scholarly journals Consonantal Landmarks as Predictors of Dysarthria among English-Speaking Adults with Cerebral Palsy

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (12) ◽  
pp. 1550
Author(s):  
Chin-Ting Liu ◽  
Yuan-shan Chen
Keyword(s):  
Regression Analysis ◽  
Cerebral Palsy ◽  
Acoustic Analysis ◽  
Motor Deficits ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Clinical Group ◽  
Group A ◽  
English Speaking ◽  
Dysarthric Speech ◽  
And Gender

The current study explored the possibility that the consonantal landmarks served as predictors of dysarthric speech produced by English-speaking adults with cerebral palsy (CP). Additionally, the relationship between the perceptual severity of dysarthric speech and the consonantal landmarks was explored. The analyses included 210 sentences from the TORGO database produced by seven English-speaking CP speakers with dysarthria and seven typically developing controls matched in age and gender. The results indicated that the clinical group produced more total landmark features than did the control group. A binominal regression analysis revealed that the improper control of laryngeal vibration and the inability to tactically control the energy in a voiced segment would lead to the higher likelihood of dysarthric speech. A multinominal regression analysis revealed that producing too many +v and −v landmark features would lead to higher perceptual severity levels among the CP speakers. Together with literature, the current study proposed that the landmark-based acoustic analysis could quantify the differences in consonantal productions between dysarthric and non-dysarthric speech and reflect the underlying speech motor deficits of the population in concern.

Perceptual Speech Outcomes After Early Primary Palatal Repair in Ugandan Patients With Cleft Palate

2020 ◽  
pp. 105566562098024
Author(s):  
Kim Bettens ◽  
Laura Bruneel ◽  
Cassandra Alighieri ◽  
Daniel Sseremba ◽  
Duncan Musasizib ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cleft Palate ◽  
Cleft Lip ◽  
Speech Therapy ◽  
Cleft Lip And Palate ◽  
Control Group ◽  
English Speaking ◽  
And Gender ◽  
Early Primary ◽  
Velopharyngeal Function ◽  
Normal Speech

Objective: To provide speech outcomes of English-speaking Ugandan patients with a cleft palate with or without cleft lip (CP±L). Design: Prospective case–control study. Setting: Referral hospital for patients with cleft lip and palate in Uganda. Participants: Twenty-four English-speaking Ugandan children with a CP±L (15 boys, 9 girls, mean 8.4 years) who received palatal closure prior to 6 months of age and an age- and gender-matched control group of Ugandan children without cleft palate. Interventions: Comparison of speech outcomes of the patient and control group. Main Outcome Measures: Perceptual speech outcomes including articulation, resonance, speech understandability and acceptability, and velopharyngeal composite score (VPC-sum). Information regarding speech therapy, fistula rate, and secondary surgery. Results: Normal speech understandability was observed in 42% of the patients, and 38% were judged with normal speech acceptability. Only 16% showed compensatory articulation. Acceptable resonance was found in 71%, and 75% of the patients were judged perceptually to present with competent velopharyngeal function based on the VPC-sum. Additional speech intervention was recommended in 25% of the patients. Statistically significant differences for all these variables were still observed with the control children ( P < .05). Conclusions: Overall, acceptable speech outcomes were found after early primary palatal closure. Comparable or even better results were found in comparison with international benchmarks, especially regarding the presence of compensatory articulation. Whether this approach is transferable to Western countries is the subject for further research.

Effects of speech rate, phonetic background and gender on vowel reduction in the speech of nonnative speakers of English

2014 ◽  
Vol 50 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Bogna Brzezicha ◽  
Małgorzata Kul
Keyword(s):  
Acoustic Analysis ◽  
Native Speakers ◽  
Speech Rate ◽  
Nonnative Speakers ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Vowel Reduction ◽  
Native Speakers Of English ◽  
Nonnative Speakers Of English ◽  
And Gender

AbstractThe paper reports the results of a study investigating vowel reduction in the speech of non-native speakers of English. The aim was to unravel the links between reduction and speech rate, phonetic training and gender. We hypothesized that (i) Polish speakers of English reduce vowels; (ii) they speak slower than native speakers; (iii) the higher the rate, the higher the reduction degree; (iv) speakers with phonetic training reduce less than those lacking it; (v) male subjects reduce more than the female ones. In order to realize these aims, an acoustic analysis of vowels was performed on 2 hrs 42 mins of speech produced by 12 Polish speakers of English. The subjects were di-vided into an experimental group consisting of 6 students of English and a control group with 6 speakers who had no phonetic training. The obtained results positively verify that non-native speakers reduce vowels and cast some doubts on whether they speak slower than native speakers. The role of rate and gender could not be established due to statistical and methodological issues. The group with no phonetic training outperformed the group which underwent phonetic training, pointing instead to the role of exposure and perhaps music training in acquiring native-like reduction patterns.

Is Emotional Congruence With Children Associated With Sexual Offending in Pedophiles and Hebephiles From the Community?

Sexual Abuse ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 30 (1) ◽  
pp. 3-22 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anna Konrad ◽  
Laura F. Kuhle ◽  
Till Amelung ◽  
Klaus M. Beier
Keyword(s):  
Regression Analysis ◽  
Multinomial Logistic Regression ◽  
Sexual Offending ◽  
Principal Component ◽  
Sexual Preference ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Multinomial Logistic Regression Analysis ◽  
Inherent Feature ◽  
And Gender ◽  
Group Comparisons

Although emotional congruence with children (ECWC) is a risk factor for sexual offending against children, its conceptual validity has hardly been researched. This study aims to explore the construct of ECWC by evaluating the factor structure of the Child Identification Scale (CIS-R) and its relation to facets of sexual preference and child sexual abuse behaviors. It was hypothesized that the measure comprises consistent subscales that are differently associated with aspects of sexual preference and sexual offending against children. CIS-R data of a sample of 217 adult male pedophiles from the community were used for an exploratory principal component analysis (PCA). Group comparisons and a multinomial logistic regression analysis were conducted after including a non-pedophilic control group of 22 adult men. PCA revealed a three-factor solution for the CIS-R accounting for 30% of variance. Group comparisons found differences in overall scores and the factor labeled “Attachment to Children” between subgroups of sexual age and gender preference, but not between contact, online, and non-offenders. The regression analysis showed a pedophile sexual preference and the interaction between a hebephile sexual age preference and the factor “Attachment to Children” being associated with past offending behavior. The results indicate a wish to attach to children as core feature of the CIS-R measure assessing ECWC. It is discussed whether this is an inherent feature of pedophilia or rather an independent aspect being differently distinct in pedophiles.

The Impact of Diffusion Tensor Imaging Fiber Tracking of the Corticospinal Tract Based on Navigated Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation on Surgery of Motor-Eloquent Brain Lesions

Neurosurgery ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 83 (4) ◽  
pp. 768-782 ◽  
Author(s):  
Giovanni Raffa ◽  
Alfredo Conti ◽  
Antonino Scibilia ◽  
Salvatore Massimiliano Cardali ◽  
Felice Esposito ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Diffusion Tensor ◽  
Karnofsky Performance Status ◽  
Performance Status ◽  
Motor Deficits ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Benefit Analysis ◽  
Group A ◽  
Group B ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Risk Benefit Analysis

Abstract BACKGROUND Navigated transcranial magnetic stimulation (nTMS) enables preoperative mapping of the motor cortex (M1). The combination of nTMS with diffusion tensor imaging fiber tracking (DTI-FT) of the corticospinal tract (CST) has been described; however, its impact on surgery of motor-eloquent lesions has not been addressed. OBJECTIVE To analyze the impact of nTMS-based mapping on surgery of motor-eloquent lesions. METHODS In this retrospective case-control study, we reviewed the data of patients operated for suspected motor-eloquent lesions between 2012 and 2015. The patients underwent nTMS mapping of M1 and, from 2014, nTMS-based DTI-FT of the CST. The impact on the preoperative risk/benefit analysis, surgical strategy, craniotomy size, extent of resection (EOR), and outcome were compared with a control group. RESULTS We included 35 patients who underwent nTMS mapping of M1 (group A), 35 patients who also underwent nTMS-based DTI-FT of the CST (group B), and a control group composed of 35 patients treated without nTMS (group C). The patients in groups A and B received smaller craniotomies (P = .01; P = .001), had less postoperative seizures (P = .02), and a better postoperative motor performance (P = .04) and Karnofsky Performance Status (P = .009) than the controls. Group B exhibited an improved risk/benefit analysis (P = .006), an increased EOR of nTMS-negative lesions in absence of preoperative motor deficits (P = .01), and less motor and Karnofsky Performance Status worsening in case of preoperative motor deficits (P = .02, P = .03) than group A. CONCLUSION nTMS-based mapping enables a tailored surgical approach for motor-eloquent lesions. It may improve the risk/benefit analysis, EOR and outcome, particularly when nTMS-based DTI-FT is performed.

scholarly journals Assessment of dynamic thiol/disulfide homeostasis in patients with asthma

2018 ◽  
Vol 42 (3) ◽  
pp. 99-104
Author(s):  
Rukiye Nar ◽  
Aliye Gamze Çalış
Keyword(s):  
Oxidative Stress ◽  
Forced Expiratory Volume ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Reactive Protein ◽  
Total Thiol ◽  
Stress Markers ◽  
Group A ◽  
And Gender ◽  
And Control

Abstract Background: Asthma is a chronic inflammatory lung disease and oxidative stress is an important component in airway inflammation. This study aims to investigate dynamic thiol/disulfide homeostasis in patients with asthma. Methods: A total of 103 subjects, including 56 patients with asthma and 47 healthy controls, of similar age and gender were included in the study. The native thiol, total thiol and disulfide levels and the disulfide-native thiol, disulfide-total thiol and native thiol-total thiol ratios were analyzed and compared between the asthma and control groups using a novel automatized spectrophotometric assay. Results: The levels of native thiol (p<0.001), total thiol (p<0.001) and disulfide (p<0.001) were significantly lower and the C-reactive protein (CRP) levels (p<0.001) were significantly higher in patients with asthma when compared with those in the control group. A negative correlation was detected between CRP levels and native thiol, total thiol and disulfide levels (p<0.05). A significant positive correlation was detected between forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1) and forced vital capacity (FVC) levels and native thiol and total thiol levels (p<0.01). Conclusions: The thiol/disulfide homeostasis parameters may be used as novel oxidative stress markers in asthma but further studies are needed to investigate the role of thiol/disulfide homeostasis in asthma.

scholarly journals Perception of attachment security in families with children affected by neurological illness

Psihologija ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 46 (2) ◽  
pp. 99-110 ◽  
Author(s):  
Viviana Langher ◽  
Giuseppe Scurci ◽  
Giuseppe Tolve ◽  
Andrea Caputo
Keyword(s):  
Cerebral Palsy ◽  
Family Relationships ◽  
Neurological Diseases ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Clinical Group ◽  
Nuclear Families ◽  
Child Relationship ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Families With Children ◽  
And Control

This study analyzes inter-family relationships of families with children with neurological problems using Bowlby?s attachment theory as model of reference. The research was conducted in two hospitals in Serbia specialized in neurological diseases: cerebral palsy and epilepsy. It is hypothesized that neurological problems could be associated to a discrepancy of inter-family attachment perceptions. Two groups were selected, a clinical one composed of 25 nuclear families: mother, father and child with a certified diagnosis of either cerebral palsy or epilepsy; and a control group of 25 nuclear families: mother, father and child with no pathology. Kerns, Klepac and Cole?s Security Scale (1996) was used for the investigation, with the addition of two modified version for administration to the parents. Data analysis demonstrated that the clinical group is substantively higher (p=.076) with respect to the discrepancy of attachment perceived by the children and the attribution of meaning that parents give to their child?s attachment perception towards them. Further analyses carried out on parent-child relationships demonstrated a significant difference (p =.017) between the clinical and control groups, with respect to the perception of father-child attachment. We conclude that in the clinical group, there is a discrepancy of attachment perceptions that particularly affects the father-child relationship. It appears that hospitalization and the consequent separation of the nuclear families may influence the formation of secure attachment relationships, in particular between father and child.

Assessing L2 knowledge of Spanish clitic placement: converging methodologies

1999 ◽  
Vol 15 (2) ◽  
pp. 133-160 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nigel Duffield ◽  
Lydia White
Keyword(s):  
Native Speaker ◽  
Control Group ◽  
L2 Acquisition ◽  
French Speaking ◽  
Group A ◽  
On Line ◽  
Native Speakers Of English ◽  
English Speaking ◽  
Sentence Matching ◽  
Clitic Placement

In this paper, we report on an experiment investigating adult second language (L2) acquisition of Spanish object clitic placement by native speakers of English (which lacks clitics) and French (where clitics contrast in certain respects with Spanish). Two different experimental methodologies are compared: an on-line sentence matching (SM) task and an off-line grammaticality judgement (GJ) task. Subjects were advanced and intermediate level English-speaking and French-speaking learners of Spanish, together with a native-speaker control group. A variety of constructions involving Spanish clitic placement were tested. The results from the two tasks complement each other: all groups show significant effects for grammaticality on the SM task and considerable accuracy on the GJ task, suggesting that L2 clitic placement can successfully be acquired even when the first language (L1) lacks clitics. However, both tasks reveal that L2 learners have difficulties in restructuring and causative contexts, which we attribute to problems with clitic climbing.

scholarly journals The Association between Macular Structure and Idiopathic Epiretinal Membrane

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
I-Hsin Ma ◽  
Chung-May Yang ◽  
Yi-Ting Hsieh
Keyword(s):  
Regression Analysis ◽  
Epiretinal Membrane ◽  
Normal Population ◽  
Mean Value ◽  
Foveal Avascular Zone ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Structure Parameters ◽  
Idiopathic Epiretinal Membrane ◽  
And Gender ◽  
Fellow Eyes

AbstractPurposeThis study measured the anatomical characteristics of the macula in fellow eyes of patients with unilateral idiopathic epiretinal membrane (ERM) and compared them with normal control.DesignA retrospective observational study.ParticipantsA total of of 94 fellow eyes with unilateral idiopathic ERM were gathered as the study group, and their age and gender-matched subjects with no vitreomacular diseases were recruited as the control group.MethodsMacular structure parameters including foveal base width (FBW), central foveolar thickness (CFT), central subfield thickness (CST), area of foveal avascular zone (FAZ), and retinal artery trajectory (RAT) were measured using optical coherence tomography (OCT) and OCT angiography and were compared between two groups.Main outcome measuresMacular structure parameters were compared between the two groups. A wide-based foveal pit was defined as a FBW larger than the mean value plus one standard deviation of the normal population. Regression analysis was performed to evaluate factors that affect FBW.ResultsAmong the 94 fellow eyes of unilateral ERM; 71 eyes (75.5%) had a wide-based foveal pit. Both their FBW (418.9 ± 68.7 µm) and area of FAZ (0.38 ± 0.12 mm2) were significantly larger than those in the control group (323.2 ± 74.3 µm and 0.31± 0.17 mm2; p < 0.001 and p = 0.02, respectively), and they also had a thinner CFT and CST, and a wider RAT than the control group (p < 0.05 for all). In the control group, females had a wider FBW, a thinner CFT and CST, and a wider RAT than males (p < 0.05 for all). Regression analysis showed that female, a thinner CST and a larger FAZ were all associated with a larger FBW.ConclusionFellow eyes of the unilateral ERM had a larger FBW and FAZ, a thinner CFT and CST, and a wider RAT than the normal population. This implicates that centrifugal macular traction may result in the formation of idiopathic ERM. Females had a wider FBW, a thinner CST, and a wider RAT than males, which may explain the higher prevalence of idiopathic ERM in females.

scholarly journals The Impact of Blogs on the Development of Written Composition Skills

2020 ◽  
pp. 1-16
Author(s):  
Ibtehal Aburezeq ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Teaching Method ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Traditional Teaching ◽  
Validity And Reliability ◽  
Written Composition ◽  
9Th Grade ◽  
Group A ◽  
And Gender ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Experimental Group

The current study aimed at investigating the impact of blogs on the development of 9th grade students’ written composition skills. The study sample consisted of (147) male and female students selected by using the convenience sampling method from two schools in Amman, Jordan. Then, the students were distributed randomly into a control group (a male section and a female section) taught by the traditional teaching method and an experimental group (a male section and a female section) taught by the blogs. A written composition test was developed to measure students’ written composition in order to answer the research questions. Its validity and reliability were addressed. The study found that there were statistically significant differences in the performance of written composition skills attributed to the teaching method in favor of the group taught by the blogs. The results also showed that there were no statistically significant differences in the performance of written composition skills attributed to gender or to the interaction between the teaching method and gender.

Prevention of Aortic Dissection Suggests a Diameter Shift to a Lower Aortic Size Threshold for Intervention

Cardiology ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 139 (3) ◽  
pp. 139-146 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ahmed M. Mansour ◽  
Sven Peterss ◽  
Mohammad A. Zafar ◽  
John A. Rizzo ◽  
Hai Fang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Aortic Dissection ◽  
Multivariable Analysis ◽  
Ascending Aorta ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Descending Aorta ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Group A ◽  
And Gender ◽  
Size Threshold ◽  
Aortic Size

Background: Multiple studies have quantified the relationship between aortic size and risk of dissection. However, these studies estimated the risk of dissection without accounting for any increase in aortic size from the dissection process itself. Objectives: This study aims to compare aortic size before and after dissection and to evaluate the change in size consequent to the dissection itself. Methods: Fifty-five consecutive patients (29 type A; 26 type B) with aortic dissection and incidental imaging studies prior to dissection were identified and compared to a control group of aneurysm patients (n = 205). The average time between measurement at and prior to dissection was 1.7 ± 1.9 years (1.9 ± 2.0 years mean inter-image time in the control group). A multivariate regression model controlling for growth rate, age, and gender was created to estimate the effect of dissection itself on aortic size. Results: The mean aortic sizes at and prior to dissection were 54.2 ± 7.0 and 45.1 ± 5.7 mm for the ascending aorta, and 47.1 ± 13.8 and 39.5 ± 13.1 mm for the descending aorta, respectively. The multivariable analysis revealed a significant impact of the dissection itself (p < 0.001) and estimated an increase in size of 7.65 mm (ascending aorta) and 6.38 mm (descending aorta). Thus, a proportional estimate of 82.8% (ascending aorta) and 80.8% (descending aorta) of dissections are made at a size lower than the guideline-recommended threshold (55 mm). Conclusions: The aortic diameter increases substantially due to aortic dissection itself and, thus, aortas are being dissected at clinically meaningfully smaller sizes than natural history analyses have previously suggested. These findings have important implications regarding the size at which the risk of dissection is increased.

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