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 120 OF 205 · NEWEST FIRST

• PTOTSLPSystematic Review2023Technology for activity participation in older people with mild cognitive impairment or dementia: expert perspectives and a scoping review.Disability and rehabilitation. Assistive technologyDigital health tools for older adults with dementia mostly support daily tasks and social connection, but rarely address leisure, sleep, or work. Experts warn that poor design and lack of tailored training limit uptake, especially for those with less tech experience.
• PTOTSLPPilot2023Feasibility of performing a multi-arm clinical trial examining the novel combination of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation and aerobic exercise for post-stroke depression.Topics in stroke rehabilitationCombining brain stimulation and treadmill walking is feasible for post-stroke depression, with high adherence and mild side effects. Preliminary data suggest both interventions reduce symptoms, but the study is too small to prove which treatment works or if the combination is superior to either alone.
• PTOTSLPCohort2023Utilization and Cost of Outpatient Rehabilitation Services for Pediatric Patients Treated for Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia Using a Commercial Claims Database.Archives of physical medicine and rehabilitationOutpatient PT and OT use in pediatric ALL rose to 54% by 2013-2017, and first visits came earlier, but SLP use stayed low. Access was uneven, with patients outside the Midwest less likely to receive rehab.
• PTOTSLPOther2023Using Billing Codes to Create a Pediatric Functional Status e-Score for Children Receiving Inpatient Rehabilitation.Archives of physical medicine and rehabilitationMost of the top billing codes ranked by their relationship to discharge WeeFIM mobility, self-care, and cognition/communication scores were also chosen by expert clinicians. This is a first-step score model, not a validated clinical tool.
• PTOTSLPCohort2022A Network Analysis of the PART-O at 1 and 2 Years After TBI: A Veterans Affairs Model Systems Study.The Journal of head trauma rehabilitationSocial relationships and internet use were the most central parts of participation for veterans with TBI. Seeing friends and providing emotional support became more strongly linked over time, suggesting these social interactions deepened during recovery.
• PTOTSLPCohort2024Evaluation of Active Labor Market Policy Reform: Employment Outcomes of Vocational Rehabilitation Services.Journal of occupational rehabilitationCompleting vocational rehabilitation was linked to 2.6 months longer employment for those who finished the service compared to those who dropped out. The benefit was smaller for people with mental impairments and larger for those already employed at entry.
• SLPCohort2023Articulation Rate, Pauses, and Disfluencies in Professional Fighters: Potential Speech Biomarkers for Repetitive Head Injury.The Journal of head trauma rehabilitationBoxers and MMA fighters read aloud at 4.59 and 4.63 syllables per second, slower than 5.04 for controls. Boxers also had more pauses and disfluencies than controls.
• PTOTSLPQualitative2023What is 'successful rehabilitation'? A multi-stakeholder nominal group technique study to inform rehabilitation outcome measurement.Clinical rehabilitationClinicians, managers and consumer representatives defined successful rehabilitation as person and family centred above all else. They prioritised individualised care, interprofessional teamwork and meaningful goals over standardised metrics. This suggests routine outcome measures should capture patient experience and context, not just impairment.
• PTOTSLPOther2023Establishing General Working Population Norms for the Cognitive Symptom Checklist-Work.Journal of occupational rehabilitationWorking adults in the Netherlands reported an average score of 25.1 on a 0-100 scale for work-related cognitive symptoms. Scores were stable across age groups except for the youngest adults, who reported more symptoms. These norms help therapists judge if a cancer survivor's self-reported cognitive complaints are unusual.
• PTOTSLPOther2023Development and validation of the MAnchester Needs Tool for Injured Children (MANTIC).Clinical rehabilitationThe MANTIC questionnaire helps injured children and their families identify specific rehabilitation needs like pain, education and equipment. It correlates with quality of life and is free to use, though it flags needs without saying if they are met.
• PTOTSLPCohort2023Differences in Risk of Alzheimer's Disease Following Later-Life Traumatic Brain Injury in Veteran and Civilian Populations.The Journal of head trauma rehabilitationTraumatic brain injury after age 68 strongly increased the risk of Alzheimer's diagnosis, but this risk dropped significantly with each passing year. The elevated danger appeared to fade roughly five years after the injury, suggesting the link is short-term rather than permanent.
• PTOTSLPCohort2023Neck Symptoms and Associated Clinical Outcomes in Patients Following Concussion.The Journal of head trauma rehabilitationPatients with more severe neck symptoms after concussion took longer to recover, averaging 40 days versus 30 days. Neck pain was reported by nearly half of all patients, with higher rates in non-sports injuries like falls and motor vehicle accidents compared to sports-related concussions.
• PTOTSLPRCT2023Economic Evaluation of Inpatient Multimodal Occupational Rehabilitation vs. Outpatient Acceptance and Commitment Therapy for Sick-Listed Workers with Musculoskeletal- or Common Mental Disorders.Journal of occupational rehabilitationInpatient multimodal rehabilitation cost more upfront but saved society money over two years compared to outpatient therapy. It gained 43.4 extra workdays per patient at a cost of 278 euros per day, which is below the average daily wage of 339 euros.
• PTOTSLPRCT2023Integrated Mental Healthcare and Vocational Rehabilitation for People on Sick Leave with Anxiety or Depression: 24-Month Follow-up of the Randomized IBBIS Trial.Journal of occupational rehabilitationFor people on sick leave with anxiety or depression, an integrated mental health and vocational rehabilitation program did not improve return-to-work rates or self-reported health at 24 months compared to standard services. Differences were only seen when compared to a mental-health-only arm, not usual care.
• PTOTSLPPilot2024Turning apathy into action in neurodegenerative disease: Development and pilot testing of a goal-directed behaviour app.Neuropsychological rehabilitationPatients with mild dementia used a goal-setting app for four weeks and achieved significantly more self-identified goals, particularly in brain health and housework. However, this did not translate to improved daily functioning or reduced caregiver burden, and the study lacked a control group.
• PTOTSLPQualitative2024Patients' strategies for numeric pain assessment: a qualitative interview study of individuals with hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome.Disability and rehabilitationPatients with hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome often report pain numbers strategically rather than accurately. They lower scores to avoid being labeled drug-seeking or inflate them to prove therapy is working. A single number is rarely a direct reflection of their pain intensity.
• PTOTSLPCohort2023Referent Values for Commonly Used Clinical Mobility Tests in Black and White Adults Aged 50-95 Years.Archives of physical medicine and rehabilitationMobility tests show significant performance declines starting in the 80s for Black and White adults in the Southeastern US. Use these race and sex-specific reference values to identify fall risk, but note the cohort was highly educated and may perform better than your patients.
• PTOTSLPOther2023Clinical practice recommendations for management of lateropulsion after stroke determined by a Delphi expert panel.Clinical rehabilitationExperts agreed on 119 recommendations for lateropulsion care, prioritising tactile cues and active self-correction over passive correction. They rejected routine use of novel tech like VR. No consensus was reached on optimal therapy dose, leaving that to clinical judgement.
• PTOTSLPPilot2023Promoting Resilience After Stroke in Dyads (ReStoreD): A Supplemental Analysis.Archives of physical medicine and rehabilitationResilience scores improved significantly in people with stroke after a 8-week dyadic activity programme. Care partners showed no significant change. The waitlist control group dropped out, so the analysis was single-arm and cannot confirm the programme caused the improvement.
• PTOTSLPOther2023Iterative Development of the Caregiver Wellness After Traumatic Brain Injury Program (CG-Well).The Journal of head trauma rehabilitationCaregivers of adults with severe traumatic brain injury rated a new web-based support program as highly acceptable and feasible. Feedback focused on health literacy and delivery preferences. The program is ready for efficacy testing but does not yet prove clinical benefit.
• PTOTSLPSurvey2023The Employment Quality of Persons with Disabilities: Findings from a National Survey.Journal of occupational rehabilitationWorkers with disabilities in Canada reported worse job conditions than those without, including higher rates of wage theft and job lock. They were also far less likely to have flexible schedules or training opportunities, though more likely to be in unions.
• PTOTSLPCohort2024Mild Traumatic Brain Injury Does Not Significantly Affect Midlife Cognitive Functioning Within the General Population: Findings From a Prospective Longitudinal Birth Cohort Study.The Journal of head trauma rehabilitationMidlife cognitive tests showed no meaningful difference between people with a history of mild traumatic brain injury and those without. Any small initial gap in processing speed disappeared once childhood IQ, education, and substance use were accounted for.
• PTOTSLPOther2024A Descriptive Analysis of Access to Assistive Technology in Children With Acquired Brain Injury: The Right to Assistive Devices.The Journal of head trauma rehabilitationOnly 55% of prescribed assistive devices reached patients, with an average delay of 69.4 days. Insurance barriers caused most non-deliveries. Clinicians should anticipate significant delays and actively track device status rather than assuming prescriptions are fulfilled.
• PTOTSLPCohort2024Associations of Prior Head Injury With Mild Behavioral Impairment Domains.The Journal of head trauma rehabilitationMultiple prior head injuries are associated with higher rates of impulse dyscontrol and affective dysregulation in older adults. These behavioral symptoms appeared decades after the injury. Single injuries showed no such association. Screen for mood and behavioral changes in patients with a history of repeated head trauma.
• PTOTSLPCohort2024Trajectories of Daily Postconcussion Symptoms in Children.The Journal of head trauma rehabilitationChildren with moderate or high acute concussion symptoms often had persistent symptoms at 45 days. Specific early symptoms like headache, balance problems, and fogginess predicted slower recovery. Daily symptom monitoring may help identify children needing early rehabilitation referrals.
• PTOTSLPRCT2023Climb up! Head up! Climbing improves posture in Parkinson's disease. A secondary analysis from a randomized controlled trial.Clinical rehabilitationSport climbing improved forward-stooped posture in Parkinson's disease, reducing the distance from the neck to the wall by 1.7 cm. This physical change did not improve quality of life or reduce fear of falling, but offers a concrete option for correcting spinal flexion.
• OTSLPCohort2023Identification of Factors in Moderate-Severe TBI Related to a Functional Decline in Cognition Decades After Injury.Archives of physical medicine and rehabilitationOnly 11% of moderate-severe TBI survivors showed functional cognitive decline over 20 years. Older age at injury and longer post-traumatic amnesia were the key predictors. Health behaviors like alcohol use or income did not add predictive value beyond these injury factors.
• PTOTSLPCohort2023Which items of the modified Barthel Index can predict functional independence at discharge from inpatient rehabilitation? A secondary analysis retrospective cohort study.International journal of rehabilitation research. Internationale Zeitschrift fur Rehabilitationsforschung. Revue internationale de recherches de readaptationIndependence in personal hygiene and bladder control on admission strongly predicted better functional outcomes at discharge for both neurological and orthopedic patients. Neurological patients also benefited from independence in feeding and transfers, while orthopedic patients benefited from independence in dressing.
• SLPCohort2023Cerebral Small Vessel Disease Burden: An Independent Biomarker for Anomia Treatment Responsiveness in Chronic Stroke Patients With Aphasia.Archives of physical medicine and rehabilitationStroke patients with more small vessel disease in the brain showed less improvement in naming after semantic therapy. This held true even after accounting for aphasia severity and lesion size. Scanning for these markers may help predict who will benefit most from treatment.
• PTOTSLPOther2024Safety of botulinum toxin injections in children less than one year old: A retrospective chart review.Journal of pediatric rehabilitation medicineIn 47 infants treated with botulinum toxin, only two reported adverse events. One had transient fever and vomiting, and one had mild weakness. No significant systemic issues occurred at doses below 16 U/kg, suggesting the treatment may be safer than feared in this age group.
• PTOTSLPQualitative2024"Alone in the dark": A qualitative study of treatment experiences among young adults with a recent concussion and anxiety.Neuropsychological rehabilitationYoung adults with recent concussions and anxiety found provider advice like strict rest and vague instructions isolating and confusing. They wanted clear guidance on pacing activities, early referrals for mental health support, and concrete help with daily life accommodations.
• PTOTSLPSystematic Review2023The International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health Core Set for deafblindness. Part I: a systematic review of outcome measures.European journal of physical and rehabilitation medicineResearchers assessed deafblindness using 314 different outcome measures, but only three were specific to the condition. Most tools measured depression or generic vision and hearing loss. Clinicians should not assume standard hearing or vision tests capture the combined functional impact of deafblindness.
• PTOTSLPCase Report2024Treatment of oromandibular dystonia with botulinum toxin A improves apnea in a teenager with quadriplegic cerebral palsy: A case report.Journal of pediatric rehabilitation medicineIn one teenager with cerebral palsy, botulinum toxin injections into jaw muscles reduced obstructive sleep apnea episodes from 3-7 nightly to near zero. This allowed a decrease in CPAP pressure from 30 to 5 cmH2O and postponed surgery. This is a single case, not evidence of efficacy.
• PTOTSLPQualitative2024"You want them to be partners in therapy, but that's tricky when they're not there": A qualitative study exploring caregiver involvement across the continuum of care during the early COVID pandemic.Clinical rehabilitationCaregivers excluded from hospitals during acute COVID care felt unprepared when their loved ones came home. They lacked practical training on daily tasks and safety, while community services were scarce. This sudden shift from distant phone contact to full-time home care caused significant distress and burden.
• SLPQualitative2024"We're just winging it". Identifying targets for intervention to improve the provision of hearing support for residents living with dementia in long-term care: an interview study with care staff.Disability and rehabilitationCare staff said hearing support was “just winging it”: poor hearing aid knowledge, no training, unclear accountability, and hard access to audiology. They still saw communication support as beneficial and wanted practical help.
• PTOTSLPRCT2023Effects of an Acute High Intensity Exercise Bout on Retention of Explicit, Strategic Locomotor Learning in Individuals With Chronic Stroke.Neurorehabilitation and neural repairA brief bout of high-intensity exercise after learning a new walking pattern did not improve 24-hour retention in people with chronic stroke. This null result held for both a five-minute continuous protocol and a 15-minute interval protocol. Exercise priming did not help.
• SLPOther2023Examining the Association Between Adverse Childhood Experiences and Lifetime History of Head or Neck Injury and Concussion in Children From the United States.The Journal of head trauma rehabilitationChildren aged 9 or 10 with more adverse childhood experiences were more likely to have a lifetime history of head or neck injury and concussion. Parent mental illness was linked to concussion. This does not show the experiences caused the injuries.
• PTOTSLPSurvey2023Inequities in COVID-19 vaccination coverage for adolescents with and without disability, national immunization Survey-Child COVID module, July 22, 2021-February 26, 2022.Disability and health journalAdolescents with disabilities had lower COVID-19 vaccination coverage than those without. The gap was widest for those with cognitive difficulties or trouble running errands alone. Parents of unvaccinated adolescents with disabilities reported more difficulty accessing vaccines despite higher intent to vaccinate.
• PTOTSLPOther2023Nutrition-associated health levels in persons with cancer: item response modelling based on the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health.European journal of physical and rehabilitation medicineA 32-item scale based on the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health accurately reflects nutrition-associated health levels in cancer inpatients. It correlates strongly with established nutritional assessments and identifies specific functioning deficits to guide rehabilitation.
• PTOTSLPOther2024Reducing Physical Therapy Consults for Patients With High Functional Mobility in the Acute Medical Inpatient Setting: A Difference-in-Difference Analysis.Archives of physical medicine and rehabilitationEmbedding a mobility score alert in physician notes reduced physical therapy consults for high-mobility patients by 7% without worsening their functional recovery. This suggests clinicians can safely withhold PT referrals for these patients if they use objective mobility data to guide decisions.
• PTOTSLPCase Series2024A case series on the effect of dynamic neoprene orthosis on lower limb kinematic variables in children with cerebral palsy.Journal of pediatric rehabilitation medicineFive children with crouch gait wore custom neoprene pants for six weeks. Hip and knee flexion decreased during walking, but responses varied widely. No group-level improvement was proven. Results are individual, not generalizable.
• PTOTSLPOther2024Characteristics of goal-setting tools in adult rehabilitation: A scoping review.Clinical rehabilitationMost goal-setting tools in adult rehabilitation lack strong evidence for improving outcomes. While many exist to help choose or document goals, only seven were tested in randomized trials, and most of those did not isolate the tool's effect from the wider therapy programme.
• PTOTSLPCohort2024Off to the park: a geospatial investigation of adapted ride-on car usage.Disability and rehabilitation. Assistive technologyChildren with disabilities drove adapted ride-on cars for longer and further when outdoors. Usage depended heavily on neighborhood accessibility, with children sticking to safe, walkable routes and avoiding inaccessible areas. Assessing local driving paths is essential for successful device provision.
• PTOTSLPOther2023Effects of Virtual Reality Exercises on Chronic Low Back Pain: Quasi-Experimental Study.JMIR rehabilitation and assistive technologiesCombining two virtual reality games with back-strengthening exercises reduced pain and disability more than using the games alone in patients with chronic low back pain. The VR games were delivered via Xbox Kinect alongside standard heat and electrical stimulation.
• SLPCohort2023Research Letter: TBI Severity Moderates the Association Between Subjective and Objective Attention in Older Veterans.The Journal of head trauma rehabilitationIn older veterans with moderate-to-severe TBI history, self-reported attention problems aligned closely with poor test performance. This link was absent in those without TBI history. Self-reported memory and language concerns did not correlate with objective deficits regardless of TBI history.
• PTOTSLPCase Report2023Use of artificial intelligence large language models as a clinical tool in rehabilitation medicine: a comparative test case.Journal of rehabilitation medicineChatGPT-4 produced rehabilitation prescriptions and ICF codes for one textbook stroke case. The 3-digit codes were reported as accurate, but one body-structure code listed the left hand instead of the right precentral gyrus, so clinician checking is needed.
• PTOTSLPSystematic Review2023Assessment of activities and participation of people by rehabilitation-focused clinical registries: a systematic scoping review.European journal of physical and rehabilitation medicineMost rehabilitation registries track mobility and basic self-care but miss broader life participation. Clinicians should not assume registry data capture a patient’s full functional picture, especially regarding advanced daily activities and social roles.
• PTOTSLPCohort2023Sex/gender differences in service use patterns, clinical outcomes and mortality risk for adults with acquired brain injury: a retrospective cohort study (ABI-RESTART).Journal of rehabilitation medicineWomen entered post-acute brain injury care with lower motor function than men but made equivalent functional gains. However, women were significantly more likely to require multiple episodes of care, suggesting they face greater barriers to community integration after discharge.
• PTOTSLPOther2024Construct validity, responsiveness, and interpretability of the Utrecht Scale for Evaluation of Rehabilitation (USER) in patients admitted to inpatient geriatric rehabilitation.Clinical rehabilitationThe Utrecht Scale for Evaluation of Rehabilitation (USER) is a valid observational tool for older adults in inpatient geriatric care. It detects meaningful physical improvement at 14.5 points and screens cognitive function without burdening patients with interviews.
• SLPCase Series2023Exploring the Efficacy of the Effortful Swallow Maneuver for Improving Swallowing in People With Parkinson Disease-A Pilot Study.Archives of rehabilitation research and clinical translationResponses to four weeks of effortful swallow practice, tongue-pressure feedback, and liquid-thickening instruction were mixed in five people with Parkinson disease who completed the program. Some safety scores improved, but no consistent pattern emerged.