The Intersection of Speech-Language Pathologists’ Beliefs, Perceptions, and Practices and the Language Acquisition and Development of Emerging Aided Communicators

This dissertation discusses the convergence of aided augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) systems, the language acquisition and development of young children who are minimally verbal or nonverbal who acquire their native language while simultaneously learning to use an aided AAC system, and explicit and implicit elements that influence language outcomes. Factors investigated include those related to language acquisition universals, the AAC system, the young aided AAC user, and practices, philosophies, and beliefs of speech-language pathologists (SLPs). Further examined were: (a) language acquisition parallels in atypical populations who do not possess the full range of senses who have been shown to develop language, and (b) analogies between the linguistic structures of pidgins, interlanguages, and the syntax of young aided AAC users. This dissertation employed a survey methodology to capture the practices and beliefs of SLPs as a means of identifying potential contributing factors to the reduced linguistic outcomes of these children. Quantitative findings revealed statistically significant differences in SLPs’ perceptions of confidence and qualification with the two populations of children with language impairments who use an oral modality and young aided AAC users. Descriptive trends across all constructs measured suggested differences in SLPs’ practices, belifes, and perspectives in their work with these two populations. The analysis of the syntactic structures of the language of young aided AAC users revealed definitive parallels with the construct of interlanguages

The Effect of Developmental Factors on the Use of an Electronic Communication Device.

This study addressed a poorly understood variable of voice output communication aid (VOCA) use, namely mnemonic development. Forty children without disabilities, aged from 49 to 60 months, were required to use an IntroTalker (Prentke Romich Company) to participate in a one-on-one storybook reading task with the investigator. They were provided with sixteen messages to use during a scripted reading of The Three Bears. Children could use a trained verbal elaboration strategy or generate their own methods to retrieve messages. Immediate and delayed responses of children under two training methods were compared, and the contribution of developmental factors, including metamemory, were evaluated. In the control method, Direct Instruction (DI), children learned to retrieve messages via an error-free method including simple repetition of a verbal elaboration mnemonic. In the experimental method, Active Problem Solving (APS), children were first led through a series of steps alerting them to the limitations of non-symbolic retrieval strategies and allowing them to make retrieval errors, thus discovered the relative value of various retrieval strategies. Next, they were taught to retrieve the remaining messages in the same way as the DI children. Children with low metamemory skill were less accurate in their retrieval of messages, and produced more Self-corrected Responses when trained under the APS condition. Children receiving APS training showed an initial retrieval advantage on the first story-retelling immediately following training; however, on the second day retrieval by DI subjects matched APS. It was concluded that DI children experienced a de facto active problem-solving condition on the first day, when they produced many errors, thereby enhancing the value of the verbal elaborations they had been trained to use. Effects of perceptual, semantic and syntactic development, and of conflicts between the canonical and experimental Three Bears script were evident. Although the use of a normally developing population is controversial in the area of augmentative communication, the strategy was found to produce valuable insights into the errors made by children. Overall, the task was easy for most of the children, thereby supporting the use of VOCAs with young children

Effects of Semantic Feature Analysis+Multimodal Communication Program for Word Retrieval and Switching Behavior in Primary Progressive Aphasia

Primary progressive aphasia (PPA) is a neurodegenerative condition characterized by language and cognitive decline. Word retrieval deficits are the most common PPA symptom, and contribute to impaired verbal expression. Intense semantic interventions show promise for improving word retrieval in people with PPA. Additionally, people with PPA may learn to use alternative communication modalities when they are unable to retrieve a word. However, executive function impairments can cause people to struggle to switch among modalities to repair communication breakdowns. This study examined the effects of a combined semantic feature analysis and multimodal communication program (SFA+MCP) on word retrieval accuracy and switching among modalities in a person with PPA. Changes in word retrieval accuracy and switching were minimal. However, the listeners\u27 identification of the participant\u27s communication attempts was more accurate following treatment, suggesting increased overall communicative effectiveness. These results have implications for the design of future PPA intervention studies

Effective communication with people with learning disabilities with epilepsy and their carers.

People with learning disabilities constitute about 2% of the general population. Epilepsy is more prevalent among people with learning disabilities compared with the general population. Effective communication is central to the management of people with learning disabilities and epilepsy. It has both therapeutic and health promotion functions including psycho-social benefits to the individual and their carers. Carers play vital roles in supporting individuals who live in the community to manage their conditions and the need for effective communication between service users and health care professionals is crucially important. Effective communication may not only lead to improved quality of life but may reduce mortality through the promotion of better understanding of seizures and encouraging efficient use of medication. Despite this communication regarding community-based adults with mild learning disabilities has not been fully studied, in particular the service users views and experiences regarding communication has been a neglected area. Yet, the service users views may be the best source for the definition of effective communication. This study was triggered by the paucity of research that investigated service users views and experiences regarding communication. Furthermore, numerous health policies have been formulated that emphasise the involvement of patients as consumers in the provision and delivery of health services. This study is purported to bridge this communication gap by offering service users a rare opportunity for them to express their views and experiences regarding communication to inform health policies and clinical practice. This study adopts a naturalistic qualitative approach and employs in-depth semi-structured interviews to solicit service users and their carers views and experiences regarding communication. The interviews also investigated service users and carers perspectives in regard to communication with health care professionals. Carer communication diaries were used to supplement the carers interview data and also to endorse the credibility of the study findings. Six main findings emerged from this study that described service users and carers views and experiences regarding communication: communication needs and expectations; engagement as a predictor of effective communication; strategies of communication; facilitating factors of communication; methods of communication; barriers to communication. This study suggests that effective communication with people with learning disabilities and epilepsy requires a reflective model that incorporates self-assessment and awareness of the individuals communication needs and expectations. The model and recommendations that emerged from this study may be a useful resource for health and social care professionals

Syntactic architecture and its consequences III

This volume collects novel contributions to comparative generative linguistics that “rethink” existing approaches to an extensive range of phenomena, domains, and architectural questions in linguistic theory. At the heart of the contributions is the tension between descriptive and explanatory adequacy which has long animated generative linguistics and which continues to grow thanks to the increasing amount and diversity of data available to us. The chapters develop novel insights into a number of core syntactic phenomena, such as the structure of and variation in diathesis, alignment types, case and agreement splits, and the syntax of null elements. Many of these contributions show the influence of research by Ian Roberts and collaborators and they provide varied perspectives on current research in synchronic and diachronic comparative syntax. This book is complemented by volume I available at https://langsci-press.org/catalog/book/275 and volume II available at https://langsci-press.org/catalog/book/276

Multimedia applications to speech therapy: an exploratory study of market opportunities in Hong Kong.

by Leung, Bing-Kwong Edward, Tung, Mang-To, Yang, Renwill = 梁秉綱, 董萬韜, 楊人偉.Thesis (M.B.A.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 1996.Includes bibliographical references (leaves 160-161).by Leung, Bing-Kwong Edward, Tung, Mang-To, Yang, Renwill = Liang Binggang, Dong Wantao, Yang Renwei.EXECUTIVE SUMMARY --- p.iiTABLE OF CONTENTS --- p.ivLIST OF FIGURES --- p.viiLIST OF TABLES --- p.viiiACKNOWLEDGEMENT --- p.ixChapter CHAPTER 1 --- INTRODUCTION --- p.1Chapter 1.1 --- Background --- p.1Chapter 1.2 --- Company BriefChapter 1.3 --- Use of Multimedia in Hong Kong --- p.4Chapter 1.4 --- Speech Therapy as Target Market Segment --- p.6Chapter 1.5 --- Speech Therapy Service in Hong Kong --- p.7Chapter 1.6 --- Opportunities for Multimedia --- p.8Chapter 1.7 --- Project Objectives --- p.8Chapter 1.8 --- Structure of the Report --- p.11Chapter CHAPTER 2 --- RESEARCH METHODOLOGY --- p.12Chapter 2.1 --- Statement of Problem --- p.12Chapter 2.2 --- Exploratory Study --- p.12Chapter 2.3 --- Mail Questionnaire Survey --- p.13Chapter 2.4 --- Statistical Analysis --- p.16Chapter CHAPTER 3 --- DATA ANALYSIS AND INTERPRETATIONS --- p.17Chapter 3.1 --- Interview Findings --- p.17Chapter 3. 1. --- 1 Hong Kong Association of Speech Therapists --- p.17Chapter 3.1.2 --- An Anonymous Speech Therapist --- p.20Chapter 3.2 --- Statistics from Secondary Sources --- p.21Chapter 3.3 --- Findings From Questionnaires --- p.21Chapter 3.3.1 --- Response Rate --- p.21Chapter 3.3.2 --- Respondents' Organizations (Figure II-1 in Appendix II) --- p.22Chapter 3.3.3 --- Characteristics of the Respondents --- p.24Chapter 3.3.4 --- Some Estimations Provided by the Speech Therapists --- p.25Chapter 3.3.5 --- End Users' Characteristics --- p.28Chapter 3.3.6 --- Product Characteristics --- p.29Chapter 3.3.7 --- Potential Distribution Channels --- p.34Chapter 3.3.8 --- Interpretations --- p.35Chapter CHAPTER 4 --- LIMITATIONS --- p.37Chapter 4.1 --- Sample Size --- p.37Chapter 4.2 --- Representativeness --- p.37Chapter 4.3 --- Exploratory Nature of the Questionnaire --- p.38Chapter 4.4 --- Non-respondents --- p.39Chapter 4.5 --- Ambiguities in Some Questions of the Questionnaire --- p.39Chapter 4.6 --- Assumptions --- p.39Chapter 4.7 --- Reliability --- p.40Chapter CHAPTER 5 --- MARKET OPPORTUNITY ANALYSIS --- p.41Chapter 5.1 --- Market Profile --- p.41Chapter 5.2 --- Company Profile --- p.43Chapter 5.2.1 --- Financial Situation --- p.44Chapter 5.2.2 --- Human Resource --- p.46Chapter 5.2.3 --- Strength and Weakness Analysis --- p.47Chapter 5.2.4 --- Threats and Opportunities --- p.48Chapter 5.3 --- Customer Profile --- p.49Chapter 5.3.1 --- Practicing Speech Therapists as the Target Customers --- p.49Chapter 5.3.2 --- Major Organizations Related to Target Customers --- p.50Chapter 5.3.3 --- Background of Individual Speech Therapist --- p.50Chapter 5.3.4 --- Attitude of Speech Therapists towards Using Multimedia in Therapy --- p.51Chapter 5.3.5 --- Role of Individual Therapists in Buying Process --- p.52Chapter 5.3.6 --- Purchase Capability --- p.53Chapter 5.3.7 --- Degree of Computer Sophistication --- p.54Chapter 5.3.8 --- Needs of the End Users --- p.54Chapter 5.3.9 --- Perceived Urgency of Using Aids to Speed Up the Recovery --- p.55Chapter 5.3.10 --- Channels for Promotion --- p.55Chapter 5.4 --- Product Profile --- p.56Chapter 5.4.1 --- Problem Solving Capability of Some Product Concepts --- p.56Chapter 5.4.2 --- The Needs of Patients as Perceived by Speech Therapists --- p.57Chapter 5.4.3 --- Operational Features --- p.58Chapter 5.4.4 --- Customer Characteristics --- p.60Chapter 5.4.5 --- End-user Characteristics --- p.60Chapter 5.4.6 --- Features of Similar Products Available for English-speaking Patients --- p.60Chapter CHAPTER 6 --- OBJECTIVES FOR A MARKETING PROGRAM --- p.64Chapter 6.1 --- The Market Objective --- p.64Chapter 6.2 --- Product Objectives --- p.65Chapter 6.2.1 --- Essential Purposes of Proposed Product --- p.65Chapter 6.2.2 --- Assessing Importance of Various Attributes --- p.66Chapter 6.2.3 --- Determinant Attributes --- p.68Chapter 6.2.4 --- Main Features of the Proposed Product Forms --- p.69Chapter 6.3 --- Pricing Objectives --- p.71Chapter 6.4 --- Promotional Objectives --- p.72Chapter 6.5 --- Distribution Objectives --- p.73Chapter CHAPTER 7 --- STRATEGIES FOR A MARKETING PROGRAM --- p.75Chapter 7.1 --- Product Development Strategy --- p.75Chapter 7.1.1 --- Strategic Direction --- p.76Chapter 7.1.2 --- Concept Generation --- p.77Chapter 7.1.3 --- Concept Testing --- p.77Chapter 7.1.4 --- Screening --- p.78Chapter 7.1.5 --- Prototype Development --- p.78Chapter 7.1.6 --- Product-use Testing --- p.79Chapter 7.2 --- Pricing Strategies --- p.79Chapter 7.3 --- Promotional Strategies --- p.81Chapter 7.3.1 --- Planning --- p.82Chapter 7.3.2 --- Implementation --- p.86Chapter 7.3.3 --- Other Avenues --- p.98Chapter 7.4 --- Distribution Strategy --- p.98Chapter 7.4.1 --- Use of Existing Suppliers as Agents --- p.98Chapter 7.4.2 --- Training the Technical Staff on Selling and Distribution --- p.98Chapter 7.4.3 --- Acquire the Endorsement of the Hong Kong Association of Speech Therapists --- p.99Chapter CHAPTER 8 --- CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS --- p.100APPENDICES --- p.106BIBLIOGRAPHY --- p.16

A Grammar of Brokpa: a Trans-Himalayan language of Bhutan

Pema Wangdi investigated the Brokpa language spoken in the Eastern Himalayas, and produced a comprehensive grammar of this language, accompanied by a collection of texts. His works dealt with the core areas of this language including its sound system, the structure of words, phrases, and sentences. Linguistic typologists, cultural anthropologists, and students are using his works