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 136 OF 205 · NEWEST FIRST

• PTOTSLPOther2024A scoping review on examination approaches for identifying tactile deficits at the upper extremity in individuals with stroke.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationCurrent stroke touch tests rely on subjective patient responses at rest, often missing the active exploration used in daily life. They rarely compare against healthy controls or check peripheral nerves, limiting their ability to pinpoint where sensory pathways break down.
• SLPOther2024Evidence of validity and reliability of the Compressed Speech Test with Figures.CoDASA new auditory test using pictures instead of verbal responses correlates strongly with the standard spoken-word version in children. However, it failed to distinguish between children with typical speech and those with mild phonological disorders, likely because the picture format makes the task too easy for this group.
• SLPOther2024Communication Under Sharply Degraded Auditory Input and the "2-Sentence" Problem.Ear and hearingCochlear implant users who score well on single-sentence tests can still struggle significantly when asked to process two consecutive sentences. This '2-sentence decrement' varies widely between patients and is not predicted by standard clinical scores, suggesting current tests may miss real-world listening effort.
• SLPNarrative Review2024Review of Binaural Processing With Asymmetrical Hearing Outcomes in Patients With Bilateral Cochlear Implants.Trends in hearingBilateral cochlear implant users often have asymmetrical hearing, where the weaker ear degrades overall performance. This review explains how this mismatch disrupts sound localization and speech-in-noise understanding. It suggests assessing both ears independently and considering auditory training to help patients manage these interference effects.
• OTSLPSurvey2024Mindreading beliefs in same- and cross-neurotype interactions.Autism : the international journal of research and practiceAutistic and non-autistic people both believe they read their own group better than the other. They also believe others from their own group understand them better. Contact with autistic people did not improve non-autistic participants' belief in their ability to read them.
• SLPSurvey2024Short report: Evaluation of wider community support for a neurodiversity teaching programme designed using participatory methods.Autism : the international journal of research and practice91% of adults consulted about a planned neurodiversity school programme supported its goals and content. The neurodiversity definition received 73% support, and 23% wanted changes.
• OTSLPOther2023Cognition, academic achievement, and adaptive behavior in school-aged girls with fragile X syndrome.Research in developmental disabilitiesParent-reported adaptive behavior did not differ between school-aged girls with fragile X syndrome and verbal IQ-matched peers. They had weaker attention, working memory, nonverbal reasoning, spatial skills, and math.
• SLPCohort2023Rapid Online Assessment of Reading (ROAR): Evaluation of an Online Tool for Screening Reading Skills in a Developmental-Behavioral Pediatrics Clinic.Journal of developmental and behavioral pediatrics : JDBPIn 41 children with neurodevelopmental conditions, an online reading screener correlated strongly with gold-standard tests and accurately identified poor readers. It offers a quick, self-administered option for clinics, but small sample size limits certainty.
• SLPOther2024Evaluating circumlocution in naming as a predictor of communicative informativeness and efficiency in discourse.AphasiologyFor 43 people with aphasia, naming accuracy predicted how informative and efficient picture descriptions were. Counting circumlocution added 1.5% to the informativeness estimate and 8.3% to the efficiency estimate.
• SLPQualitative2024'I'm not just being difficult . . . I'm finding it difficult': A qualitative approach to understanding experiences of autistic parents when interacting with statutory services regarding their autistic child.Autism : the international journal of research and practiceAutistic parents described statutory services as an unjust system that forced them to fight for support, damaging their mental health. They felt dismissed by professionals who used stigmatising language or lacked autism training, making disclosure of their own diagnosis risky.
• PTOTSLPSystematic Review2024Telerehabilitation in Physical Therapist Practice: A Clinical Practice Guideline From the American Physical Therapy Association.Physical therapyTelerehabilitation matches in-person care for patient satisfaction and often improves attendance. It is safe with low adverse event rates. However, evidence for diagnostic accuracy and physical outcomes is weak or inconsistent, and cost savings depend heavily on patient travel distance.
• SLPOther2024Alpha-Band Dynamics of Hearing Aid Wearers Performing the Repeat-Recall Test (RRT).Trends in hearingBrain activity patterns matched patients' self-reported listening effort, validating the Repeat-Recall Test. Adding a memory task made listening feel harder without reducing speech understanding. Clinicians can trust patient effort ratings as a separate, valid measure of listening difficulty.
• OTSLPCohort2024Social motivation by self- and caregiver-report: Reporter concordance and social correlates among autistic and neurotypical youth.Autism research : official journal of the International Society for Autism ResearchAutistic children’s self-reports of social motivation matched their actual social skills better than caregiver reports did. Caregivers and children disagreed specifically about motivation with peers, suggesting clinicians should ask the child directly rather than relying solely on parent observation.
• SLPOther2024Combining Cardiovascular and Pupil Features Using k-Nearest Neighbor Classifiers to Assess Task Demand, Social Context, and Sentence Accuracy During Listening.Trends in hearingPhysiological data can predict whether a hearing aid user feels observed, but only if the algorithm is trained on that specific person. Group-wide models failed to predict listening effort or accuracy for new users, meaning current generic diagnostic tools cannot yet identify these states.
• SLPOther2024Spatial Release From Masking With Bilateral Bone Conduction Stimulation at Mastoid for Normal Hearing Subjects.Trends in hearingNormal-hearing listeners understood Mandarin sentences better when masking noise was moved away from the target. Bone conduction at the mastoid produced spatial benefit, but less than air conduction, and needed at least 10 degrees.
• SLPNarrative Review2024A Longitudinal Framework to Describe the Relation Between Age-Related Hearing Loss and Social Isolation.Trends in hearingThis paper proposes a three-stage framework for how hearing loss might lead to social isolation: within-situation disengagement, social withdrawal, and finally social isolation. It is a theoretical review with no new patient data or tested interventions.
• OTSLPPilot2023A Unique Clinical Tool for the Evaluation of Oral Feeding Skills in Infants.Canadian journal of occupational therapy. Revue canadienne d'ergotherapieIn 16 premature infants, adding a nipple monitoring device to bottle feeds did not change feed duration, intake volume, or rate of transfer compared with feeds without it, and no adverse events occurred.
• OTSLPCohort2023Distinct neurocognitive profiles and clinical phenotypes associated with copy number variation at the 22q11.2 locus.Autism research : official journal of the International Society for Autism ResearchPeople with a 22q11.2 deletion made more cognitive errors but responded faster than those with a duplication. The duplication group was slower across all tasks. Speed, not accuracy, best distinguished the two genetic groups and correlated with social functioning in the duplication carriers.
• SLPNarrative Review2024A call for linguistic and culturally congruent family-centred early hearing detection and intervention programmes in South Africa.The South African journal of communication disorders = Die Suid-Afrikaanse tydskrif vir KommunikasieafwykingsThis commentary argues that early hearing detection programmes in South Africa must be linguistically and culturally congruent and family-centred to improve access. It proposes a framework but reports no original data or outcomes.
• PTOTSLPSystematic Review2024Social motor synchrony in autism spectrum conditions: A systematic review.Autism : the international journal of research and practiceAutistic people showed lower movement synchrony than non-autistic pairs in most tasks. Differences were largest when tasks required intentional coordination or unfamiliar partners. Synchrony increased over time in rhythmic therapy when the same therapist and child worked together.
• SLPCohort2024Speech-Language Outcomes in the COVID-19 Milieu for Multilingual Jamaican Preschoolers and Considerations for Telepractice Assessments.American journal of speech-language pathologyTelepractice assessments for multilingual Jamaican preschoolers showed mixed stability. Parent reports remained reliable, but intelligibility ratings lost correlation in children with speech disorders. Production scores appeared higher during the pandemic, though poor internet access may have skewed results. Caution is needed when interpreting data from low-resource settings.
• SLPOther2024Verb Vocabulary Supports Event Probability Use in Developmental Language Disorder.Journal of speech, language, and hearing research : JSLHRChildren with DLD understood reversible passives less accurately than peers. They used verb-based expectations when grammar cues were close to the verb, but became confused when the by phrase was distant. Knowing the verb better helped both groups.
• SLPPilot2024Swallowing and feeding of young children on high-flow oxygen therapy.The South African journal of communication disorders = Die Suid-Afrikaanse tydskrif vir KommunikasieafwykingsMost young children on high-flow oxygen tolerated pureed and semi-solid foods safely. Thin liquids triggered coughing and aspiration signs in four children. Chewing was often too tiring. Start with thicker textures and monitor closely, as this small study cannot prove safety for all patients.
• PTOTSLPCohort2024Slower pace in early walking onset is related to communication, motor skills, and adaptive function in autistic toddlers.Autism research : official journal of the International Society for Autism ResearchAutistic toddlers walked slower than peers even when matched for age and ability. Slower walking speed was linked to lower scores in communication, daily living skills, and motor function. Clinicians should assess gait quality, not just the age walking started, as delayed onset is not required for motor differences.
• SLPQualitative2024Who really decides? Feeding decisions 'made' by caregivers of children with cerebral palsy.The South African journal of communication disorders = Die Suid-Afrikaanse tydskrif vir KommunikasieafwykingsCaregivers described doctors telling them what to do, and speech therapists supporting decisions already made. Extended family, God, money, transport, food and water shaped PEG feeding choices. These were experiences, not evidence that a method works.
• SLPSystematic Review2024Applications of Grounded Theory Methodology to Investigate Hearing Loss: A Methodological Qualitative Systematic Review With Developed Guidelines.Ear and hearingMost hearing loss studies using grounded theory failed to follow the method's core rules. Many did not create new theories, lacked theoretical sampling, or had small samples. The review proposes new guidelines to help researchers apply this method correctly.
• SLPQualitative2024Help-seeking journey to accessing audiology services in a peri-urban community in South Africa.The South African journal of communication disorders = Die Suid-Afrikaanse tydskrif vir KommunikasieafwykingsMost adults with hearing loss in this South African community took long, complex journeys to reach an audiologist, often visiting multiple providers and relying on social networks. Only a quarter accessed care quickly, frequently due to existing relationships or direct knowledge of services.
• PTOTSLPPilot2023Feasibility of Mindfulness-Based Intervention for Veterans Managing Chronic Pain.Canadian journal of occupational therapy. Revue canadienne d'ergotherapieVeterans with chronic pain who completed a 12-week mindfulness program reported less catastrophic thinking about their pain, but their actual pain intensity scores did not significantly decrease. High dropout rates and the lack of a control group mean these results are preliminary and cannot confirm the program works.
• SLPOther2023Development and validation of an Arabic language eye-tracking paradigm for the early screening and diagnosis of autism spectrum disorders in Qatar.Autism research : official journal of the International Society for Autism ResearchIn 240 Qatari children, an Arabic eye-tracking risk index showed good differentiation of ASD from controls. It was related to parent-reported symptoms but not to observed severity, so it may support screening, not replace diagnosis.
• PTOTSLPCohort2024A profile of spatial abilities in people with Down syndrome.Journal of intellectual disability research : JIDRPeople with Down syndrome showed uneven spatial abilities compared to ability-matched children. They struggled significantly with understanding horizontality and verticality, and with mentally rotating objects. However, their skills in recognizing static shapes and taking visual perspectives were similar to their matched peers.
• SLPRCT2024Retrieval Practice and Word Learning by Children With Developmental Language Disorder: Does Expanding Retrieval Provide Additional Benefit?Journal of speech, language, and hearing research : JSLHRExpanding retrieval practice (increasing gaps between recall attempts) did not improve long-term word recall in children with DLD compared to equally spaced retrieval. While children recalled more words during early practice trials with expanding schedules, this advantage disappeared by the end of learning and did not translate to better retention one week later.
• PTOTSLPCohort2024Correlation between the sacral tilt measured with an inclinometer and the pelvic tilt as a tool for assessing the pelvic position.Journal of physical therapy scienceA quick inclinometer reading on the sacrum correlates with pelvic tilt in young athletes. This offers a cheap, fast alternative to complex equipment for checking pelvic position, though it measures skin surface, not bone.
• OTSLPQualitative2024Evaluating a new supported employment internship programme for autistic young adults without intellectual disability.Autism : the international journal of research and practiceAutistic interns and employers valued a supported internship for building confidence and breaking down workplace barriers. However, mismatches in skills and expectations occurred, and parents questioned if the high level of support reflected real-world work conditions.
• PTOTSLPSystematic Review2024Opportunities for play in paediatric healthcare environments: a scoping review.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesPlay spaces in hospitals help children cope and connect, but current designs often ignore adolescents and children with disabilities. Therapists should advocate for play opportunities in general areas like hallways and bedrooms, not just designated rooms.
• SLPCohort2024Mary has a little chair: Eliciting noun-modifier phrases in individuals with acute post-stroke aphasia.AphasiologyThe MorGen test detects subtle language deficits in acute stroke patients who score normally on standard assessments. These patients specifically struggle with adjectives, such as size and color, which are not directly tested by the Western Aphasia Battery. This suggests adjectives should be assessed even when traditional tests show no impairment.
• SLPOther2024The word-with-noise test: test-retest reliability in normal-hearing adults.CoDASRepeating the Words-with-Noise test 14 to 28 days later in normal-hearing adults gave fairly consistent results, better for single-word lists. Average differences were under 1 dB, so it may help assessment but not precise before-after comparisons.
• SLPOther2024Attention Mobilization as a Modulator of Listening Effort: Evidence From Pupillometry.Trends in hearingPupil size before a difficult passage did not increase with harder competing speech, but rose when the passage was heard again. During listening, pupil changes depended on starting state and repetition, so effort was not simply higher in the harder condition.
• SLPCohort2023Is the association between mothers' autistic traits and childhood autistic traits moderated by maternal pre-pregnancy body mass index?Molecular autismMaternal pre-pregnancy BMI did not change the association between mothers' and children's autistic traits. Mothers with higher autistic traits had children with higher autistic traits in both cohorts. Higher maternal BMI was associated with child autistic traits in Generation R only.
• PTSLPQualitative2024Parents' views of benefits and limitations of receiving genetic diagnoses for their offspring.Child: care, health and developmentParents described genetic diagnoses as double-edged: they felt relief and validation, but also grief over the lack of a cure. They valued the knowledge and ability to plan for the future, yet experienced heightened anxiety about uncertain health outcomes and life expectancy.
• SLPCohort2024Prelingually Deaf Children With Cochlear Implants Show Better Perception of Voice Cues and Speech in Competing Speech Than Postlingually Deaf Adults With Cochlear Implants.Ear and hearingPrelingually deaf children with cochlear implants outperformed postlingually deaf adults in perceiving voice cues and separating speech in competing speech. Children used both pitch and vocal tract length cues, unlike adults who relied mainly on pitch. This suggests early implantation aids the brain in interpreting degraded signals.
• SLPQualitative2024Provider perspectives on equity in use of mobile health autism screening tools.Autism : the international journal of research and practiceProviders worry families confuse mobile screening results with a diagnosis. They need tools that are short, work on slow internet, and clearly state they are not diagnostic to avoid alarming parents or wasting clinic time.
• SLPOther2024The influence of listener experience, measurement scale and speech task on the reliability of auditory-perceptual evaluation of vocal quality.CoDASReliability of voice ratings depends on the task and scale, not just experience. CAPE-V sentences showed the highest agreement among all listener groups, while sustained vowels were least reliable. Standardized training improved agreement more than years of clinical experience did.
• PTOTSLPQualitative2024Enablers and barriers to implementing an interdisciplinary experiential learning program for university students in a Canadian rehabilitation centre.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesStakeholders identified key barriers to implementing interdisciplinary student programs in rehab centres: clinician workload, logistical complexity, and the need for dedicated coordination. They suggested embedding these programs early in curricula and appointing a champion to manage the transition between university and hospital settings.
• PTOTSLPCohort2024Survival and predictive factors of clinical outcome in patients with severe acquired brain injury.European journal of physical and rehabilitation medicinePatients with severe brain injury who had tracheostomies survived as long as those without, but remained heavily disabled. Younger age predicted better survival and walking ability, yet most patients could not walk or eat by mouth after discharge.
• SLPOther2024Remixing Preferences for Western Instrumental Classical Music of Bilateral Cochlear Implant Users.Trends in hearingBilateral cochlear implant users preferred remixing classical music to pan instruments to their right side and to boost percussion, unlike normal-hearing listeners. Frequent music listeners also spread instruments more widely across the stereo field.
• PTOTSLPQualitative2024Enriching the lives of children with acquired brain injury and their caregivers: experiences from peer mentorship sports camps.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesChildren with brain injury and their caregivers described a sports camp as a way to manage fatigue, build confidence, and reduce isolation. Caregivers reported becoming less overprotective and more hopeful after meeting peer mentors who shared similar experiences.
• SLPOther2024(Why) Do Transparent Hearing Devices Impair Speech Perception in Collocated Noise?Trends in hearingTransparent hearing devices made normal-hearing listeners need a slightly worse signal-to-noise ratio to understand speech in same-direction noise. The effect was small, about 0.5 to 1 dB for most devices. Listening effort did not show a clear change. One earphone showed no impairment.
• SLPCohort2024Mental state verb use in play by preschool-age children who stutter and their mothers.Journal of fluency disordersPreschoolers who stutter used mental state verbs like "think" and "know" at the same rate as their peers. However, unlike typical children, their use of these verbs did not increase with age or language skills, suggesting other factors may influence this communication flexibility.
• SLPSurvey2023Surveying Early Intervention Providers to Identify Opportunities for Workforce Support to Strengthen Family-Centered Care.Infants and young childrenEarly intervention providers spent about one third of weekly time directly with children and one quarter coaching caregivers. They wanted more training, especially on caregiver distress and culturally aligned care.
• SLPSurvey2024Stress and Infant Media Exposure During COVID-19: A Study Among Latino Families.Journal of developmental and behavioral pediatrics : JDBPHigher parent and economic stress were linked to more infant screen exposure in 247 low-income Latino families. The study cannot show stress caused screen use.