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 129 OF 205 · NEWEST FIRST

• SLPOther2023Development and evaluation of Tamil Matrix Sentence Test Performance in young adults.CoDASYoung adults with normal hearing scored close to the maximum of 50 words in quiet on the Tamil sentence test at 40 dB SL. Six lists differed from the rest, so avoid them. Scores rose to 40 dB HL, then plateaued.
• PTOTSLPCohort2024Sleep Problems, Circadian Rhythms, and Their Relation to Behavioral Difficulties in Children and Adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder.Journal of autism and developmental disordersIn children with autism, objective measures showed that poor sleep and unstable daily rhythms were linked to higher anxiety, aggression, and self-injury. Treating sleep fragmentation may help manage behavioral difficulties, though this study cannot prove cause.
• SLPOther2024Swallowing Characteristics in Patients with Multiple System Atrophy Analyzed Using FEES Examination.DysphagiaIn MSA patients on full oral diets, nasal camera swallowing tests showed thin liquids were least safe: 17 of 24 had material enter above the vocal folds and 5 went below the vocal folds. Residue was common, and group comparisons were mostly not different.
• SLPCase-Control2024No Differences in Auditory Steady-State Responses in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder and Typically Developing Children.Journal of autism and developmental disordersBrain scans showed no difference in auditory processing between children with autism and typically developing children. The specific neural marker tested here does not distinguish the groups, so it is not a useful diagnostic tool for clinicians working with this age range.
• PTOTSLPSystematic Review2024Resilience and adolescence-transition in youth with developmental disabilities and their families: a scoping review.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesResilience in teens with neurodevelopmental disabilities relies on emotional regulation, social competence, and family support. Current interventions target these but miss key factors like self-advocacy and caregiver well-being. Online and group formats may improve accessibility.
• SLPOther2024Differential Performance of Social Communication Questionnaire Items in African American/Black vs. White Children.Journal of autism and developmental disordersThe Social Communication Questionnaire performed differently for Black and White children. For three items, Black caregivers were less likely to report symptoms regardless of total score. For thirteen items, reporting patterns shifted depending on the child's overall symptom severity. This variability may lead to inconsistent screening results.
• SLPCohort2024Pre-school Skills and School-Age Reading Comprehension in Children on the Autism Spectrum: A Preliminary Investigation.Journal of autism and developmental disordersIn children on the autism spectrum, pre-school receptive vocabulary significantly predicted reading comprehension in the third year of schooling. By year three, most children had reading accuracy within the average range, but only 36.8% showed reading comprehension within the average range, indicating a persistent gap between decoding and understanding text.
• OTSLPOther2024What Are You Worried About? Content and Extent of Worry in Autistic Adults.Journal of autism and developmental disordersAutistic adults reported significantly higher levels of worry than non-autistic adults across all domains. Interviews revealed this worry often centers on social missteps and uncertainty, impacting daily functioning and independence in ways standard questionnaires may miss.
• SLPOther2023Innovation through neurodiversity: Diversity is beneficial.Autism : the international journal of research and practiceIndependent raters judged towers built in mixed autistic/non-autistic pairs as less similar to each other than towers built in single-neurotype pairs. This suggests neurodiverse groups produce more diverse designs, though the effect was small and based on an artificial task.
• SLPOther2023Multisensory effects of mask wearing on speech intelligibility and the benefit of multilingualism.CoDASWearing a surgical mask in noisy environments severely reduces speech intelligibility, making it as difficult to understand as losing the visual cues of the speaker's face. Seeing the speaker's eyes and forehead helps, but does not fully compensate for the mask's acoustic filtering.
• SLPPilot2023Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS) Implementation Program for children with autism spectrum disorder.CoDASAll 22 nonverbal children learned to exchange picture cards intentionally, and 82% progressed to building sentences. Parents attended 96% of sessions, showing that family engagement was essential for children to adopt the system.
• PTOTSLPCase-Control2023Biomarkers of tic severity in children with Tourette syndrome: Motor cortex inhibition measured with transcranial magnetic stimulation.Developmental medicine and child neurologyTourette syndrome children did not show different brain inhibition compared to typically developing peers. However, within the Tourette group, worse tics linked to lower inhibition in the motor cortex. This suggests motor cortex activity reflects tic severity, not just the diagnosis.
• SLPCohort2023Opinion of speech-language pathologist on the use of photobiomodulation in the vocal clinic.CoDASBrazilian speech-language therapists widely report using photobiomodulation in voice practice, mostly before exercises, on the thyroid cartilage with 808-830 nm light. The paper describes their reported training and parameters, not whether photobiomodulation improves voice.
• PTOTSLPOther2023Centroid position estimating method for observational analysis.Journal of physical therapy scienceWatching the upper body move opposite to the lower body helps estimate center of mass without lab equipment. Clinicians can visually judge joint stress by observing if the trunk is anterior or posterior relative to the hips and knees.
• PTOTSLPSurvey2024Autism community priorities in diverse low-resource settings: A country-wide scoping exercise in India.Autism : the international journal of research and practiceIndian autism families ranked self-help skills as the top priority for training and speech and language therapy as the most needed intervention. Mental health counselling was second, but parents sought it for themselves rather than their children.
• PTOTSLPCohort2024Characterizing Sensory Phenotypes of Subgroups with a Known Genetic Etiology Pertaining to Diagnoses of Autism Spectrum Disorder and Intellectual Disability.Journal of autism and developmental disordersCaregivers reported that children with specific genetic causes of autism or intellectual disability all showed poor sensory registration, meaning they needed intense stimuli to respond. Seeking behaviors varied by gene, but these sensory profiles did not reliably distinguish genetic subgroups from idiopathic autism in clinical practice.
• SLPCohort2024Verbal Responsiveness in Parents of Toddlers With and Without Autism During a Home Observation.Journal of autism and developmental disordersParents of toddlers with autism and developmental delay were already highly responsive, mirroring parents of typically developing children. Differences in speech therapy targets should focus on the child's current language level rather than diagnosis alone, as parents naturally adjust their input.
• PTOTSLPPilot2024Feasibility of a Self-directed Upper Extremity Training Program to Promote Actual Arm Use for Individuals Living in the Community With Chronic Stroke.Archives of rehabilitation research and clinical translationFifteen people with chronic stroke completed a self-directed home arm training program. While retention and safety were high, only a third met the daily practice duration target. Participants reported improved arm use and satisfaction, but the study was not designed to prove the training caused these changes.
• SLPCohort2024Do parent-reported early indicators predict later developmental language disorder? A Raine Study investigation.International journal of language & communication disordersParent-reported early language concerns from ages 1 to 3 did not predict developmental language disorder at age 10 in 1626 children. Concerns were common in typical children and absent in many children who later met criteria.
• PTOTSLPCohort2023Factors associated with improvement in impaired consciousness during the acute phase of cerebral infarction: a prospective observational study.Journal of physical therapy scienceYounger age, no worsening, and doing standing practice were linked to consciousness improvement in acute stroke. However, patients who started with milder impairment showed less improvement, likely because they had little room to get better. This is an association, not proof that standing practice causes recovery.
• SLPCohort2023Children With Developmental Language Disorder Show Deficits in the Production of Musical Rhythmic Groupings.Journal of speech, language, and hearing research : JSLHRPreschoolers with developmental language disorder struggled to copy a simple musical rhythm by hand. They missed the pause and produced inconsistent patterns. This deficit was not explained by poor motor skills or speech sound errors, suggesting a specific difficulty with organizing rhythmic sequences.
• SLPNarrative Review2023Combining Languages in Bilingual Input: Using Experimental Evidence to Formulate Bilingual Exposure Strategies.Journal of speech, language, and hearing research : JSLHRThis review synthesizes experimental evidence on how bilingual children learn words from mixed-language input. It discusses theoretical mechanisms like code-switching and distributed exposure but offers no tested interventions or clinical protocols to change therapy practice.
• SLPCohort2023Limited Audiological Assessment Results in Children With Otitis Media With Effusion.Ear and hearingStandard behavioral hearing tests failed to yield ear-specific results for 74% of children with fluid in the middle ear during clinic visits. Even in an idealized research setting, half of the ears had no thresholds. Tympanometry and OAEs succeeded but do not measure hearing.
• SLPOther2023Foreign Language Acquisition in Adolescent Cochlear Implant Users.Ear and hearingAdolescents with cochlear implants matched hearing peers on written English tasks but scored significantly lower on listening. Their Dutch skills were unaffected. Written tests alone may miss listening difficulties, so assess both modalities to guide support.
• SLPOther2023Development and validation of an experimental verbal Episodic Memory task in Spanish.CoDASA Spanish verbal episodic memory task was judged understandable by four speech-language pathologists and six older adults. It is not a validated clinical test.
• SLPOther2024Difference in the Electromyographic Behavior of the Masticatory and Swallowing Muscles During Cued Versus Spontaneous Swallowing.DysphagiaCued swallowing increased muscle activity, extended duration, and hastened initial activation compared to spontaneous swallowing in healthy adults. This held true regardless of food consistency or amount. The findings suggest swallowing style affects muscle behavior, but do not confirm clinical benefit.
• SLPRCT2024Fostering Friendship and Dating Skills Among Adults on the Autism Spectrum: A Randomized Controlled Trial of the Polish Version of the PEERS® for Young Adults Curriculum.Journal of autism and developmental disordersPEERS workshops increased social-skills knowledge and reduced parent-reported difficulties in young adults on the autism spectrum, some already receiving medication or therapy, but did not clearly improve self-reported socializing or empathy.
• SLPOther2024Effects of Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation on Graph Naming Function and Brain Connectivity in Postinfarction Aphasia Patients: An fMRI Study.Folia phoniatrica et logopaedica : official organ of the International Association of Logopedics and Phoniatrics (IALP)Graph naming scores improved after 12 days of tDCS added to standard stroke treatment. No sham control, so improvement could reflect usual care or recovery. Brain scan changes were reported but cannot prove treatment effect.
• OTSLPCohort2024Using Life Course Theory to Explore the Association Between Autistic Traits, Child, Family, and School Factors and the Successful Transition to Secondary School.Journal of autism and developmental disordersHigher autistic traits were associated with better quality of life, mental health, and school belonging in 51 students transitioning to secondary school. Female students and school refusal were linked to poorer outcomes.
• PTOTSLPOther2024Concurrent validity of walking speed measured by a wearable sensor and a stopwatch during the 10-meter walk test in individuals with stroke.Gait & postureWearable sensors measured walking speeds about 0.07 m/s slower than a stopwatch in people with stroke. You cannot use these two methods interchangeably. If you switch tools mid-rehab, the drop in speed might be measurement error, not the patient getting worse.
• SLPCohort2024Effects of Speaking Rate on Variability of Second Formant Frequency Transitions in Dysarthria.Folia phoniatrica et logopaedica : official organ of the International Association of Logopedics and Phoniatrics (IALP)Measuring how much second formant slopes vary from repetition to repetition, rather than just averaging them, better identified ataxic dysarthria and correlated with intelligibility. Averaged slopes were better at identifying hypokinetic dysarthria. Speaking rate changes revealed these differences.
• PTOTSLPCohort2024Hospitalization and Mortality for Insured Patients in the United States with COVID-19 with and without Autism Spectrum Disorder.Journal of autism and developmental disordersAdults with autism had higher odds of dying from COVID-19 than those without, even after accounting for other health conditions. The link to hospitalization disappeared once other chronic illnesses were considered, suggesting comorbidities drive hospital risk more than autism itself.
• PTOTSLPCohort2024Cognitive assessment to optimize prediction of functional outcome in subacute hip fracture: a short-term prospective study.European journal of physical and rehabilitation medicineIn hip fracture patients who passed a basic cognitive screen, a more detailed MoCA test predicted discharge independence. Patients with a seven-point lower MoCA score had about half the odds of reaching a successful rehabilitation outcome. Adding other cognitive tests did not improve this prediction.
• SLPQualitative2024Using the Three-Minute Speech Sample to Examine the Parent-Adolescent Relationship in Autistic Youth: A Qualitative Analysis.Journal of autism and developmental disordersAutistic adolescents spoke for up to three minutes about their mothers, describing support, love, tension, autonomy conflicts, and nuanced insight into the relationship. Twenty of 21 completed the task without reported distress, but this was a small qualitative study, not evidence that it improves care.
• SLPCohort2024Therapeutic approach to dysphagia in post-COVID patients in a rehabilitation unit: a descriptive longitudinal study.European journal of physical and rehabilitation medicinePost-COVID patients with severe swallowing problems improved significantly after three weeks of therapy. The treatment mix varied by patient, so the specific benefit of each exercise cannot be separated. Without a control group, natural recovery cannot be ruled out.
• SLPOther2023Assessing suicidal thoughts and behaviors and nonsuicidal self-injury in autistic and non-autistic early adolescents using the Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale.Autism : the international journal of research and practiceAutistic early adolescents reported lifetime suicidal thoughts and self-injury more often than their non-autistic peers. Nearly one in five autistic youth disclosed suicidal thoughts on a self-report questionnaire but not during a clinical interview. Use both methods to screen for suicide risk in this group.
• PTOTSLPSystematic Review2023The Effects of Substance Misuse on Auditory and Vestibular Function: A Systematic Review.Ear and hearingSubstance misuse, particularly opioids and alcohol, is linked to hearing and balance problems in case reports. Opioid use often causes permanent, profound hearing loss. Alcohol misuse is associated with high-frequency hearing loss and central balance deficits. Evidence is weak and mostly anecdotal.
• SLPCohort2023Exploring Factors That Contribute to the Success of Rehabilitation With Hearing Aids.Ear and hearingHearing aids improved everyday listening, but advanced hearing aid features added little to that success. Gains were larger when people reported more hearing disability before fitting.
• SLPOther2023Profile of fluency in spontaneous speech, reading, and retelling of texts by adults who stutter.CoDASFor adults who stutter, reading aloud produced significantly fewer common disfluencies like hesitations and interjections than spontaneous speech or retelling. However, stuttering-specific behaviors and speech speed did not differ significantly across the three tasks. This suggests reading is less demanding for fluency.
• SLPOther2023Cochlear Implant Users can Effectively Combine Place and Timing Cues for Pitch Perception.Ear and hearingCochlear implant users perceive pitch more accurately when timing and place cues change together rather than separately. For complex sounds, providing a covarying place cue improved pitch discrimination thresholds, particularly at higher frequencies where timing cues alone degrade.
• PTOTSLPNarrative Review2024Video games and disability-a risk and benefit analysis.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesVideo games can be used with people with disabilities for rehab, learning, pain, and exercise, but risks like overuse and violent content mean clear goals, careful content choice, and supervision are needed.
• SLPOther2024Visual Attention to Dynamic Emotional Faces in Adults on the Autism Spectrum.Journal of autism and developmental disordersAdults with high-functioning autism looked at the eyes of dynamic faces for 43.6% of the time, compared to 64.8% in matched controls. However, adults with high autistic-like traits but no diagnosis looked at the eyes for 71.5%, showing no difference from low-trait controls.
• PTOTSLPCohort2024Opioid prescription patterns among commercially insured children with and without cerebral palsy.Journal of pediatric rehabilitation medicineChildren with cerebral palsy were prescribed opioids more often and for more days than peers without CP. Median supply was 7 to 8 days annually. This pattern suggests acute pain management rather than chronic use, though overall exposure rates remain higher in the CP group.
• PTOTSLPSystematic Review2024Prevalence of dual sensory impairment in veterans: a rapid systematic review.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesReported prevalence of dual sensory impairment in veterans varied widely from 5.0% to 34.6%. This inconsistency stems from different definitions and measurement methods, not necessarily true differences in risk.
• SLPCohort2024Emotion recognition and false belief in deaf or hard-of-hearing preschool children.Journal of deaf studies and deaf educationFour-to-five-year-old deaf children scored similarly to hearing peers on emotion recognition but lower on false belief. The gap in understanding others' beliefs appeared around age five and a half. Earlier hearing aid use linked to better emotion scores, but implant age did not.
• SLPCohort2024Comparing narrative storytelling ability in individuals with autism and fetal alcohol spectrum disorders.International journal of language & communication disordersAdolescents and adults with autism or FASD told stories comparable in length and structure to neurotypical peers. However, both groups spoke significantly slower, and those with autism used more filler words like 'um' or 'uh'.
• SLPOther2023Causal Associations of Genetically Determined Tinnitus With Neuroimaging Traits: Evidence From a Mendelian Randomization Study.Ear and hearingGenetic susceptibility to tinnitus was associated with larger total brain and white matter volume and smaller brain fluid spaces. Smaller auditory and insular brain volume was associated with higher tinnitus risk. This does not test treatment.
• PTOTSLPSystematic Review2023Community-based physical activity interventions for adolescents and adults with complex cerebral palsy: A scoping review.Developmental medicine and child neurologyCommunity exercise is safe for people with severe cerebral palsy. Across 17 studies, serious injuries were rare and dropouts low. Most pain or fatigue was minor and resolved quickly, suggesting therapists can confidently prescribe activity in community settings.
• SLPSurvey2023The therapeutic link in the speech therapy clinic: a necessary reflection.CoDASMost speech-language pathologists see the therapeutic bond as the foundation of their work, yet nearly 70% have no specific training in it. They describe it as a relationship of trust and listening, not a technique. This is what clinicians believe, not evidence that it improves patient outcomes.
• SLPOther2023Predictors of Emotional Prosody Identification by School-Age Children With Cochlear Implants and Their Peers With Normal Hearing.Ear and hearingSchool-age children with cochlear implants identified spoken emotions less accurately than normal-hearing peers. Older age was linked to better scores in both groups. In children with implants, longer device use and higher problem-solving ability were linked to better scores.