bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Psychometric Evaluation of Condition-Specific Instruments Used to Assess Health-Related Quality of Life, Attitudes, and Related Constructs in Stuttering
Authors: Franic Duska M. , Bothe Anne K. 
Published: January 2008

PurposeThis study assessed the psychometric properties of instruments used to measure constructs similar to stuttering-specific health-related quality of life. In the stuttering literature, most such instruments were originally intended to measure speakers' attitudes about, or reactions to, their stuttering.MethodSeventeen instruments were identified through a comprehensive literature search. Based on specific criteria from previous publications, 10 were selected for complete review and evaluated using 15 measurement standards related to conceptual model, reliability, validity, responsiveness, interpretability (norms), burden (respondent and administrative), depth, and versatility.ResultsNone of the available instruments met more than 8 of the 15 measurement standards assessed.ConclusionsAvailable instruments do not satisfy psychometric criteria for use in individual or group-level decision making, either as measures of their originally intended constructs or as measures of health-related quality of life. Problems with the conceptual model, reliability, validity, and responsiveness of available instruments, as well as the lack of comprehensive normative data, combine to suggest the need for development and validation of a stuttering-specific health-related quality of life measure.
A Review of Standardized Tests of Nonverbal Oral and Speech Motor Performance in Children
Authors: McCauley Rebecca J. , Strand Edythe A. 
Published: January 2008

PurposeTo review the content and psychometric characteristics of 6 published tests currently available to aid in the study, diagnosis, and treatment of motor speech disorders in children.MethodWe compared the content of the 6 tests and critically evaluated the degree to which important psychometric characteristics support the tests' use for their defined purposes.ResultsThe tests varied considerably in content and methods of test interpretation. Few of the tests documented efforts to support reliability and validity for their intended purposes, often when relevant information was probably available during the test’s development.ConclusionsProblems with the reviewed tests appear related to overly broad plans for test development and inadequate attention to relevant psychometric principles during the development process. Recommendations are offered for future test revisions and development efforts that can benefit from recent research in test development and in pediatric motor speech disorders.
Syntactic Complexity During Conversation of Boys With Fragile X Syndrome and Down Syndrome
Authors: Price Johanna R. , Roberts Joanne E. , Hennon Elizabeth A. , Berni Mary C. , Anderson Kathleen L. , Sideris John 
Published: January 2008

PurposeThis study compared the syntax of boys who have fragile X syndrome (FXS) with and without autism spectrum disorder (ASD) with that of (a) boys who have Down syndrome (DS) and (b) typically developing (TD) boys.MethodThirty-five boys with FXS only, 36 boys with FXS with ASD, 31 boys with DS, and 46 TD boys participated. Conversational language samples were evaluated for utterance length and syntactic complexity (i.e., Index of Productive Syntax; H. S. Scarborough, 1990).ResultsAfter controlling for nonverbal mental age and maternal education levels, the 2 FXS groups did not differ in utterance length or syntactic complexity. The FXS groups and the DS group produced shorter, less complex utterances overall and less complex noun phrases, verb phrases, and sentence structures than did the TD boys. The FXS with ASD group and the DS group, but not the FXS-only group, produced less complex questions/negations than did the TD group. Compared with the DS group, both FXS groups produced longer, more complex utterances overall, but on the specific complexity measures, they scored higher only on questions/negations.ConclusionBoys with FXS and DS have distinctive language profiles. Although both groups demonstrated syntactic delays, boys with DS showed greater delays.
Initial Validity and Reliability of the SCCAN: Using Tailored Testing to Assess Adult Cognition and Communication
Authors: Milman Lisa H. , Holland Audrey , Kaszniak Alfred W. , D’Agostino Jerry , Garrett Merrill , Rapcsak Steve 
Published: January 2008

Purpose
The Scales of Cognitive and Communicative Ability for Neurorehabilitation (SCCAN; L. Milman & A. Holland, 2007) was developed in the hospital setting to address changes in assessment practice. The SCCAN was designed to provide an overview of impairment and activity limitations across 8 cognitive scales (Speech Comprehension, Oral Expression, Reading, Writing, Orientation, Attention, Memory, and Problem Solving). The scales were developed using item response theory so that tailored testing could be implemented to reduce test administration time. This research investigated the validity and reliability of the SCCAN.

Method
A battery of neuropsychological tests was administered to 40 neurologically healthy control participants and 51 participants diagnosed with left-hemisphere pathology, right-hemisphere pathology, or probable Alzheimer’s disease. Analyses were performed to assess test sensitivity and specificity, construct validity, administration time, and reliability.

Results

The test accurately classified 95% of the control participants and 98% of the participants diagnosed with neurological disorders. Results indicate that the test also differentiated the performance profiles of the 3 clinical populations. In addition, test scores correlated significantly with external measures of the same cognitive areas. Mean administration time was 34 min. Test–retest stability (
r
= .96,
p
< .001) and internal consistency (
r
= .99,
p
< .001) coefficients were both significant, indicating that tailored testing procedures generated reliable test scores.
The Efficacy of Fast ForWord Language Intervention in School-Age Children With Language Impairment: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Authors: Gillam Ronald B. , Loeb Diane Frome , Hoffman LaVae M. , Bohman Thomas , Champlin Craig A. , Thibodeau Linda , Widen Judith , Brandel Jayne , Friel-Patti Sandy 
Published: January 2008

Purpose
A randomized controlled trial was conducted to compare the language and auditory processing outcomes of children assigned to receive the Fast ForWord Language intervention (FFW-L) with the outcomes of children assigned to nonspecific or specific language intervention comparison treatments that did not contain modified speech.

Method
Two hundred sixteen children between the ages of 6 and 9 years with language impairments were randomly assigned to 1 of 4 conditions: (a) Fast ForWord Language (FFW-L), (b) academic enrichment (AE), (c) computer-assisted language intervention (CALI), or (d) individualized language intervention (ILI) provided by a speech-language pathologist. All children received 1 hr and 40 min of treatment, 5 days per week, for 6 weeks. Language and auditory processing measures were administered to the children by blinded examiners before treatment, immediately after treatment, 3 months after treatment, and 6 months after treatment.

Results
The children in all 4 conditions improved significantly on a global language test and a test of backward masking. Children with poor backward masking scores who were randomized to the FFW-L condition did not present greater improvement on the language measures than children with poor backward masking scores who were randomized to the other 3 conditions. Effect sizes, analyses of standard error of measurement, and normalization percentages supported the clinical significance of the improvements on the Comprehensive Assessment of Spoken Language (E. Carrow-Woolfolk, 1999). There was a treatment effect for the Blending Words subtest of the Comprehensive Test of Phonological Processing (R. K. Wagner, J. K. Torgesen, & C. A. Rashotte, 1999). Participants in the FFW-L and CALI conditions earned higher phonological awareness scores than children in the ILI and AE conditions at the 6-month follow-up testing.

Conclusion
Fast ForWord Language, the intervention that provided modified speech to address a hypothesized underlying auditory processing deficit, was not more effective at improving general language skills or temporal processing skills than a nonspecific comparison treatment (AE) or specific language intervention comparison treatments (CALI and ILI) that did not contain modified speech stimuli. These findings call into question the temporal processing hypothesis of language impairment and the hypothesized benefits of using acoustically modified speech to improve language skills. The finding that children in the 3 treatment conditions and the active comparison condition made clinically relevant gains on measures of language and temporal auditory processing informs our understanding of the variety of intervention activities that can facilitate development.
The Acquisition of Tense and Agreement Morphemes by Children With Specific Language Impairment During Intervention: Phase 3
Authors: Leonard Laurence B. , Camarata Stephen M. , Pawłowska Monika , Brown Barbara , Camarata Mary N. 
Published: January 2008

Purpose
The goals of this investigation were to determine whether gains in the use of tense and agreement morphemes by children with specific language impairment (SLI) during a 96-session intervention period would still be evident 1 month following treatment and whether these treatment effects would be greater than those seen in children with SLI receiving otherwise similar treatment that did not emphasize tense and agreement morphemes.

Method

Thirty-three children with SLI (age 3;0 to 4;8 [years;months]) served as participants. The children participated in 1 of 3 treatment conditions. The conditions emphasized 3rd person singular –
s,
auxiliary
is/are/was,
or general language stimulation. The children’s use of 3rd person singular –
s,
auxiliary
is/are/was,
and past tense –
ed
was assessed through probes administered throughout treatment and 1 month later.

Results

The children in the conditions that targeted 3rd person singular –
s
and auxiliary
is/are/was
showed significant gains on their respective target morphemes, and these gains were maintained 1 month later. These gains were significantly greater than the gains seen on the same morphemes by the children receiving general language stimulation. For most children, use of the target morphemes did not approach mastery levels by the end of the study.

Conclusion
Intervention that emphasizes morphemes that mark both tense and agreement can be relatively successful, with gains still apparent at least 1 month following intervention.
Relationship Between Acceptable Noise Level and the Abbreviated Profile of Hearing Aid Benefit
Authors: Freyaldenhoven Melinda C. , Nabelek Anna K. , Tampas Joanna W. 
Published: January 2008

PurposeThis study investigated the relationship between acceptable noise levels (ANLs) and the Abbreviated Profile of Hearing Aid Benefit (APHAB; R. M. Cox & G. C. Alexander, 1995). This study further examined the APHAB’s ability to predict hearing aid use.MethodANL and APHAB data were collected for 191 listeners with impaired hearing, separated into 3 groups based on hearing aid use: full-time, part-time, or nonuse.ResultsResults demonstrated ANLs were not correlated with APHAB scores. Results further demonstrated 2 of the 4 APHAB subscales (Ease of Communication [EC] and Background Noise [BN]) predicted hearing aid success with 60% accuracy, which is 25% poorer than that observed using the ANL alone. When combining the ANL with the EC and BN subscales, accuracy of the prediction increased to 91%. Lastly, 3 of the 4 APHAB subscales (EC, BN, and Reverberation) enhanced the present prediction of hearing aid use for patients with mid-range ANLs.ConclusionsThese results indicate that ANLs and APHAB scores provide unique information regarding hearing aid use. These results further indicate that the prediction can be enhanced by administering both the ANL and the EC and BN APHAB subscales. Lastly, some of the ambiguity of the prediction of hearing aid use for listeners with mid-range ANLs may be eliminated.
Preferred and Minimum Acceptable Listening Levels for Musicians While Using Floor and In-Ear Monitors
Authors: Federman Jeremy , Ricketts Todd 
Published: January 2008

Purpose
This study examined the impact that changing on-stage music and crowd noise levels during musical performance had on preferred listening levels (PLLs) and minimum acceptable listening levels (MALLs) across both floor and in-ear monitors.

Method
Participants for this study were 23- to 48-year-old musicians, with and without hearing loss, who had 10 years of musical training or comparable professional experience. For this study, PLLs and MALLs were established for the musician’s own voice, whereas the levels of other onstage musical signals were systematically varied. PLLs for in-ear monitors were found at significantly lower levels than for floor monitors (approximately 0.6 dB).

Results
PLLs for in-ear monitors were found at significantly lower levels than for floor monitors (approximately 0.6 dB). However, despite large spectral differences, PLLs across the 2 monitor types were small enough that the same recommended exposure time would be advocated based on National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health and Occupational Safety and Health Administration recommendations. MALL data also indicated significantly lower levels (approximately 6.0 dB) when musicians were using in-ear monitors in comparison to floor monitors.

Conclusion
The much larger difference suggests that musicians’ risk of noise exposure may be reduced by the use of in-ear monitors. However, given the similar PLL results and known monitor output levels, proper counseling would likely be required before this potential advantage would be realized.
Acupuncture versus subcutaneous injections of sterile water as treatment for labour pain
Authors: MÅRTENSSON LENA , STENER‐VICTORIN ELISABET , WALLIN GUNNAR 
Published: January 2008

AbstractBackground.Two methods for pain relief and relaxation during labour are sterile water injections and acupuncture. In several studies, sterile water injections have been shown to provide good pain relief, particularly for low back pain during labour. The acupuncture studies for pain relief during labour are not as concordant. Therefore, the aim of this study was to explore if there were any differences between acupuncture and sterile water injections regarding pain relief and relaxation during labour.Methods.A randomised controlled trial. Some 128 pregnant women at term were randomly assigned to receive acupuncture (n= 62) or sterile water injections (n= 66). The primary endpoint was to compare the differences between pre‐treatment pain levels and maximum pain in the 2 groups.Results.The main results of this study were that sterile water injections yielded greater pain relief (p<0.001) during childbirth compared to acupuncture. The secondary outcome showed that women in the sterile water group had a higher degree of relaxation (p<0.001) compared to the acupuncture group. The women's own assessment of the effects also favoured sterile water injections (p<0.001). There were no significant differences regarding requirements for additional pain relief after treatment between the 2 groups.Conclusions.Women given sterile water injection experience less labour pain compared to women given acupuncture.
Obstetric outcome of teenage pregnancies compared with adult pregnanciesa
Authors: USTA IHAB M. , ZOOROB DANI , ABU‐MUSA ANTOINE , NAASSAN GEORGES , NASSAR ANWAR H. 
Published: January 2008

AbstractBackground. To compare the obstetric outcome of teenage pregnancies with that of older women. Methods. Retrospective chart review of singleton births ≥24 weeks’ gestational age at the American University of Beirut from 1994 to 2003. Adolescents (<20 years) were compared to subsequently delivered women aged 25–30 years (controls), n = 486 each. Results. Only 131 (27.0%) adolescents were <18 years. More adolescents were nulliparous (79.8 versus 17.9%; p<0.0001). Preterm delivery <37 but not <34 weeks occurred more frequently in cases (11.1 versus 5.8%, p = 0.004). Pre‐eclampsia was more commonly encountered (2.9 versus 0.6%; p = 0.012) and mean predelivery haematocrit was lower in cases (30.6±3.3 versus 33.8±4.3%, p<0.001), but the incidence of gestational diabetes, placenta previa, abruptio placentae, breech presentation, or meconium‐stained amniotic fluid were similar. Caesarean delivery was performed less frequently in cases (9.2 versus 14.0%; p = 0.028), but primary caesarean and operative vaginal delivery rates were similar though vacuum was used more frequently in multiparous controls (0.2 versus 2.7%, p = 0.011). Nulliparous cases had shorter first and second stages of labour (384±304 versus 524±339 min, p<0.0001 and 47±36 versus 63±50 min, p = 0.002), respectively. Mean birth weight was higher in controls (3177±567 versus 3284±511 g, p<0.001), but intrauterine growth restriction, birth weight <2500 g, low Apgar scores, intrauterine fetal death, and stillbirths were similar in both groups. Conclusions. Adolescents are more likely to deliver preterm than older women, and are more likely to suffer from anaemia and pre‐eclampsia. Nulliparous adolescents have a quicker progress of labour while multiparous adolescents require vacuum less frequently compared to their older counterparts. In most other respects, they have comparable maternal and perinatal morbidity.
The incidence of obstetric anal sphincter rupture in primiparous women: a comparison between two European delivery settings
Authors: PRAGER MARTINA , ANDERSSON KARIN L. , STEPHANSSON OLOF , MARCHIONNI MAURO , MARIONS LENA 
Published: January 2008

AbstractBackground. During the last years, the incidence of obstetric anal sphincter rupture (OASR) has increased markedly in Sweden, and significantly less frequently in Italy. Our objective was to explore if different delivery management may explain the variation in OASR incidences. Methods. In a retrospective study, data from 2,000 primiparous women in a Swedish and an Italian delivery unit were compared with respect to OASR, maternal age, gestational length, birth weight, labour induction, use of epidural analgesia (EDA) and oxytocin, vacuum extraction, episiotomy, and duration of the second stage of labour. Results. Incidences of OASR were 9.2 and 0.4% in the Swedish and Italian centres, respectively. Other significant differences were noticed in maternal age, birth weight, gestational length, use of EDA, oxytocin, vacuum extraction, episiotomy, and frequency of induction. Further analysis of the Swedish population revealed a significant association between OASR and birth weight as well as vacuum extraction. The association with gestational age and duration of the second stage of labour approached significance level. However, no association could be found between OASR and maternal age, EDA, episiotomy or induction of labour. Conclusion. Women delivering in the Swedish setting had a 23 times higher risk of OASR. An association between OASR and birth weight, gestational age, instrumental vaginal deliveries and duration of second stage was found. These factors varied between the settings and could possibly explain the differences in OASR incidence. The importance of alternative management, such as constant midwife support and perineal protection during delivery, may be a subject for further studies.
Dinoprostone vaginal slow‐release system (Propess®) compared to expectant management in the active treatment of premature rupture of the membranes at term: impact on maternal and fetal outcomes
Authors: LARRAÑAGA‐AZCÁRATE CARLOS , CAMPO‐MOLINA GEMA , FELICITAS PÉREZ‐RODRÍGUEZ ANA , EZCURDIA‐GURPEGUI MIGUEL 
Published: January 2008

AbstractBackground. Retrospective study of 744 women at the Virgen del Camino Hospital in Pamplona concerning two variants for the active treatment of premature rupture of the membranes (PROM). The main purpose of the study was to assess the differences between two variants for the active treatment of PROM at term in pregnant women with negative vaginal‐rectal culture screening for Group B Streptococci, and a Bishop test of 4 or less on admission. Methods. Retrospective study of 744 patients with single pregnancy at term, PROM, and Bishop test <4. The patients, who were not randomised, were treated with dinoprostone (Propess®) or expectant therapy, according to the physician's choice. Induction with oxytocin was started 12 h after PROM. Qualitative data were analysed using the χ2 test, while quantitative data were analysed using the Student's t‐test or the Mann–Whitney U‐test according to the distribution of the variables. Regression models were applied to correct the biases caused by confounding variables. Results. Of the 744 patients, the cervix of 13% was maturated with pericervical dinoprostone, while 87% were subject to expectant management until 12 h after rupture of the membranes. The time of dilation and the time until labour were significantly shorter in the dinoprostone group (p = 0.0). The rate of caesarean sections was also lower in the dinoprostone group at 9.3% compared to 17.6% in the expectant management group, reaching statistical significance (p = 0.04). There were no differences in the parameters of fetal well being (Apgar and pH). Conclusions. The use of therapy with dinoprostone in patients with PROM could be a safe method and more effective than expectant management.
Determinants of the choice for single or double embryo transfer in twin prone couples
Authors: VAN PEPERSTRATEN A.M. , KREUWEL I.A.M. , HERMENS R.P.M.G. , NELEN W.L.D.M. , VAN DOP P.A. , GROL R.P.T.M. , KREMER J.A.M. 
Published: January 2008

AbstractBackground. Some 84% of all European in vitro fertilisation (IVF) and intracytoplasmatic sperm injection (ICSI) cycles is performed with the transfer of more than 1 embryo, with 22% resulting in twin pregnancies. At many centres, the choice for one or more embryos is made through a shared decision‐making process. To reduce the twin rate in a twin prone population by increasing the use of elective single embryo transfer (eSET), it is important to identify which objective patient factors are related to the choice for double embryo transfer (DET) and eSET. Therefore, the aim of this study was to identify determinants related to the choice for the transfer of eSET or DET in a twin prone population. Methods. A retrospective study was performed on 477 twin prone couples at 2 Dutch IVF centres. We collected data on possible objective patient determinants, and a multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to determine the impact of these determinants on the decision for DET. Results. Of the twin prone couples, 61% opted for DET in their first IVF/ICSI cycle. Within the multivariate analysis, two objective patient determinants acted as a risk factor for the choice of DET – a lower number of available embryos (p = 0.03) and a previous ongoing pregnancy after IVF/ICSI (p = 0.04). The explained variance of the determinants was 3%. Conclusions. In twin prone couples, 61% still opted for DET in their first IVF/ICSI cycle. We identified 2 objective patient determinants for DET, but with an explained variance of only 3%. Therefore, further research is necessary to identify barriers and facilitators for eSET at both the level of the couples and clinicians.