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 193 OF 205 · NEWEST FIRST

• SLPCohort2026Benefits of Bilateral Bone Conduction Device Use Including Osia Devices in Children and Adolescents With Bilateral Atresia.Trends in hearingBilateral bone conduction devices improved speech in noise and stationary sound localization compared to unilateral use, but moving sound perception and head movement strategies remained impaired. Children still self-reported significant spatial hearing challenges.
• PTOTSLPCohort2026Lung Volume Recruitment Slows Pulmonary Functional Decline and Prolongs Survival in ALS.Journal of neurologic physical therapy : JNPTIn people with ALS, lung volume recruitment was associated with a slower decline in lung capacity and longer survival, particularly when continued for six months or more. However, this was a retrospective study without a control group, so the intervention did not cause these outcomes.
• SLPMeta-Analysis2026The Effectiveness of Ultrasound Visual Biofeedback in Articulation Therapy for Children and Adolescents With Speech Sound Disorders: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.International journal of language & communication disorders26 of 35 studies reported better speech accuracy in children and adolescents with speech sound disorders who received ultrasound visual biofeedback with or alongside traditional therapy, motor-based approaches, electropalatography, or auditory perception training. Results varied widely.
• PTOTSLPRCT2026Looking Beyond Dose: Identifying Responders and Non-Responders to RehaCom Computerized Cognitive Rehabilitation in Progressive MS-The CogEx Study.Neurorehabilitation and neural repairComputerized cognitive training helps some people with progressive MS improve processing speed, but not all modules work equally. Progressing through Attention/Concentration tasks was linked to greater gains, while other modules showed little benefit or hit difficulty ceilings.
• SLPSurvey2026Risk Factors for Children's Vocabulary Performance: Background Variables and Parental Concerns.International journal of language & communication disordersParents' concerns about language delay align with lower vocabulary scores. Children with concerned parents averaged the 31st percentile, while unconcerned children averaged the 63rd. Word combination ability predicted vocabulary in concerned groups, while onset of speaking predicted it in unconcerned groups.
• PTOTSLPCohort2026Changing Patterns of Psychotropics Use Among Older Adults With Intellectual Disability Over a Decade, With a Focus on Designated Mental Health Conditions.Journal of applied research in intellectual disabilities : JARIDPsychotropic use remained high in older adults with intellectual disability over a decade. Antipsychotic and sedative use dropped, while antidepressant use rose. Many people taking these drugs had no diagnosed mental health condition, but did have behaviours of concern.
• SLPCase-Control2026Multidomain Developmental Indicators in 4- to 9-Year-Old Children with Oral Motor and Speech Sound Disorders.Folia phoniatrica et logopaedica : official organ of the International Association of Logopedics and Phoniatrics (IALP)Children with oral motor and speech sound disorders more often had adenoid surgery, pulmonary disease, selective eating, mouth chewing, delayed motor and crawling milestones, no canonical babble, concentration issues, and family speech or literacy delay. These were links, not proof of cause.
• PTOTSLPCohort2026The prevalence of an isolated gastrocnemius tightness in patients with knee or hip pathology.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesIsolated gastrocnemius tightness was found in 20% of patients with hip pathology and 10% with knee pathology before surgery. Older age and higher pain levels were linked to greater tightness, while higher physical activity was associated with less tightness.
• PTOTSLPSystematic Review2026A systematic review of physical activity guidelines for adults with cardio-respiratory diseases: Stepping towards evidence-based recommendations.Clinical rehabilitationMost cardio-respiratory guidelines encourage physical activity but lack specific instructions on how to prescribe it. Only 11 of 29 guidelines provided clear details on frequency, intensity, time and type, leaving clinicians to interpret vague advice.
• SLPOther2026Dyadic synchrony in deaf mothers and hearing infants.Journal of deaf studies and deaf educationMost deaf mothers and hearing infants showed adequate or better play; 21% had less warm, less engaged play that may need support. Lower household income was linked to poorer interaction.
• SLPCase Report2026Voice Therapy for Puberphonia in the Adolescent Male: A Clinical Case Study.Perspectives of the ASHA special interest groupsManual laryngeal reposturing rapidly normalized pitch in an adolescent with puberphonia, but only after semi-occluded exercises reduced muscle tension enough for him to tolerate the maneuver. Counseling the family on the social impact of a sudden voice change was essential for successful generalization.
• SLPOther2026Prosodic Imitation in Children With Down Syndrome: Evidence From Sentence Repetition and Pitch Contour Modeling.American journal of speech-language pathologyChildren with Down syndrome imitated yes/no questions with rising pitch but produced flatter contours and weaker subject/object emphasis contrasts than typically developing children selected for speech and language ability.
• SLPOther2026Predicting Spectro-Temporal Modulation Detection Thresholds With a Functional Auditory Model.Trends in hearingAn auditory model predicted group-average spectro-temporal modulation thresholds well but failed to predict individual differences in older hearing-impaired listeners. It underestimated the magnitude of their deficits, suggesting current models of cochlear damage do not fully explain supra-threshold processing issues.
• SLPOther2026Partner-dependent communication without dynamic adaptation in autism.Autism : the international journal of research and practiceAutistic adults matched non-autistic adults in adjusting communication for a presumed child, but did not reduce those adjustments as evidence showed the child and adult performed equally. Social anxiety groups adapted more consistently.
• SLPQualitative2026Dialogue matters. Exploring Deaf people's research experiences in Poland.Journal of deaf studies and deaf educationDeaf participants described research as often inaccessible and culturally insensitive, citing jargon, lack of sign language support, and feeling judged. They valued science for empowerment but stressed that trust, plain language, and genuine dialogue are prerequisites for meaningful participation.
• SLPOther2026A Speech-Segregation Algorithm for Spatial Hearing Aids to Operate With Multiple Sound Sources.Journal of speech, language, and hearing research : JSLHRThe algorithm improved automatic transcription of front placements of speech and noise, but removed target speech when sources were close on the side; no human listeners were tested.
• SLPCohort2026Mandarin-Speaking Preschoolers With Cochlear Implants Can Use Duration and Pitch to Mark Prosodic Boundaries.Ear and hearingMandarin-speaking preschoolers with cochlear implants use pauses and pitch changes to separate words in lists. They speak slower than typical peers, producing longer sounds in compounds. Therapists should target phrase-level prosody, not just word sounds, to help these children communicate naturally.
• SLPOther2026A Web-Based Listening Test System for Cochlear Implant Research and its Validation for Remote Testing.Trends in hearingSpeech and hearing tests for cochlear implant users produced consistent scores when done at home via Bluetooth streaming as when done in the lab. This supports remote assessment for research, though most participants still preferred in-person clinical visits.
• SLPQualitative2026'Name It to Tame It': Dementia Diagnostic Procedure in Austrian Care Facilities for People With Intellectual Disabilities. An Interview Study.Journal of intellectual disability research : JIDRCaregivers struggle to distinguish dementia from intellectual disability or normal ageing. Long-term relationships help detect subtle changes, but emotional attachment can delay recognition. Most suspected cases never receive a formal diagnosis, and when they do, the tests used are often unsuitable for this population.
• PTOTSLPOther2026Progressive relaxation exercises: association with dyspnea, anxiety, and oxygen saturation among patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesIn 60 patients with mild to moderate COPD, one month of daily progressive relaxation exercises was associated with a shift from severe to mild dyspnea and moderate to mild anxiety. These changes persisted at three months. Without a control group, these shifts may reflect natural fluctuation rather than the exercises themselves.
• OTSLPOther2026Flow Characteristics of Barium Thickened Liquids during Swallowing in Healthy Adults.DysphagiaIn healthy adults, thicker barium liquids kept the bolus in the mouth at first swallow, while thin liquids often reached the throat. Gum-based thickeners did not consistently change transit times compared with starch-based.
• OTSLPQualitative2026Eliciting the views of autistic adolescents attending specialist schools on what friendships mean to them.Autism : the international journal of research and practiceAutistic adolescents with complex communication needs described friendships as connections driven by strong emotions, active play with chosen peers, and sometimes close ties to familiar adults. They also asked for space from friends in structured settings.
• PTOTSLPCase-Control2026Microstate permutation complexity of EEG signals distinguishes minimally conscious state plus from minimally conscious state minus.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationA new EEG measure called MS-PLZC better distinguishes two levels of minimally conscious state than existing methods. It achieved 73% accuracy in separating MCS+ from MCS-, offering a more precise bedside tool for assessing consciousness recovery.
• PTOTSLPSystematic Review2026Psychosocial outcomes of medical specialty camps for children with physical disabilities.Journal of pediatric rehabilitation medicineAcross 33 studies, medical specialty camps for children with physical disabilities consistently improved self-esteem, social connection, and belonging. Qualitative data showed campers felt safe and accepted, though long-term effects often faded without follow-up programs or local resources.
• PTOTSLPOther2026Exoskeleton frontal and sagittal plane hip torque improves propulsion and transient stability during walking in individuals with hemiparesis.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationIn eight people with hemiparesis, a hip exoskeleton widened step width and improved stability markers as abduction torque increased. Sagittal-plane assistance boosted non-paretic propulsion but not paretic. These immediate mechanical changes need testing in real-world falls and walking speed.
• PTOTSLPCase Report2026Upper limb motor recovery using a digital health-driven IoT rehabilitation system: a case report.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesA stroke patient with high baseline independence used a digital IoT system for two weeks. His arm movement quality improved slightly, and he stayed engaged. Because he started so capable, the system could not show further gains in how often he used his arm.
• PTOTSLPCohort2026Relationship between lower limb muscle coordination and knee flexion angle during the swing phase of gait in post-stroke individuals.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationStroke patients with fewer muscle coordination patterns had significantly lower knee flexion during the swing phase. These patients merged ankle and hip/knee control into one pattern, unlike those with more complex control who kept ankle push-off separate.
• PTOTSLPCohort2026The impact of continued inpatient therapies on functional recovery and community discharge in patients with acquired brain injury.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesPatients with acquired brain injury continuing rehabilitation at a skilled nursing facility after inpatient rehab showed significant functional gains in mobility, daily activities, and cognition. Eighty-eight percent were discharged to the community. Higher admission mobility scores and an ischemic stroke diagnosis predicted community discharge.
• PTOTSLPRCT2026Hyperbaric oxygen therapy combined with computerized cognitive training improves global cognition and functional independence post-stroke: a randomized controlled trial.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationCombining hyperbaric oxygen with computerized cognitive training improved global cognition and daily living independence more than either alone or standard care in stroke patients. Gains appeared across memory, attention, and orientation. The contribution of each component cannot be separated.
• PTOTSLPNarrative Review2026Neurosurgery to restore function in cerebral palsy: current practice and emerging therapies.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesThis review maps neurosurgical options for cerebral palsy movement disorders. It notes SDR helps spasticity but can unmask dystonia, while DBS and spinal cord stimulation remain investigational for children. Outcomes vary by phenotype, requiring individualized selection and intensive rehab.
• PTOTSLPOther2026Hands-free control of an assistive robotic arm for high-level paralysis.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationHead, tongue, and facial muscle controls let people reach targets with a robotic arm as fast as a hand-operated joystick. Voice control was slower. These hands-free options may offer people with high-level paralysis a safer, cheaper alternative to brain implants.
• PTOTSLPQualitative2026User Requirements of the Integrated Home-Based Rehabilitation Tool, Neurorehabilitation Ecosystem for Sustained Therapy: Multicenter Focus Group Study With Stroke Survivors, Caregivers, and Health Care Professionals.JMIR rehabilitation and assistive technologiesStroke survivors, caregivers, and therapists agree that home rehabilitation apps need therapist-led setup, simple interfaces, and customizable games. Caregivers want to support without becoming therapists. The system must be an addition to clinic care, not a replacement, with ongoing monitoring to keep patients engaged.
• PTOTSLPCohort2026Clinical characteristics, functional impact and caregivers' priorities in Malaysian children with dystonic cerebral palsy.Journal of pediatric rehabilitation medicineCaregivers rated sitting, hygiene, and speech as top priorities even when impact was mild. Fine motor issues showed high impact and priority. Dystonia severity correlated with functional impact, but functional level alone did not predict priority.
• PTOTSLPSystematic Review2026Augmented Reality and Artificial Intelligence for the Assessment and Rehabilitation of Spatial Neglect: A Systematic Review.Neurorehabilitation and neural repairAugmented reality and AI show promise for assessing spatial neglect, with some diagnostic accuracy exceeding standard tests. However, evidence for rehabilitation effectiveness is very low, with only one small trial. Current tools lack personalization and real-world validation.
• PTOTSLPRCT2026Effects of incentive spirometer added to standard rehabilitation in previously hospitalized adults with post-COVID-19 condition: a randomized controlled trial.Journal of rehabilitation medicineAdding an incentive spirometer to standard rehabilitation improved peak expiratory flow and reduced breathlessness compared with rehabilitation alone. However, it did not improve walking distance, strength, or quality of life more than the standard programme. Use it as an adjunct for respiratory symptoms, not a replacement for comprehensive rehab.
• SLPOther2026Discrepancies between feeling and expressing: Perceptions of autistic and non-autistic emotional expressions by non-autistic observers.Autism : the international journal of research and practiceAutistic adults reported feeling emotions as strongly as non-autistic adults. Non-autistic observers were less accurate at recognizing happiness in autistic faces, but rated autistic sadness and anger as more intense. Software classified mild autistic faces as more neutral than non-autistic faces.
• SLPCohort2026Quantitative but Not Qualitative Differences: A Longitudinal Analysis of Grammatical Marker Development in Mandarin-Speaking Autistic Children.Autism research : official journal of the International Society for Autism ResearchMandarin-speaking autistic children acquired grammatical markers in the same order as typically developing peers, but at a slower pace. Autism severity and initial language ability did not change this sequence. This supports targeting general language skills, as specific grammar instruction may not be needed early on.
• PTOTSLPSystematic Review2026Factors Contributing to Screen Exposure in Preschool Children and Its Associated Outcomes: A Systematic Review.Child: care, health and developmentParents' own excessive screen use and lack of clear rules are the strongest predictors of high screen time in preschoolers. While most studies link high exposure to language and social delays, a few report benefits when use is interactive and educational. The evidence is observational, so causality is not proven.
• PTOTSLPNarrative Review2026Nanomaterial-enabled physical rehabilitation: mechanisms, evidence, and translational pathways.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesNanomaterials can localize heat, sound, or magnetic fields to target pain and tissue repair more precisely than current modalities. However, this remains preclinical. Long-term safety data for repeated exposure is missing, so there are no clinical protocols to adopt yet.
• OTSLPMeta-Analysis2026Examining the Relationship Between Social Motivation and Internalizing Symptoms in Autistic People: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.Autism research : official journal of the International Society for Autism ResearchAcross 15 studies, autistic people with lower social motivation reported significantly higher anxiety and depression. The link was strongest for social anxiety. Because the data is cross-sectional, this shows an association, not that low motivation causes mental health difficulties.
• PTSLPSystematic Review2026The adoption of innovative technologies in Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine: state of the art and unmet needs.European journal of physical and rehabilitation medicineMost mapped rehabilitation technology studies covered neurological conditions and motor recovery. Virtual reality, non-invasive brain stimulation, robotics and tele-rehabilitation were common, but quality appraisal was absent.
• PTOTSLPCohort2026Characteristics of unilateral cerebral palsy according to gestational age at birth: A retrospective study.Developmental medicine and child neurologyMost children with unilateral cerebral palsy were born at term. Premature birth did not predict later impairments, but focal brain injuries like stroke were linked to fewer cognitive and communication issues, yet higher rates of epilepsy, compared to white matter injuries.
• PTOTSLPCohort2026Transitioning to a Flexible, Tiered, Developmentally Informed Same-Day Screening Model for Preschoolers in Low-Resource Settings.Child: care, health and developmentSeparate visits, long English-only tests and age-based screening were reported to make preschool health checks hard to complete in South African ECD centres. The team proposed same-day visits, shorter sessions and readiness-based tools, but did not test whether this improves screening accuracy.
• PTOTSLPOther2026Role of Technology Acceptance in the Telerehabilitation of Patients With Metabolic Syndrome: Longitudinal Study.JMIR rehabilitation and assistive technologiesPatients care more about whether home rehab tools work and are supported than whether they are easy to use. High trust in the system actually lowered the intention to use it before treatment began. Family encouragement and clear benefits drive adoption.
• SLPSurvey2026Perceptions and Attitudes Towards Intellectual Disability and Substance Use Disorder: A Quantitative Study Among Health Professionals.Journal of applied research in intellectual disabilities : JARIDHealth professionals in addiction care held more positive attitudes towards working with patients with co-occurring intellectual disability and substance use disorder than those in intellectual disability care. Professionals in disability care reported more negative attitudes towards this group compared to patients with intellectual disability alone.
• PTOTSLPCohort2026Sleep and activity patterns in autism.Autism : the international journal of research and practiceAutistic adults spent more time sedentary and had less consistent sleep schedules than their non-autistic relatives. Each hour of sedentary time linked to 23.5 minutes less sleep in autistic adults, compared to 17.1 minutes in relatives. Day-to-day variability mattered more than average sleep duration.
• SLPOther2026Associations Between Autistic Adolescents' Biological and Behavioral Characteristics and Sympathetic and Parasympathetic Functioning.Journal of autism and developmental disordersIn 110 autistic adolescents, higher BMI was linked to lower resting heart-rate variability, and higher autism symptoms and adaptive skills were linked to lower sweat-gland responses during a stress task; many other links were not found.
• PTOTSLPCohort2026Urban-Rural Differences and Sex-Specific Cognitive Effects on Autism Symptom Trajectories: A Longitudinal Study of Autistic Children in Taiwan.Autism research : official journal of the International Society for Autism ResearchRural autistic children showed steeper increases in social communication difficulties over time than urban peers, despite similar starting points. Higher verbal IQ was linked to fewer social symptoms in girls but not boys. Restricted behaviors remained stable across all groups.
• SLPOther2026Sex-specific metrics for success: Gaps in social word use are bigger for autistic girls than boys.Autism : the international journal of research and practiceNon-autistic girls used more social words than any other group in the study. Autistic girls also used more social words than autistic boys. This suggests that the high social language expectations for girls are a general population trait, not unique to autism.
• PTOTSLPOther2026Can GPT-5 Support Licensing Examination Preparation? Analysis of Accuracy, Reasoning, and Semantic Similarity Across Rehabilitation Disciplines.JMIR rehabilitation and assistive technologiesGPT-5 answered 91.0% of PT, 79.0% of OT, and 83.0% of SLP board-preparation questions correctly, but its explanations were less similar to expert rationales for inferential and evaluative reasoning. Use it as a supervised study aid, not a replacement for expert reasoning.