Speech Pathology and Audiology Commons^™

Delirium Reduction Strategies For The Critically Ill, June Chaves, Sam Canonico, Will Cheney, Tammy Corey, Gil Fraser, Alex Kowalewski, Jen Low, Cardiac Intensive Care Unit, Haley Pelletier, Cathy Palleschi, Stephen Tyzik, Suneela Nayak, Ruth Hanselman

MaineHealth Maine Medical Center

Delirium, an acute and fluctuating disturbance of consciousness and cognition, is a common manifestation of acute brain dysfunction in critically ill patients. Patients with delirium have longer hospital stays and a lower 6-month survival rate than do patients without delirium. Preliminary research suggests that delirium may be associated with cognitive impairment that persists months to years after discharge.

In a large acute care hospital, the cardiac intensive care staff became interested in mitigating their unit’s high delirium rate of ventilated patients. At baseline, many members of the healthcare team did not believe that delirium could be prevented and the predominant …

A Population-Based Study Of Communicative Participation In Preschool Children With Speech-Language Impairments, Barbara Jane Cunningham, Steven E. Hanna, Bruce Oddson, Nancy Thomas-Stonell, Peter Rosenbaum

PRECISe Preschool Speech and Language Publications

Aim. To develop statistical models of preschoolers’ communicative participation development and explore variations by level of function.

Methods. This was a secondary analysis of data from a longitudinal study of preschoolers with speech and language delays (N = 46,872, M age = 41.76, SD age = 11.92; 67% male) accessing publicly-funded services in Ontario Canada. Two measures were used: Focus on the Outcomes of Communication Under Six (FOCUS), measuring changes in communicative participation skills, and the Communication Function Classification System (CFCS), classifying communication function into one of five levels. We used mixed effects modeling to fit growth curves for …

Impact Of A Pre-Professional Clinical Education Experience With Adults With Autism Spectrum Disorder: Preparation Of Future Speech-Language Pathologists, Kaitlyn P. Wilson Ph.D., Ccc-Slp, Gregory S. Chasson Ph.D., Amanda C. Jozkowski Ph.D., Otr/L, Meghan V. Mulhern Ed.M.

Teaching and Learning in Communication Sciences & Disorders

The purpose of this study was to (1) investigate the impact of a clinical experience with adults with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) on graduate speech-language pathology (SLP) students’ knowledge about ASD, and (2) explore the nature of the clinical experience and its impact on students’ preparation to work with adults with ASD. This study used a mixed-methods design. Quantitative methods were used to identify statistically significant changes in student knowledge about ASD following participation in a clinical experience with adults with ASD. Qualitative methods were used to explore student narratives to uncover details of the clinical experience and its impact. …

Interdisciplinary Ethics Learning In Higher Education: Students’ Perceptions, Carrie Knight, Robert Mayo, Michele Porter

Teaching and Learning in Communication Sciences & Disorders

The purpose of this study is to evaluate speech-language pathology (SLP) students’ understandings of professional issues and ethics related to their own profession and to public health administration and to evaluate SLP students’ perceptions of interdisciplinary learning opportunities. Participants were second-year graduate students pursuing a Master of Arts degree in SLP (N = 24) enrolled in an interdisciplinary professional issues and ethics course. Students completed a pre- and post-test questionnaire regarding their perception of interdisciplinary learning opportunities, and their understanding of public health professions and codes of ethics, SLP code of ethics, and SLP professionals’ impact on other professionals …

Bridging The Gap: An Integrated Approach To Facilitating Foundational Learning Of Neuroanatomy And Neurophysiology In Graduate-Level Speech-Language Pathology Coursework, Lisa A. Vinney, Jennine M.T. Harvey

Teaching and Learning in Communication Sciences & Disorders

The current study examined whether the integration of foundational neuroanatomy and neurophysiology content, across a pair of medically-based, disorder-specific courses (motor speech disorders and aphasia), promoted students’ abilities to describe common neurological constructs and apply them to clinical cases. Specifically, student responses to case questions were rubric-scored following their completion of five neuroanatomy and neurophysiology online modules independently and after in-class instructional augmentation of each module’s content. Students’ own perceptions of this integrated curriculum were also surveyed and coded into themes. Rubric scores, evaluating content knowledge of the brainstem, spinal cord, and the neuron, significantly improved from post-module to after …

Speech Processing Approach For Diagnosing Dementia In An Early Stage, Roozbeh Sadeghian, J. David Schaffer, Stephen A. Zahorian

Faculty Works

The clinical diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias is very challenging, especially in the early stages. Our hypothesis is that any disease that affects particular brain regions involved in speech production and processing will also leave detectable finger prints in the speech. Computerized analysis of speech signals and computational linguistics have progressed to the point where an automatic speech analysis system is a promising approach for a low-cost non-invasive diagnostic tool for early detection of Alzheimer’s disease.

We present empirical evidence that strong discrimination between subjects with a diagnosis of probable Alzheimer’s versus matched normal controls can be achieved …

Bilabial Substitution Patterns During Consonant Production In A Case Of Congenital Aglossia, Betty Mcmicken, Frederico Salles, Shelley Von Berg, Margaret Vento-Wilson, Kelly Rogers, Asterios Toutios, Shrikanth S. Narayanan

Communication Sciences and Disorders Faculty Articles and Research

Purpose: Congenital aglossia is a rare syndrome in which an individual is born without a tongue. The present paper examines articulatory details of the production of multiple consonants by an aglossic speaker.

Method: Real-time magnetic resonance imaging data of the upper airway were collected from the aglossic speaker. Air-tissue boundaries were determined from the video sequences using a segmentation algorithm, and dynamics of vocal-tract constrictions and cross-dimensions were calculated.

Results: The aglossic speaker produced the consonants /t, d, th, l ,r, f ,v, s, sh/ with a bilabial closure instead of a normal lingua-alveolar closure; however, in …

Wine Flavor Perception In A Person With Isolated Congenital Aglossia, Naïve Wine Taster, And Sommelier, Kristin Mahood, Long Wang, Betty Mcmicken, Cheryl Rock

Communication Sciences and Disorders Faculty Articles and Research

Objective: This study aimed to augment previous research that investigated flavor perception in isolated congenital aglossia by a whole food/beverage approach. Isolated congenital aglossia is the rare condition of absence of a tongue at birth without the presence of other symptoms. Previous studies confirmed taste perception in isolated congenital aglossia using single taste solutions including sour, salty, sweet, bitter, and umami.

Methods: The current randomized, double-blinded study age- and sex-matched a naïve wine taster and sommelier to the 46 year-old female with isolated congenital aglossia. A Nose and Palate Survey with 54 variables created based on the Court …

Exploring The Lived Experiences Of Adults Who Stutter: A Qualitative Study, Emilie S. Scharf

Ursidae: The Undergraduate Research Journal at the University of Northern Colorado

Stuttering is a phenomenon that affects millions of people worldwide, and up until now the disorder has most often been portrayed in a negative light. The purpose of this study was to understand the lived experiences of young adults who stutter, framing the research with a more holistic perspective. Two participants were interviewed in depth using a qualitative research approach to explore what it is like to live with stuttering and how it has affected their daily lives. Literature to date tends to group people who stutter into quantitative studies that problematize the disorder (Blood, G., Blood, I.M., Maloney, K., …

Recreational Music Exposure And Music-Induced Hearing Loss: A Systematic Literature Review, Carolyn Lindenbaum

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

Legislation regarding occupational noise exposure is the result of a long period of interest and research; more recently, the effects of recreational noise are receiving increasing attention. Various sources of recreational noise and music exposure have become more widespread among the general public, increasing research in this source of potential risk. The proliferation of personal music players that are easily available and accessible to children and adults has contributed to the spread of leisure music exposure. Leisure music exposure is also common in the attendance of concerts and clubs/discos, and bars/pubs. The present systematic literature review focused exclusively on recreational …

Hearing Related Concerns Among Parkinson’S Patients And Their Care Partners, Samantha Morgan

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

The goal of this study is to evaluate the relationship between self-reported subjective hearing loss and objective measures of hearing in older adults with Parkinson’s Disease (PD), as well as the relationship between self-reported hearing handicap of those with PD and the report of their care partners. Twenty-four individuals, comprised of older adults with PD and their primary care partners, underwent subjective and objective hearing screenings and completed measures of self-reported hearing handicap. Results revealed no significant relationship between the subjective and objective hearing screening results of those with PD, nor any significant relationship between the self-report of hearing handicap …

A Systematic Review Of Occupational Music-Induced Hearing Loss, Lilach Gez Saperstein

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

The prevalence of noise induced hearing loss (NIHL) is a public health concern with government regulations (i.e. OHSA, NIOSH) in place to protect employees in occupational settings. Sound pressure levels (SPL) of various industries have been measured and exposure dosages monitored as per the national regulations. Previous research has demonstrated that occupational exposure to loud noise has led to audiometric evidence of NIHL. Thus, it raises the question about the impact of occupational exposure to music on hearing. For the purposes of this capstone, literature pertaining to occupational music exposure levels, and the effects on both hearing threshold levels and …

Occlusion Effects In Various Testing Conditions Using Insert Earphones, Amanda M. Desantolo

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

The occlusion effect is a well-known phenomenon that can affect audiological testing. Sound energy that would typically escape is trapped when covering the ear(s) and reflected back toward the inner ear. This increases the intensity of the sound, resulting in the “appearance” of a more sensitive threshold. Many aspects of the occlusion effect have been well researched and understood, however there are still aspects that warrant further investigation, such as the degree of occlusion with insert earphones when using partial versus full insertion and whether one or both of the ears are occluded. A within-subject design (n=5) was utilized to …

Development Of 90th Percentile Norms For Ipsilateral Acoustic Reflex Thresholds: A Feasibility Study, Iris Wertheimer

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

The acoustic reflex threshold has been well established in the literature as an involuntary bilateral contraction of the stapedius muscle in response to loud transient sounds. Additionally, the clinical utility of the acoustic reflex threshold has been established as it allows for the differential diagnosis of many different conductive, cochlear and retrocochlear pathologies. Gelfand, Schwander and Silman (1990) have established and validated 90^th percentile normative data for use with the contralateral acoustic reflex threshold. Much of the literature on the acoustic reflex threshold has focused on the contralateral acoustic reflex threshold; however, surveys have found that many clinicians are …

Music Perception Performance In Prelingually Deafened Children With Cochlear Implants Pre And Post Structured Music Training Postoperative Habilitation Programs: A Systematic Review, Jessica K. Woodson

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

The goal of this project was to systematically review literature in order to analyze music perception performance in prelingually deafened children with cochlear implants before and after structured music training postoperative habilitation programs. Features of music which were evaluated included pitch, melody, timbre, rhythm, and appraisal. In six studies, these measures of music perception were compared pre and post formal music training; in one study, music perception performance was compared between prelingually deafened cochlear implant users and individuals with normal-hearing sensitivity. Overall, when the music training was sufficiently long, the findings indicated that music training significantly improves pitch perception ability. …

Cochlear Implantation In Adults With Neurofibromatosis Type Ii: Outcomes, Benefits, And Limitations, Lydia Riehl

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

The objective of the current study was to examine, in a retrospective case series, outcome in terms of word-recognition performance in patients with neurofibromatosis Type 2 (NF2) who have received a cochlear implant (CI) The primary independent variables were duration of deafness (DoD) and age at cochlear implantation. The secondary independent variables were status of hearing sensitivity in the ear contralateral to the one that received cochlear implantation and the type of tumor treatment.

The retrospective case series comprised eight patients who were implanted at New York University Medical Center, or who were receiving follow-up care there. All NF2 patients …

Methods And Professionals Involved In Evaluating Postural Control In The Autism Spectrum Disorder Population: A Systematic Review, Christina Melora

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

The objective of this systematic review was to determine the methods in which postural stability and control are being quantified in persons with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), with what instrumentation and which healthcare professionals are included in this process. It is well studied that persons with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), which now include those with Pervasive Developmental Disorder Not Otherwise Specified (PDD-NOS) and Asperger Disorder, often suffer from vestibular modulation abnormalities (Rogers & Ozonoff, 2005; American Psychiatric Association, 2013.) These individuals may present with either an under- or over-responsiveness to vestibular inputs resulting in a variety of repetitive behaviors or …

Affordable And Accessible Hearing Healthcare Interventions In The United States: A Literature Review And Prospective Analysis, Garrett Thompson

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

Age-related hearing loss is a significant public health concern with serious and far-reaching consequences including: social isolation, depression, faster cognitive decline, and increased risk of falls. Hearing loss is a widespread condition, it is in fact a leading cause of disability among older people. Hearing aids, the primary intervention for adults with hearing loss, are costly and inaccessible to many patients who need them. Among other reasons, these factors have led to a low uptake rate among the adult population; only one in seven adults who could benefit from wearing hearing aids utilizes them. Given the status quo of high …

Jaw Rotation In Dysarthria Measured With A Single Electromagnetic Articulography Sensor, Jeffrey J. Berry, Andrew Kolb, James Schroeder, Michael T. Johnson

Speech Pathology and Audiology Faculty Research and Publications

Purpose This study evaluated a novel method for characterizing jaw rotation using orientation data from a single electromagnetic articulography sensor. This method was optimized for clinical application, and a preliminary examination of clinical feasibility and value was undertaken.

Method The computational adequacy of the single-sensor orientation method was evaluated through comparisons of jaw-rotation histories calculated from dual-sensor positional data for 16 typical talkers. The clinical feasibility and potential value of single-sensor jaw rotation were assessed through comparisons of 7 talkers with dysarthria and 19 typical talkers in connected speech.

Results The single-sensor orientation method allowed faster and safer participant preparation, …

Using Quicksin Speech Material To Measure Acceptable Noise Level For Adults With Hearing Loss, Lauren E. Bentley, Hua Ou

AuD Capstone Projects - Communication Sciences and Disorders

It is clinically useful to predict potential for hearing aid use success prior to the initial fitting of hearing aids. This information may be used to help with additional counseling for speech understanding in noisy listening environments and can also be used to describe the use of communication skills in combination with the dynamic functionality of hearing aids to guide patients that are hearing aid candidates towards success. The Quick Speech-In-Noise (QuickSIN) test and the Acceptable Noise Level (ANL) test have been recognized for their ability to predict hearing aid use success; however, the two measures use different stimuli and …