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 157 OF 205 · NEWEST FIRST

• PTOTSLPCohort2025Tongue Pressure and Grip Strength as Indicators of Persistent Dysphagia After Acute Stroke.DysphagiaLow tongue pressure and grip strength measured within 48 hours of acute stroke admission independently predicted dysphagia persisting to discharge. Skeletal muscle mass and stroke severity (NIHSS) did not. Early bedside measures of oral and general strength may help flag patients needing longer-term feeding or rehab planning.
• SLPOther2025A Ducted, Biomimetic Nipple Improves Aspects of Infant Feeding Physiology and Performance in an Animal Model.DysphagiaIn infant pigs, a solid nipple with narrow ducts reduced aspiration risk and increased suction pressure compared to a standard hollow nipple. Pigs raised on the ducted nipple showed the greatest safety benefits, even with larger boluses.
• PTOTSLPQualitative2025A qualitative meta-synthesis of the perinatal healthcare experiences of people with disability.Disability and health journalPeople with disability described perinatal care as fragmented, inaccessible, and judgmental, with clinicians often questioning their parenting capacity. Fear of child protective services led some to hide disabilities or avoid postpartum mental health support. Self-advocacy and peer support were key coping mechanisms.
• PTOTSLPOther2025Abnormal activity in the brainstem affects gait in a neuromusculoskeletal model.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationComputer simulations suggest that different types of freezing of gait may stem from abnormal activity in two specific brainstem nuclei. This offers a theoretical model for why some patients respond to cues while others need medication, but it is not yet clinical evidence.
• PTOTSLPSystematic Review2025Systematic review of AI/ML applications in multi-domain robotic rehabilitation: trends, gaps, and future directions.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationMost AI robotic rehabilitation tools are tested on healthy volunteers, not patients. Performance drops significantly when systems move from lab settings to real-time clinical use. Clinicians should expect these tools to work less reliably on their actual patients than published accuracy figures suggest.
• PTOTSLPQualitative2025Early Years Practitioners' and Public Health Consultants' Perspectives on the Use of Interactive Electronic Devices in Young Children: A Qualitative Study.Child: care, health and developmentPractitioners and consultants describe tablets replacing outdoor play, leading to poorer self-regulation and motor skills. They note children swipe at wooden blocks expecting a screen response. Both groups want adult-led use to support learning, not free play.
• PTOTSLPSystematic Review2025Interventions in subacute paediatric inpatient neurorehabilitation: an umbrella review.Journal of rehabilitation medicineNo systematic reviews met criteria for subacute paediatric inpatient neurorehabilitation interventions. The search found no high-quality evidence for this specific setting and phase. Clinicians should expect to rely on expert opinion and adult or outpatient data rather than robust trial evidence for these patients.
• SLPSurvey2024Understanding Tinnitus Clinical Care in the Veterans Health Administration and Department of Defense: Overview of Survey Results.American journal of audiologyVeterans Affairs and Defense audiology and ENT clinics mostly reported tinnitus services, but many mental health providers did not know services existed and felt unprepared. Resources, low priority, and training were the top barriers.
• SLPPilot2024Development and validation of Competing Sentence Test in Kannada.CoDASA new Kannada hearing test reliably measures how well children ignore competing speech. Scores improved with age, showing a sharp jump at 11 years. It is not yet validated for diagnosing auditory processing disorders, so use it only as part of a full assessment.
• SLPOther2024A Methodology to Quantify the Effective Vertical Thickness of Prephonatory Vocal Fold Medial Surface.Journal of voice : official journal of the Voice FoundationA new way to measure vocal fold thickness from scans works best with a tiny 0.05 mm threshold. If the midline is hard to see, assume the folds are less convergent to keep the measurement accurate.
• SLPOther2024Voice Type Component Profile Model of Glottal Gap Voice in Ex Vivo Canine Larynges.Journal of voice : official journal of the Voice FoundationIn excised dog larynges, gaps wider than 1.5 mm sharply reduced periodic voice signals and increased chaotic ones. This suggests a threshold where small gaps stop being harmless, but the ex vivo model limits direct clinical application.
• SLPSystematic Review2025How speech and language therapists and parents work together in the therapeutic process for children with speech sound disorder: A scoping review.International journal of language & communication disordersParents value therapy that fits their daily life and clear coaching on why and how to do home practice. But therapists often lack confidence in this role, and homework is rarely followed up. Individualization helps engagement, yet it is unclear where flexibility compromises treatment fidelity.
• SLPCohort2025Longitudinal Symptom Burden and Pharmacologic Management of Catatonia in Autism With Intellectual Disability: An Observational Study.Autism research : official journal of the International Society for Autism ResearchCatatonia symptoms improved on two rating scales but not the third. Most patients stayed on high-dose benzodiazepines because tapering caused symptoms to return. This describes real-world care, not proof that any single drug or therapy worked.
• PTOTSLPSurvey2025Adaptive sports in Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine across Europe: the forgotten therapeutic ally.European journal of physical and rehabilitation medicineMost European rehabilitation professionals believe adaptive sports help patients, but few actually offer or promote them. Institutions lack infrastructure and funding, and clinicians rarely discuss these options. Patients should not assume their team is unaware of these benefits, but rather that access is structurally limited.
• SLPNarrative Review2025Parental communication dynamics with children who stutter: A scoping review.International journal of language & communication disordersParents of children who stutter often avoid talking openly about stuttering because they fear making it worse or upsetting the child. Children want these conversations to reduce shame. Clinicians should coach parents on using neutral, simple language and inviting questions.
• SLPQualitative2025'It Feels Very Weird and Normal at the Same Time': Sibling Perceptions of Their Relationships With an Autistic Brother or Sister With Complex Care Needs.Journal of applied research in intellectual disabilities : JARIDSiblings of autistic children with complex needs described joy in shared play, even without reciprocal interaction. Conflict was rare among siblings of non-verbal children but higher when the autistic sibling had spoken language. Siblings kept friendships separate from home life.
• SLPOther2024The outcomes of an audiological management programme for neonates with hyperbilirubinaemia.The South African journal of communication disorders = Die Suid-Afrikaanse tydskrif vir KommunikasieafwykingsNeonates with jaundice showed more hearing abnormalities when tested with both ABR and DPOAE than with either test alone. ABR detected significantly more cases than DPOAE, especially in infants with bilirubin levels above 10 mg/dL. Using both tests together improved the accuracy of identifying hearing loss.
• SLPPilot2024Community-based infant hearing screening: Outcomes of a rural pilot programme.The South African journal of communication disorders = Die Suid-Afrikaanse tydskrif vir KommunikasieafwykingsCommunity hearing screening by trained laypeople reached 87% of infants at early postnatal visits but only 27% at 6-week immunisations. While feasible in rural settings, high referral rates and poor follow-up meant most infants did not receive diagnostic confirmation.
• SLPOther2024Brainstem auditory evoked responses: Objective hearing threshold assessment in Holstein cows.The South African journal of communication disorders = Die Suid-Afrikaanse tydskrif vir KommunikasieafwykingsIn Holstein cows, brainstem hearing responses were obtained at 90 to 100 dB SPL in all cows and at 85 dB SPL in nine cows. No responses appeared below that level.
• PTOTSLPCohort2024Associations Between Vestibular Perception and Cognitive Performance in Healthy Adults.Ear and hearingIn healthy adults, poorer performance on speed and flexibility tests was linked to higher thresholds for sensing vertical head movement. This suggests age-related decline in otolith function may track with cognitive slowing, even without diagnosed vestibular loss.
• SLPOther2024Communication Intervention in South Africa: Advocating for the Listening and Spoken Language Approach.The South African journal of communication disorders = Die Suid-Afrikaanse tydskrif vir KommunikasieafwykingsThis article advocates for the Listening and Spoken Language approach in South Africa but reports no original data. It highlights workforce shortages and funding barriers without testing interventions or measuring outcomes.
• SLPOther2024Breathy Vocal Quality, Background Noise, and Hearing Loss: How Do These Adverse Conditions Affect Speech Perception by Older Adults?Ear and hearingOlder adults understood sentences less well and needed more effort when a simulated talker's voice was severely breathy. Mild-to-moderate breathiness did not have this effect, and hearing loss did not add to the difficulty.
• PTOTSLPQualitative2024Contextual factors experienced by mothers of children with special needs.The South African journal of physiotherapyMothers of children with disabilities in South Africa described financial strain from unemployment, fear of marital abandonment, and stigma from family and community. They faced barriers accessing healthcare and education, often feeling isolated and unsupported by fathers.
• SLPOther2025Evaluating a Virtual Community-of-Practice as Implementation Strategy for the Needs Assessment Framework in Intellectual Disability Care: A Quasi-Experimental Multi-Methods Study.Journal of applied research in intellectual disabilities : JARIDCare staff in teams using a virtual community of practice showed no greater implementation of the Needs Assessment Framework than those using usual methods. Implementers found the collaboration helpful for planning, but it did not change staff attitudes or behaviour.
• SLPOther2025eTWST: An Extension to the Timed Water Swallow Test for Increased Dysphagia Screening Accuracy.DysphagiaSeparate speed cutoffs for men and women, plus coughing or a wet or gurgly voice, made the water swallow screen predict dysphagia on FEES better than the original 10 mL/s cutoff.
• PTOTSLPCohort2025International stakeholder consultation on models of rehabilitation service delivery to foster healthy ageing: results of a cross-sectional survey involving 124 countries and all World Health Organization regions.European journal of physical and rehabilitation medicineRehabilitation for people over 60 is reported as only partly available worldwide. Inpatient and outpatient models are most available. Telerehabilitation, community and eldercare are less available and need urgent strengthening. PTs and nurses are most involved, while multidisciplinary teams are limited outside inpatient care.
• SLPOther2025Within- and Cross-Language Generalization in Narrative Production of Bilingual Persons with Aphasia following Semantic Feature Analysis Therapy.Folia phoniatrica et logopaedica : official organ of the International Association of Logopedics and Phoniatrics (IALP)Semantic Feature Analysis improved speech rate and verbal efficiency in Russian narratives but not Hebrew. Cross-language gains appeared in untreated Russian after Hebrew therapy, yet no link was found between naming improvements and narrative changes. High variability limits clear conclusions.
• SLPSurvey2025How can we make therapy better for autistic adults? Autistic adults' ratings of helpfulness of adaptations to therapy.Autism : the international journal of research and practiceAutistic adults rated no therapy adaptation as helpful for everyone. The most valued changes were neurodiversity-affirming practices, clear information beforehand, and sensory adjustments. Shorter sessions, telephone therapy, and involving family were rated least helpful. Ask each client what they need.
• PTOTSLPCohort2025Gross Motor Development in Children With Autism: Longitudinal Trajectories From the Growing Up in New Zealand Study.Autism research : official journal of the International Society for Autism ResearchGross motor delays emerged between 9 and 24 months in children with autism, persisting to 54 months. Children with parent-reported autism concerns had similar motor delays to those with formal diagnoses, suggesting motor issues are an early marker regardless of diagnosis status.
• PTOTSLPSurvey2025Autistic and transgender/gender diverse people's experiences of health and healthcare.Molecular autismAutistic adults, especially those who are transgender or gender diverse, report far worse healthcare experiences and much higher rates of physical and mental health conditions than non-autistic adults. They struggle with communication, sensory overload, and accessing care.
• PTOTSLPCohort2025Time to Onset of Dysphagia Following Head and Neck Radiation.DysphagiaNew swallowing problems mostly appear within six months of head and neck radiation, but 16% emerge later, up to years after treatment. Clinicians should maintain long-term monitoring for all survivors, as new dysphagia remains a risk even after a period of normal function.
• PTOTSLPOther2025Comparative Evaluation of Health Status of Syrian Refugee and Tur CCH_70042 kish Children, Alongside the Factors Influencing Sociocultural Adaptation of Syrian Children in Türkiye.Child: care, health and developmentSyrian refugee children in Türkiye reported higher social anxiety and resilience but lower self-esteem, grades, and worse oral health than Turkish peers. Across both groups, low socioeconomic status linked to poorer outcomes, while resilience showed no socioeconomic gap.
• OTSLPSystematic Review2025Social Internet Use by People With Intellectual Disabilities: A Systematic Review and Thematic Synthesis of Qualitative Studies.Journal of intellectual disability research : JIDRPeople with intellectual disabilities use the internet primarily to feel like others, maintain existing ties, make new friends or partners, and gain autonomy. Support should focus on these personal motivations rather than just restricting access to prevent perceived risks.
• PTOTSLPSurvey2025Healthcare practitioners and robotic-assisted rehabilitation: understanding needs and barriers.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationMost Italian rehabilitation professionals are unaware of robotic devices, with 40% knowing none at all. Those who use them report high satisfaction, but lack of training, space, and scientific evidence remain major barriers. Hands-on experience drives positive attitudes.
• PTOTSLPOther2024Decrease in the excitability of spinal nerve function corresponding to the soleus muscle during terminal phase of heel-raise imagery.Journal of physical therapy scienceImagining a heel raise increased spinal nerve excitability for 600 ms after the cue, but this effect disappeared by 800 ms. The study tested healthy adults lying down, so it does not show this timing applies to patients or functional movement.
• SLPOther2024Consistency of hearing aid use, speech perception and vocabulary in hearing impaired children.CoDASBetter aided speech perception and auditory dosage, a combined measure of audibility and use, were linked to stronger vocabulary, but daily hours alone were not.
• SLPOther2024Applied deaf aesthetics toward transforming deaf higher education.Journal of deaf studies and deaf educationA deafblind student and some hearing students in a small deaf-education case study reported favorably on enlarged, simple online slides with sign language and captions. It cannot show these changes improve learning.
• SLPOther2024Sounds of Nature and Hearing Loss: A Call to Action.Ear and hearingThis perspective article argues that hearing aid users often fail to report missing natural sounds until after fitting, suggesting clinicians should actively assess this domain. It contains no new trial data, so it offers no evidence on whether specific interventions improve outcomes.
• SLPOther2025Cerebral palsy and perinatal mortality in children born in Norway to immigrant mothers.Developmental medicine and child neurologyIn Norway, children of immigrant mothers had lower cerebral palsy prevalence than children of non-immigrant mothers. Children of mothers from low- and middle-income countries had higher perinatal mortality and more intellectual disability among those with cerebral palsy.
• SLPCohort2025Microstructure competences and grammatical errors of Danish-speaking children with developmental language disorder when telling and retelling narratives and engaging in spontaneous language.International journal of language & communication disordersDanish children with developmental language disorder made significantly more errors than age-matched peers in structured narratives, but not in spontaneous speech. They showed specific difficulties with word order and omissions, not just morphology. Structured tasks are needed to identify these issues.
• PTOTSLPCohort2025Adaptive functioning in children and young adults with monogenic neurodevelopmental disorders.Developmental medicine and child neurologyAdaptive behaviour profiles in children with eight genetic neurodevelopmental disorders varied widely within each diagnosis. Communication was typically the weakest skill. Co-occurring autism, not ADHD, was linked to more severe impairment. This supports assessing individual needs rather than relying on the genetic label alone.
• PTOTSLPSystematic Review2025Is physical therapy recommended for people with parkinson's disease treated with subthalamic deep brain stimulation? a delphi consensus study.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationExperts recommend conventional physical therapy for Parkinson's patients with deep brain stimulation, but the underlying evidence is weak. No randomized trials exist, so this is expert opinion, not proof of effectiveness. Do not treat it as a clinical guideline.
• SLPQualitative2025Eating and Drinking with Acknowledged Risks (EDAR) in Older Adults: A Qualitative Study of the Experiences of Clinicians in Japan and the UK.DysphagiaClinicians in Japan and the UK described EDAR decisions as complex and often driven by seniority, family pressure, or legal fear rather than patient autonomy alone. They lacked training and clear protocols. Support tailored to specific settings and professions is needed to help clinicians navigate these ethical dilemmas confidently.
• PTOTSLPSystematic Review2025Involving people with lived experience when setting cerebral palsy research priorities: A scoping review.Developmental medicine and child neurologyResearch priorities for cerebral palsy are dominated by intervention questions, but current evidence comes from just five studies in high-income countries. People with CP were a minority of participants, and their direct involvement as research partners was inconsistent.
• SLPSurvey2025Assessment and treatment of gesture in neurogenic communication disorders: An international survey of practice.International journal of language & communication disordersMost speech therapists assessed gesture sometimes, but only 5% never did and nearly 70% never used a published test. Only 26.9% used gesture in treatment for at least half the time, and lack of tools was a common barrier.
• SLPCohort2025Upper Esophageal Sphincter Abnormalities and Esophageal Motility Recovery After Peroral Endoscopic Myotomy for Achalasia.DysphagiaMost achalasia patients had upper sphincter issues that improved after surgery. Those with these issues started with worse swallowing scores. The surgery lowered pressure at both sphincters and helped symptoms, but it did not restore normal muscle movement in the esophagus.
• OTSLPOther2025Sleep health of adults and children with Moebius syndrome.Research in developmental disabilitiesAdults and children with Moebius syndrome reported significantly higher rates of sleep disturbance, insomnia, nightmares, and daytime sleepiness than general population norms. Qualitative interviews revealed chronic, heterogeneous sleep issues impacting relationships, though participants were often unsure if these symptoms were directly linked to their syndrome.
• OTSLPSurvey2024Services in Minoritized Autistic Adolescents and Adults Varying in Language Skills.Seminars in speech and languageMinoritized autistic teens and adults averaged 3.67 services, 3.32 unmet needs, and 5.52 barriers. More services were tied to language impairment and program enrollment; unmet needs rose with higher autism traits and lower community belonging.
• SLPOther2024Incorporating Virtual Reality Agents During a Dichotic Speech Reception Task: Insights From the Heart.Ear and hearingVirtual reality agents giving feedback did not increase listening effort or improve speech recognition compared to static objects. Participants reported higher effort and lower performance when repeating two sentences simultaneously versus one, confirming that divided attention increases cognitive load regardless of social context.
• PTOTSLPCohort2024Examination of evaluation indicators for spasticity in stroke patients using ultrasound imaging equipment.Journal of physical therapy scienceUltrasound measurement of muscle-tendon junction displacement correlated with spasticity severity in the arm and leg. The paretic side showed greater displacement than the non-paretic side. Other ultrasound indices did not track spasticity, suggesting displacement is a potential objective alternative to the subjective Ashworth scale.