Speech Pathology and Audiology Commons^™

Computer-Assisted Challenge Point Intervention For Residual Speech Errors., Tara Mc Allister Byun, Elaine R. Hitchcock, Jose Ortiz

Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders Faculty Scholarship and Creative Works

Purpose: This preliminary case series investigated the effects of biofeedback intervention for residual rhotic errors delivered within a modified challenge point framework. In the challenge point framework, practice difficulty is adaptively adjusted with the goal of enhancing generalization learning. This study more specifically evaluated the feasibility of a computer-mediated implementation of challenge point treatment for rhotic errors using a custom open-source software, the Challenge Point Program.

Method: Participants were five native English speakers, ages 7;3–15;5 (years; months), who had established but not generalized correct rhotic production in previous treatment; overall treatment duration was flexible. Treatment incorporated either electropalatographic …

Serving Culturally And Linguistic Students Identified With A Communication Disability In The K-12 Educational Environments, Lashell Dauterman

Theses and Dissertations

As more and more students enter public schools with culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds that require services under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, facilitators must be more sensitive to the needs, especially in the area of communication. Augmentative and alternative communication devices and other assistive technology are required by law to be utilized with individuals identified as disabled. However, due to the challenges that exist in properly identifying and implementing intervention plans for children who require services as English language learners and special education, communication needs are often misidentified or not provided. Another issue that exists is the lack …

The Struggle Of Differential Diagnosis For Childhood Apraxia Of Speech: A Qualitative Case Study, Laken Cummins, Stephanie M. Schaaf, Megan Smetana, Jennifer Gaylord

Murray State Theses and Dissertations

This study addresses the controversial diagnosis of childhood apraxia of speech (CAS) and the struggle many clinicians face with differential diagnosis through a retrospective qualitative case study following a participant who received the diagnosis of CAS. Research questions targeted the characteristics the participant presented with, whether they were consistent or not, as well as if they were unique to CAS or evidence of a phonological disorder, and the treatment approaches that were implemented throughout the participant’s history of receiving speech-language services and the effectiveness of those approaches. These research questions were answered through the records and documents obtained from the …

Exploring The Diagnostic Journey Of A Preschool-Aged Female: A Retrospective Case Study, Lindsay Nicole Crafton

Murray State Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this case study was to investigate the diagnostic route of a preschool-aged female initially suspected of having ASD with communication deficits and explore her journey to seek and receive services. In any diagnostic experience, it is imperative that caregivers understand the steps to seek appropriate evaluations and receive necessary services to improve their child’s quality of life. While there are some systemic procedures in place aimed to identify children with communication disorders or other developmental concerns such as ASD early; the ultimate responsibility falls on the caregiver to follow up and follow through. Although diagnostic criteria for …

Assessment Planning By Speech Language Pathologists: Implicit Bias And Clinical Decision-Making, Melinda Yax

Master's Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

The following thesis is comprised of three research articles focused on the topics of implicit bias, clinical-decision making, and cultural competency in the field of speech-language pathology. The first article is a reflection piece in which I thoughtfully lay out my journey towards cultural humility in addressing my biases through different educational and personal experiences. The second article presents and discusses the results of the qualitative research I conducted on speech-language pathologists looking at the effect of implicit bias on clinical decisions. And finally, the third article discusses the importance of having cultural humility rather than cultural competency, specifically regarding …

The Impact Of Faculty Feedback On Student Perceptions Of Faculty-Student Relationships, Lauren Trejo

Master's Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

This qualitive study examined four communication sciences and disorders (CSD) graduate students’ experiences with feedback from CSD faculty members to understand how it affected their relationships with faculty. Review of the literature revealed the importance and impact of feedback; however, it offered little research examining feedback within the field of CSD. Graduate students who completed their undergraduate degrees in CSD were interviewed to reflect on feedback experiences they received from faculty during their undergraduate and graduate education. The students were presented with two mock papers with differing feedback styles and were asked their reactions to the feedback. It was discovered …

Experiences Of People With Aphasia Communicating With Healthcare Providers, Madelaine Bull

Master's Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

Aphasia is an acquired communication disorder, often resulting from a stroke, that impacts millions of Americans. People with aphasia (PWA) may frequent the hospital for a number of services poststroke and are often accompanied by their primary communication partners (PCP), the person with whom the PWA communicates with the most. This qualitative study explored the experiences of four dyads of PWA and their PCPs’ perspectives on communicating with healthcare providers (HCPs). Findings indicated that there are attributes of HCP interactions which contribute to patient-perceived success, such as collaboration with PCPs, and aphasia knowledge. These attributes were also associated with patient-centered …

Identifying Molecular Pathways Underlying Noise-Induced Tinnitus, Mckenzie Rice

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

Tinnitus is a serious neurological condition effecting 10-15% of adults, and can lead to other symptoms such as difficulty concentrating and sleeping, anxiety, and depression. Currently there are no FDA approved drugs to prevent or treat tinnitus, mainly due to a lack of understanding of its cellular and molecular pathways. T- and L- type calcium channels have been implicated in the modulation of tinnitus, as well as the dysfunction of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) neurons. This study used the sound-based avoidance detection (SBAD) method in order to detect tinnitus and determine whether pharmacological treatments had an effect in mediating tinnitus. T-type …

The Effects Of Complex Listening Environments On Semantic Processing In Young And Middle-Aged Adults, Emily Ferguson B.S., Nicholas Stanley Ph.D. Au.D.

AuD Capstone Projects - Communication Sciences and Disorders

The purpose of this research study is to determine how young adults and middle-aged adults process speech in different complex listening environments. Young adult and middle-aged adult volunteers will complete a cognitive screening and audiological evaluation to establish inclusionary status for experimental speech understanding in noise testing. If they meet the requirements of the study and wish to participate further, they will continue with a semantic judgement task, in which they will be asked to listen and respond to words presented in different background noises. Within the task, participants will be asked to identify word pairs into either a "match" …

A Critical Review Of Apraxia Of Speech And Childhood Apraxia Of Speech, Madison Joan Smith

Honors Theses and Capstones

The theories and neural bases of Apraxia of Speech (AOS) have long been debated. In 1861, Paul Broca identified two patients with speech/language impairments who became the basis for the theory on aphemia, now known as apraxia. Broca noted of patients with AOS that “there are cases in which the general faculty for language remains unaltered; where the auditory apparatus is intact; where all muscles—including those of speech and articulation—are under voluntary control; and where nevertheless, a cerebral lesion abolishes articulated language” (Broca, 1861/2000). The term “apraxia” was first introduced by Hugo Liepmann in 1908 and was described as “the …

Pathogenesis And Onset Of Tinnitus And Use Of Holistic And Traditional Audiological Approaches For Management, Christy Mahrt, Antony Joseph

AuD Capstone Projects - Communication Sciences and Disorders

Introduction: Tinnitus is the subjective sensation of noise perceived at the peripheral or central level. Occasionally, tinnitus perception may be severe enough to present debilitating effects on daily activities. The occurrence of tinnitus can be related to occupational or non-occupational hazardous noise exposure. Case Presentation: A 60-year-old male presented with bilateral tinnitus with an initial onset at age 21. The progression of his tinnitus has caused disruptions in sleeping patterns and concentration. His history included extensive occupational and non-occupational noise exposure. Discussion: Hearing conservation is an important aspect of facilitating tinnitus management for individuals who have noise-related tinnitus. Hearing aids, …

Explicit Learning Of Auditory Categories In Preschoolers With And Without Developmental Language Disorder, Lauren Casey

University Honors Theses

This study a part of a broader study including Quam et al. (2020) and Yu (2020) with the aim of understanding how children with and without developmental language disorder learn language. With a better understanding of the underlying learning mechanisms affected in DLD, better interventions can be implemented. The current study investigates explicit language learning in preschoolers with and without developmental language disorder (DLD). This was done by observing sound discrimination and explicit sound-meaning mapping. One child with DLD and 29 children with typical language development (TLD) participated in this study. Inclusion in each group was determined by a hearing …

The Examination Of Morpho-Syntactic Production In Bahamian Children Exposed To Bahamian Creole English And English, Danielle Moss

Dissertations, 2020-current

Purpose. Information on the morpho-syntax development of children who speak varieties of Bahamian English, such as Bahamian Creole English (BCE), remains understudied. Therefore, speech-language pathologists (SLPs) assessing the expressive language of children who speak BCE encounter challenges in making clinical judgments of language difference, developmental errors, and language disorder because they are unable to judge the morpho-syntactic features of this creole to the rules of another variety of Bahamian English, standard English (SE¹), as both varieties, BCE and SE, are independently rule-governed. This dissertation study investigated the morpho-syntax of typically developing four and six-year-old Bahamian children who speak …

Exploring Accessibility And Social Inclusion For Deaf And Hard Of Hearing Children In Residential Camps Through The Occupational Therapy Lens, Tiffany Coles, Susan Macdermott, Becki Cohill

Fall 2020 Virtual OTD Capstone Symposium

Children engage in various play, leisure, and social participation activities to enhance the development of life skills, independence, and social skills. Residential camps provide an opportunity to engage in leisure activities while learning to become independent and self-confident while socializing and making new friends. However, having a disability such as deafness and hearing loss may impact the camper’s experience.

This digital guidebook offers videos, pop-in information, and links to valuable resources for working with and understanding the Deaf and Hard of Hearing culture. The guidebook incorporates inclusionary strategies to help the campers and the staff develop inclusive mindsets and social …

Effect Of Sound Source Location And Spatial Hearing On The Vestibulo-Ocular Reflex (Vor), Mary Easterday

Theses and Dissertations (ETD)

Accurate measurement of the vestibulo-ocular reflex (VOR) is imperative in differential diagnosis of vestibular disorders and balance function. However, the assessment protocol faces a number of limitations, including the need to control for extra- vestibular sensory factors such as hearing. Previous research has shown that the use of an auditory stimulus can have a significant effect on functional measures of balance, and many have contributed effects to be the result of spatial hearing. However, no studies have directly assessed the effect of speaker location on the VOR nor investigated correlations of functional spatial hearing with the VOR. Therefore, the aims …

Effects Of A Telerehabilitation Group On Continuing Language Treatment After Participation In An Intensive Comprehensive Aphasia Program (Icap), Alexis Missel

All Graduate Plan B and other Reports, Spring 1920 to Spring 2023

Aphasia is an acquired neurogenic language disorder encompassing oral and/or written language expression and comprehension affecting an estimated two- to two to four million people in the United States, (Simmons-Mackie, 2018; National Aphasia Association, 2016). The primary aim of the current study was to investigate an option for targeted intervention as a follow-up to an Intensive Comprehensive Aphasia Program (ICAP). There is little research assessing maintenance of communication profile gains following conclusion of the ICAPs, and there are few options that exist as tailored ICAP follow-up programs or continued intervention guided by the ICAP principle features. To address this, a …

Diagnosing And Managing Post-Stroke Aphasia, Shannon M. Sheppard, Rajani Sebastian

Communication Sciences and Disorders Faculty Articles and Research

Introduction: Aphasia is a debilitating language disorder and even mild forms of aphasia can negatively affect functional outcomes, mood, quality of life, social participation, and the ability to return to work. Language deficits after post-stroke aphasia are heterogeneous.

Areas covered: The first part of this manuscript reviews the traditional syndrome-based classification approach as well as recent advances in aphasia classification that incorporate automatic speech recognition for aphasia classification. The second part of this manuscript reviews the behavioral approaches to aphasia treatment and recent advances such as noninvasive brain stimulation techniques and pharmacotherapy options to augment the effectiveness of …

Inclusion For Speech-Language Pathology Minority Graduate Students, Teresa Michelle Roberts

Dissertations and Theses

Speech-language pathologists provide assessment and intervention for communication, cognition, and swallowing disorders for individuals across the lifespan in educational, medical, and private practice settings. The demographics of professionals in the field do not reflect those of the general public in regard to race and ethnicity, gender, socioeconomic status, LGBTQ+, and disability. Lack of representation of minorities limits research, policy, and services designed to serve diverse populations. Although initiatives have sought to address lack of diversity of speech-language pathologists, limited research on the graduate training experience for minority students is available. Since a master's degree is required to become a speech-language …

Hearing Aid Acclimatization In The Context Of Central Gain Mechanisms, Peter J. Hutchison

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The primary goals of this dissertation were to 1) identify markers of central gain in the auditory system following short-term acoustic attenuation via earplugging and acoustic enhancement via sound generators, and 2) determine if acoustic enhancement is effective in modulating central gain in older adults with age-related hearing loss, and if so, to what extent. Additionally, a further goal of this dissertation was to explore the possibility that central gain is related hearing aid acclimatization. The results described in Chapter 2 are further evidence that altering acoustic input to the peripheral auditory system modulates central auditory plasticity and is evident …

Audiovisual Integration During Novel Word Learning Among School-Aged Children With Cochlear Implants, Kristen Elizabeth Thompson Thornton

Theses and Dissertations (ETD)

Objective. It is well established that being able to see someone’s mouth move as they speak boosts speech perception for children with cochlear implants (CIs). Thus, children with CIs are often instructed to orient themselves toward the person they are listening to, to gain access to visual speech cues. Children with CIs who are better “audiovisual integrators,” or those who experience an auditory-visual (AV) enhancement effect (higher performance for AV information than auditory-alone (AO) or visual-alone (VO)), are more likely to have better speech and language outcomes after receiving their CI than children with poorer AV integration skills. While AV …