Analyzing Speech Samples in Support of a Psycholinguistic Approach to Speech and Literacy Difficulties

The paper Intervention for a Child with Persisting Speech and Literacy Difficulties: A Psycholinguistic Approach Joy Stackhouse, Michelle Pascoe, and Hilary Gardner illustrates a psycholinguistic approach to investigating childhood speech and literacy difficulties. A psycholinguistic approach claims that that speech and literacy development is the product of an intact speech processing system composed of speech input processing, stored word representations, and speech output processing. The study examined the relationship among measures (PCC(percentage consonants correct), sound inventory, and word shapes) used in assessing the connected speech samples of children ages 3-7 years old who have difficulty learning speech sounds. Speech-language therapists routinely utilize connected speech samples as part of their assessment and diagnostic process, because they provide an accurate representation of a child’s natural speech patterns. Furthermore, connected speech samples Relationships among the results of PCC, sound inventory, and word shapes and client variables will be explored

COMPARISON OF MARKER AND MARKER-LESS AUTOMATED MOTION CAPTURE FOR BASEBALL PITCHING BIOMECHANICS

The purpose of this study was to measure baseball pitching kinematics with a marker-less motion capture system and compare the results against marker-based measurements. A sample of 114 pitches were captured at 240 Hz simultaneously with a 9-camera marker-less system and a 12-camera marker system. The pitches were thrown by nine baseball pitchers (age 17.0 ± 4.0 yrs). For each trial, the data were time-synchronized between the two systems using the instant of ball release. Coefficient of Multiple Correlations (CMC) were computed to assess the similarity of waveforms between the two systems. Paired t-tests were used to compare differences between the two systems for 3 temporal and 18 kinematic measurements. The CMC for all eight time series analyzed were excellent, ranging from 0.90 to 0.99. Timing of events between the two systems varied by two frames (0.0083 s) or less. Angular positions differed between the two systems up to 14 degrees. Thus, the marker-based and marker-less motion capture systems produced similar patterns for baseball pitching kinematics. However, based on the variations between the systems, it is recommended that a database of normative ranges should be established for each system individually

BASEBALL PITCHING BIOMECHANICS AFTER SURGERY

Baseball pitchers with and without histories of elbow or shoulder surgery were tested with a 240 Hz automated 3D motion capture system. No differences were found between pitchers with history of UCL reconstruction and matched controls. Pitchers tested shortly after returning from UCL repair demonstrated reduced elbow extension, elbow velocity, and shoulder velocity compared to a control group, but it is unknown whether these few kinematic differences resolve with time. Pitchers with a history of SLAP repair produced less shoulder horizontal abduction, shoulder external rotation, and forward trunk tilt than matched controls. The Thoracic Outlet Syndrome case report demonstrated significantly more shoulder abduction after surgery. Thus the ability to return to normal pitching biomechanics after injury depends upon the type of surgery

A Comparison of Joint Torques and Powers During Overground Versus Treadmill Walking in Patients with Peripheral Arterial Disease

Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) is the result of atherosclerotic occlusion of the leg arteries leading to inadequate blood flow to the muscles. This limitation of blood flow then leads to pain during walking. Prior research in our lab has identified specific gait abnormalities with respect to this population during overground walking. However, recent advances in instrumented treadmills may benefit researchers by decreasing collection time, decreasing space required, and the ability to see how gait changes over time. Particularly important for individuals PAD and other pathology is that the use of a treadmill will significantly decrease the data collection time and the duration of time spent in pain. The treadmill has been commonly used to simulate overground walking; however research has not fully determined whether there are biomechanical differences when walking on the treadmill versus walking overground. Thus, this research evaluated whether treadmill walking accurately represents overground walking by measuring ground reaction forces, joint torques and joint powers. For this research two groups were collected including: 5 healthy elderly (aged 40 years and older), and 5 patients with PAD. The overground trials consisted of walking over force plates while kinematic and kinetic data was collected at the participant’s self-selected speed. Kinematic and kinetic data from treadmill trials were collected after finding the subject’s self-selected speed on the treadmill. The healthy subjects walked for 3 minutes on the treadmill and the patients with PAD walked until pain occurred. Differences found between overground and treadmill walking will be discussed for each population. Implications for future research design and methodology when studying pathological populations will be presented

Patients with peripheral arterial disease exhibit greater toe clearance than healthy controls

Minimum toe clearance (MTC) during the swing phase is considered a critical gait event when assessing fall risk. Patients with peripheral arterial disease (PAD) have been shown to experience 73% more falls than healthy controls. It is possible that PAD patients have abnormal toe clearance, contributing to an increased risk of falls. The purpose of this study was to investigate MTC in healthy individuals and PAD patients. We hypothesize that PAD patients would exhibit a reduced MTC due to lower limb impairment. Ten PAD patients and ten healthy controls were studied. Mean MTC and standard deviations were both analyzed. Contrary to our hypothesis, PAD patients had a significantly greater MTC on average. Gait limitations seen in PAD, such as reduced power during stance or shortened stride length may cause PAD patients to compensate and lift their foot higher than a healthy individual. While not significant, the MTC variability was greater in PAD patients. So while PAD patients on average exhibit a greater MTC, certain strides throughout the gait cycle could possibly be lower and put them at risk of tripping. These results could indicate that average MTC in the swing phase may not be a major cause of falling in PAD patients. However further research needs to be performed to make this determination, including examining the variability of MTC over time

A Comparative Study of Phonological Processes Between Canadian-French-Speaking and American-English-Speaking Children with Speech Sound Disorders

Children with speech sound disorders (SSD) produce incorrect speech sounds in observable patterns known as phonological processes. Previous research by MacLeod and Glaspey (2018) showed that children’s phonological processes differed based on the child’s native language. In their research, MacLeod and Glaspey compared the phonological process inventories of French- and English-speaking children.They found that English-speaking children produce a significantly larger inventory of phonological processes than French-speaking children. The purpose of the current study is to find more specific developmental data for both of the languages by comparing the frequency of phonological processes produced by French-speaking children with speech sound disorders and English-speaking children with speech sound disorders. The methods for this study included a cross sectional design of French and English-speaking children aged three to six years old. Speech samples were collected from all children using a list of single-word productions during a picture-naming task. Samples were analyzed by tallying the frequency of all phonological processes produced.Comparing the frequency of phonological processes between the two languages provides insight into the phonological similarities of French and English-speaking children with speech sound disorders. The significance of this study, is that these data can be used by speech-language pathologists to create more accurate, as well as more individualized, assessment and treatment plans for children with speech sound disorders. This data could also reveal universal trends in all language learners and go beyond monolingual children to have implications with bilingual children as well. As the number of bilingual children increase in the United States, it will become increasingly important for speech-language pathologists to understand the phonological processes of languages other than English. Ultimately, additional data on speech sound disorders in multiple languages will improve assessment and treatment for children of all linguistic backgrounds

Integrating Social Justice and Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion into Mental Health Nursing Theory Curriculum

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