bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
GLOBAL BRANCH OF SOLUTIONS FOR NON-LINEAR SCHRÖDINGER EQUATIONS WITH DEEPENING POTENTIAL WELL
Authors: STUART C. A. , ZHOU HUAN-SONG
Published: April 2006

We consider the stationary non-linear Schrödinger equation\begin{equation*}\Delta u + \{1 + \lambda g(x)\} u = f(u)\mbox{with}u \in H^{1} (\mathbb{R}^{N}), u \not\equiv 0,\end{equation*} where $\lambda >0$ and the functions $f$ and $g$ are such that\begin{equation*} \lim_{s \rightarrow 0}\frac{f(s)}{s} = 0 \mbox{and} 1 < \alpha + 1 = \lim _{|s| \rightarrow \infty}\frac{f(s)}{s} < \infty\end{equation*} and \begin{equation*} g(x)\equiv 0 \mbox{on} \bar{\Omega}, g(x)\in (0, 1] \mbox{on} {\mathbb{R}^{N}} \setminus {\overline{\Omega}} \mbox{and} \lim_{|x| \rightarrow + \infty} g(x) = 1 \end{equation*} for some bounded open set $\Omega \in \mathbb{R}^{N}$. We use topological methods to establish the existence of two connected sets $\mathcal{D}^{\pm}$ of positive/negative solutions in $\mathbb{R} \times W^{2, p} (\mathbb{R}^{N})$ where $p \in [2, \infty) \cap (\frac{N}{2},\infty)$ that cover the interval $(\alpha,\Lambda(\alpha))$ in the sense that \begin{align*} P \mathcal{D}^{\pm} & = (\alpha, \Lambda(\alpha)) \text{where}P(\lambda, u) = \lambda \text{and furthermore,} \\ \lim_{\lambda \rightarrow \Lambda(\alpha)-}\left\Vert u_{\lambda} \right\Vert _{L^{\infty} (\mathbb{R}^{N})} & = \lim_{\lambda \rightarrow \Lambda (\alpha )-} \left\Vert u_{\lambda} \right\Vert _{W^{2, p}(\mathbb{R}^{N})} = \infty \text{ for }(\lambda, u_{\lambda}) \in \mathcal{D}^{\pm}. \end{align*} The number $\Lambda(\alpha)$ is characterized as the unique value of $\lambda$ in the interval $(\alpha, \infty)$ for which the asymptotic linearization has a positive eigenfunction. Our work uses a degree for Fredholm maps of index zero.
Social limits to the commodification of knowledge: ten years of TRIPs
Authors: MAY CHRISTOPHER
Published: April 2006

This review article looks back at the first ten years of one of the most contentious elements of the global economy's new institutionalized governance regime. It examines the global political economy of protecting intellectual property, focusing on some key issues regarding the extension of such protection into the economies of developing countries, as discussed in three recent books. The review concludes that, for institutional economics, the problem of intellectual property is the problem of institutionalizing property rights writ large. As such, the problem of intellectual property in the global political economy can only be fully understood by establishing the historical and institutional context in which these rights are claimed.
Die Erfassung exzessiver Bestätigungssuche in sexuellen Abenteuern
Authors: Schwennen Christian , Bierhoff Hans-Werner
Published: April 2006

Zusammenfassung. Bestätigungssuche in sexuellen Abenteuern wird definiert als die Meinung, durch das Eingehen sexueller Abenteuer positives Feedback bezüglich des eigenen Selbstwertes zu erlangen. Wir stellen eine deutsche Skala zur Erfassung exzessiver Bestätigungssuche in sexuellen Abenteuern (BSS-SA) vor und prüfen ihre psychometrischen Qualitäten in vier Analysen. Bestätigungssuche in sexuellen Abenteuern erweist sich als eindimensionales Konstrukt, welches mit Hilfe von zehn Items reliabel erfasst werden kann. Die interne Konsistenz der Skala beträgt alpha = .86, die Retest-Reliabilität nach vier Wochen liegt bei r = .79. Die Faktorstruktur der Items ist bei Frauen und Männern sehr ähnlich (C = .96), Männer erreichen aber signifikant höhere Werte als Frauen. Deutliche Hinweise zur Validität geben die Zusammenhänge der BSS-SA mit depressiver Verstimmtheit, allgemeiner exzessiven Bestätigungssuche, Untreue, Ein-Nacht-Beziehungen und sozialer Unterstützung.
Heavy‐tailed log hydraulic conductivity distributions imply heavy‐tailed log velocity distributions
Authors: Kohlbecker Matthew V. , Wheatcraft Stephen W. , Meerschaert Mark M.
Published: April 2006

Equations of contaminant transport describing non‐Gaussian dispersion of solute in heterogeneous porous media have been developed by several authors (e.g., Berkowitz and Scher (1995, 1998), Benson (1998, 2001), Berkowitz et al. (2000), and Baeumer et al. (2005)). The equations assume that solute particle movement in time and/or space can be described by heavy‐tailed probability distributions (e.g., Levy α stable distributions). This assumption requires a mechanism for solute particles to move through heterogeneous porous media in a manner that can be approximated with heavy‐tailed probability distributions. This work investigates whether a heavy‐tailed Levy α stable distribution of increments in log hydraulic conductivity results in a heavy‐tailed distribution of increments in log velocity; a heavy‐tailed distribution of increments in log velocity would be a mechanism for solute particle movement in time or space that can be described by a heavy‐tailed probability distribution. A computer algorithm was written to generate realistic hydraulic conductivity fields. The algorithm modifies the spectral synthesis method for generating fractional Brownian motion (i.e., Saupe (1988) and Brewer and Wheatcraft (1994)) and produces self‐similar hydraulic conductivity fields with a heavy‐tailed Levy α stable distribution of increments in log hydraulic conductivity. A Monte Carlo approach was adopted in which 100 hydraulic conductivity fields were generated for each of the following values of α: 0.8, 1.1, 1.4, and 1.7. The USGS finite difference groundwater code MODFLOW was used to calculate the velocity fields, and the increments in longitudinal log hydraulic conductivity and log velocity from the fields were analyzed to determine whether they were consistent with a heavy‐tailed Levy α stable probability density function (PDF). After determining that the distributions of increments in log hydraulic conductivity and log velocity were consistent with a Levy α stable PDF, the tail parameters describing each pair of hydraulic conductivity and velocity fields were estimated with the Nolan (1997) maximum likelihood estimator. The relationship between the two tail parameters was then determined. There are three conclusions of this research. First, Mandelbrot and PP plots confirm that Levy α stable distributions of increments in log hydraulic conductivity give rise to Levy α stable distributions of increments in log velocity. Second, the tail parameter α for the increments in log velocity is typically smaller, indicating a heavier probability tail, than the corresponding tail parameter for the increments in log hydraulic conductivity. Third, there is a positive statistical relation between the two tail parameters.
Summertime subtropical sea surface temperature variability
Authors: Chiodi A. M. , Harrison D. E.
Published: April 2006

This paper describes a new class of summertime subtropical sea surface temperature (SST) anomalies that have basin scale, amplitudes up to 3°C and duration of up to 2 weeks. These have been discovered in the Microwave Imager (TMI) SST analyses. One‐dimensional physics and numerical weather prediction operational air‐sea fluxes are able to reproduce many aspects of the observations. The mechanism of creation of these summertime anomalies depends on the formation of shallow ocean mixed layer depths. Their persistence is controlled primarily by the duration of appropriate atmospheric conditions. Model studies also suggest that near synoptic scale surface flux variations, of the type considered here, cause significant warming of SST over monthly to seasonal timescales.
Estimated return periods for Hurricane Katrina
Authors: Elsner J. B. , Jagger T. H. , Tsonis A. A.
Published: April 2006

Hurricane Katrina is one of the most destructive natural disaster in U.S. history. The infrequency of severe coastal hurricanes implies that empirical probability estimates of the next big one will be unreliable. Here we use an extreme‐value model together with interpolated best‐track (HURDAT) records to show that a hurricane of Katrina's intensity or stronger can be expected to occur, on average, once every 21 years somewhere along the Gulf coast from Texas through Alabama and once every 14 years somewhere along the entire coast from Texas through Maine. The model predicts a 100‐year return level of 83 ms−1 (186 mph) during globally warm years and 75 ms−1 (168 mph) during globally cool years. This difference is consistent with models predicting an increase in hurricane intensity with increasing greenhouse warming.
Beyond the Basics II
Authors: Bernhardt Barbara Handford , Holdgrafer Gary
Published: April 2006

Sometimes, a phonological sample is insufficient for describing patterns and determining goals for treatment. This article discusses how to evaluate a given word list in terms of a set of criteria for a detailed phonological analysis. In addition, suggestions are provided for sample supplementation for two frequent areas of difficulty in phonological development: CVC and CCV(C) word shapes and place sequences.
Professional Skills for Serving Students Who Use AAC in General Education Classrooms
Authors: Soto Gloria , Müller Eve , Hunt Pam , Goetz Lori
Published: April 2006

The roles of school-based professionals serving students with augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) needs are changing in light of the inclusion movement. Focus group research methodology was used to investigate professional skills regarded by educational team members as necessary to support students who used AAC in general education classrooms. Educational teams consisted of speech-language pathologists, classroom teachers, inclusion support teachers, instructional assistants, and parents. All valued the ability to work collaboratively, provide access to the core curriculum, cultivate social supports, maintain and operate the AAC system, and create classroom structures to educate heterogeneous groups of students. Implications are discussed for AAC service delivery and the professional preparation of speech-language pathologists serving as members of AAC teams in inclusive classrooms.
Grammatical Deviations in the Spoken and Written Language of Hebrew-Speaking Children With Hearing Impairments
Authors: Tur-Kaspa Hana , Dromi Esther
Published: April 2006

Purpose:The present study reports a detailed analysis of written and spoken language samples of Hebrew-speaking children aged 11–13 years who are deaf. It focuses on the description of various grammatical deviations in the two modalities.

Method:Participants were 13 students with hearing impairments (HI) attending special classrooms integrated into two elementary schools in Tel Aviv, Israel, and 9 students with normal hearing (NH) in regular classes in these same schools. Spoken and written language samples were collected from all participants using the same five preplanned elicitation probes.

Results:Students with HI were found to display significantly more grammatical deviations than their NH peers in both their spoken and written language samples. Most importantly, between-modality differences were noted. The participants with HI exhibited significantly more grammatical deviations in their written language samples than in their spoken samples. However, the distribution of grammatical deviations across categories was similar in the two modalities. The most common grammatical deviations in order of their frequency were failure to supply obligatory morphological markers, failure to mark grammatical agreement, and the omission of a major syntactic constituent in a sentence. Word order violations were rarely recorded in the Hebrew samples.

Clinical Implications:Performance differences in the two modalities encourage clinicians and teachers to facilitate target linguistic forms in diverse communication contexts. Furthermore, the identification of linguistic targets for intervention must be based on the unique grammatical structure of the target language.
Complexity in Phonological Treatment
Authors: Gierut Judith A.
Published: April 2006

The construct of complexity has been advanced recently as a potentially contributing variable in the efficacy of treatment for children with functional phonological disorders. Thus far, complexity has been defined in terms of linguistic and psycholinguistic structure, articulatory phonetic variables, and conventional clinical factors. The focus of this paper is on clinical complexity as it influences the selection of target sounds for treatment, with three clinical factors reviewed: consistency of the error, normative age of acquisition, and number of errors to be treated. The collective findings suggest that treatment of seemingly more complex targets results in greater phonological gains. These results are integrated with converging evidence from other populations and language and learning domains.
Contextual Variation, Familiarity, Academic Literacy, and Rural Adolescents’ Idiom Knowledge
Authors: Qualls Constance Dean , O’Brien Rose M. , Blood Gordon W. , Hammer Carol Scheffner
Published: April 2006

Purpose:The paucity of data on idiom development in adolescents, particularly rural adolescents, limits the ability of speech-language pathologists and educators to test and teach idioms appropriately in this population. This study was designed to delineate the interrelationships between context, familiarity, and academic literacy relative to rural adolescents’ idiom knowledge.

Method:Ninety-five rural eighth graders (Mage=13.4 years) were quasi-randomly assigned to complete the Idiom Comprehension Test (Qualls & Harris, 1999) in one of three contexts: idioms in a short story (n=25), idioms in isolation (n=32), and idioms in a verification task (n=38). For all conditions, the identical 24 idioms—8 each of high, moderate, and low familiarity (Nippold & Rudzinski, 1993)—were presented. For a subset (N=54) of the students, reading and language arts scores from the California Achievement Tests (5th ed., 1993), a standardized achievement test, were correlated with performance on the idiom test.

Results:Performance in the story condition and on high-familiarity idioms showed the greatest accuracy. For the isolation and verification conditions, context interacted with familiarity. Associations existed between idiom performance and reading ability and idiom performance and language literacy, but only for the story and verification conditions. High-proficiency readers showed the greatest idiom accuracy.

Clinical Implications:The results support the notion that context facilitates idiom comprehension for rural adolescents, and that idiom testing should consider not only context, but idiom familiarity as well. Thus, local norms should be established. Findings also confirm that good readers are better at comprehending idioms, likely resulting from enriched vocabulary obtained through reading. These normative data indicate what might be expected when testing idiom knowledge in adolescents with language impairments.
"What
Isn’t
Language?"
Authors: Ukrainetz Teresa A. , Fresquez Elena F.
Published: April 2006

Purpose:
This study examined how speech-language pathologists (SLPs) carry out their roles in the schools. The focus was on language as a domain of specialization and roles relative to other remedial educators.

Method:
The study was a qualitative constant-comparative design. Five Wyoming school SLPs and 15 teachers from their five schools participated.

Results:
Results showed that language was difficult to define and delimit. Language was present throughout the curriculum and all of the educators taught it. The SLPs and resource teachers demonstrated similar types of language instruction. Oral language and speech were clearly specialty domains of the SLPs. The SLPs were also distinctive in terms of the instructional framework and service delivery structure.

Implications:
The findings contribute to understanding the role of SLPs in the schools and how these roles complement and overlap with other remedial educators.
Caregiver-Child Interactions and Their Impact on Children’s Fluency
Authors: Ratner Nan Bernstein
Published: April 2006

There is a relatively strong focus in the stuttering literature on the desirability of selected alterations in parental speech and language style in the management of early stuttering. In this article, the existing research support for such recommendations is evaluated, together with relevant research from the normal language acquisition literature that bears on the potential consequences of changing parental interaction style. Recommendations with relatively stronger and weaker support are discussed. Ways in which children’s communication styles and fluency may be altered through newer fluency treatment protocols are contrasted with older, more general parent advisements. Finally, directions for future research into the efficacy of recommendations made to the parents of children who stutter (CWS) are offered.
A Meme’s Eye View of Speech-Language Pathology
Authors: Kamhi Alan G.
Published: April 2006

In this article, the reason why certain terms, labels, and ideas prevail, whereas others fail to gain acceptance, will be considered. Borrowing the concept of "meme" from the study of evolution of ideas, it will be clear why
language-based
and
phonological
disorders have less widespread appeal than, for example,
auditory processing
and
sensory integration
disorders. Discussion will also center on why most speech-language pathologists refer to themselves as speech therapists or speech pathologists, and why it is more desirable to have dyslexia than to have a reading disability. In a meme’s eye view, science and logic do not always win out because selection favors ideas (memes) that are easy to understand, remember, and copy. An unfortunate consequence of these selection forces is that successful memes typically provide superficially plausible answers for complex questions.
Speech Perception Benefits of FM and Infrared Devices to Children With Hearing Aids in a Typical Classroom
Authors: Anderson Karen L. , Goldstein Howard
Published: April 2006

Children typically learn in classroom environments that have background noise and reverberation that interfere with accurate speech perception. Amplification technology can enhance the speech perception of students who are hard of hearing.

Purpose:
This study used a single-subject alternating treatments design to compare the speech recognition abilities of children who are hard of hearing when they were using hearing aids with each of three frequency modulated (FM) or infrared devices.

Method:
Eight 9–12-year-olds with mild to severe hearing loss repeated Hearing in Noise Test (HINT) sentence lists under controlled conditions in a typical kindergarten classroom with a background noise level of +10 dB signal-to-noise (S/N) ratio and 1.1 s reverberation time. Participants listened to HINT lists using hearing aids alone and hearing aids in combination with three types of S/N-enhancing devices that are currently used in mainstream classrooms: (a) FM systems linked to personal hearing aids, (b) infrared sound field systems with speakers placed throughout the classroom, and (c) desktop personal sound field FM systems.

Results:
The infrared ceiling sound field system did not provide benefit beyond that provided by hearing aids alone. Desktop and personal FM systems in combination with personal hearing aids provided substantial improvements in speech recognition.

Clinical Implications:
This information can assist in making S/N-enhancing device decisions for students using hearing aids. In a reverberant and noisy classroom setting, classroom sound field devices are not beneficial to speech perception for students with hearing aids, whereas either personal FM or desktop sound field systems provide listening benefits.
Comprehension of Third Person Singular /s/ in AAE-Speaking Children
Authors: Johnson Valerie E.
Published: April 2006

Purpose:
This investigation examined the comprehension of third person singular /s/ in 30 African American English (AAE)-speaking children as a subject-number agreement marker on a comprehension task.

Method:
A comprehension task was presented to 30 typically developing AAE-speaking children between the ages of 4 and 6. The children were randomly assigned to 1 of 2 groups to hear prerecorded counterbalanced stimuli. The comprehension task was designed to mask plurality of subject; therefore, the children had to focus on the verb as an indicator of subject number.

Results:
Repeated measure analysis revealed that AAE-speaking children in this investigation did not understand third person singular /s/ as a number agreement marker. An additional analysis,
d’
(pronounced "
d
prime"), indicated that the AAE-speaking children are not sensitive to the third person singular /s/ as a clue to subject number.

Clinical Implications:
The inclusion of comprehension tasks of third person singular /s/ to help diagnose language impairment in this population may be problematic.
Persuasive Writing in Children, Adolescents, and Adults
Authors: Nippold Marilyn A. , Ward-Lonergan Jeannene M. , Fanning Jessica L.
Published: April 2006

Purpose:Persuasive writing is a demanding task that requires the use of complex language to analyze, discuss, and resolve controversies in a way that is clear, convincing, and considerate of diverse points of view. This investigation examined selected aspects of later language development in the context of persuasive writing. The purpose of the study was to obtain current information that could be used to design collaborative instruction involving speech-language pathologists and classroom teachers. In schools today, these professionals often work closely together to facilitate students’ language development, including their ability to write persuasively.

Method:Persuasive writing was investigated in typically developing children, adolescents, and adults (N=180) whose mean ages were 11, 17, and 24 years, respectively. Each participant wrote an essay on the controversial topic of animals being trained to perform in circuses. Following this, the essays were examined in detail, focusing on selected aspects of syntactic, semantic, and pragmatic development.

Results:Performance improved in each of these domains during the years between childhood and adulthood. Age-related changes included gradual increases in essay length; mean length of utterance; relative clause production; and the use of literate words, including adverbial conjuncts (e.g.,typically, however, finally), abstract nouns (e.g.,longevity, respect, kindness), and metalinguistic and metacognitive verbs (e.g.,reflect, argue, disagree). In addition, older writers produced a greater number of different reasons in their essays and were more likely to acknowledge diverse points of view as compared to younger writers, thereby evidencing greater flexibility of thought.

Clinical Implications:The study offers useful implications for speech-language pathologists and classroom teachers working together to improve students’ persuasive writing skills. Suggestions are offered for ways to accomplish this by focusing on key aspects of later language development in the areas of syntax, semantics, and pragmatics.
Synthesized Speech Intelligibility in Sentences
Authors: Axmear Ellen , Reichle Joe , Alamsaputra Maya , Kohnert Kathryn , Drager Kathryn , Sellnow Kelli
Published: April 2006

Purpose:
Research comparing the intelligibility of human and synthesized speech among both young children and adults has indicated that synthesized speech results in a degrading of intelligibility. The purpose of this study was to compare speech intelligibility of high-probability sentences produced using DECtalk®
Perfect Paul
and live speech among monolingual English-speaking and bilingual children.

Method:
Twenty typically developing children between the ages of 4;5 (years;months) and 6;2 participated. Ten children (6 boys and 4 girls) were monolingual English speakers. The remaining ten children (4 boys and 6 girls) were bilingual. Their reproduction of modeled sentences produced in English via live speech and synthesized speech were analyzed to determine the intelligibility of each speech type.

Results:
The results indicated that for both groups of children, performance was significantly better in the live speech condition. Results further revealed that the intelligibility decrement for synthesized speech was substantially greater for bilingual speakers.

Clinical Implications:
For bilingual children, even higher quality synthesized speech may present a greater challenge than it does for monolingual English-speaking children. Possible strategies to enhance intelligibility are discussed.
Interpretation of Fables and Proverbs by African Americans With and Without Aphasia
Authors: Ulatowska Hanna K. , Wertz Robert T. , Chapman Sandra B. , Hill CaSaundra L. , Thompson Jennifer L. , Keebler Molly W. , Olness Gloria Streit , Parsons Sharon D. , Miller Teya , Auther Linda L.
Published: April 2006

There is a paucity of performance information for African American adults with aphasia on appraisal tasks, especially in comparison with performance by neurologically normal African American adults. We administered language impairment, functional communication, and discourse measures to neurologically normal African American adults and African American adults with aphasia. The neurologically normal group performed significantly better on the language impairment measure (Western Aphasia Battery), the functional communication measure (ASHA Functional Assessment of Communication Skills for Adults), providing the lesson in a fable discourse task, and spontaneous interpretation of proverbs. No significant differences between groups were observed on a picture description fable task or in performance on a multiple-choice proverb task. Few significant relationships were observed among measures in the neurologically normal group; however, the group with aphasia displayed a variety of significant relationships in their performance on the language impairment, functional communication, fable lesson, and interpretation of proverbs tasks. The results imply that fable and proverb discourse tasks may be valuable supplemental measures for characterizing communicative competence in African American adults who have aphasia.
Intensive Voice Treatment and Respiration Treatment for Hypokinetic-Spastic Dysarthria After Traumatic Brain Injury
Authors: Solomon Nancy Pearl , McKee Amy S. , Garcia-Barry Sandra
Published: April 2006

The short-term efficacy of the Lee Silverman Voice Treatment (LSVT) and the short- and long-term efficacy of LSVT exercises combined with respiration treatment and physical therapy (Combination Treatment) were examined for a young man diagnosed with mixed hypokinetic-spastic dysarthria 20 months after sustaining a traumatic brain injury (TBI). The efficacy of the LSVT, an intensive 4-week program that focuses on increased vocal effort, is well documented for idiopathic Parkinson’s disease. This is the first known published account of the use of LSVT with TBI. Breathing and speech function were assessed by spirometry, respiratory kinematics, intelligibility, and other selected acoustic and auditory-perceptual measures. Improvements generally were minor and inconsistent after LSVT, although sound pressure level (SPL) and loudness increased notably. After an additional 6 weeks of intensive Combination Treatment, gains were documented for resting and speech breathing. Moreover, SPL increased further and sentence intelligibility improved substantially. The gains were maintained to varying degrees after 10 weekly sessions of Combination Treatment. Although several measures returned to baseline 3 months after treatment ceased, some improvements in resting and speech breathing remained. Most important clinically, improvements in vocal SPL and sentence intelligibility persisted.
Otitis Media and Language Development: A Meta-Analysis
Authors: Casby Michael W.
Published: April 2006

A substantial contemporary research literature on the impact of otitis media with effusion (OME) on language development in young children currently exists. Compared to the reports of earlier retrospective research on the topic, the results of the more recent prospective studies may be viewed as less conclusive and more equivocal. Nonetheless, the negative impact of OME on young children’s language development appears to be a widely held belief. What is required now, in addition to the continuing primary research, and occasional qualitative/narrative reviews, is an objective quantitative analysis, synthesis, and evaluation of this research literature. The purpose of this project was to conduct such an examination employing the methodology of meta-analysis. The results of this meta-analysis of the contemporary primary research on OME and language development in young children show that the magnitude of the statistical population effect of OME is markedly low. Nevertheless, it should be acknowledged that the findings of low population effects in this meta-analysis may be related to certain vicissitudes of the primary research. Among these are failure to determine research participants’ hearing levels, other intrinsic and/or extrinsic individual differences among the research participants, as well as the sensitivity of language measures used.
Idiom Understanding in Preadolescents: Synergy in Action
Authors: Nippold Marilyn A. , Moran Catherine , Schwarz Ilsa E.
Published: April 2006

The present study was designed to examine how preadolescents gain an understanding of idioms. In particular, it examined the role of idiom familiarity in conjunction with students’ language-based academic abilities. The participants were 50 children (mean age 12 years 4 months) who attended a primary school in Christchurch, New Zealand. All students spoke standard New Zealand English and were considered by the school to be progressing normally. The results indicated that idiom understanding was closely associated with students’ familiarity with idioms and with their skills in reading and listening comprehension. Moreover, students who were good comprehenders of idioms outperformed their classmates who were poor comprehenders on all associated measures: idiom familiarity, reading comprehension, and listening comprehension. Guidelines for instruction in idiom understanding are offered for speech-language pathologists who work collaboratively with teachers in the regular classroom during language arts activities. The guidelines reflect the position that multiple factors, working in synergy, promote the understanding of idioms in youth.
Discriminative Validity of Selected Measures for Differentiating Normal From Aphasic Performance
Authors: Ross Katherine B. , Wertz Robert T.
Published: April 2006

Normal elderly and mildly aphasic individuals may exhibit similar impairments in comprehension and expression. The discriminative validity between normal and aphasic performance on most standardized measures of aphasia has not been reported. The authors compared the performance of 18 aphasic and 18 normal adults to determine the discriminative validity of 2 general language measures—the Porch Index of Communicative Ability (B. E. Porch, 1967) and the Western Aphasia Battery (A. Kertesz, 1982)—and 2 functional communication measures—the Communication Activities of Daily Living-Second Edition (A. L. Holland, C. Frattali, & D. Fromm, 1999) and the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association’s Functional Assessment of Communication Skills for Adults (C. Frattali, C. K. Thompson, A. L. Holland, C. B. Wohl, & M. K. Ferketic, 1995). All between-groups comparisons of summary scores for each measure showed significant mean differences. Expressive language ability and efficiency of performance best differentiated between the aphasic and normal groups. However, group performance ranges overlapped by at least 10% on each measure. To enhance the differential diagnosis of aphasia, supplementing formal test results with additional subjective and objective evidence is recommended.
Telehealth Adaptation of the Lidcombe Program of Early Stuttering Intervention
Authors: Wilson Linda , Onslow Mark , Lincoln Michelle
Published: April 2006

This article describes and reports databased outcomes of a low-tech telehealth adaptation of the Lidcombe Program of Early Stuttering Intervention. Participants were 5 children with early stuttering, ranging in age from 3;5 (years;months) to 5;7, and their families. All children met the speech criteria for completion of Stage 1 of the Lidcombe Program. Data suggested that the treatment method may be viable and that favorable outcomes may be achievable. Mean posttreatment stuttering rates in everyday speaking situations were available 12 months posttreatment for 4 children. Two children scored a mean percent syllables stuttered of less than 1.0 at that time, and 2 children scored a mean of below 2.0. As occurs often in standard delivery of the Lidcombe Progam, 1 child relapsed after Stage 1, apparently because of parental noncompliance, but this relapse was managed successfully. Follow up data were unavailable for 1 child. For 4 of the 5 cases, the number of consultations required exceeded established benchmarks for standard Lidcombe Program delivery, suggesting that telephonebased telehealth may be a less efficient version of the treatment. The implications of these preliminary data are discussed.
Standardized Assessment of Phonological Awareness Skills in Low-Income African American First Graders
Authors: Thomas-Tate Shurita , Washington Julie , Edwards Jan
Published: April 2006

Accurate identification of students with poor phonological awareness skills is important to providing appropriate reading instruction. This is particularly true for segments of the population, such as African American students, who have a history of reading failure. The purpose of this study was to examine the performance of a group of African American first-grade students from low-income families on a standardized test of phonological awareness. Fifty-six African American first graders were given the Test of Phonological Awareness (TOPA; J. K. Torgesen & B. R. Bryant, 1994). Mean student performance on the TOPA was significantly below expected norms and negatively skewed. However, students' mean performance on a test of basic reading skills indicated performance within normal limits. Outcomes are discussed relative to the validity and predictive power of standardized phonological assessment instruments, in this case, the TOPA, for use with African American students and the possible influence of dialect on performance.
Dysphagic Independent Feeders’ Justifications for Noncompliance With Recommendations by a Speech-Language Pathologist
Authors: Colodny Nancy
Published: April 2006

The purpose of this study was to examine the various ways in which independent-feeding patients with dysphagia justified their noncompliance with swallowing recommendations suggested by a speech-language pathologist (SLP). Sixty-three independent-feeding dysphagia patients between the ages of 65 and 100 years who had been identified by the SLP or staff as noncompliant with SLP recommendations were interviewed about their reasons for noncompliance. Reasons were classified into 8 categories: (a) denial of a swallowing problem, (b) dissatisfaction with the preparations such as thickened liquids or pureed foods, (c) assuming a calculated risk for noncompliant behaviors, (d) rationalizing their noncompliance in the face of contradictory evidence, (e) minimization of the severity of their problem, (f) verbal accommodation while maintaining noncompliance, (g) projection of blame toward the SLP, and (h) deflection of noncompliance by referring to an external authority. Reasons for noncompliance were discussed in light of theory and research on denial, coping mechanisms, and the social-cognitive transition model. Implications were drawn for SLP practice in dealing with noncompliant independent-feeding patients with dysphagia.
Reduplication Revisited
Authors: Klein Harriet B.
Published: April 2006

This case study considers the phonological forms of early lexical items produced by 1 normally developing boy, from 19 to 22 months of age, who began to produce all monosyllabic words as bisyllabic. In order to link this empirical data (the apparent creation of increased complexity) with universal tendencies (motivated by the reduction of complexity), the functions of reduplication were revisited. Phonological processes (i.e., reduplication and final consonant deletion) are viewed as repairs motivated by 2 interacting constraints (i.e., constraints on monosyllabic words and on word-final consonants). These longitudinal case study data provide further evidence for a relationship between final consonant deletion and reduplication. A possible treatment approach for similar patterns demonstrated clinically is recommended.
The Language Abilities of Bilingual Children With Down Syndrome
Authors: Bird Elizabeth Kay-Raining , Cleave Patricia , Trudeau Natacha , Thordardottir Elin , Sutton Ann , Thorpe Amy
Published: April 2006

Children with Down syndrome (DS) have cognitive disabilities resulting from trisomy 21. Language-learning difficulties, especially expressive language problems, are an important component of the phenotype of this population. Many individuals with DS are born into bilingual environments. To date, however, there is almost no information available regarding the capacity of these individuals to acquire more than 1 language. The present study compared the language abilities of 8 children with DS being raised bilingually with those of 3 control groups matched on developmental level: monolingual children with DS (n=14), monolingual typically developing (TD) children (n=18), and bilingual TD children (n=11). All children had at least 100 words in their productive vocabularies but a mean length of utterance of less than 3.5. The bilingual children spoke English and 1 other language and were either balanced bilinguals or English-dominant. English testing was completed for all children using the following: the Preschool Language Scale, Third Edition; language sampling; and the MacArthur Communicative Development Inventories (CDI). Bilingual children were also tested in the second language using a vocabulary comprehension test, the CDI, and language sampling. Results provided evidence of a similar profile of language abilities in bilingual children as has been documented for monolingual children with DS. There was no evidence of a detrimental effect of bilingualism. That is, the bilingual children with DS scored at least as well on all English tests as their monolingual DS counterparts. Nonetheless, there was considerable diversity in the second-language abilities demonstrated by these individuals with DS. Clinical implications are addressed.
A Comparison of Single Words and Conversational Speech in Phonological Evaluation
Authors: Masterson Julie J. , Bernhardt Barbara H. , Hofheinz Monica K.
Published: April 2006

Purpose:
The purpose of the current study was to compare conversational speech samples with single-word samples that were partially tailored to the participants' individual phonological profiles, using aspects of nonlinear phonological frameworks as a basis for evaluation.

Method:
There were 20 participants in the study, ranging in age from 3;0 to 10;5 (years;months). The Computerized Articulation and Phonology Evaluation System (J. J. Masterson & B. Bernhardt, 2001) was used to elicit single-word productions.

Results:
Both group and individual comparisons indicated very few differences in accuracy or treatment ramifications. The time required to elicit and transcribe the conversational samples was typically 3 times greater than the time required for the single-word task. The single-word task elicited more of the English-language targets.

Conclusions:
The results of this study suggest that a single-word task tailored to some extent to the client's phonological system gives sufficient and representative information for phonological evaluation. A brief conversational sample remains useful for examining prosody, intelligibility, and other aspects of language, and as a check on the representativeness of the single-word sample.
Differential Diagnosis of Stuttering for Forensic Purposes
Authors: Seery Carol Hubbard
Published: April 2006

Purpose:
This case study demonstrates the application of an assessment protocol for differential diagnosis of psychogenic stuttering, neurogenic stuttering, developmental stuttering, and malingering.

Method:
A male in his late 30s, accused of armed robbery, was evaluated for stuttering at the request of his defense attorney. The speech assessment included 4 main sections: collection of speech samples, observation in multiple speaking conditions, evaluation of communication attitudes, and consideration of case history and background information.

Results:
The defendant stuttered severely in all speaking conditions. He demonstrated typical stuttering loci and consistency, but no adaptation. Communication attitudes were typical of people who stutter, but steady, direct eye contact was atypical. His statements about his speech conflicted with reports of outside witnesses.

Conclusions:
Characteristics were consistent with developmental stuttering and partial malingering. Both psychogenic and neurogenic forms of stuttering were suspected, but mixed results were largely unsupportive. Valuable protocol elements included speech sampling under multiple speaking conditions, careful examination of case history information, and indirect tests of malingering. Further knowledge and research are warranted to improve processes of differential diagnoses among subtypes of developmental, psychogenic, and neurogenic forms of stuttering as well as malingering.
A Clinical Method for the Detection and Quantification of Quick Respiratory Hyperkinesia
Authors: Hixon Thomas J. , Hoit Jeannette D.
Published: April 2006

Purpose

Quick respiratory hyperkinesia can be difficult to detect with the naked eye. A clinical method is described for the detection and quantification of quick respiratory hyperkinesia.

Method

Flow at the airway opening is sensed during spontaneous apnea (rest), voluntary breath holding (postural fixation), and voluntary volume displacement (intentional movement). The method is designed to reveal quick respiratory hyperkinesia independent of the function of the larynx and/or upper airway. Theory underlying the method is discussed, and a protocol is offered for clinical use.

Conclusions

This method may be useful to neurologists, pulmonologists, and speech-language pathologists. Because it depends on nonspeech observations, its application to speech and/or voice production must be inferred.
Listener Perception of Respiratory-Induced Voice Tremor
Authors: Farinella Kimberly A. , Hixon Thomas J. , Hoit Jeannette D. , Story Brad H. , Jones Patricia A.
Published: April 2006

Purpose

The purpose of this study was to determine the relation of respiratory oscillation to the perception of voice tremor.

Method

Forced oscillation of the respiratory system was used to simulate variations in alveolar pressure such as are characteristic of voice tremor of respiratory origin. Five healthy men served as speakers, and 6 clinically experienced women served as listeners. Speakers produced utterances while forced sinusoidal pressure changes were applied to the surface of the respiratory system. Utterances included vowels and sentences produced using usual loudness, pitch, quality, and rate, and vowels produced using different loudness, pitch, and quality. Perceptual tasks included detection threshold for voice tremor and pair comparison judgments in which listeners identified the sample with the greater magnitude of voice tremor.

Results

The mean detection threshold for voice tremor was 1.37 cmH
2
O (
SD
= 0.47) for vowel utterances and 2.16 cmH
2
O (
SD
= 1.52) for sentence utterances. Tremor magnitude was judged to be different for vowel and sentence utterances, but not for different vowels. Results revealed differential effects for loudness, pitch, and quality.

Conclusions

These findings offer implications for the evaluation and management of voice tremor of respiratory causation.
The Hearing Aid Expert
Authors: Turner Robert G.
Published: April 2006

Based on available data, audiologists have, by far, the best overall dispensing credentials and, in fact, the best credentials in each area evaluated. Unfortunately, the available data are somewhat limited. Although the data indicate that audiologists are the superior dispenser, that is, the hearing aid expert, the data are not sufficient to conclusively prove that point. What we can state with confidence is that there is no basis in the data to recommend the dealer or the otolaryngologist over the audiologist. If a governmental agency or an insurer is going to restrict dispensing, then, based on current credentials, audiologists should always be one of the groups permitted to dispense.
Clinical Masking in Speech Audiometry
Authors: Yacullo William S.
Published: April 2006

The optimal masking level during speech audiometry is one that falls above the minimum and below the maximum masking levels. The goal is to select a masking level that falls at the middle of the masking plateau. This article presents a simplified approach to selecting an appropriate level of contralateral masking during suprathreshold speech audiometry. The underlying theoretical concepts and prerequisite conditions are reviewed. The advantages of insert earphones when using the simplified approach are discussed.
A Longitudinal Investigation of Infant Auditory Sensitivity
Authors: Tharpe Anne Marie , Ashmead Daniel H.
Published: April 2006

The behavioral evaluation of hearing in very young infants has been fraught with procedural and interpretive problems. Despite the introduction of current physiological techniques of estimating hearing sensitivity, such as otoacoustic emissions and auditory brainstem-evoked responses, behavioral hearing assessment of young infants remains of interest to researchers of infant behavior and to clinicians who need to use a battery of tests in their assessment of infant hearing. The objective of this study was to provide the first longitudinal investigation of infant auditory sensitivity, using a new procedure for behavioral testing of neonates and infants. Behavioral responses to speech noise stimuli were obtained monthly from birth to 12 months of age. During each trial, the signal increased from an inaudible level in 2-dB steps until the infant responded. Therefore, a threshold estimate was obtained on each trial, and the average threshold could be computed across trials within a test session. Threshold estimates were in good agreement with previously reported infant behavioral thresholds based on cross-sectional designs. The age-related changes in threshold were fit with exponential functions for individual infants and for the group data. There was good agreement in the shape of these functions across infants, with asymptotic threshold level approached around 6 months of age. Therefore, this longitudinal study confirms that the age trend previously reported from cross-sectional findings is also observed in the development of individual infants.