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 58 OF 205 · NEWEST FIRST

• PTOTSLPCohort2021Tolerability and psychological effects of a multimodal day-care rehabilitation program for persons with Huntington's disease.Journal of rehabilitation medicinePeople with Huntington's disease who completed an 8-week multimodal day-care rehabilitation programme reported less anxiety and depression and better self-rated health. The study was small and uncontrolled, so it cannot show the programme caused these changes.
• PTOTSLPCohort2021Positive Beliefs and the Likelihood of Successful Community Discharge From Skilled Nursing Facilities.Archives of physical medicine and rehabilitationPatients who believed they could become more independent were 6.0% more likely to return home successfully than those who did not. Staff optimism only helped if the patient also believed. If patients were pessimistic, staff optimism was linked to lower discharge success.
• PTOTSLPCohort2021Association Between 2010 Medicare Reforms and Utilization of Postacute Inpatient Rehabilitation in Ischemic Stroke.American journal of physical medicine & rehabilitationDischarges to inpatient rehabilitation facilities dropped 1.1% after 2010 Medicare reforms, while skilled nursing facility discharges remained unchanged. The adjusted odds of IRF admission fell 12% compared to home discharge. This suggests fewer stroke patients received intensive therapy despite the policy aiming to target complex needs.
• PTOTSLPSystematic Review2021Systems Approach Is Needed for In-Hospital Mobility: A Qualitative Metasynthesis of Patient and Clinician Perspectives.Archives of physical medicine and rehabilitationHospitalized older adults stay inactive because staff expect them to be passive, fear falls, and lack time. Mobility fails when teams wait for physical therapy clearance instead of acting. Success requires clarifying roles and challenging ageist assumptions about patient capability.
• SLPPilot2020Modified Checklist for Autism in Toddlers Revised (MCHAT-R/F) in an Urban Metropolitan Sample of Young Children in Turkey.Journal of autism and developmental disordersThe Turkish M-CHAT-R/F identified 9.8% of toddlers as screen-positive, but only 3.3% remained positive after follow-up interviews. High-risk children (score 8-20) rarely needed follow-up, suggesting they could be referred directly for evaluation to save resources.
• PTOTSLPOther2020Managing the Rehabilitation Wave: Rehabilitation Services for COVID-19 Survivors.Archives of physical medicine and rehabilitationThis paper describes a hospital's operational response to a surge in COVID-19 patients, detailing how they triaged rehabilitation needs using functional scores and modified care models. It offers a template for organizing services but reports no patient outcomes, so it does not show that these methods improved recovery.
• SLPCohort2020A Comparative Study of Suicidality and Its Association with Emotion Regulation Impairment in Large ASD and US Census-Matched Samples.Journal of autism and developmental disordersYouth with autism were three times more likely than general US youth to have parent-reported suicidal ideation. Impaired emotion regulation, especially low positive affect, was linked to suicidality in autism samples but not the general population.
• PTOTSLPCohort2021Distress, Work Satisfaction, and Work Ability are Mediators of the Relation Between Psychosocial Working Conditions and Mental Health-Related Long-Term Sickness Absence.Journal of occupational rehabilitationWorkers facing high emotional demands and work-family conflict were more likely to go on long-term mental health sick leave. This link was driven by distress. Supportive resources like learning opportunities and co-worker support lowered this risk, mediated by work satisfaction and ability.
• SLPOther2021Rehabilitation Treatment Specification System: Methodology to Identify and Describe Unique Targets and Ingredients.Archives of physical medicine and rehabilitationA Delphi consensus process among 10 voice specialists produced standardized categories for voice therapy targets and ingredients. The resulting framework helps clinicians describe treatments precisely and replicate research protocols, though it currently excludes complex activity-based and cognitive interventions.
• SLPSurvey2020Brief Report: Gender Differences in Experiences of Peer Victimization Among Adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder.Journal of autism and developmental disordersAdolescent girls with autism reported peer victimization at similar rates to boys, but for girls it was linked to anxiety and depression. For boys, social communication difficulties were the main link to mental health symptoms.
• SLPCase-Control2020Perinatal Factors Associated with Autism Spectrum Disorder in Jamaican Children.Journal of autism and developmental disordersAfter adjustment, cesarean delivery, low birth weight, and preterm birth did not show a clear link with ASD in Jamaican children. Only exploratory subgroup patterns appeared, and they need replication.
• SLPRCT2020Attunement in Music Therapy for Young Children with Autism: Revisiting Qualities of Relationship as Mechanisms of Change.Journal of autism and developmental disordersMusical attunement did not predict changes in autism symptoms over five months. Therapists matched the child's relational level in about half of observed sequences, typically when the child was using vocal or instrumental play rather than bodily expression.
• SLPOther2020Prevalence and Risk-Markers of Self-Harm in Autistic Children and Adults.Journal of autism and developmental disordersIn autistic children and adults without intellectual disability, 24% self-harmed in the past month. Those who self-harmed had significantly lower mood and higher impulsivity and overactivity than those who did not.
• SLPSurvey2020Is Camouflaging Autistic Traits Associated with Suicidal Thoughts and Behaviours? Expanding the Interpersonal Psychological Theory of Suicide in an Undergraduate Student Sample.Journal of autism and developmental disordersHigher autistic traits and camouflaging were linked to lifetime suicidal thoughts or behaviours in 160 undergraduates. Assimilation, pretending to fit in, was most tied to feeling of not belonging; the total camouflaging score did not add after other factors. This does not prove cause.
• SLPPilot2020Brief Report: Preliminary Feasibility of the TEDI: A Novel Parent-Administered Telehealth Assessment for Autism Spectrum Disorder Symptoms in the First Year of Life.Journal of autism and developmental disordersA telehealth protocol where parents coached to play with their infants successfully captured video data for autism screening. All 22 planned sessions were completed, and parents rated the process as highly acceptable. This proves the method is feasible, not that it accurately diagnoses autism.
• SLPSurvey2020Parent Perspectives Towards Genetic and Epigenetic Testing for Autism Spectrum Disorder.Journal of autism and developmental disordersParents of children with and without developmental delays overwhelmingly want a molecular test for autism, preferring saliva samples and early results. However, only 19% accurately understood the difference between genetics and epigenetics, highlighting the need for professional interpretation.
• PTOTSLPCohort2020Age of First Walking and Associations with Symptom Severity in Children with Suspected or Diagnosed Autism Spectrum Disorder.Journal of autism and developmental disordersChildren with autism walked independently later than peers, and later walking linked to more severe autistic symptoms. This association held after adjusting for IQ and other factors. Delayed walking is not specific to autism, but warrants considering autism as a possible diagnosis, especially in girls.
• SLPCohort2021Longitudinal Differences in Response to Name Among Infants Developing ASD and Risk for ADHD.Journal of autism and developmental disordersFailing to orient to name at 24 months predicted later ASD, not ADHD concerns. At 12 to 18 months it was less clear which outcome it meant. Passing was a better sign of no ASD or ADHD concerns than failing was of having them.
• SLPCohort2021Comparison of Parent Questionnaires, Examiner-Led Assessment and Parents' Concerns at 14 Months of Age as Indicators of Later Diagnosis of Autism.Journal of autism and developmental disordersAt 14 months, parent questionnaires and examiner assessments flagged later autism, but parents' concerns were vague, mostly about general behaviour. No single source was decisive. Clinicians should combine all three signals rather than relying on one, as they often disagree.
• SLPCohort2020Comparing the Pragmatic Speech Profiles of Minimally Verbal and Verbally Fluent Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder.Journal of autism and developmental disordersMinimally verbal individuals with autism use fewer speech functions than fluent peers, relying heavily on agreement and requests. They rarely comment, but still show intent to connect. Therapy should target expanding functions beyond requesting to include commenting.
• SLPOther2020Interactional Synchrony and Its Association with Social and Communication Ability in Children With and Without Autism Spectrum Disorder.Journal of autism and developmental disordersChildren with autism were rated as less coordinated in movement and conversation with both mothers and unfamiliar adults. Movement timing tracked mothers' ratings of social and communication skills in the combined sample. This is an observational comparison, not a treatment study.
• SLPCohort2020Sensory Reactivity at 1 and 2 Years Old is Associated with ASD Severity During the Preschool Years.Journal of autism and developmental disordersAt 14 months, less observed reaction to sounds, sights or touch, and stronger parent-reported reaction to sounds, sights or touch, were each linked to more severe autism symptoms at ages 3 to 5. These links were associations, not proof of cause.
• SLPOther2020Metacognitive Monitoring and Control of Eyewitness Memory Reports in Autism.Autism research : official journal of the International Society for Autism ResearchAutistic adults and non-autistic adults gave similarly detailed and accurate eyewitness reports on this structured task. Accuracy instructions helped both. Social questioning improved accuracy, but autistic adults were less able to choose what to report.
• PTOTSLPOther2020Leisure activity in middle-aged adults with Down syndrome: Initiators, social partners, settings and barriers.Journal of applied research in intellectual disabilities : JARIDMiddle-aged adults with Down syndrome self-initiated most leisure, often alone. They met recommended time for physical activity but lacked intensity, and spent most cognitively stimulating time on games rather than reading. Transportation and lack of nearby places were top barriers.
• PTOTSLPPilot2020Eye movement performance and clinical outcomes among female athletes post-concussion.Brain injuryFemale athletes with recent concussion made more errors on a task requiring them to look away from a target than healthy controls. However, eye movement measures did not reliably predict how long symptoms lasted or when athletes returned to play.
• PTOTSLPOther2021Stroke impairment categories: A new way to classify the effects of stroke based on stroke-related impairments.Clinical rehabilitationStroke patients fall into seven distinct impairment groups. These groups predict different therapy needs and outcomes. Motor-Cognitive-Sensory strokes are most common. Loss of Consciousness strokes have highest mortality. Clinicians can use these categories to benchmark expected therapy doses and discharge destinations.
• PTOTSLPOther2021Multi-stage Screening in Early Intervention: A Critical Strategy for Improving ASD Identification and Addressing Disparities.Journal of autism and developmental disordersEmbedding two-stage autism screening in Early Intervention caught 83.7% of diagnosed cases. Follow-through was high, and gaps in diagnosis for children of color or those with limited English vanished after Stage 1. This model helps therapists identify risk without relying on pediatric referrals.
• PTOTSLPSystematic Review2021Impact of COVID-19 on people with physical disabilities: A rapid review.Disability and health journalPeople with physical disabilities faced major disruptions to care, including suspended physiotherapy and transportation barriers. While some reported worse sleep and mood, others showed resilience or even improved sexual satisfaction. No single consistent pattern of harm emerged across the small number of studies.
• PTOTSLPMeta-Analysis2021Developmental outcomes after early surgery for complex congenital heart disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis.Developmental medicine and child neurologyInfants with complex heart defects score below average on motor and cognitive tests. Single-ventricle patients continue to have lower IQ and language issues into school age, while two-ventricle patients often catch up to typical ranges.
• SLPCohort2021Comparison of the Modified Checklist for Autism in Toddlers, Revised with Follow-Up (M-CHAT-R/F) Positive Predictive Value by Race.Journal of autism and developmental disordersThe M-CHAT-R/F screening tool works equally well for Black and White toddlers. While Black children were more likely to fail specific items before the follow-up interview, the overall accuracy in predicting autism or other developmental delays did not differ by race.
• SLPOther2020California Autism Prevalence by County and Race/Ethnicity: Declining Trends Among Wealthy Whites.Journal of autism and developmental disordersAutism prevalence in wealthy California counties dropped for white children after birth year 2000, while rising in poorer areas. This suggests high-income families may be opting out of state services or accessing private care, rather than a true decrease in autism rates.
• OTSLPSystematic Review2020Resilience in the face of adversity in adults with an intellectual disability: A literature review.Journal of applied research in intellectual disabilities : JARIDAdults with intellectual disability described resilience as feeling in control, accepting themselves, staying healthy, having supportive people, and doing regular activities. The evidence came from six case reports, so it is not proof that any therapy works.
• SLPSurvey2020Early Interventionists' Appraisals of Intervention Strategies for Toddlers with Autism Spectrum Disorder and Their Peers in Inclusive Childcare Classrooms.Journal of autism and developmental disordersEarly interventionists rated 31 autism strategies as more effective for typical toddlers than for autistic toddlers, yet eight of the top ten strategies overlapped for both groups. Most top-rated strategies for autistic children are already standard practice in accredited childcare.
• PTOTSLPRCT2020'Recoupling' the attentional and motor control of preparatory postural adjustments to overcome freezing of gait in Parkinson's.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationIn people with Parkinson's, freezing attempts failed when the sideways weight shift was too small. Training a specific verbal or analogy cue to increase this shift helped nearly all participants initiate a step successfully, with no difference between the two cue types.
• OTSLPQualitative2020"For Me, the Anorexia is Just a Symptom, and the Cause is the Autism": Investigating Restrictive Eating Disorders in Autistic Women.Journal of autism and developmental disordersAutistic women with anorexia described their eating disorder as a coping mechanism for autism-related distress, not primarily driven by weight concerns. Restriction served to numb sensory overload, regulate confusion, and create predictability. This suggests standard anorexia treatments may fail if they ignore the underlying autism.
• SLPOther2020Scaling of Early Social Cognitive Skills in Typically Developing Infants and Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder.Journal of autism and developmental disordersTypically developing infants and children with autism passed early social cognitive tasks in the same order, but children with autism had lower pass rates on gaze and cooperation tasks. This was an assessment sequence, not a treatment test.
• PTOTSLPSystematic Review2020Systematic review on the application of wearable inertial sensors to quantify everyday life motor activity in people with mobility impairments.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationWearable sensors can track specific movements like sitting duration or gait speed in people with mobility impairments. However, the studies varied too much in method and reporting to confirm which sensor setups work best or how accurate they are for clinical use.
• OTSLPOther2020Measurement Properties of the Suicidal Behaviour Questionnaire-Revised in Autistic Adults.Journal of autism and developmental disordersThe SBQ-R suicide questionnaire does not measure suicidality the same way in autistic adults as in the general population. Items about telling others and future intent work differently, so comparing total scores between these groups is invalid without adaptation.
• PTOTSLPSystematic Review2020Virtual reality and non-invasive brain stimulation for rehabilitation applications: a systematic review.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationCombining virtual reality with brain stimulation showed promise for stroke, pain, and PTSD in small trials, but results were mixed and no study proved it works better than either alone. Single-session treatments mostly failed, so this is not yet a standard care option.
• SLPCohort2021Brief Report: Use of the Infant-Toddler Checklist in Infant Siblings of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder.Journal of autism and developmental disordersThe Infant-Toddler Checklist missed many cases in high-risk siblings, with sensitivity below accepted levels. Accuracy improved by 24 months, but positive predictive value remained low. Clinicians should interpret early screening results cautiously in this population.
• SLPQualitative2021Supporting Newly Identified or Diagnosed Autistic Adults: An Initial Evaluation of an Autistic-Led Programme.Journal of autism and developmental disordersNewly diagnosed or self-identified autistic adults described an autistic-led peer group as a safe, less judged space. They valued hearing peers' experiences, understanding autism positively, and discussing practical ways to handle anxiety, disclosure, and daily life.
• PTOTSLPSystematic Review2021What Determines the Quality of Rehabilitation Clinical Practice Guidelines?: An Overview Study.American journal of physical medicine & rehabilitationRehabilitation guidelines rated with AGREE II varied widely, and no single domain by itself made a guideline high quality or recommended. Rigor of development was strongest, but applicability did not predict recommendation, so guideline scores alone should not decide use.
• SLPSurvey2021A Consensus Statement for the Management and Rehabilitation of Communication and Swallowing Function in the ICU: A Global Response to COVID-19.Archives of physical medicine and rehabilitationThirty-five ICU speech-language pathologists agreed on 64 of 66 statements for managing communication and swallowing. They did not agree that speaking is a low-risk aerosol-generating procedure, or that gag-reflex testing is an aerosol-generating procedure. These are expert recommendations, not tested interventions.
• PTOTSLPSurvey2021Impact of COVID-19: Nursing challenges to meeting the care needs of people with developmental disabilities.Disability and health journalNurses supporting people with developmental disabilities report severe challenges securing protective equipment and maintaining routines. They describe being excluded from pandemic planning despite managing high-risk congregate care. Social and behavioral support needs remain unmet due to staffing shortages and lack of specific guidance.
• OTSLPCase-Control2020Brief Report: Reduced Heart Rate Variability in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder.Journal of autism and developmental disordersChildren with autism had lower heart rate variability than typically developing peers, but variability did not differ in response to or recovery from a task. In the autism group, lower variability was linked to caregiver-reported attentional responses to sensory input, not social communication scores.
• SLPRCT2020A Pilot Randomised Control Trial of Digitally-Mediated Social Stories for Children on the Autism Spectrum.Journal of autism and developmental disordersPersonalised digital social stories read daily for two weeks improved goal attainment, behaviour frequency and intensity in children with autism. Effects held at six-week follow-up, but anxiety did not change. This pilot suggests promise, not proof.
• PTOTSLPCohort2020Restricted and Repetitive Behaviors in Males and Females with Fragile X Syndrome: Developmental Trajectories in Toddlers Through Young Adults.Journal of autism and developmental disordersIn Fragile X syndrome, sensory-motor behaviors decreased with age for both sexes, but higher-order behaviors like restricted interests and compulsions remained stable. Males consistently showed more severe repetitive behaviors than females, except for compulsions. Higher nonverbal IQ was linked to increased compulsive behavior.
• SLPRCT2020A Randomized Controlled Trial of Functional Communication Training via Telehealth for Young Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder.Journal of autism and developmental disordersParent-delivered functional communication training via telehealth reduced problem behavior in young children with autism over 12 weeks compared with treatment as usual. Ongoing supports varied, so other treatments cannot be separated.
• SLPRCT2020SOLACE: A Psychosocial Stigma Protection Intervention to Improve the Mental Health of Parents of Autistic Children-A Feasibility Randomised Controlled Trial.Journal of autism and developmental disordersParents of newly diagnosed autistic children who joined SOLACE, a stigma-focused group, reported better mental health and less stigma than controls. However, the study was underpowered, and the primary goal was testing feasibility, not proving effectiveness.
• SLPRCT2020Safety Considerations for the Use of Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation as Treatment for Coma Recovery in People With Severe Traumatic Brain Injury.The Journal of head trauma rehabilitationIn seven patients with severe traumatic brain injury and disorders of consciousness, transcranial magnetic stimulation was generally safe. One seizure occurred during treatment but was atypical. The authors conclude the protocol is relatively safe for medically stable patients with widespread neuropathology but no large lesions near the stimulation site.