Educational Video Intervention For People With Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Prior To Power Wheelchair Evaluations, Mark Blanchard, Kelly Connelley, Emily Copeland, Quinn Malbrough, Sara Pendleton, Ingrid Franc

Journal of Interprofessional Practice and Collaboration

PURPOSE: Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) is a neurodegenerative disease that ultimately requires a power wheelchair (PWC) as the main source of mobility. The purpose of this project was to determine the effectiveness of an educational video to prepare a client for a PWC assessment by addressing four themes: PWC features, home environment, transportation, and client self-efficacy.

METHODS: An educational video was created and used in an ALS Multidisciplinary Clinic to better prepare clients for the PWC evaluation process. The effectiveness of this video was measured using a seven-question Likert scale survey focusing on the themes of the video. Individuals living …

Proceedings Of The 2023 Iaom Convention, International Association Of Orofacial Myology

International Journal of Orofacial Myology and Myofunctional Therapy

The International Association of Orofacial Myology (IAOM) held its 2023 Convention in Chandler, Arizona from October 13 - 15. The Proceedings of the Convention contain abstracts and summaries of podium and poster presentations.

Core Vocabulary Intervention For Language-Delayed Kindergarten Students Using Augmentative And Alternative Communication, Angela M. Riccelli, Ravi Nigam

Journal of Applied Disciplines

The purpose of this study was to measure the impact of core vocabulary selection and the subsequent usage of a prescribed core vocabulary intervention over a period of one trimester (13-week period) and to report its impact on the overall communicative effectiveness of kindergarten students with language delay using augmentative and alternative communication (AAC). Study participants were provided with a pretest, speech and language therapy sessions in which intervention took place, and a posttest, which was administered by a speech–language pathologist. Intervention implementation commenced at the beginning of the school year and extended through the end of the trimester.13-week period. …

Explainable Machine Learning Reveals The Relationship Between Hearing Thresholds And Speech-In-Noise Recognition In Listeners With Normal Audiograms, Jithin Raj Balan, Hansapani Rodrigo, Udit Saxena, Srikanta K. Mishra

School of Mathematical and Statistical Sciences Faculty Publications and Presentations

Some individuals complain of listening-in-noise difficulty despite having a normal audiogram. In this study, machine learning is applied to examine the extent to which hearing thresholds can predict speech-in-noise recognition among normal-hearing individuals. The specific goals were to (1) compare the performance of one standard (GAM, generalized additive model) and four machine learning models (ANN, artificial neural network; DNN, deep neural network; RF, random forest; XGBoost; eXtreme gradient boosting), and (2) examine the relative contribution of individual audiometric frequencies and demographic variables in predicting speech-in-noise recognition. Archival data included thresholds (0.25–16 kHz) and speech recognition thresholds (SRTs) from listeners with …

Using A Refutation Text To Increase Dyslexia Knowledge In Csd Undergraduates, Dorothy Shiver, Hannah Krimm

Teaching and Learning in Communication Sciences & Disorders

The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of a refutation text on conceptual knowledge of dyslexia among pre-professional undergraduate students in communication sciences and disorders (CSD). Undergraduate students (n = 60) majoring in CSD were randomly assigned to two groups. They completed a pre-test to evaluate their conceptual knowledge of dyslexia, then read a text about dyslexia. There were two texts: a refutation text and a control text. After reading the text, students completed a post-test to evaluate their conceptual knowledge of dyslexia. Four weeks after completing the post-test, students completed a maintenance test. The refutation text …

The Development Of Speech-Language Pathologists’ Counseling Self-Efficacy, Audrey Scott, Laura Plexico, Mary J. Sandage, Allison M. Plumb

Teaching and Learning in Communication Sciences & Disorders

The purpose of this investigation was to understand, from the perspective of speech-language pathologists (SLPs), what factors contribute to the essential structure of the experience of SLPs with low perceived counseling self-efficacy (CSE), the factors that contribute to the essential structure of the experience of SLPs with high perceived CSE, and how SLPs can transition from lower to higher perceived CSE. Ten female speech-language pathologists participated in interviews to discuss their counseling experiences and the development of their personal SLP CSE. The interviews were divided into 982 meaning units. The meaning units were categorized to determine the recurring themes contributing …

Better, Faster, Stronger: Outcomes Of A Language Sample Transcription And Coding Training Study, Diane A. Ogiela, Sarah A. Aldrich

Teaching and Learning in Communication Sciences & Disorders

Although language sample analysis (LSA) is considered an important tool for high-quality child language assessment, surveys have found that its use is quite limited by school-based speech-language pathologists (SLPs). Two of the reasons often cited are limited time and limited expertise (Kemp & Klee, 1997; Pavelko et al., 2016). This study aims to evaluate the outcomes of a language sample training program on SLP students’ accuracy, efficiency, and confidence with language sample transcription and coding. Upper-division SLP undergraduates and graduate students participated in a self-paced language sample training and practice program. Participants completed online language transcription and coding training and …

Using Audacity Software To Enhance Teaching And Learning Of Hearing Science Course: A Tutorial, Nilesh Washnik, Chandan Suresh, Chao-Yang Lee

Teaching and Learning in Communication Sciences & Disorders

Audacity is a multi-platform free, open-source audio recorder and editor software. The advantage of Audacity software is as follows: easy installation and simple visual interface, no registrations or hardware requirements, and availability at no cost might make it a preferred software to carry out class demonstrations and lab activities for an undergraduate course in the Communication Sciences and Disorders discipline. The tutorial aims to illustrate how Audacity software can be used to demonstrate various psychoacoustic phenomena commonly taught in undergraduate Hearing Science courses. This tutorial is divided into fundamental and advanced concepts from the pedagogy and student learning standpoint. The …

Knowledge And Perceptions Of Slp Graduate Students Regarding Multiculturalism, Evy Jewell Hayes, Laura Amanda Mathews

Teaching and Learning in Communication Sciences & Disorders

Populations in the United States rise daily, as do the number of people who are considered multicultural. With this comes a greater need for speech-language pathologists (SLPs) who are able to assess and treat such individuals – a training process that begins in graduate programs. The primary objective of this study was to determine the knowledge and perceptions of graduate students in speech-language pathology as it pertains to multiculturalism. A survey was conducted to explore graduate students’ knowledge and perceptions of multicultural topics. Participants were recruited from programs in the southeastern United States via email. Just under 400 surveys were …

Can The Use Of Art And Active Learning Improve Retention And Observational Skill Confidence Among Audiology Graduate Students, Aurora Weaver, Ashlyn Wheat, Travis Riffle, Chelsea Powell, Lindsey Leonard, Ryleigh Prickett, Anna Hill, Larry Molt

Teaching and Learning in Communication Sciences & Disorders

Human anatomy and physiology is considered one of the most difficult courses a student can take in a pre-health professional major in the US (Slominski, et. al., 2017). Research has revealed benefits of the use of art and anatomy within medical education, including improved clinical observational skills, greater understanding of disease and patient perspectives, and greater ability to empathize (Bell & Evans, 2014). Bell and Evans (2014) argue that observational skills are often overlooked in medical education. Use of art assignments in a graduate anatomy and physiology course will be discussed with reference to design and learning outcomes. The purpose …

Exploring Strategies For Modeling Sign Language Phonology, Lee Kezar, Riley Carlin, Tejas Srinivasan, Zed Sehyr, Naomi Caselli, Jesse Thomason

Communication Sciences and Disorders Faculty Articles and Research

Like speech, signs are composed of discrete, recombinable features called phonemes. Prior work shows that models which can recognize phonemes are better at sign recognition, motivating deeper exploration into strategies for modeling sign language phonemes. In this work, we learn graph convolution networks to recognize the sixteen phoneme “types” found in ASL-LEX 2.0. Specifically, we explore how learning strategies like multi-task and curriculum learning can leverage mutually useful information between phoneme types to facilitate better modeling of sign language phonemes. Results on the Sem-Lex Benchmark show that curriculum learning yields an average accuracy of 87% across all phoneme types, outperforming …

Understanding The Resources, Barriers, Facilitators And Interests About Aging And Dementia Research Of Community Members From The Rio Grande Valley, Karla Daniela Lopez Lorenzo, Rosa V. Pirela Mavarez, Gabriela Osuna, Kendra Stine, Nahalie Chacon De Alvarez, Noe Garza, Gladys E. Maestre

Research Symposium

Background: One of ten people aged 65 develops Alzheimer’s Disease and it is one of the sixth-leading cause of death in the United States. The Rio Grande Valley (RGV) is mostly constituted by Hispanic/Latinos (93%), a population that has a 1.5X increased risk of AD onset. Nevertheless, there are not enough resources to support people living with dementia and their care partners. This study will leverage research efforts deployed by the RGV Alzheimer’s Disease Resource Center for Minority Aging Research to understand the social representations about the resources, barriers, facilitators, and interests of the RGV community about dementia and Alzheimer’s …

Student Perceptions Of Reading Preparation And Textbook Use In Professional Allied Health Programs, Laura Stimler, Camille Skubik-Peplaski, Melba G. Custer, Shirley P. O'Brien

Internet Journal of Allied Health Sciences and Practice

Purpose: In professional allied health education, textbooks are central to developing course content, student learning and certification exams, but little is known about the graduate student’s perspective. This study was intended to describe current trends in graduate students’ point of view, habits and opinions related to buying and using textbooks and other resources in allied health education. Methods: This was a multi-site collaborative research project. An electronic survey was developed to gather data on student habits and perspectives regarding textbook preferences including digital texts, academic reading, exam preparation, and obtaining course materials. The survey was distributed across four academic institutions. …

Factors Affecting The Use Of Vestibular/Balance Screening Measures In Audiologists And Physical Therapists In Patients Reporting Dizziness, Alexandria W. Greene, Ashley G. Flagge, Nicholas S. Stanley

Internet Journal of Allied Health Sciences and Practice

Purpose: Vestibular/balance screeners can improve the efficiency of the diagnostic process. Despite prior literature illustrating the importance of screeners, research suggests that many professionals do not utilize screening protocols. Methods: Thirty-two audiologists and thirty-four physical therapists completed an electronic survey with questions regarding the use of screeners and the referral process. The survey examined variables surrounding the use of vestibular/balance screeners among audiologists and physical therapists, including frequency of use, commonly used screeners, and factors affecting the use or non-use of screeners. Results: Physical therapists utilized vestibular/balance screeners statistically more often and used a larger variety of screeners compared to …

Validation Of An Integrated Pressure Level Measured Earmold Wideband Real-Ear-To-Coupler Difference Measurement, Matthew Urichuk, David Purcell, Prudence Allen, Susan Scollie

Communication Sciences and Disorders Publications

Objective: To validate measurement of predicted earmold wideband real-ear-to-coupler difference (wRECD) using an integrated pressure level (IPL) calibrated transducer and the incorporation of an acoustically measured tubing length correction. Design: Unilateral earmold SPL wRECD using varied hearing aid tubing length and the proposed predicted earmold IPL wRECD measurement procedure were completed on all participants and compared. Study Sample: 22 normal hearing adults with normal middle ear status were recruited. Results: There were no clinically significant differences between probe-microphone and predicted earmold IPL wRECD measurements between 500 and 2500 Hz. Above 5000 Hz, the predicted earmold IPL wRECD exceeded earmold SPL …

Development And Initial Evaluation Of The Hearing Aid Attribute And Feature Importance Evaluation (Hafie) Questionnaire, Hasan Saleh, Paula Folkeard, Selina Liao, Susan Scollie

Communication Sciences and Disorders Publications

Objectives: To develop and validate a novel questionnaire aimed at providing a structured, evidence-based methodology for hearing aid recommendation and selection using self-reported importance ratings for different modern hearing aid features. Design: The initial questionnaire items were created through a concept mapping approach that involved input from hearing aid users. Hearing care professional focus groups (n¼10) were conducted to assess questionnaire content and design, and to guide modifications. Validation of this initial 34-item version of the questionnaire was conducted using an anonymous online survey tool (Qualtrics). Exploratory factor analysis was used to assess the factor structure of the dataset, using …