Speech Pathology and Audiology Commons^™

Communications Connection - Fall 2012, Nova Southeastern University

Communications Connection

No abstract provided.

Role Of Therapeutic Devices In Enhancing Speech Intelligibility And Vocal Intensity In An Individual With Parkinson’S Disease, Swetha Swaminathan

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The prevailing speech therapy techniques for treating hypokinetic dysarthria in individuals with Parkinson's disease (PD) yields improvements within the clinical setting, however, maintenance and generalization of acquired behaviors continue to be a challenge. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of portable therapeutic devices including Ambulatory Phonation Monitor with biofeedback (APM) and auditory masker in maintenance and carryover of improved speech. Our participant was an individual diagnosed with PD for the past 25 years who continued to display speech disturbances despite undergoing several behavioral speech therapy programs and neurosurgical procedures. Speech intelligibility and average intensity measures under …

Independent Component Analysis Of Event-Related Electroencephalography During Speech And Non-Speech Discrimination: : Implications For The Sensorimotor ∆∞ Rhythm In Speech Processing, Andrew Lee Bowers

Theses and Dissertations (ETD)

Background: The functional significance of sensorimotor integration in acoustic speech processing is unclear despite more than three decades of neuroimaging research. Constructivist theories have long speculated that listeners make predictions about articulatory goals functioning to weight sensory analysis toward expected acoustic features (e.g. analysis-by-synthesis; internal models). Direct-realist accounts posit that sensorimotor integration is achieved via a direct match between incoming acoustic cues and articulatory gestures. A method capable of favoring one account over the other requires an ongoing, high-temporal resolution measure of sensorimotor cortical activity prior to and following acoustic input. Although scalp-recorded electroencephalography (EEG) provides a measure of cortical …

Improving Literacy Through Instruction And Community Experiences: : The Effect Of A Summer Program On Literacy Outcomes Of Students From Low Ses Homes, Lisa Delozier Bowers

Theses and Dissertations (ETD)

Among the academic challenges faced by students from low socio-economic (SES) homes is the loss of academic skills during the summer months. Unfortunately, the public schools are often unable to provide summer learning opportunities because limited space, funding, and teacher availability. Established community organizations frequently provide summer programs, however, there is little research to indicate that they can be used to address summer learning loss.

A summer program was designed to improve oral and written narrative skills for students from low SES homes. This program was based in a local community ministry and was designed to use thematic units that …

The Efficacy Of Melodic Based Communication Therapy For Eliciting Speech In Nonverbal Children With Autism, Givona A. Sandiford

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

The purpose of this dissertation is to compare the efficacy of Melodic Based Communication Therapy (MBCT) to traditional speech and language therapy for eliciting speech in nonverbal children with autism. Efficacy was assessed by number of: verbalizations, correct words, words reported by parent, and imitative attempts. Additionally it examines the effect of exposure to MBCT on social language abilities as measured by score on the Pragmatic Language Skills Inventory (PLSI); the effect of age on the response to treatment, and the predictors of overall effectiveness of treatment. Participants were 12 nonverbal children with autism ages 5 through 7 randomly assigned …

Intelligibility And The Sinewave Speech Carrier Phrase Effect, Danielle R. Werle

Honors Theses

Several studies have examined the perception of sinewave speech. Early work showed that listeners could transcribe sinewave sentences. Recent work on sinewave vowels found that listeners could recognize sinewave speech at the phonetic level with moderate (about 50-55%) accuracy. Sinewave vowel intelligibility scores improve significantly when preceded by a sinewave carrier phrase, an effect that disappears when the carrier phrase is removed. The present study was designed to examine this carrier phrase enhancement effect and analyze whether listeners require the carrier phrase to be intelligible to produce increased intelligibility scores. Sinusoidal carrier phrases and /hVd/ syllables were generated from recordings …

Spatiotemporal Coupling Of The Tongue In Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, Mili S. Kuruvilla, Jordan R. Green, Yana Yunusova, Kathy Hanford

Department of Special Education and Communication Disorders: Faculty Publications

Purpose: The primary aim of the investigation was to identify deficits in spatiotemporal coupling between tongue regions in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). The relations between disease-related changes in tongue movement patterns and speech intelligibility were also determined.

Methods: The authors recorded word productions from 11 individuals with ALS with mild, moderate, and severe dysarthria using an x-ray microbeam during word productions. A coupling index based on sliding window covariance was used to determine disease-related changes in the coupling between the tongue regions across each word.

Results: The results indicated decreased spatiotemporal coupling of mid-posterior tongue regions and reduced tongue speed …

Cortical Gyrification In Velo-Cardio-Facial (22q11.2 Deletion) Syndrome: A Longitudinal Study, Arun Kunwar, Seethalakshmi Ramanathan, Joshua Nelson, Kevin M. Antshel, Wanda Fremont, Anne Marie Higgins, Robert J. Shprintzen, Wendy R. Kates

Communication Disorders Faculty Publications

Introduction: Velo-cardio-facial syndrome (VCFS) has been identified as an important risk factor for psychoses, with up to 32% of individuals with VCFS developing a psychotic illness. Individuals with VCFS thus form a unique group to identify and explore early symptoms and biological correlates of psychosis. In this study, we examined if cortical gyrification pattern, i.e. gyrification index (GI) can be a potential neurobiological marker for psychosis.

Method: GIs of 91 individuals with VCFS were compared with 29 siblings and 54 controls. Further, 58 participants with VCFS, 21 siblings and 18 normal controls were followed up after 3 years and longitudinal …

Relationships Between Vocabulary Size, Working Memory, And Phonological Awareness In Spanish-Speaking English Language Learners, Brenda K. Gorman

Speech Pathology and Audiology Faculty Research and Publications

Purpose: The goals of this study were to evaluate the impact of short-term phonological awareness (PA) instruction presented in children's first language (L1; Spanish) on gains in their L1 and second language (L2; English) and to determine whether relationships exist between vocabulary size, verbal working memory, and PA in Spanish-speaking English language learners (ELLs).

Method: Participants included 25 kindergartners who received PA instruction and 10 controls. A 2-way within-subjects repeated measures multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) was conducted to evaluate gains. Relationships between PA gains, Spanish and English vocabulary, and memory, as measured using nonword repetition and experimental …

Spontaneous Recovery In Children With Expressive Language Delay, Jaimie Sierakowski

Honors Theses

By age 2, most children have an expressive vocabulary of approximately 200 words and begin to combine these words into meaningful phrases. However, some children acquire expressive language skills more slowly than others while displaying no signs of cognitive, receptive, or sensory delays. These children who experience an expressive language delay are often characterized in the literature as late talkers. Research shows that many of these children have delays early in childhood, but eventually catch up to their typically-developing peers, with no need for language intervention. Others, however, continue to experience expressive delays and. have an increased risk of developing …

Nonword Repetition And Interactions Among Vocabulary, Phonotactic Probability, And Phonological Awareness In Four Linguistic Groups, Sue Ann S. Lee, Brenda K. Gorman

Speech Pathology and Audiology Faculty Research and Publications

The current study was designed to compare the English nonword repetition accuracy in 7-year-old monolingual English, Korean–English bilingual, Chinese–English bilingual, and Spanish–English bilingual children. The relationships among nonword repetition accuracy, vocabulary, phonological awareness, and phonotactic probability in each group of children were also examined. The results indicated significant differences among the groups’ accuracy of consonants and vowels by syllable length. Different correlational patterns emerged among nonword repetition accuracy, vocabulary, and phonological awareness. Theoretical and clinical implications for the use of nonword repetition tasks for children from various linguistic backgrounds are discussed.

Let's Talk Speech! Volume 5 Issue 1, Barbara T. Schmidt Ph.D.

Communication Sciences and Disorders Newsletter

The 2011-2012 academic year has been wonderful and full of exciting changes. You are probably all getting tired of hearing me say that each semester! I cannot avoid saying it. We have new full time and part time faculty, great students, plans for an upcoming “relaxation retreat,” an annual scholarship fundraiser, a 2013 trip to Ireland, and so much more. However, as I reflect on the year and the articles that were submitted to the Newsletter, I feel compelled to point out that the SpeechLanguage Pathology Department is facing one major problem: we have too many exceptional students and faculty …

The Evaluation Of Interhemispheric Transfer Time (Ihtt) In Adults, Katherine Elise Cormier

Doctoral Dissertations

The goal of the present study was to develop an objective technique to measure interhemispheric transfer time (IHTT) of linguistic stimuli using late auditory evoked potentials to develop normative data in adults. Nine participants, five females and four males (M = 25.22) were included in this study. Each participant had their hearing tested and electrodes were placed on the forehead, tip of the nose, below the right eye and several places on the scalp. The results revealed that when comparing electrode sites (CZ, C3, and C4), waves (P1-N1-P2) and ears (right ear and left ear) there was no statistically significant …

Asymmetric Directional Microphone Fittings For Individuals With An Asymmetric Hearing Loss, Jessica White

Doctoral Dissertations

The present study investigated the effects of asymmetric directional microphone fittings on participants' acceptance of background noise and speech understanding in noise abilities. Thirteen adult, bilateral hearing aid users or non-hearing aid users with bilateral asymmetrical sensorineural hearing loss were fit binaurally with four different microphone conditions (i.e., bilateral omnidirectional, asymmetric directional poorer ear, asymmetric directional better ear, and bilateral directional) and monaurally with two microphone conditions (i.e., unilateral directional better ear and unilateral omnidirectional better ear). The amplification used was a pair of Siemens Intuis directional behind-the-ear hearing aids and comply earmolds.

The results indicated speech understanding in noise …

Effects Of Cardiovascular Exercise On The Selection Of Preferred Listening Levels Using Ipods, Jessica Leigh Ann Newman

Doctoral Dissertations

The present project evaluated the effect of cardiovascular exercise on the selection of preferred listening levels using iPods. The participants in this study included 15 Louisiana Tech University students ranging in age from 19 and 30 years. The inclusion criteria for participants was as follows: (1) normal hearing sensitivity; (2) no known neurological, cognitive, or otologic impairment; (3) removal from excessive noise for at least 48 hours prior to testing; and (4) endurance in running on a treadmill for the duration of ten minutes.

Pre-test audiometric thresholds and distortion product otoacoustic emissions (DPOAEs) were obtained in a sound treated booth. …

Bluetooth Headset Specifications And Its Possible Effects On Hearing Loss, Kristi Ann Anderson

Doctoral Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to determine Bluetooth headset specifications and its potential effects on hearing loss. The following research questions were assessed: (1) what is the maximum peak output of various Bluetooth headsets coupled to a cellular phone; (2) what is the average output of various Bluetooth headsets coupled to a cellular phone; and (3) what is the frequency response of various Bluetooth headsets coupled to a cellular phone? Sixteen Bluetooth headset devices of various manufacturers were used for this study. Bluetooth headsets used for this study were determined by consumer demands and lack of output specifications provided …

The Effects Of Background Noise On Distortion Product Otoacoustic Emissions And Hearing Screenings, Amy E. Hollowell

Doctoral Dissertations

Hearing screenings are an important tool for identifying children who have, or are at risk for hearing loss in the schools. In light of a body of evidence that demonstrates the effectiveness of objective screening measures, such as otoacoustic emissions (OAEs), the American Speech Language and Hearing Association (ASHA) recommends traditional pure tone audiometric screening as the tool of choice for hearing screenings in the schools. Pure tone audiometric screenings conducted in the schools are problematic for a number of reasons, but the most significant is the presence of background noise which is routinely encountered. The main purpose of the …

Development Of An Elementary School Background Noise, Amanda L. Mccann

Doctoral Dissertations

The deleterious effects of noise on hearing, comprehension, and academic development have been widely studied. In an effort to accurately observe the effects of noise on specific listening environments, researchers have relied on commercially available forms of background noise. However, these commercially available recordings only contain adult speech and background noises associated with adult environments. A commercially available form of background noise that represents the sounds associated with elementary and middle schools are not readily available. Given that much effort has gone into examining the effects of background noise on classroom performance, it would appear prudent that a background noise …

Impact Of Noise And Working Memory On Speech Processing In Adults With And Without Adhd, Anne M. P. Michalek

Communication Disorders & Special Education Theses & Dissertations

Auditory processing of speech is influenced by internal (i.e., attention, working memory) and external factors (i.e., background noise, visual information). This study examined the interplay among these factors in individuals with and without ADHD. All participants completed a listening in noise task, two working memory capacity tasks, and two short-term memory tasks. The listening in noise task had both an auditory and an audiovisual condition. Participants included 38 young adults between the ages of 18-35 without ADHD and 25 young adults between the ages of 18-35 with ADHD. Results indicated that diagnosis, modality, and signal-to-noise ratio all have a main …

Ototoxic Hearing Loss And Retinoblastoma Patients, Shaum Bhagat

Faculty Publications

Chemotherapy is often used in the conservative management of retinoblastoma. Chemotherapy drugs, while ameliorative, can produce long-lasting side effects that potentially can affect survivor quality of life. Carboplatin is a common chemotherapy agent with known ototoxic side effects that is used in the treatment of retinoblastoma (Rodriguez-Galindo et al., 2003). The potential for carboplatin-induced hearing loss is of concern to the medical professional, given that retinoblastoma is often diagnosed in early childhood and children with retinoblastoma have visual impairments. This chapter will outline the mechanisms underlying carboplatin ototoxicity. The extent of knowledge concerning the pathophysiology of carboplatin-induced hearing loss will …