Objectives: The first objective of this study was to compare the predicted audiometric thresholds obtained by auditory steady state response (ASSR) and auditory brainstem response (ABR) in infants and toddlers when both techniques use optimal stimuli and detection algorithms. This information will aid in determining the basis for large discrepancies in ABR and ASSR measures found in past studies. The hypothesis was that advancements in ASSR response detection would improve (lower) thresholds and decrease discrepancies between the thresholds produced by the two techniques. The second objective was to determine and compare test times required by the two techniques to predict thresholds for both ears at the 4 basic audiometric frequencies of 500, 1000, 2000, and 4000 Hz. Design: A multicenter clinical study was implemented at three university-based children’s hospital audiology departments. Participants were 102 infants and toddlers referred to the centers for electrophysiologic testing for audiometric purposes. The test battery included wideband tympanometry, distortion-product otoacoustic emissions, and threshold measurements at four frequencies in both ears using ABR and ASSR (randomized) as implemented on the Interacoustics Eclipse systems with “Next-Generation” ASSR detection and FMP analysis for ABR. Both methods utilized narrow band CE-Chirp stimuli. Testers were trained on a specialized test battery designed to minimize test time for both techniques. Testing with both techniques was performed in one session. Thresholds were evaluated and confirmed by the first author and correction factors were applied. Test times were documented in system software. Results: Corrected thresholds for ABR and ASSR were compared by regression, by the Bland–Altman technique and by matched pairs t tests. Thresholds were significantly lower for ASSR than ABR. The ABR–ASSR discrepancy at 500 Hz was 14.39 dB, at 1000 Hz was 10.12 dB, at 2000 Hz was 3.73 dB, and at 4000 Hz was 3.67 dB. The average test time for ASSR of 19.93 min (for 8 thresholds) was found to be significantly lower (p
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Παρασκευή 6 Απριλίου 2018
Toward Optimizing VEMP: Calculating VEMP Inhibition Depth With a Generic Template
Objectives: Cervical vestibular evoked myogenic potentials (cVEMP) indirectly reveal the response of the saccule to acoustic stimuli through the inhibition of sternocleidomastoid muscle electromyographic response. VEMP inhibition depth (VEMPid) is a recently developed metric that estimates the percentage of saccular inhibition. VEMPid provides both normalization and better accuracy at low response levels than amplitude-normalized cVEMPs. Hopefully, VEMPid will aid in the clinical assessment of patients with vestibulopatholgy. To calculate VEMPid a template is needed. In the original method, a subject’s own cVEMP was used as the template, but this method can be problematic in patients who do not have robust cVEMP responses. We hypothesize that a “generic” template, created by assembling cVEMPs from healthy subjects, can be used to compute VEMPid, which would facilitate the use of VEMPid in subjects with pathological conditions. Design: A generic template was created by averaging cVEMP responses from 6 normal subjects. To compare VEMPid calculations using a generic versus a subject-specific template, cVEMPs were obtained in 40 healthy subjects using 500, 750, and 1000 Hz tonebursts at sound levels ranging from 98 to 123 dB peSPL. VEMPids were calculated both with the generic template and with the subject’s own template. The ability of both templates to determine whether a cVEMP was present or not was compared with receiver operating characteristic curves. Results: No significant differences were found between VEMPid calculations using a generic template versus using a subject-specific template for all frequencies and sound levels. Based on the receiver operating characteristic curves, the subject-specific and generic template did an equally good job at determining threshold. Within limits, the shape of the generic template did not affect these results. Conclusions: A generic template can be used instead of a subject-specific template to calculate VEMPid. Compared with cVEMP normalized by electromyographic amplitudes, VEMPid is advantageous because it averages zero when there is no sound stimulus and it allows the accumulating VEMPid value to be shown during data acquisition as a guide to deciding when enough data has been collected. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS: The authors thank audiologists Heidi Leonard and Mark Sanders for their help with threshold determination. This study was conducted with support from Harvard Catalyst, The Harvard Clinical and Translational Science Center (National Center for Research Resources and the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, National Institutes of Health Award UL1 TR001102), and financial contributions from Harvard University and its affiliated academic healthcare centers. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of Harvard Catalyst, Harvard University and its affiliated academic healthcare centers, or the National Institutes of Health. This work was presented as a poster at the Association of Research in Otolaryngology Midwinter meeting in Baltimore, MD (February 11-15, 2017). This study was approved by the Human Studies Committee of the Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary. Protocol number: 13-097H. Principal Investigator: Steven D. Rauch. The authors have no conflicts of interest to disclose. Address for correspondence: John J. Guinan Jr., 243 Charles Street, Boston, MA 02114, USA. E-mail: John_Guinan@meei.harvard.edu Received November 1, 2017; accepted February 10, 2018. Copyright © 2018 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved.
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Comparisons of IQ in Children With and Without Cochlear Implants: Longitudinal Findings and Associations With Language
Objectives: To make longitudinal comparisons of intelligence quotient (IQ) in children with cochlear implants (CIs) and typical hearing peers from early in development to the school-age period. Children with additional comorbidities and CIs were also evaluated. To estimate the impact of socioeconomic status and oral language on school-age cognitive performance. Design: This longitudinal study evaluated nonverbal IQ in a multicenter, national sample of 147 children with CIs and 75 typically hearing peers. IQ was evaluated at baseline, prior to cochlear implantation, using the Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development and the Leiter International Performance Scale. School-age IQ was assessed using the Wechsler Intelligence Scales for Children. For the current study, only the Perceptual Reasoning and Processing Speed indices were administered. Oral language was evaluated using the Comprehensive Assessment of Spoken Language. Results: Children in the CI group scored within the normal range of intelligence at both time points. However, children with additional comorbidities scored significantly worse on the Processing Speed, but not the Perceptual Reasoning Index. Maternal education and language were significantly related to school-age IQ in both groups. Importantly, language was the strongest predictor of intellectual functioning in both children with CIs and normal hearing. Conclusion: These results suggest that children using cochlear implants perform similarly to hearing peers on measures of intelligence, but those with severe comorbidities are at-risk for cognitive deficits. Despite the strong link between socioeconomic status and intelligence, this association was no longer significant once spoken language performance was accounted for. These results reveal the important contributions that early intervention programs, which emphasize language and parent training, contribute to cognitive functioning in school-age children with CIs. For families from economically disadvantaged backgrounds, who are at-risk for suboptimal outcomes, these early intervention programs are critical to improve overall functioning. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS: This work was supported by grant R01DC004797 from NIH. Dr. Cejas is on the AG Bell Board of Directors, MED-EL pediatric advisory board, and consults with ASHA, and has a research agreement and consultancy with Advanced Bionics. Ms. Mitchell has received support from Advanced Bionics through a research contract to her institution. The other authors do not have any conflicts of interest with regard to this study. Address for correspondence: Ivette Cejas, PhD, The Barton G Kids Hear Now Cochlear Implant Family Resource Center, University of Miami Ear Institute, 1120 NW 14th Street, CRB 5th Floor, Miami, FL 33136. E-mail: icejas@med.miami.edu Received June 23, 2017; accepted February 5, 2018. Copyright © 2018 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved.
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Tinnitus, Depression, Anxiety, and Suicide in Recent Veterans: A Retrospective Analysis
Objectives: The purpose of this project was to investigate whether there is an association between tinnitus diagnosis and suicide and whether depression and anxiety strengthen that association. Given that tinnitus is the top service–connected disability among U.S. Veterans (Veterans Benefits Administration, 2016) and that suicide among Veterans has been occurring at a higher frequency as compared with community suicide rates (Hoffmire et al., 2015), the possible associations between tinnitus and suicide will be explored. Co-occurring physical conditions also will be examined to determine if they increase the risk of suicide in the context of tinnitus. Design: Administrative health care data related to Operations Enduring Freedom/Iraqi Freedom/New Dawn (OEF/OIF/OND) were used to identify Veterans who accessed the Veterans Administration (VA) health care system from January 1, 2002, to December 31, 2011. Veterans who were deceased as of December 2011 were identified using the National Death Index (NDI) files. Tinnitus cases were followed until either they were deceased or to the end of the study period. The International Classification of Diseases 9th Revision Clinical Modification (ICD-9-CM) codes were used to identify all conditions and diseases. As per mortality research standards, International Classification of Diseases 10th Revision (ICD-10) codes were used to identify cause of death. Results: Of 769,934 OEF/OIF/OND Veterans receiving VA care January 2002 to December 2011, 15% (n =116,358) were diagnosed with tinnitus. Of these Veterans diagnosed with tinnitus, 21% were also diagnosed with depression, another 8% with anxiety, and another 17% with both depression and anxiety. Fifty-four percentage were identified as having tinnitus without depression or anxiety. Among individuals with tinnitus, 41.9% had co-occurring hearing loss. Suicide rates were lower among Veterans with tinnitus than Veterans without tinnitus. Co-occurring diagnoses of mental-health conditions did not significantly increase the risk of suicide. Conclusions: The study results do not confirm clinical and anecdotal reports that tinnitus could be related to suicide among Veterans. However, tenets from rehabilitation psychology suggest that the onset of chronic impairment or disability does not predict an individual’s subsequent psychological states; other personal attributes may be more influential. Health care professionals, such as audiologists and psychologists, should be cognizant of the associations between tinnitus and mental health issues and be prepared to address the psychological needs of individuals who have tinnitus. Supplemental digital content is available for this article. Direct URL citations appear in the printed text and are provided in the HTML and text of this article on the journal’s Web site (www.ear-hearing.com). ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS: This material is the result of work supported with resources and the use of facilities at the VA Portland Healthcare System and the support of the VHA Office of Patient Care Services, Post Deployment Health Services. The authors acknowledge the help that Dr. Robert Bossarte provided to the first two authors as they were starting this research study. Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the position or policy of the Department of Veterans Affairs or the United States government. All authors contributed equally to this work. E.M. and C.J. conducted the literature review, and E.M. wrote most of the introduction and discussion sections. D.D. and C.W. ran the data analyses and wrote most of the Methods section, including the results, and created the tables. A.S. reviewed and discussed the data analyses with D.D. and C.W. All authors not only discussed the results and their implications but also edited the article throughout its evolution. There are no conflicts of interest to report. Received June 27, 2017; accepted January 23, 2018. Address for correspondence: Erin Martz, VA Portland Healthcare System, Bldg. 6, Room 114A, 3710 SW U.S. Veterans Hospital Rd, Portland, OR 97239. E-mail: rehabilityoregon@gmail.com Copyright © 2018 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved.
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Evaluation of Speed and Accuracy of Next-Generation Auditory Steady State Response and Auditory Brainstem Response Audiometry in Children With Normal Hearing and Hearing Loss
Objectives: The first objective of this study was to compare the predicted audiometric thresholds obtained by auditory steady state response (ASSR) and auditory brainstem response (ABR) in infants and toddlers when both techniques use optimal stimuli and detection algorithms. This information will aid in determining the basis for large discrepancies in ABR and ASSR measures found in past studies. The hypothesis was that advancements in ASSR response detection would improve (lower) thresholds and decrease discrepancies between the thresholds produced by the two techniques. The second objective was to determine and compare test times required by the two techniques to predict thresholds for both ears at the 4 basic audiometric frequencies of 500, 1000, 2000, and 4000 Hz. Design: A multicenter clinical study was implemented at three university-based children’s hospital audiology departments. Participants were 102 infants and toddlers referred to the centers for electrophysiologic testing for audiometric purposes. The test battery included wideband tympanometry, distortion-product otoacoustic emissions, and threshold measurements at four frequencies in both ears using ABR and ASSR (randomized) as implemented on the Interacoustics Eclipse systems with “Next-Generation” ASSR detection and FMP analysis for ABR. Both methods utilized narrow band CE-Chirp stimuli. Testers were trained on a specialized test battery designed to minimize test time for both techniques. Testing with both techniques was performed in one session. Thresholds were evaluated and confirmed by the first author and correction factors were applied. Test times were documented in system software. Results: Corrected thresholds for ABR and ASSR were compared by regression, by the Bland–Altman technique and by matched pairs t tests. Thresholds were significantly lower for ASSR than ABR. The ABR–ASSR discrepancy at 500 Hz was 14.39 dB, at 1000 Hz was 10.12 dB, at 2000 Hz was 3.73 dB, and at 4000 Hz was 3.67 dB. The average test time for ASSR of 19.93 min (for 8 thresholds) was found to be significantly lower (p
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Toward Optimizing VEMP: Calculating VEMP Inhibition Depth With a Generic Template
Objectives: Cervical vestibular evoked myogenic potentials (cVEMP) indirectly reveal the response of the saccule to acoustic stimuli through the inhibition of sternocleidomastoid muscle electromyographic response. VEMP inhibition depth (VEMPid) is a recently developed metric that estimates the percentage of saccular inhibition. VEMPid provides both normalization and better accuracy at low response levels than amplitude-normalized cVEMPs. Hopefully, VEMPid will aid in the clinical assessment of patients with vestibulopatholgy. To calculate VEMPid a template is needed. In the original method, a subject’s own cVEMP was used as the template, but this method can be problematic in patients who do not have robust cVEMP responses. We hypothesize that a “generic” template, created by assembling cVEMPs from healthy subjects, can be used to compute VEMPid, which would facilitate the use of VEMPid in subjects with pathological conditions. Design: A generic template was created by averaging cVEMP responses from 6 normal subjects. To compare VEMPid calculations using a generic versus a subject-specific template, cVEMPs were obtained in 40 healthy subjects using 500, 750, and 1000 Hz tonebursts at sound levels ranging from 98 to 123 dB peSPL. VEMPids were calculated both with the generic template and with the subject’s own template. The ability of both templates to determine whether a cVEMP was present or not was compared with receiver operating characteristic curves. Results: No significant differences were found between VEMPid calculations using a generic template versus using a subject-specific template for all frequencies and sound levels. Based on the receiver operating characteristic curves, the subject-specific and generic template did an equally good job at determining threshold. Within limits, the shape of the generic template did not affect these results. Conclusions: A generic template can be used instead of a subject-specific template to calculate VEMPid. Compared with cVEMP normalized by electromyographic amplitudes, VEMPid is advantageous because it averages zero when there is no sound stimulus and it allows the accumulating VEMPid value to be shown during data acquisition as a guide to deciding when enough data has been collected. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS: The authors thank audiologists Heidi Leonard and Mark Sanders for their help with threshold determination. This study was conducted with support from Harvard Catalyst, The Harvard Clinical and Translational Science Center (National Center for Research Resources and the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, National Institutes of Health Award UL1 TR001102), and financial contributions from Harvard University and its affiliated academic healthcare centers. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of Harvard Catalyst, Harvard University and its affiliated academic healthcare centers, or the National Institutes of Health. This work was presented as a poster at the Association of Research in Otolaryngology Midwinter meeting in Baltimore, MD (February 11-15, 2017). This study was approved by the Human Studies Committee of the Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary. Protocol number: 13-097H. Principal Investigator: Steven D. Rauch. The authors have no conflicts of interest to disclose. Address for correspondence: John J. Guinan Jr., 243 Charles Street, Boston, MA 02114, USA. E-mail: John_Guinan@meei.harvard.edu Received November 1, 2017; accepted February 10, 2018. Copyright © 2018 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved.
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Comparisons of IQ in Children With and Without Cochlear Implants: Longitudinal Findings and Associations With Language
Objectives: To make longitudinal comparisons of intelligence quotient (IQ) in children with cochlear implants (CIs) and typical hearing peers from early in development to the school-age period. Children with additional comorbidities and CIs were also evaluated. To estimate the impact of socioeconomic status and oral language on school-age cognitive performance. Design: This longitudinal study evaluated nonverbal IQ in a multicenter, national sample of 147 children with CIs and 75 typically hearing peers. IQ was evaluated at baseline, prior to cochlear implantation, using the Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development and the Leiter International Performance Scale. School-age IQ was assessed using the Wechsler Intelligence Scales for Children. For the current study, only the Perceptual Reasoning and Processing Speed indices were administered. Oral language was evaluated using the Comprehensive Assessment of Spoken Language. Results: Children in the CI group scored within the normal range of intelligence at both time points. However, children with additional comorbidities scored significantly worse on the Processing Speed, but not the Perceptual Reasoning Index. Maternal education and language were significantly related to school-age IQ in both groups. Importantly, language was the strongest predictor of intellectual functioning in both children with CIs and normal hearing. Conclusion: These results suggest that children using cochlear implants perform similarly to hearing peers on measures of intelligence, but those with severe comorbidities are at-risk for cognitive deficits. Despite the strong link between socioeconomic status and intelligence, this association was no longer significant once spoken language performance was accounted for. These results reveal the important contributions that early intervention programs, which emphasize language and parent training, contribute to cognitive functioning in school-age children with CIs. For families from economically disadvantaged backgrounds, who are at-risk for suboptimal outcomes, these early intervention programs are critical to improve overall functioning. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS: This work was supported by grant R01DC004797 from NIH. Dr. Cejas is on the AG Bell Board of Directors, MED-EL pediatric advisory board, and consults with ASHA, and has a research agreement and consultancy with Advanced Bionics. Ms. Mitchell has received support from Advanced Bionics through a research contract to her institution. The other authors do not have any conflicts of interest with regard to this study. Address for correspondence: Ivette Cejas, PhD, The Barton G Kids Hear Now Cochlear Implant Family Resource Center, University of Miami Ear Institute, 1120 NW 14th Street, CRB 5th Floor, Miami, FL 33136. E-mail: icejas@med.miami.edu Received June 23, 2017; accepted February 5, 2018. Copyright © 2018 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved.
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Distinct Acoustic Features and Glottal Changes Define Two Modes of Singing in Peking Opera
Source:Journal of Voice
Author(s): Gelin Li, Haiqing Li, Qian Hou, Zhen Jiang
ObjectiveWe aimed to delineate the acoustic characteristics of the Laodan and Qingyi role in Peking Opera and define glottis closure states and mucosal wave changes during singing in the two roles.MethodsThe range of singing in A4 (440 Hz) pitch in seven female Peking Opera singers was determined using two classic pieces of Peking Opera. Glottal changes during singing were examined by stroboscopic laryngoscope. The fundamental frequency of /i/ in the first 15 seconds of the two pieces and the /i/ pitch range were determined. The relative length of the glottis fissure and the relative maximum mucosal amplitude were calculated.ResultsQingyi had significantly higher mean fundamental frequency than Laodan. The long-term average spectrum showed an obvious formant cluster near 3000 Hz in Laodan versus Qingyi. No formant cluster was observed in singing in the regular mode. Strobe laryngoscopy showed complete glottal closure in Laodan and incomplete glottal closure in Qingyi in the maximal glottis closure phase. The relative length of the glottis fissure of Laodan was significantly lower than that of Qingyi in the singing mode. The relative maximum mucosal amplitude of Qingyi was significantly lower than that of Laodan.ConclusionThe Laodan role and the Qingyi role in Peking Opera sing in a fundamental frequency range compatible with the respective use of da sang (big voice) and xiao sang (small voice). The morphological patterns of glottal changes also indicate that the Laodan role and the Qingyi role sing with da sang and xiao sang, respectively.
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Using Language-Specific and Bilingual Measures to Explore Lexical–Grammatical Links in Young Latino Dual-Language Learners
Purpose
This study examined the nature of the relation between language-specific vocabulary and conceptual lexical–semantic skills with grammatical abilities within and across languages in preschool Latino dual language learners (DLLs).
Method
Sixty-one typically developing, Spanish–English speaking DLLs from preschools serving low-income families participated in the study. Lexical, semantic, and grammar skills were assessed toward the end of the fall in both Spanish and English using normative and researcher-developed assessment instruments. Hierarchical linear regressions using baseline cross-sectional data were completed to determine the association of language-specific vocabulary and bilingual lexical and semantic abilities to grammatical skills measured by sentence repetition tasks in Spanish and English both within and across languages.
Results
Results from the study revealed that a considerable percentage of the variance in the grammatical ability of these Latino DLL preschoolers in both Spanish and English was explained by lexical variables in the same language (54% in English and 16% in Spanish). In the strong language (Spanish), bilingual semantic skills also played a role, explaining an additional 8% of the variance. Conceptual vocabulary was a significant predictor of English grammar in the model that excluded the language-specific vocabulary measures.
Conclusions
These findings suggest that grammatical skills in the Latino preschoolers examined in the study are strongly related to language-specific measures of vocabulary. In contrast, no evidence supporting the relation between vocabulary and grammar skills across languages was observed. Findings from this study provide insight into the impact of bilingual lexical–semantic knowledge on the grammatical skills of dual-language preschool children developing language abilities in their 2 languages. Clinical implications are also discussed.from #Audiology via ola Kala on Inoreader https://ift.tt/2uNiRXC
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Treating Childhood Apraxia of Speech With the Kaufman Speech to Language Protocol: A Phase I Pilot Study
Purpose
A Phase I pilot study was designed to collect preliminary evidence on the use of the Kaufman Speech to Language Protocol (K-SLP; Kaufman, 2014) to treat children with childhood apraxia of speech. We hypothesized that the K-SLP approach would result in more accurate speech production in targeted words, whereas untrained (control) words and speech sounds would remain unchanged.
Method
A single-case multiple-baseline across behaviors experimental design was used to see if experimental feasibility could be demonstrated. Two children each received a total of 12 1-hr treatment sessions over 3 weeks. The children's response to treatment and experimental control was measured by administering baseline, treatment, and posttreatment probes.
Results
Both children showed some response to treatment, as measured by percent phonemes correct; however, the response to treatment varied. In general, for the treated words that improved with therapy, accuracy was maintained above baseline level during the maintenance phase. Minimal generalization was observed for this study, with only 1 participant generalizing treatment gains to 2 sets of untrained (similar) words.
Conclusion
This Phase I pilot study provides limited preliminary evidence for the effectiveness of the K-SLP approach in treating childhood apraxia of speech in some children under the conditions specified in this study. Replication of these results in well-controlled studies is needed before this structured and operationalized version of the K-SLP approach can be recommended for clinical use.from #Audiology via ola Kala on Inoreader https://ift.tt/2HfcC1z
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Using Language-Specific and Bilingual Measures to Explore Lexical–Grammatical Links in Young Latino Dual-Language Learners
Purpose
This study examined the nature of the relation between language-specific vocabulary and conceptual lexical–semantic skills with grammatical abilities within and across languages in preschool Latino dual language learners (DLLs).
Method
Sixty-one typically developing, Spanish–English speaking DLLs from preschools serving low-income families participated in the study. Lexical, semantic, and grammar skills were assessed toward the end of the fall in both Spanish and English using normative and researcher-developed assessment instruments. Hierarchical linear regressions using baseline cross-sectional data were completed to determine the association of language-specific vocabulary and bilingual lexical and semantic abilities to grammatical skills measured by sentence repetition tasks in Spanish and English both within and across languages.
Results
Results from the study revealed that a considerable percentage of the variance in the grammatical ability of these Latino DLL preschoolers in both Spanish and English was explained by lexical variables in the same language (54% in English and 16% in Spanish). In the strong language (Spanish), bilingual semantic skills also played a role, explaining an additional 8% of the variance. Conceptual vocabulary was a significant predictor of English grammar in the model that excluded the language-specific vocabulary measures.
Conclusions
These findings suggest that grammatical skills in the Latino preschoolers examined in the study are strongly related to language-specific measures of vocabulary. In contrast, no evidence supporting the relation between vocabulary and grammar skills across languages was observed. Findings from this study provide insight into the impact of bilingual lexical–semantic knowledge on the grammatical skills of dual-language preschool children developing language abilities in their 2 languages. Clinical implications are also discussed.from #Audiology via ola Kala on Inoreader https://ift.tt/2uNiRXC
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Treating Childhood Apraxia of Speech With the Kaufman Speech to Language Protocol: A Phase I Pilot Study
Purpose
A Phase I pilot study was designed to collect preliminary evidence on the use of the Kaufman Speech to Language Protocol (K-SLP; Kaufman, 2014) to treat children with childhood apraxia of speech. We hypothesized that the K-SLP approach would result in more accurate speech production in targeted words, whereas untrained (control) words and speech sounds would remain unchanged.
Method
A single-case multiple-baseline across behaviors experimental design was used to see if experimental feasibility could be demonstrated. Two children each received a total of 12 1-hr treatment sessions over 3 weeks. The children's response to treatment and experimental control was measured by administering baseline, treatment, and posttreatment probes.
Results
Both children showed some response to treatment, as measured by percent phonemes correct; however, the response to treatment varied. In general, for the treated words that improved with therapy, accuracy was maintained above baseline level during the maintenance phase. Minimal generalization was observed for this study, with only 1 participant generalizing treatment gains to 2 sets of untrained (similar) words.
Conclusion
This Phase I pilot study provides limited preliminary evidence for the effectiveness of the K-SLP approach in treating childhood apraxia of speech in some children under the conditions specified in this study. Replication of these results in well-controlled studies is needed before this structured and operationalized version of the K-SLP approach can be recommended for clinical use.from #Audiology via ola Kala on Inoreader https://ift.tt/2HfcC1z
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Using Language-Specific and Bilingual Measures to Explore Lexical–Grammatical Links in Young Latino Dual-Language Learners
Purpose
This study examined the nature of the relation between language-specific vocabulary and conceptual lexical–semantic skills with grammatical abilities within and across languages in preschool Latino dual language learners (DLLs).
Method
Sixty-one typically developing, Spanish–English speaking DLLs from preschools serving low-income families participated in the study. Lexical, semantic, and grammar skills were assessed toward the end of the fall in both Spanish and English using normative and researcher-developed assessment instruments. Hierarchical linear regressions using baseline cross-sectional data were completed to determine the association of language-specific vocabulary and bilingual lexical and semantic abilities to grammatical skills measured by sentence repetition tasks in Spanish and English both within and across languages.
Results
Results from the study revealed that a considerable percentage of the variance in the grammatical ability of these Latino DLL preschoolers in both Spanish and English was explained by lexical variables in the same language (54% in English and 16% in Spanish). In the strong language (Spanish), bilingual semantic skills also played a role, explaining an additional 8% of the variance. Conceptual vocabulary was a significant predictor of English grammar in the model that excluded the language-specific vocabulary measures.
Conclusions
These findings suggest that grammatical skills in the Latino preschoolers examined in the study are strongly related to language-specific measures of vocabulary. In contrast, no evidence supporting the relation between vocabulary and grammar skills across languages was observed. Findings from this study provide insight into the impact of bilingual lexical–semantic knowledge on the grammatical skills of dual-language preschool children developing language abilities in their 2 languages. Clinical implications are also discussed.from #Audiology via xlomafota13 on Inoreader https://ift.tt/2uNiRXC
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Treating Childhood Apraxia of Speech With the Kaufman Speech to Language Protocol: A Phase I Pilot Study
Purpose
A Phase I pilot study was designed to collect preliminary evidence on the use of the Kaufman Speech to Language Protocol (K-SLP; Kaufman, 2014) to treat children with childhood apraxia of speech. We hypothesized that the K-SLP approach would result in more accurate speech production in targeted words, whereas untrained (control) words and speech sounds would remain unchanged.
Method
A single-case multiple-baseline across behaviors experimental design was used to see if experimental feasibility could be demonstrated. Two children each received a total of 12 1-hr treatment sessions over 3 weeks. The children's response to treatment and experimental control was measured by administering baseline, treatment, and posttreatment probes.
Results
Both children showed some response to treatment, as measured by percent phonemes correct; however, the response to treatment varied. In general, for the treated words that improved with therapy, accuracy was maintained above baseline level during the maintenance phase. Minimal generalization was observed for this study, with only 1 participant generalizing treatment gains to 2 sets of untrained (similar) words.
Conclusion
This Phase I pilot study provides limited preliminary evidence for the effectiveness of the K-SLP approach in treating childhood apraxia of speech in some children under the conditions specified in this study. Replication of these results in well-controlled studies is needed before this structured and operationalized version of the K-SLP approach can be recommended for clinical use.from #Audiology via xlomafota13 on Inoreader https://ift.tt/2HfcC1z
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Occupational Noise Exposure Linked to Cardiovascular Conditions
High blood pressure and high cholesterol are more prevalent among workers who have been exposed to loud noises, according to a new study conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (Am J Ind Med. 2018 Mar 14. doi: 10.1002/ajim.22833. [Epub ahead of print].) Researchers from CDC’s National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health studied National Health Survey data from 2014 and estimated the prevalence of self-reported hearing difficulty, hypertension, elevated cholesterol, and coronary heart disease or stroke by level of occupational noise exposure, industry, and occupation. They found 25 percent of current workers had a history of occupational noise exposure, and that 12 percent had hearing difficulty, 24 percent had hypertension, and 28 percent had elevated cholesterol. Of these cases, 58 percent, 14 percent, and nine percent of them can be attributed to occupational noise exposure. Industries with the highest prevalence of occupational noise exposure were mining (61%), construction (51%), and manufacturing (47%), and occupations with the highest prevalence of occupational noise exposure were production (55%); construction and extraction (54%); and installation, maintenance, and repair (54%).Elizabeth Masterson, PhD, a co-author of the paper, said in a press release this study provides further evidence of an association of occupational noise exposure with high blood pressure and high cholesterol as well as the potential to prevent these conditions. “It is important that workers be screened regularly for these conditions in the workplace or through a health care provider, so interventions can occur. As these conditions are more common among noise-exposed workers, they could especially benefit from these screenings," Masterson said.
Published: 4/6/2018 10:34:00 AM
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Occupational Noise Exposure Linked to Cardiovascular Conditions
High blood pressure and high cholesterol are more prevalent among workers who have been exposed to loud noises, according to a new study conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (Am J Ind Med. 2018 Mar 14. doi: 10.1002/ajim.22833. [Epub ahead of print].) Researchers from CDC’s National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health studied National Health Survey data from 2014 and estimated the prevalence of self-reported hearing difficulty, hypertension, elevated cholesterol, and coronary heart disease or stroke by level of occupational noise exposure, industry, and occupation. They found 25 percent of current workers had a history of occupational noise exposure, and that 12 percent had hearing difficulty, 24 percent had hypertension, and 28 percent had elevated cholesterol. Of these cases, 58 percent, 14 percent, and nine percent of them can be attributed to occupational noise exposure. Industries with the highest prevalence of occupational noise exposure were mining (61%), construction (51%), and manufacturing (47%), and occupations with the highest prevalence of occupational noise exposure were production (55%); construction and extraction (54%); and installation, maintenance, and repair (54%).Elizabeth Masterson, PhD, a co-author of the paper, said in a press release this study provides further evidence of an association of occupational noise exposure with high blood pressure and high cholesterol as well as the potential to prevent these conditions. “It is important that workers be screened regularly for these conditions in the workplace or through a health care provider, so interventions can occur. As these conditions are more common among noise-exposed workers, they could especially benefit from these screenings," Masterson said.
Published: 4/6/2018 10:34:00 AM
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Occupational Noise Exposure Linked to Cardiovascular Conditions
High blood pressure and high cholesterol are more prevalent among workers who have been exposed to loud noises, according to a new study conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (Am J Ind Med. 2018 Mar 14. doi: 10.1002/ajim.22833. [Epub ahead of print].) Researchers from CDC’s National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health studied National Health Survey data from 2014 and estimated the prevalence of self-reported hearing difficulty, hypertension, elevated cholesterol, and coronary heart disease or stroke by level of occupational noise exposure, industry, and occupation. They found 25 percent of current workers had a history of occupational noise exposure, and that 12 percent had hearing difficulty, 24 percent had hypertension, and 28 percent had elevated cholesterol. Of these cases, 58 percent, 14 percent, and nine percent of them can be attributed to occupational noise exposure. Industries with the highest prevalence of occupational noise exposure were mining (61%), construction (51%), and manufacturing (47%), and occupations with the highest prevalence of occupational noise exposure were production (55%); construction and extraction (54%); and installation, maintenance, and repair (54%).Elizabeth Masterson, PhD, a co-author of the paper, said in a press release this study provides further evidence of an association of occupational noise exposure with high blood pressure and high cholesterol as well as the potential to prevent these conditions. “It is important that workers be screened regularly for these conditions in the workplace or through a health care provider, so interventions can occur. As these conditions are more common among noise-exposed workers, they could especially benefit from these screenings," Masterson said.
Published: 4/6/2018 10:34:00 AM
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Suicide Tinnitus
Please note: the following information does not constitute professional medical advice, and is provided for general informational purposes only. Please speak to your doctor if you have tinnitus.
There are many instances when unbearable health conditions have driven people to take their own lives. For example, pain may be unbearable, and a patient may feel like no treatments work to alleviate the pain. You may have heard about a possible link for suicide tinnitus, and you may be wondering how this could potentially impact you or a loved one who is suffering from the condition. A closer look will reveal that there is help for individuals who suffer from serious tinnitus that may be leading to suicidal thoughts.
What Is Tinnitus?
Many people have experienced tinnitus in the past and are not aware of it. This is a condition that involves hearing sounds that are not caused by any external factors. It may be something as simple as a brief ringing sound, a hum or a buzz. While some people have very brief and intermittent episodes of tinnitus, others have long-lasting or even unceasing cases. In addition, the sounds that can be heard because of this condition vary dramatically. A sharp ringing or heavy thumping that causes a serious headache may be experienced. Tinnitus is sometimes caused by hearing damage, such as by being exposed to loud sounds for a lengthy period of time or by trauma to the ear. For other people, there is no apparent cause.
What Makes This Condition Unbearable?
A mild case of tinnitus may not typically cause concern for a link between suicide tinnitus. However, when tinnitus becomes unbearable and the patient loses all hope for a treatment that works, desperation can set in. This can result in possible suicidal thoughts. It is important to note that tinnitus is not a direct cause of suicide, but it can contribute to it. Each person responds differently to health conditions and stressors in life.
If you or someone you love is dealing with suicide tinnitus issues, understand that help is available. There are many treatments available that have worked well for other people. Because tinnitus can be caused by different things, some people may have to try multiple treatments before they experience relief. Regardless of how severe your case is, remember that there are always things that you can do to alleviate the symptoms entirely or to at least reduce their impact on your life. Consult with an auditory specialist for assistance with possible treatments. If you are having suicidal thoughts, call 911 or visit your local emergency room for assistance.
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