SPEECH-LANGUAGE PATHOLOGY

Research for speech-language pathology

Papers a speech-language pathologist can act on — aphasia, dysphagia, developmental language, fluency, voice and augmentative communication — read in full and summarised plainly.

10,216 PAPERS · PAGE 112 OF 205 · NEWEST FIRST

• PTOTSLPCohort2023Incidence and risk factors for care-related pain in children with physical disabilities.European journal of physical and rehabilitation medicineNearly half of children with physical disabilities experienced pain during routine care over five days. Pain was most frequent in younger children and those with high dependency. Prevention measures were used for only 26.5% of acts, leaving a significant gap in managing care-related pain.
• PTOTSLPCohort2023Six- and 12-month functional outcomes among patients with confirmed acute flaccid myelitis (AFM) with onset in 2018, United States.Journal of pediatric rehabilitation medicineMost children with acute flaccid myelitis still need help with daily tasks at 6 and 12 months. While some show slight improvement or adaptation, severe limb weakness and dependence on assistance remain common. Early rehabilitation is critical, but outcomes vary by acute illness severity.
• SLPOther2023Auditory feedback control in adults who stutter during metronome-paced speech I. Timing Perturbation.Journal of fluency disordersWhen speakers heard their own /s/ sound slowed slightly, adults who stutter adjusted timing like fluent adults. Metronome pacing reduced stuttering in adults who stutter, but did not change the total timing adjustment.
• PTOTSLPCohort2023The impact of cognitive function deficits and their recovery on functional outcome in subjects affected by ischemic subacute stroke: results from the Italian multicenter longitudinal study CogniReMo.European journal of physical and rehabilitation medicinePatients who recovered executive function during rehab improved their independence as much as those who never had a deficit. Those who kept the deficit improved significantly less. Screening for and targeting executive function may be key to functional recovery.
• SLPOther2023Native American Caregiver-Child Shared Book Reading Interactions: A Descriptive Study and Integrative Review.Language, speech, and hearing services in schoolsNative American caregivers frequently used shared book reading to maintain attention and teach words, but rarely asked recall or prediction questions. These observed behaviors align with caregiver reports, offering a starting point for culturally responsive early literacy strategies.
• PTOTSLPQualitative2023"It is something that gives us hope": Lived experience among parents to children with cerebral palsy who are non-ambulant of the phenomenon physical activity, with or without the use of a novel dynamic standing device.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesParents described the Innowalk as their only option for daily exercise, bringing hope by allowing their non-ambulant children to be independent. However, using the device relied heavily on finding supportive staff and accessible environments to manage the burden.
• SLPCohort2023Measurements of Spontaneous Communication Initiations in Children with Autism in Preschool through Third Grade Classrooms.Journal of autism and developmental disordersChildren with autism initiated spontaneous communication only 0.69 times per minute in classrooms. Commenting was the most common function. Lower rates correlated with higher autism features and lower language skills, suggesting a need to assess communication quality, not just quantity.
• SLPNarrative Review2023Bioenergetic Evaluation of Muscle Fatigue in Murine Tongue.DysphagiaThis paper reviews methods for studying tongue muscle fatigue in rodents and describes a small pilot in 10 old rats. It contains no clinical data on people with dysphagia, so there is nothing here to change your practice on.
• PTOTSLPQualitative2023Participation, challenges and needs in children with down syndrome during cancer treatment at hospital: a qualitative study of parents' experiences.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesParents of children with Down syndrome and leukemia acted as essential interpreters for their children's symptoms, which were often hidden by behavioral changes or silence. Clinicians should rely on parental expertise to detect pain and distress, ensuring children are prepared for procedures to maintain trust.
• SLPCase-Control2022Long-Term Auditory and Speech Outcomes of Cochlear Implantation in Children With Cochlear Nerve Aplasia.Ear and hearingChildren with absent cochlear nerves improved after cochlear implantation and rehabilitation, but hearing and speech scores remained lower than children with normal nerves. At last follow-up, 27 of 55 could recognize words without choices.
• PTOTSLPCohort2022The role of intellectual disability with autism spectrum disorder and the documented cooccurring conditions: A population-based study.Autism research : official journal of the International Society for Autism ResearchChildren with autism and intellectual disability were more likely to have documented neurological conditions and general developmental delays, but less likely to have recorded diagnoses for ADHD, anxiety, or learning disorders compared to those without intellectual disability.
• SLPOther2022Online administration of the ADOS for research with adolescents and adults in response to the pandemic.Autism research : official journal of the International Society for Autism ResearchOnline ADOS-2 Module 4 with 37 verbal adolescents/adults produced consistent scores and related to parent-reported social and communication skills. It may help assess ASD-related behaviors when in-person testing is impossible, but not replace in-person assessment.
• SLPCohort2023Understanding (un)grammaticality in context: Evidence from young Spanish-English bilinguals over time.Journal of communication disordersIn preschool Spanish-English bilinguals, English grammaticality scores grew and stayed stable over a school year. Spanish scores did not change on average, and individual children rose or fell unpredictably. Low Spanish scores alone are not evidence of disorder.
• SLPCohort2023Anxiety in children and youth with autism spectrum disorder and the association with amygdala subnuclei structure.Autism : the international journal of research and practiceChildren with autism showed higher anxiety on all four measures compared to non-autistic peers. In the autism group, higher parent-reported anxiety linked to larger right basal and smaller right paralaminar amygdala volumes. Whole amygdala size showed no such link.
• SLPOther2023Apragmatism: The renewal of a label for communication disorders associated with right hemisphere brain damage.International journal of language & communication disorders
• SLPQualitative2023'Like going into a chocolate shop, blindfolded': What do people with primary progressive aphasia want from speech and language therapy?International journal of language & communication disordersPeople with primary progressive aphasia and their families want speech therapy that is personalized, starts early, and trains partners. They found generic group sessions and late-stage interventions less helpful than strategies tailored to their specific language variant and life.
• SLPNarrative Review2023Manipulating facial musculature with functional electrical stimulation as an intervention for major depressive disorder: a focused search of literature for a proposal.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationFacial electrical stimulation targeting smile muscles reduced depression scores in a small pilot study of 10 patients. While safe and feasible, this is a narrative review of preliminary data, not proof of efficacy. Larger trials comparing it to sham treatment are required before clinical use.
• SLPNarrative Review2022Inner Speech and Executive Function in Children With Developmental Language Disorder: Implications for Assessment and Intervention.Perspectives of the ASHA special interest groupsChildren with developmental language disorder may struggle to use inner speech to guide their actions. For them, visual cues like removing target cards often help executive function tasks more than verbal prompts. Assessing their thinking skills requires accounting for this language difference.
• SLPOther2022SpeedCAP: An Efficient Method for Estimating Neural Activation Patterns Using Electrically Evoked Compound Action-Potentials in Cochlear Implant Users.Ear and hearingIn 11 cochlear implant users, a faster nerve response recording method showed no evidence of difference from the standard method and took about 8 minutes instead of about 45 minutes. It was feasible during surgery and does not yet show better speech outcomes.
• SLPSystematic Review2022Middle ear pathologies in children living with HIV: A scoping review.The South African journal of communication disorders = Die Suid-Afrikaanse tydskrif vir KommunikasieafwykingsChildren living with HIV showed higher rates of middle ear problems than those without HIV. The evidence is thin, based on six small studies, and the tests used were insensitive, so these findings do not confirm a direct cause or effect.
• SLPOther2023Translation and Validation of the Dysphagia Handicap Index in Polish-Speaking Patients.DysphagiaA Polish translation of the Dysphagia Handicap Index accurately measures swallowing-related quality of life in adults. Scores were significantly higher in patients with dysphagia than in healthy controls, and the questionnaire yielded consistent results when completed twice within two weeks.
• PTOTSLPQualitative2023Factors influencing participation in home, school, and community settings by children and adolescents with neuromuscular disorders: A qualitative descriptive study.Developmental medicine and child neurologyChildren with neuromuscular disorders valued decision-making and planning as participation, even when they could not perform tasks. They relied on adapted equipment and peer inclusion to maintain confidence, while inaccessible community spaces caused withdrawal.
• PTOTSLPCohort2023Role of Oral Intake, Mobility, and Activity Measures in Informing Discharge Recommendations for Hospitalized Inmate and Noninmate Patients With COVID-19: Retrospective Analysis.JMIR rehabilitation and assistive technologiesBaseline swallowing and mobility scores did not predict discharge outcomes for hospitalized COVID-19 patients. Older age made a normal diet less likely, but being incarcerated, female, or of 'Other' race predicted returning to the same facility, likely due to social factors rather than clinical function.
• PTOTSLPPilot2023Mental health problems among transition-aged youth with physical disabilities: an initial evaluation.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesMost transition-aged youth with physical disabilities reported mental health risks, particularly in self-esteem and somatization. Females and those with more functional issues were significantly more likely to score in the at-risk range. Screening for these specific areas is warranted.
• SLPSurvey2023Telehealth Management of Dysphagia in Adults: A Survey of Speech Language Pathologists' Experiences and Perceptions.DysphagiaHalf of surveyed speech therapists used telehealth for adult dysphagia during the pandemic, mostly for therapy rather than assessments. Confidence and perceived effectiveness doubled over time. Outpatient clinicians reported higher confidence than inpatient ones. Key barriers were lack of infrastructure, reimbursement issues, and limited training.
• SLPOther2023Measuring communication as a core outcome in aphasia trials: Results of the ROMA-2 international core outcome set development meeting.International journal of language & communication disordersExperts agreed that the Scenario Test (TST) is the best measure of everyday communication for aphasia trials. It uses role-play to score how much information a person conveys and how much help they need. This standardizes how communication outcomes are reported across studies.
• SLPQualitative2023The true cost of dysphagia on quality of life: The views of adults with swallowing disability.International journal of language & communication disordersNine adults with long-term swallowing difficulties described dysphagia as a constant cost to their social life, food enjoyment, and sense of control. Texture-modified meals often felt unappealing and isolating. They relied on self-advocacy and creative mealtime adaptations to maintain some quality of life.
• SLPQualitative2023Using implementation science frameworks to explore barriers and facilitators for parents' use of therapeutic strategies following a parent-mediated autism intervention.Autism : the international journal of research and practiceMost parents continued using PACT-G strategies years after therapy, driven by seeing their child's communication and wellbeing improve. Key barriers were lack of time, the child's changing mood, and forgetting the techniques without reminders. Support from therapists and school staff helped sustain use.
• SLPQualitative2022Deaf Language Specialists: Delivering Language Therapy in Signed Languages.Journal of deaf studies and deaf educationDeaf language specialists working with children in British Sign Language report limited training and few evidence-based interventions. They share assessment goals with speech therapists but lack the terminology and resources to plan and evaluate therapy effectively.
• SLPCohort2022Hearing rehabilitation of children and adolescents with unilateral hearing loss.CoDASMost children had sensorineural right-ear unilateral hearing loss. Hearing aids were indicated for 15 participants, but daily use averaged 4.5 hours. Clinicians should not assume a more severe loss means longer device use.
• SLPOther2022Stitching a new garment: Considering the future of the speech-language therapy profession globally.The South African journal of communication disorders = Die Suid-Afrikaanse tydskrif vir KommunikasieafwykingsThis paper is not a study of patients or treatments. It is a call for the speech-language therapy profession to shift from fixing deficits to supporting communication as a human right, particularly in under-resourced regions. It reports no clinical outcomes.
• SLPOther2022Predictability modulates neural response to eye contact in ASD.Molecular autismIn predictable settings, adults with autism showed delayed brain responses to eye contact. In unpredictable settings, they showed stronger early responses linked to anxiety and sensory sensitivity. Context changes how the brain processes gaze, which may explain why eye contact feels harder in real life than in therapy.
• SLPCohort2022NIH Toolbox Cognition Battery Feasibility in Individuals With Williams Syndrome.American journal on intellectual and developmental disabilitiesMost people with Williams syndrome completed the NIH Toolbox iPad tests, but age-corrected scores hit a statistical floor for adults. Use uncorrected scores to track progress, as age-corrected ones may falsely suggest decline in older patients.
• SLPOther2022Auditory Environments and Hearing Aid Feature Activation Among Younger and Older Listeners in an Urban and Rural Area.Ear and hearingYounger urban listeners encountered louder, more varied sounds and activated hearing aid noise reduction more often than older rural listeners. The ALDQ questionnaire failed to detect these differences, suggesting clinicians should not rely on it alone to assess lifestyle demands.
• OTSLPQualitative2023A preliminary exploration of different coping strategies used by Korean immigrant parents of autistic children in high versus low family quality of life ratings.Autism : the international journal of research and practiceKorean immigrant parents with high family quality of life actively sought information and community support to reduce guilt and build hope. Parents with low quality of life faced language barriers, felt isolated, and struggled with stigma and denial. This describes experiences, not proven treatments.
• SLPOther2023Perceived Sound Quality of Hearing Aids With Varying Placements of Microphone and Receiver.American journal of audiologyListeners rated hearing-aid sound clarity differently by aid and material. For hearing-impaired adults, ITE and RIC aids were preferred over DIAA and open-ear recordings for music; DIAA was similar to ITE and RIC for speech. Spaciousness showed no clear preference.
• SLPQualitative2023A qualitative exploration of autistic mothers' experiences I: Pregnancy experiences.Autism : the international journal of research and practiceAutistic mothers described pregnancy sensory changes across sound, light and touch, and wanted clear written information, specific questions and extra time in appointments. Non-autistic mothers mostly reported smell and taste changes.
• SLPOther2023The Functional External Memory Aid Tool Version 2.0: A How-To Clinical Guide.American journal of speech-language pathologyNo tested outcomes are reported. This is a how-to guide for administering and interpreting a memory aid assessment, with a hypothetical case only.
• PTOTSLPCohort2022The Effects of Tinnitus and Tinnitus Annoyance on Need for Recovery After Work: Results of the Netherlands Longitudinal Study on Hearing.Ear and hearingAfter adjusting for distress, somatization, and hearing disability, having tinnitus or being annoyed by it was not associated with a higher need for recovery after work. The apparent link in unadjusted data disappeared once these psychological and auditory factors were accounted for.
• PTOTSLPOther2022Assessing visuospatial processing in cerebral visual impairment using a novel and naturalistic static visual search task.Research in developmental disabilitiesChildren with cerebral visual impairment took significantly longer and made more errors finding toys in cluttered virtual scenes, even when their eyesight was normal. They struggled most when items were crowded or spread over a wide area. This supports reducing visual clutter and spacing items out.
• SLPPilot2022Contralateral suppression of transient evoked otoacoustic emissions in adults: A normative study.The South African journal of communication disorders = Die Suid-Afrikaanse tydskrif vir KommunikasieafwykingsIn 40 ears from normal-hearing adults, stimulating the opposite ear reduced the ear's sound response by 0.8 dB on average. The test repeated well, but these norms are device-specific and not ready for patient care.
• SLPSurvey2022South African speech-language therapists' practices regarding feeding tube placement in people with advanced dementia.The South African journal of communication disorders = Die Suid-Afrikaanse tydskrif vir KommunikasieafwykingsMost South African speech therapists surveyed would recommend tube feeding to a family member with advanced dementia, despite evidence it does not improve quality of life. They cited family pressure and a lack of local guidelines as the main drivers of this decision.
• SLPCohort2022Audiological and Demographic Factors that Impact the Precision of Speech Categorization in Cochlear Implant Users.Ear and hearingCochlear implant users with some acoustic hearing categorize stop sounds better than electric-only users. However, for fricative sounds, those with hybrid implants and good residual hearing categorize worse than bimodal users, suggesting they may ignore implant cues that actually carry the information.
• SLPOther2022Masking release in cortical auditory evoked potentials with speech stimulus.CoDASIn 12 normal-hearing adults, speech thresholds were 11.7 dB lower with modulated than steady noise, showing a masking release. Cortical responses were stronger and faster with modulated noise. This pilot supports using modulated noise to assess temporal resolution, but normal values are not yet established.
• SLPCohort2023Vietnamese children with and without DLD: Classifier use and grammaticality over time.Journal of communication disordersVietnamese children with DLD used fewer classifiers and simpler structures than peers through second grade. Classifier omission errors were inconsistent and not a reliable marker, but limited classifier variety and lack of complex three-element phrases persisted.
• OTSLPOther2023Maladaptive behaviors in children with autism and parental hopelessness: The moderating role of parental reflective functioning.Autism research : official journal of the International Society for Autism ResearchChildren’s maladaptive behaviors, especially autism-specific symptoms like tics or ignoring others, predicted higher parental hopelessness. This link was strongest in parents with lower reflective functioning, meaning those who struggle to interpret their child’s behavior through mental states were most at risk.
• SLPCohort2023Adapting to the Sound of Music - Development of Music Discrimination Skills in Recently Implanted CI Users.Trends in hearingNine recently implanted cochlear implant users showed improved brain responses to pitch and timbre after three months, but their ability to consciously identify these changes did not improve. Behavioral discrimination for rhythm and pitch was already strong at six weeks post-activation, leaving little room for early gains.
• SLPOther2023Measurement invariance of the Autism Impact Measure (AIM) across sex in children with autism spectrum disorder.Autism research : official journal of the International Society for Autism ResearchThe Autism Impact Measure scores core symptoms equivalently in boys and girls with autism. You can compare total domain scores between sexes without worrying that the test is biased toward the male presentation. However, the sample was mostly male and white, so this does not confirm the tool works for atypical or camouflaged presentations.
• SLPOther2023A Probe Study on Vocal Development in Two Infants at Risk for Cerebral Palsy.Developmental neurorehabilitationTwo infants at risk for cerebral palsy showed delayed and variable canonical babbling compared to ten typically developing peers. The standard 0.15 threshold for onset was rarely met by either group in home recordings, suggesting current criteria may not apply to all-day sampling.
• SLPOther2023Hearing Asymmetry Biases Spatial Hearing in Bimodal Cochlear-Implant Users Despite Bilateral Low-Frequency Hearing Preservation.Trends in hearingBimodal cochlear implant users localized sounds poorly, with errors averaging 62 degrees. High-frequency sounds were pulled toward the implanted ear, and low-frequency sounds toward the hearing-aid ear.