Nasalance Levels in the Speech of Normal Australian Children

1998 ◽  
Vol 35 (4) ◽  
pp. 287-292 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jan Van Doorn ◽  
Alison Purcell

Objective Nasalance scores have been shown to depend on the regional dialect of English spoken. Australian cleft palate clinics are increasingly making use of the Nasometer as part of their evaluation of velopharyngeal inadequacy. There are, however, no normative data for Australian English available as reference information. The objective of this study, therefore, was to obtain comprehensive nasalance data for a large group of Australian children, aged 4 to 9 years, for two standard nasalance passages (Zoo Passage and Nasal Sentences) and to investigate any gender or age differences within that age range. Participants The participants were 245 children (123 female, 122 male) ranging in age from 4 years, 0 months, to 9 years, 3 months. The children were recruited from a variety of schools and preschools across the Sydney metropolitan region. The children all spoke Australian English, and their hearing, articulation skills, and speech resonance were within normal limits. Method Mean nasalance scores were obtained for two speech passages that are used as standards for Nasometer testing (Zoo Passage and Nasal Sentences). In addition, the nasalance data were analyzed for any gender and age dependence, using separate analyses of variance for each speech passage. Five consecutive age groups were used to examine age dependence (4-, 5-, 6-, 7-, and 8-year-old children). Results A mean score of 13.1 (SD, 5.9) was obtained for the Zoo Passage, and a mean of 59.6 (SD, 8.1) for the Nasal Sentences. The analysis of variance results indicated that, at a probability level of p < 0.01, there was no statistically significant age or gender dependence for either speech passage. Conclusion These normative nasalance data for children who speak Australian English will provide important reference information for clinicians who assess nasality disorders in cleft palate clinics in Australia.

2020 ◽  
Vol 42 (4) ◽  
pp. 515-527
Author(s):  
V. Nelly Salgado de Snyder ◽  
Deliana Garcia ◽  
Roxana Pineda ◽  
Jessica Calderon ◽  
Dania Diaz ◽  
...  

Vaccination is the single most important preventive medicine action worldwide. However, there are inequalities in the procurement of vaccines particularly among US ethnic and racial minority males when compared to the rest of the US population. This study explored the reasons given by adult Mexican-origin males residing in Texas, for obtaining or not, immunizations. This was a cross-sectional, exploratory study with a sample of convenience of 401 adult males (age range 18–79) who were invited to participate in the study while waiting their turn to receive administrative services at the Mexican Consulate in Austin Texas. Data was collected in Spanish with a seven-item multiple choice questionnaire, using electronic tablets. The majority of respondents received their last vaccination longer than 5 years earlier. A higher percentage of individuals in the older age groups received a vaccine in the last year, as opposed to their younger counterparts who obtained their last immunization 3 to 5 years earlier. Among the reasons given for not getting vaccinated were lack of time or money, feared injections and side effects, insufficient information, interest or motivation. Others did not get vaccines because they perceived themselves to be healthy and did not feel sick. Findings from this study have important implications for future preventive medicine and vaccination practices that reach socially excluded groups in times of COVID-19. Recommendations are made to facilitate access to vaccines to the target group of this study and other socially disadvantaged populations in the global health context.


Healthcare ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (3) ◽  
pp. 324
Author(s):  
Ho-Seok Oh ◽  
Sung-Kyu Kim ◽  
Hyoung-Yeon Seo

To investigate the incidence and characteristics of osteoporosis and osteoporotic fractures in Korea, we used the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service (HIRA) database. Patients over 50 years old, who were diagnosed or treated for osteoporosis and osteoporotic fractures in all hospitals and clinics, were analyzed between 1 January 2009 and 31 December 2017 by using the HIRA database that contains prescription data and diagnostic codes. These data were retrospectively analyzed by decade and age-specific and gender-specific incidents in each year. We also evaluated other characteristics of patients including medication state of osteoporosis, primary used medical institution, regional-specific incidence of osteoporosis, and incidence of site-specific osteoporotic fractures. The number of osteoporosis patients over 50 years old, as diagnosed by a doctor, steadily increased from 2009 to 2017. The number of osteoporosis patients was notably greatest in the 60′s and 70′s age groups in every study period. Patients undergoing treatment for osteoporosis increased significantly (96%) from 2009 to 2017. Among the patients diagnosed with osteoporosis, the proportion who experienced osteoporotic fracture increased gradually (60%) from 2009 to 2017. The number of patients with osteoporotic fractures of the spine and hip was highest in the 70 to 90 age range, and the number of patients with osteoporotic fractures in the upper and lower extremities was highest in the 50 to 70 age range. Understanding the trends of osteoporosis in Korea will contribute to manage the increased number of patients with osteoporosis and osteoporotic fractures.


2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 823-823
Author(s):  
Hyung Wook Choi ◽  
Rose Ann DiMaria-Ghalili ◽  
Mat Kelly ◽  
Alexander Poole ◽  
Erjia Yan ◽  
...  

Abstract Researchers are increasingly interested in leveraging technology to support the physical and mental well-being of older adults. We systematically reviewed previous scholars’ criteria for sampling older adult populations, focusing on age cohorts (namely adults over 65) and their use of internet and smart technologies. We iteratively developed keyword combinations that represent older adults and technology from the retrieved literature. Between 2011 and 2020, 70 systematic reviews were identified, 26 of which met our inclusion criteria for full review. Most important, not one of the 26 papers used a sample population classification more fine-grained than “65 and older.” A knowledge gap thus exists; researchers lack a nuanced understanding of differences within this extraordinarily broad age-range. Demographics that we propose to analyze empirically include not only finer measures of age (e.g., 65-70 or 71-75, as opposed to “65 and older”), but also those age groups’ attitudes toward and capacity for technology use.


2013 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
pp. 49-72
Author(s):  
Jennie Smith ◽  
Tim Pring ◽  
Debbie Sell

Objective: To investigate the impact of the phonetic content of two sentence sets on speech outcomes, specifically the effects of nasal phonemes. Method: Audio-video recordings of a consecutive series of 15 participants (age range 4–22 years), with cleft palate (syndromic or non-syndromic), with and without velopharyngeal dysfunction were taken. Participants repeated Sentence Set 1 (with nasals across sentences) and Sentence Set 2 (without nasals except the three nasal target sentences) during a routine speech recording. Two experienced Specialist Speech and Language Therapists, blinded to the study’s purpose, analyzed participants’ speech using the Cleft Audit Protocol for Speech-Augmented (CAPS-A). On day 1, recordings included Sentence Set 1. On day 2, 23 days later, recordings included Sentence Set 2. Main results: The difference between Sentence Set 1 and Sentence Set 2 ‘total scores’ (sum of scores on all CAPS-A parameters) was significant. The Pearson Product Moment showed high correlation. A Wilcoxon test revealed a significant difference between Sets 1 and 2 on the hypernasality parameter, and this alone accounted for the significant difference in total scores. Conclusion: The inclusion or exclusion of nasal consonants in the sentence set significantly affected perceptual ratings of hypernasality but none of the other CAPS-A parameters, highlighting the need for further investigation into perceptual nasality ratings.


2021 ◽  
pp. 1-11
Author(s):  
Trilas M. Leeman ◽  
Bob G. Knight ◽  
Erich C. Fein ◽  
Sonya Winterbotham ◽  
Jeffrey Dean Webster

ABSTRACT Objectives: Although wisdom is a desirable life span developmental goal, researchers have often lacked brief and reliable construct measures. We examined whether an abbreviated set of items could be empirically derived from the popular 40-item five-factor Self-Assessed Wisdom Scale (SAWS). Design: Survey data from 709 respondents were randomly split into two and analyzed using confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). Setting: The survey was conducted online in Australia. Participants: The total sample consisted of 709 participants (M age = 35.67 years; age range = 15–92 years) of whom 22% were male, and 78% female. Measurement: The study analyzed the 40-item SAWS. Results: Sample 1 showed the traditional five-factor structure for the 40-item SAWS did not fit the data. Exploratory factor analysis (EFA) on Sample 2 offered an alternative model based on a 15-item, five-factor solution with the latent variables Reminiscence/Reflection, Humor, Emotional Regulation, Experience, and Openness. This model, which replicates the factor structure of the original 40-item SAWS with a short form of 15 items, was then confirmed on Sample 1 using a CFA that produced acceptable fit and measurement invariance across age groups. Conclusions: We suggest the abbreviated SAWS-15 can be useful as a measure of individual differences in wisdom, and we highlight areas for future research.


2017 ◽  
Vol 52 (10) ◽  
pp. 955-965 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zachary Y. Kerr ◽  
Susan W. Yeargin ◽  
Aristarque Djoko ◽  
Sara L. Dalton ◽  
Melissa M. Baker ◽  
...  

Context: Whereas researchers have provided estimates for the number of head impacts sustained within a youth football season, less is known about the number of plays across which such impact exposure occurs.Objective: To estimate the number of plays in which youth football players participated during the 2013 season and to estimate injury incidence through play-based injury rates.Design: Descriptive epidemiology study.Setting: Youth football.Patients or Other Participants: Youth football players (N = 2098; age range, 5−15 years) from 105 teams in 12 recreational leagues across 6 states.Main Outcome Measure(s): We calculated the average number of athlete-plays per season and per game using independent-samples t tests to compare age groups (5–10 years old versus 11–15 years old) and squad sizes (&lt;20 versus ≥20 players); game injury rates per 1000 athlete-exposures (AEs) and per 10 000 athlete-plays; and injury rate ratios (IRRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) to compare age groups.Results: On average, youth football players participated in 333.9 ± 178.5 plays per season and 43.9 ± 24.0 plays per game. Age groups (5- to 10-year-olds versus 11- to 15-year-olds) did not differ in the average number of plays per season (335.8 versus 332.3, respectively; t2086.4 = 0.45, P = .65) or per game (44.1 versus 43.7, respectively; t2092.3 = 0.38, P = .71). However, players from smaller teams participated in more plays per season (373.7 versus 308.0; t1611.4 = 8.15, P &lt; .001) and per game (47.7 versus 41.4; t1523.5 = 5.67, P &lt; .001). Older players had a greater game injury rate than younger players when injury rates were calculated per 1000 AEs (23.03 versus 17.86/1000 AEs; IRR = 1.29; 95% CI = 1.04, 1.60) or per 10 000 athlete-plays (5.30 versus 4.18/10 000 athlete-plays; IRR = 1.27; 95% CI = 1.02, 1.57).Conclusions: A larger squad size was associated with a lower average number of plays per season and per game. Increasing youth football squad sizes may help reduce head-impact exposure for individual players. The AE-based injury rates yielded effect estimates similar to those of play-based injury rates.


PEDIATRICS ◽  
1951 ◽  
Vol 8 (3) ◽  
pp. 349-361
Author(s):  
GERARD GROS ◽  
ARMOND GORDON ◽  
ROBERT MILLER

The ECGs of 104 normal children from a few hours old to 5 years of age were studied. These ECGs consisted of the standard limb leads, the aV limb leads and six precordial leads: V4R, V1, V2, V4, V5 and V6. While the number of cases in each group are small, the following conclusions are suggested by this study: 1. ECGs of the newborn infant present important variations from those seen in later life. This is especially true during the first week of life. Thereafter the contour evolves [SEE FIG. 2 IN SOURCE PDF] in a definite manner until the adult-like pattern is reached. 2. The vertical and semivertical "electric" positions were the most frequently encountered in this age group. 3. P-waves present a rather permanent pattern in this age range: a. is usually upright in lead 1 and 2, aVF, V4, V5 and V6. b. is usually inverted in lead 2 and aVR. c. is either upright, inverted or diphasic in lead 3, aVL, V4R, V1 and V2. 4. The P-R interval varies from 0.10 sec. minimum to 0.16 sec. maximum with the average being 0.12 sec. in this age range. It tends to become greater in the older age groups. 5. QRS duration is shorter in the younger age groups and increases slowly with age. 6. Polyphasic, M-shaped or slurred QRS complexes are not uncommon in the ECGs of normal children in this age range. 7. A Q wave is frequently absent in lead 1 and in all chest leads during the first week of life. Thereafter up to 5 years of age the pattern of the Q wave is as follows: a. Q is generally absent in lead 1, V4R, V1, V2 and V4. b. Q is generally present in lead 3, V4R, aVF, V5 and V6. 8. There is a distinct pattern of right ventricular dominance in leads from the sternum and to its right at birth. This pattern gradually undergoes involution, probably related to normal physiologic development, until the left ventricle becomes dominant. Thus the evolution of the S-wave parallels a gradual involution of the R-wave in right precordial leads and probably also in aVR. This dominance of the left ventricle over the entire precordium is usual by about 3 years, but may be delayed normally until 5 years of age. 9. The T-wave is upright or diphasic in V4R, V1, and V2 and inverted in V5 and V6 for the first 24 hours of life; it gradually alters so that by the fourth day it is inverted in V4R, V1 and V2 and upright in V5 and V6 and thereafter. 10. The transition zone of QRS varies from one age group to another and tends in some ages to be broad. In some instances no real transition zone can be determined.


Author(s):  
Ariela Nachmani ◽  
Muhamed Masalha ◽  
Firas Kassem

Purpose This purpose of this study was to assess the frequency and types of phonological process errors in patients with velopharyngeal dysfunction (VPD) and the different types of palatal anomalies. Method A total of 808 nonsyndromic patients with VPD, who underwent follow-up at the Center for Cleft Palate and Craniofacial Anomalies, from 2000 to 2016 were included. Patients were stratified into four age groups and five subphenotypes of palatal anomalies: cleft lip and palate (CLP), cleft palate (CP), submucous cleft palate (SMCP), occult submucous cleft palate (OSMCP), and non-CP. Phonological processes were compared among groups. Results The 808 patients ranged in age from 3 to 29 years, and 439 (54.3%) were male. Overall, 262/808 patients (32.4%) had phonological process errors; 80 (59.7%) ages 3–4 years, 98 (40, 0%) ages 4.1–6 years, 48 (24.7%) 6.1–9 years, and 36 (15.3%) 9.1–29 years. Devoicing was the most prevalent phonological process error, found in 97 patients (12%), followed by cluster reduction in 82 (10.1%), fronting in 66 (8.2%), stopping in 45 (5.6%), final consonant deletion in 43 (5.3%), backing in 30 (3.7%), and syllable deletion and onset deletion in 13 (1.6%) patients. No differences were found in devoicing errors between palatal anomalies, even with increasing age. Phonological processes were found in 61/138 (44.20%) with CP, 46/118 (38.1%) with SMCP, 61/188 (32.4%) with non-CP, 70/268 (26.1%) with OSMCP, and 25/96 (26.2%) with CLP. Phonological process errors were most frequent with CP and least with OSMCP ( p = .001). Conclusions Phonological process errors in nonsyndromic VPD patients remained relatively high in all age groups up to adulthood, regardless of the type of palatal anomaly. Our findings regarding the phonological skills of patients with palatal anomalies can help clarify the etiology of speech and sound disorders in VPD patients, and contribute to general phonetic and phonological studies.


Author(s):  
Е. Д. Голованова ◽  
Н. Е. Титова ◽  
Т. Е. Афанасенкова ◽  
И. А. Аргунова ◽  
Т. Н. Янковая ◽  
...  

Изучали распространенность хронических неинфекционных заболеваний (ХНИЗ) у пациентов пожилого и старческого возраста во взаимосвязи с синдромом старческой астении, распространенность саркопении в зависимости от гендерных особенностей и частоту встречаемости синдрома падений у пациентов старших возрастных групп с саркопенией. Анализировали особенности медикаментозной терапии в амбулаторной практике. Использовали метод комплексной гериатрической оценки у 528 пациентов, разделенных на три возрастные группы (65-74 года, 75-84 года, 85 лет и старше). Оказалось, что в структуре ХНИЗ у пациентов гериатрического профиля преобладают артериальная гипертензия, ИБС, а также их осложнения - ХСН и фибрилляция предсердий, частота встречаемости которых имеет выраженную возрастную зависимость и увеличивается у больных со старческой астенией. Для пациентов старших возрастных групп обоего пола характерно увеличение частоты встречаемости саркопении и связанного с ней повышенного риска синдрома падений, что необходимо учитывать при планировании лечебно-реабилитационных мер как в стационаре, так и при оказании первичной медикосоциальной помощи. We studied the prevalence of chronic non-communicable diseases (CND) in elderly and senile patients in conjunction with the syndrome of senile asthenia, the prevalence of sarcopenia depending on gender characteristics and the frequency of occurrence of the falls syndrome in patients with sarcopenia of older age groups. The features of drug therapy in outpatient practice were analyzed. The method of complex geriatric assessment was used in 528 patients divided into 3 age groups (65-74 years, 75-84 years, 85 years or more). It turned out that in the structure of CND in geriatric patients dominated: arterial hypertension, coronary heart disease, and their complications - chronic heart failure and atrial fi brillation their incidence has a pronounced age dependence and increases in patients with senile asthenia. Patients of older age groups of both sexes are characterized by an increase in the incidence of sarcopenia and the associated increased risk of falls syndrome, which must be taken into account when planning treatment and rehabilitation measures both in the hospital and when providing primary medical and social care.


Author(s):  
Luboslav Stárka ◽  
Richard Hampl ◽  
Miroslav Hanuš ◽  
Michaela Matoušková ◽  
Martin Hill

AbstractEvidence has been accumulating that 7-hydroxyepimers of dehydroepiandrosterone may act as locally active immunomodulatory and immunoprotective agents, counteracting the actions of glucocorticoids. 7α- and 7β-hydroxylated metabolites of dehydroepiandrosterone are present in near nanomolar concentrations in human blood. Limited data have been available on its changes during the last decades of human life. We examined 213 healthy Central European males in age groups from 50 to 91years and determined both 7-hydroxyepimers, 7α- and 7β-hydroxy-dehydroepiandrosterone, in sera using specific radioimmunoassays. The age dependence of steroid levels was evaluated using one-way ANOVA. In men, a distinct decline in 7α-hydroxy-dehydroepiandrosterone with age was observed. The curves for age dependence of 7-hydroxy metabolite levels in males resembled those previously determined for unconjugated dehydroepiandrosterone. The levels of both 7-hydroxylated epimers correlated excellently with each other.


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