What Have We Learned From Physiological Approaches to Characterizing Dysarthria and Other Speech Production Disorders?

2010 ◽  
Vol 20 (2) ◽  
pp. 37-46
Author(s):  
Nicole M. Etter
Keyword(s):  
Speech Production ◽  
Speech Disorders ◽  
Research Literature ◽  
Systematic Research ◽  
Physiological Measures ◽  
Validity And Reliability ◽  
Assessment Measures ◽  
Perceptual Assessment ◽  
Perceptual Characteristics ◽  
Diagnostic Resolution

Traditionally, speech-language pathologists (SLP) have been trained to develop interventions based on a select number of perceptual characteristics of speech without or through minimal use of objective instrumental and physiologic assessment measures of the underlying articulatory subsystems. While indirect physiological assumptions can be made from perceptual assessment measures, the validity and reliability of those assumptions are tenuous at best. Considering that neurological damage will result in various degrees of aberrant speech physiology, the need for physiologic assessments appears highly warranted. In this context, do existing physiological measures found in the research literature have sufficient diagnostic resolution to provide distinct and differential data within and between etiological classifications of speech disorders and versus healthy controls? The goals of this paper are (a) to describe various physiological and movement-related techniques available to objectively study various dysarthrias and speech production disorders and (b) to develop an appreciation for the need for increased systematic research to better define physiologic features of dysarthria and speech production disorders and their relation to know perceptual characteristics.

Testing the factor validity of the Referee Self-Efficacy Scale (REFS) in non-invasion sports officials

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 12-15
Author(s):  
Ian Cunningham ◽  
◽  
Philip Sullivan ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Psychometric Properties ◽  
Factor Model ◽  
Operational Definition ◽  
Research Literature ◽  
Figure Skating ◽  
Validity And Reliability ◽  
Reliable Measure ◽  
Confirmatory Factor ◽  
And Gender ◽  
Sports Officials

Officials occupy an essential role in sport, and one that is beginning to be recognized in the research literature. One growing area of research on officials is officiating efficacy, or refficacy. Previous research includes a conceptualization of the construct and an operational definition that has been supported with respect to factor structure and other psychometric properties. However, the samples that have supported the validity and reliability of the scale have reflected a narrow conceptualization of officiating; samples have been dominated by interactor officials in invasion sports, such as football and basketball. The current study was designed to assess the psychometric properties of the REFS with a sample of monitor and reactor officials. A sample of 174 officials from monitor sports such as wrestling, tennis and figure skating completed the REFS. A Confirmatory Factor Analysis supported Myers et al [1] four-factor model. The data also showed strong internal consistency and gender differences that are consistent with other research on efficacy in sport. These results show that the REFS is a valid and reliable measure for a heterogeneous and widely representative sample of sport officials. Research utilizing this measurement is encouraged in a variety of contexts and on a variety outcomes

The control of aerodynamics, acoustics, and perceptual characteristics during speech production

2004 ◽  
Vol 116 (4) ◽  
pp. 2345-2353 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jessica E. Huber ◽  
Elaine T. Stathopoulos ◽  
Joan E. Sussman
Keyword(s):  
Speech Production ◽  
Perceptual Characteristics

Reliability of Hypernasality Rating

2018 ◽  
Vol 55 (8) ◽  
pp. 1060-1071 ◽  
Author(s):  
Renata Paciello Yamashita ◽  
Elisabet Borg ◽  
Svante Granqvist ◽  
Anette Lohmander
Keyword(s):  
Cleft Lip And Palate ◽  
Native Speakers ◽  
Intraclass Correlation ◽  
Speech Disorders ◽  
Brazilian Portuguese ◽  
Rater Reliability ◽  
Language Background ◽  
Cleft Palate Speech ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Perceptual Assessment

Objective: To compare reliability in auditory-perceptual assessment of hypernasality for 3 different methods and to explore the influence of language background. Design: Comparative methodological study. Participants and Materials: Audio recordings of 5-year-old Swedish-speaking children with repaired cleft lip and palate consisting of 73 stimuli of 9 nonnasal single-word strings in 3 different randomized orders. Four experienced speech-language pathologists (2 native speakers of Brazilian–Portuguese and 2 native speakers of Swedish) participated as listeners. After individual training, each listener performed the hypernasality rating task. Each order of stimuli was analyzed individually using the 2-step, VISOR and Borg centiMax scale methods. Main Outcome Measures: Comparison of intra- and inter-rater reliability, and consistency  for each method within language of the listener and between listener languages (Swedish and Brazilian–Portuguese). Results: Good to excellent intra-rater reliability was found within each listener for all methods, 2-step: κ = 0.59-0.93; VISOR: intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) = 0.80-0.99; Borg centiMax (cM) scale: ICC = 0.80-1.00. The highest inter-rater reliability was demonstrated for VISOR (ICC = 0.60-0.90) and Borg cM-scale (ICC = 0.40-0.80). High consistency within each method was found with the highest for the Borg cM scale (ICC = 0.89-0.91). There was a significant difference in the ratings between the Swedish and the Brazilian listeners for all methods. Conclusions: The category-ratio scale Borg cM was considered most reliable in the assessment of hypernasality. Language background of Brazilian–Portuguese listeners influenced the perceptual ratings of hypernasality in Swedish speech samples, despite their experience in perceptual assessment of cleft palate speech disorders.

Assessing children's speech intelligibility and oral structures, and functions via an Internet-based telehealth system

2012 ◽  
Vol 18 (4) ◽  
pp. 198-203 ◽  
Author(s):  
Monique C Waite ◽  
Deborah G Theodoros ◽  
Trevor G Russell ◽  
Louise M Cahill
Keyword(s):  
Motor Function ◽  
Speech Intelligibility ◽  
Close Agreement ◽  
Speech Disorders ◽  
Structure And Function ◽  
Validity And Reliability ◽  
Exact Agreement ◽  
Intelligibility Ratings ◽  
And Function ◽  
Motor Structure

We examined the validity and reliability of an Internet-based telehealth system for screening speech intelligibility and oro-motor structure, and function in children with speech disorders. Twenty children aged 4-9 years were assessed by a clinician in the conventional, face-to-face (FTF) manner; simultaneously, they were assessed by a second clinician via the videoconferencing system using a 128-kbit/s Internet connection. Speech intelligibility in conversation was rated and an informal assessment of oro-motor structure and function was conducted. There was a high level of agreement between the online and FTF speech intelligibility ratings, with 70% exact agreement and 100% close agreement (within ± point on a 5-point scale). The weighted kappa statistic revealed very good agreement between raters (kappa = 0.86). Data for online and FTF ratings of oro-motor function revealed overall exact agreement of 73%, close agreement of 96%, moderate or good strength of agreement for six variables (kappa = 0.48–0.74), and poor to fair agreement for six variables (kappa = 0.12–0.36). Intra- and inter-rater reliability measures (ICCs) were similar between the online and FTF assessments. Low levels of agreement for some oro-motor variables highlighted the subjectivity of this assessment. However, the overall results support the validity and reliability of Internet-based screening of speech intelligibility and oro-motor function in children with speech disorders.

scholarly journals Identifying Stuttering using Deep learning

2019 ◽  
Vol 8 (11) ◽  
pp. 1152-1154
Keyword(s):  
Neural Network ◽  
Deep Learning ◽  
Speech Production ◽  
Mirror Neurons ◽  
Speech Disorders ◽  
Speech Disorder ◽  
Root Cause ◽  
Communication Problems ◽  
Therapy Technique

Stuttering is a prevalent neurodevelopmental speech disorder, wherein people suffer from disfluencies in speech production. Speech disorders such as stuttering affect a variety of other communication problems such as hearing and fluency. Common therapies of stuttering involve strategies to minimize stuttering but do not attempt to eliminate stuttering, Researchers have analyzed the root cause of stuttering tends to be neurological roots. Therefore, there needs to be a more generic therapy technique which is more adaptive. This paper proposes a deep learning and neural network-based algorithm for adaptive neurological stuttering by utilizing the potential of mirror neurons

Functional Speech Disorders and Personality: A Decade of Research

1971 ◽  
Vol 36 (3) ◽  
pp. 295-314 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ellin L. Bloch ◽  
Leonard D. Goodstein
Keyword(s):  
Speech Disorders ◽  
Research Literature ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Personality Variables ◽  
Conceptual Problems ◽  
Personality Patterns ◽  
Firm Evidence ◽  
Present Focus

This paper summarizes and evaluates the research literature published between 1958 and 1968, relating measured personality and adjustment to the functional (non-organic) speech problems of articulation, delayed speech, voice, and stuttering. For each of these disorders, a review and evaluation of the research is presented on the personality and adjustment of (1) children suffering from that disorder; (2) their parents; and, where appropriate, (3) adults with that disorder. Methodological and conceptual problems are discussed in the context of the studies. The literature reviewed has yielded few conclusive findings and few new perspectives regarding the role of personality variables in the four major functional speech disorders. The methodological and conceptual inadequacies of most studies have been striking, and steady research efforts have yielded no firm evidence that differentiates speech-defective persons and their parents from normal speakers and their parents in terms of general adjustment or broadly identifiable personality patterns. It would be profitable to concentrate future research on specific within-group variables, such as improvement in therapy, rather than to continue the present focus.

scholarly journals Monitoring Physical Activity: Uses and Measurement Issues With Automated Counters

2004 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
pp. 131-141 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michelle L. Granner ◽  
Patricia A. Sharpe
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Physical Activity Behavior ◽  
Research Literature ◽  
Validity And Reliability ◽  
Infrared Sensors ◽  
Open Spaces ◽  
Measurement Issues ◽  
Measurement Tools ◽  
Promotion Of Physical Activity ◽  
Validation Research

Background:Promotion of physical activity is a public health priority, and environmental factors influence physical activity behavior. Valid and reliable automated measurement tools of physical activity for assessment and evaluation within public settings are needed.Methods:Searches of the research literature and governmental reports from physical activity, transportation, and recreation fields were conducted to identify methods of automated counting and validation studies. The article provides a summary of (a) current methods and uses of automated counters, (b) information about validity and reliability where available, (c) strengths and limitations of each method, and (d) measurement issues.Results:Existing automated counting technology has strengths and limitations. Infrared sensors have been the most commonly used type of monitor and can mark date and time of passage, but are vulnerable to errors due to environmental conditions; cannot detect more than one person passing at a time; cannot identify mode of activity or distinguish among individuals; and lack consistent and adequate reliability for use in open spaces. Seismic devices and inductive loops may be useful for specific applications. More information is needed concerning the validity and reliability of infrared sensors, seismic devices, and inductive loops for confined areas. Computer imaging systems hold potential to address some of the limitations of other automated counters and for applications in both confined and open areas, but validation research is in the initial stages.Conclusions:Although automated monitoring is a promising method for measurement of physical activity, more research is necessary to determine the acceptable parameters of performance for each type of automated monitor and for which applications each is best suited.

Neurogenic Dysphonia

1984 ◽  
Vol 93 (1) ◽  
pp. 57-64 ◽  
Author(s):  
David E. Hartman
Keyword(s):  
Nervous System ◽  
Peripheral Nervous System ◽  
Motor Neurons ◽  
Speech Disorders ◽  
Apraxia Of Speech ◽  
Broca's Area ◽  
Motor Speech ◽  
Speech Articulation ◽  
Perceptual Characteristics ◽  
Neuromuscular Impairment

Disorders of phonation and resonation subsequent to damage to the central or peripheral nervous system (neurogenic dysphonia) typically occur with alterations in other aspects of motor speech: articulation, prosody, and respiration. Deficits in voice initiation or coordination of resonation with speech that occur without significant neuromuscular impairment following a lesion to Broca's area are compatible with a motor speech programming disorder, or apraxia of speech. Conversely, damage to upper or lower motor neurons subserving motor speech results in a group of neuromuscular speech disorders, the dysarthrias, which have signs including aberrations of phonation and resonation which can be differentiated. The neuropathologic and perceptual characteristics of neurogenic dysphonia are elucidated, and suggestions are provided for their identification and differentiation.

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