Patient and caregiver satisfaction regarding telepractice versus in-person services at a university speech, language, and hearing clinic

Sojung Kim,Aaron M. Roman,Alexandra Moore 한국언어재활사협회 2022 Clinical Archives of Communication Disorders Vol.7 No.3

Articulation in children with fetal alcohol syndrome

Christopher L. Bolinger,James Dembowski 한국언어재활사협회 2019 Clinical Archives of Communication Disorders Vol.4 No.1

Purpose: Language deficits have been identified in children with Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS); however, literature on speech development is limited. Previous literature has documented neural abnormalities that impact motor control. Children diagnosed with FAS have slower response time, slower movement duration time, and greater variability relative to neuro-typical children. The purpose of the current study was to investigate presence/absence of motor speech dysfunction in children with FAS. Methods: Ten children ages 3–9 years old were evaluated using standardized assessments for non-verbal intelligence, articulation, and verbal motor skills. Results: Average group scores on a standardized articulation test (SPAT-D) did not produce significant differences; however, motor control subtests of the Verbal Motor Production Assessment for Children suggested significant differences between groups and matched participant pairs. Conclusions: Results suggest specific oral motor deficits contribute at least as much to communication disorder in young FAS speakers as possible phonetic-linguistic deficits.

“Are we…providing them with an equal service?”: Speech-language pathologists’ perceptions of bilingual aphasia assessment of Samoan-English speakers

Sara Jodache,Tami Howe,Samantha Siyambalapitiya 한국언어재활사협회 2019 Clinical Archives of Communication Disorders Vol.4 No.1

Purpose: Speech-language pathologists are more often providing services to clients from a different cultural and/or linguistic background from their own. It can be particularly challenging to conduct language assessments with individuals with bilingual aphasia, especially given the limited research in this area. This investigation explored speech-language pathologists’ perspectives on: the challenges that impede the assessment of language in Samoan-English speakers with bilingual aphasia; and the facilitators that support the assessment of language in Samoan-English speakers with bilingual aphasia. Methods: The study used a qualitative descriptive approach, underpinned by a constructivist paradigm. A focus group was conducted with four speech-language pathologists who had experience working with Samoan-English speakers with bilingual aphasia, including one clinician with extensive knowledge of the Samoan language. Results: The focus group yielded rich data relevant to the research questions. Analysis revealed 29 codes within eight categories of challenges related to: the Samoan language and culture; the SLP’s background; using interpreters; family involvement; the logistics of the assessment; determining which language(s) to assess; assessment tasks and resources; and obtaining an initial impression of and building rapport with the individual. The analysis also identified 14 codes within five categories of facilitators related to: the SLP’s background; using interpreters; family involvement; determining which language(s) to assess; and assessment tasks and resources. Conclusions: The investigation provides valuable insights into the experience of conducting language assessments with Samoan-English speakers with bilingual aphasia. The findings may also be useful for informing the delivery of speech-language pathology services to other individuals with bilingual aphasia.

Clinician Survey on Speech Pathology Services for People with Aphasia in Hong Kong

Anthony Pak-Hin Kong,Christine Wing-Kwan Tse 한국언어재활사협회 2018 Clinical Archives of Communication Disorders Vol.3 No.3

This study aims to investigate aphasia practices by speech-language pathologists working with clients suffering from acquired neurogenic communication disorders through an online survey. Questions pertaining to content and intensity of aphasia management, service adequacy, and barriers to effective service provision to persons with aphasia were asked to understand the current service-provision situation in Hong Kong. A web-based questionnaire containing 38 questions was electronically distributed to speech-language pathologists in Hong Kong. A total of 41 respondents (equivalent to about 5% of the body of clinicians) completed and returned the survey. Compared to recommendations in existing best practice guidelines of aphasia from western countries, the results indicated that intensity and frequency of current aphasia services in Hong Kong fell short of expectations. Major challenges perceived by speech-language pathologists that contributed to dissatisfaction of aphasia service included limited manpower, resources, funding, and accessibility. It was also found that barriers to effective services could be related to clinicians’ restricted adoption of intervention approaches, lack of active involvement of related healthcare professionals, and insufficient effort of referring persons with aphasia to support or self-help groups. Finally, factors to consider in order to improve existing aphasia management were discussed.

Phonetic Categories of English and Korean Stops in 3-year-old Sequential Korean-English Bbilingual Children

Sue Ann Lee 한국언어재활사협회 2016 Clinical Archives of Communication Disorders Vol.1 No.1

Purpose: The purpose of the study was to examine phonetic categories of stop consonants produced by 3-year-old sequential Korean-English bilingual (KEB) children (n=12). Methods: Voice-Onset-Time (VOT) and vowel-onset fo (fo) of Korean and English stops were acoustically examined in each language separately. Then, their English and Korean stops were compared cross-linguistically. Results: KEB children produced English voiced and voiceless stops as well as Korean fortis distinctively at all three places of articulation. However, they distinguished Korean lenis and aspirated stops with fo value, but not with VOT. In terms of English and Korean stops across languages, only English voiced and Korean fortis stops were distinctively produced whereas the other stops with long lag VOT were produced with similar VOT and fo values. Conclusions: The findings of the current study suggest that sequential bilingual children possess two linguistic systems similar to simultaneous bilingual children.

Effect of Channel Interaction and Presentation Level on Speech Recognitionin Simulated Bilateral Cochlear Implants

Yang-soo Yoon,Aiguo Liu,You-Ree Shin,Jae-sook Gho,Candace Hicks,Qian-Jie Fu,Allison Coltisor 한국언어재활사협회 2016 Clinical Archives of Communication Disorders Vol.1 No.1

Purpose: The present study used the acoustic simulation of bilateral cochlear implants to investigate the effect of presentation level (EXP 1) and channel interaction (EXP 2) on binaural summation benefit in speech recognition. Methods: The acoustic 6-channel processors were constructed, and the envelope of each band was used to modulate a sinusoid (EXP 1) or band-pass filtered white noise (EXP 2) with a frequency matching the center frequency of the carrier band. Presentation level was fixed for one ear and varied for the other. Channel interaction was simulated by altering filter slopes while keeping interaural spectral peaks matched in the carrier bands. Two separate groups of ten adult subjects with normal hearing participated in EXP 1 and EXP 2. Sentence recognition was measured with left ear alone, right ear alone, and both ears in quiet and in noise at +5 dB signal-to-noise ratio. Results: A significant binaural summation benefit occurs only in noise, regardless of interaural mismatch in channel interactions and presentation levels. Conclusions: Results suggest that factors other than channel interaction are important and that matching interaural loudness is an unimportant factor in binaural summation benefit in noise. For both EXP 1 and EXP 2, the data trend is indicative of speech information perceived in quiet being fully coded by the better performing ear alone, which leads to no binaural summation benefit. The results of current and future studies could have implications in programming of bilateral cochlear implant users.

Spectral and Cepstral Based Acoustic Features of Voices with Muscle Tension Dysphonia

Hee-Jeong Shim,Hun Jung,Rajinder Koul,Do-Heung Ko 한국언어재활사협회 2016 Clinical Archives of Communication Disorders Vol.1 No.1

Purpose: This study aimed to examine the cepstral and spectral acoustic features of patients with muscle tension dysphonia (MTD). Methods: A total of 30 patients with MTD and 30 healthy women (control group) were enrolled. All participants were asked to vocalize a sustained vowel /a/ for more than 3 seconds, which was recorded and analyzed using the Analysis of Dysphonia in Speech and Voice program. Results: Compared with the control group, patients with MTD had significantly lower cepstral peak prominence (CPP) and CPP F0, and significantly higher cepstral and spectral index of dysphonia (CSID) and a low- to high-frequency spectral energy ratio. Additionally, in patients with MTD, there was a high correlation between CPP and perceptual parameters such as grade, roughness, breathiness and strain. Receiver operating characteristic analysis found that a threshold of 11.815 for CSID achieved a good classification for MTD, with 73.3% sensitivity and specificity. Conclusions: By applying cepstral and spectral analysis and identifying the acoustic features of patients with MTD, this study demonstrated the feasibility and usefulness of cepstral parameters in clinical practice.

Perceived Benefits for Family Members of Group Participation by Their Relatives with Aphasia

Annette Rotherham,Tami Howe,Gina Tillard 한국언어재활사협회 2016 Clinical Archives of Communication Disorders Vol.1 No.1

Purpose: Aphasia impacts family members. Therefore family members may also derive indirect benefits when their relative with aphasia chooses to participate in a group. The current study explored the benefits for family members of their relative with aphasia participating in a variety of types groups post-stroke as perceived by family members and their relatives with aphasia. Methods: The study used a qualitative descriptive research approach. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with sixteen participants: six family members and ten adults with aphasia post-stroke. Qualitative content analysis was used to analyze the interview transcripts. Member checking, peer debriefing, and triangulation of data sources was used to enhance the rigour of the study. Results: The participants identified 10 benefits that family members may experience as a result of their relative with aphasia participating in various types of groups post-stroke: improves communication between the family member and the individual with aphasia at home, provides support for family members, provides an opportunity for social contact for family members, enables access to aphasia-related information, reduces individual with aphasia’s reliance on the family member for socialization, provides an opportunity for the family member to have time on their own, enables the family member to experience positive feelings, allows family members to focus on their role in the family, provides a meaningful role for the family member, and increases participation for the family member. Conclusions: These indirect benefits may help to address some of the psychosocial, information, communication, and participation needs of family members of individuals with aphasia.

A Familial Case Study Exploring Craniofacial, Velopharyngeal, and Speech Variations in Pierre Robin Sequence

Katelyn J. Kotlarek,Jaclyn R. Kotlarek,Pamela J. Reitnauer,Jamie L. Perry 한국언어재활사협회 2018 Clinical Archives of Communication Disorders Vol.3 No.3

A descriptive, prospective case study design was used to describe craniofacial, velopharyngeal, and speech measures of three siblings with a family history of Stickler syndrome. Two of the siblings had Pierre Robin sequence and cleft palate. All participants underwent nasometry, perceptual resonance rating, speech sound analysis, and magnetic resonance imaging. The child with a history of compensatory articulation errors showed notable differences in velopharyngeal function and medical history, as well as craniofacial and velopharyngeal dimensions when compared to siblings without a history of these speech errors. Further analysis of velopharyngeal and speech measures should be performed using a larger sample size within this population.

Recovery of Laryngeal Closure in Post-stroke Survivors

Kaylee Sienza,Youngsun Kim,Taeok Park,Byung-Mo Oh 한국언어재활사협회 2018 Clinical Archives of Communication Disorders Vol.3 No.2

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to examine whether traditional swallowing intervention improves the initiation or duration of laryngeal closure in post-stroke survivors using the initial and follow-up videofluoroscopic swallowing study (VFSS). Methods: Twelve post-stroke survivors completed traditional swallowing intervention such as postural changes and swallowing exercises. The initial VFSS was performed at the acute or subacute stage and the follow-up VFSS occurred at 3 to 5 weeks after the initial VFSS. Temporal measurements of laryngeal closure were analyzed for 2 mL and 5 mL thin liquids. Statistical comparisons were made by paired t-test. The significance level was set at p<0.05. Results: The initiation of laryngeal closure of post-stroke survivors was significantly shorter after the traditional swallowing intervention; however, the duration of laryngeal closure did not differ after the intervention. In addition, the post-stroke survivors showed reduced occurrences of penetration or aspiration after the intervention. Conclusions: Shorter initiation of laryngeal closure after the intervention indicates that the traditional swallowing intervention at the acute or subacute stage of stroke may help post-stroke survivors protect the airway effectively.