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 64 OF 205 · NEWEST FIRST

• SLPOther2021Dose in Exercise-Based Dysphagia Therapies: A Scoping Review.DysphagiaExercise doses in swallowing therapy studies vary widely, and no best dose was found. The tables show what researchers used, but they do not prove any dose works. Report frequency, repetitions, intensity and duration when planning or studying treatment.
• PTOTSLPOther2021Determining Near Point of Convergence: Exploring a Component of the Vestibular/Ocular Motor Screen Comparing Varied Target Sizes.International journal of sports physical therapyMeasuring near point of convergence with a pen tip or small electronic device yields larger distances than using printed letters. Because target size changes the result, clinicians must use the same tool for baseline and post-injury testing to avoid misclassifying healthy athletes as impaired.
• PTOTSLPSystematic Review2021The Comparative Mental Health Responses Between Post-Musculoskeletal Injury and Post-Concussive Injury Among Collegiate Athletes: A Systematic Review.International journal of sports physical therapyCollegiate athletes with concussions and those with musculoskeletal injuries showed similar patterns of depression and anxiety. Anxiety scores dropped initially but often remained clinically significant. Athletes frequently returned to play before their psychological symptoms resolved, regardless of injury type.
• SLPCohort2020Perception of Child-Directed Versus Adult-Directed Emotional Speech in Pediatric Cochlear Implant Users.Ear and hearingChildren with cochlear implants recognized emotions better in exaggerated child-directed speech than in normal adult-directed speech. For adult-directed speech, longer implant experience predicted better recognition, while nonverbal IQ predicted success with child-directed speech.
• SLPRCT2020Effects of a naturalistic intervention on the speech outcomes of young children with cleft palate.International journal of speech-language pathologyThe early speech intervention did not improve overall speech accuracy or number of different consonants more than usual care. Children who already spoke at a higher word rate showed larger gains, but that subgroup finding does not prove the intervention works for all.
• SLPOther2020Effects of Tongue Exercise Frequency on Tongue Muscle Biology and Swallowing Physiology in a Rat Model.DysphagiaIn rats, tongue exercise five days a week increased tongue force more than one or three days, but did not change muscle biology or swallowing speed. Low-dose exercise still improved force. These findings do not yet apply to human patients.
• SLPOther2020The Effect of Pulse Polarity on Neural Response of the Electrically Stimulated Cochlear Nerve in Children With Cochlear Nerve Deficiency and Children With Normal-Sized Cochlear Nerves.Ear and hearingAnodic-leading cochlear implant stimulus produced larger nerve responses, lower thresholds and shorter response times than cathodic-leading stimulus in children with cochlear nerve deficiency and children with normal nerves, but polarity difference did not confirm a useful marker of cochlear nerve health.
• SLPCohort2020Frequency-to-Place Mismatch: Characterizing Variability and the Influence on Speech Perception Outcomes in Cochlear Implant Recipients.Ear and hearingDefault implant maps placed frequencies at different cochlear locations, with large individual variation. For CI-alone users, better early word scores were linked to closer frequency matching and wider contact spacing, but five cases with mismatch above 9 semitones drove the result.
• PTOTSLPOther2020Postural Control While Listening in Younger and Middle-Aged Adults.Ear and hearingMiddle-aged adults with near-normal hearing showed poorer balance than younger adults while listening to competing speech, even when speech scores were similar. Balance worsened as listening became harder. This suggests listening effort drains cognitive resources needed for stability, potentially raising fall risk in noisy environments.
• SLPCohortSocioeconomic Factors Account for Variability in Language Skills in Preschoolers with Autism Spectrum Disorders.Journal of developmental and behavioral pediatrics : JDBPMaternal education predicted language skills in young children with autism, independent of their diagnosis. Children of mothers with less education had lower expressive and receptive language scores. This suggests home environment factors linked to education may influence early language development in autism.
• PTOTSLPCohortPrimary Language and Participation Outcomes in Hispanics With Traumatic Brain Injury: A Traumatic Brain Injury Model Systems Study.The Journal of head trauma rehabilitationHispanic people with TBI who speak English at home reported higher community participation than those who speak Spanish. However, once age, education, and injury severity were accounted for, only social relations scores differed. This suggests language itself is not the sole driver of participation gaps.
• PTOTSLPPilotFeasibility and Acceptability of a Telephone-Based Intervention for Hispanic Children to Promote Treatment Adherence After Traumatic Brain Injury: A Pilot Study.The Journal of head trauma rehabilitationA telephone-based navigation and education program was feasible and acceptable for Hispanic families after their child's traumatic brain injury. Most parents reported high satisfaction, and 86% of children attended initial follow-up rehabilitation appointments on time.
• SLPCohort2021Clause-initial AND usage in a cross-sectional and longitudinal corpus of school-age children's narratives.Journal of child languageFrequent use of the word "and" to start sentences in children's stories reflects their developing grammar, not their ability to organise a narrative. High "and" usage does not indicate poor storytelling structure, so clinicians should not interpret it as a deficit in conceptual development.
• OTSLPNarrative Review2021Clinical Manifestation, Evaluation, and Rehabilitative Strategy of Dysphagia Associated With COVID-19.American journal of physical medicine & rehabilitationFor suspected or confirmed COVID-19 dysphagia, clinicians recommended early screening, avoiding nonurgent scope or X-ray swallowing tests, and starting diet or swallow strategies before active exercises. These are expert recommendations, not tested interventions.
• SLPOther2021Swallow Safety is Determined by Bolus Volume During Infant Feeding in an Animal Model.DysphagiaLarger bolus size was the primary predictor of unsafe swallows in infant pigs. Term infants swallowed larger volumes and experienced more penetration and aspiration than preterm infants, regardless of nerve damage.
• SLPOther2021Development and Psychometric Properties of a New Questionnaire to Assess Mental Health and Concerning Behaviors in Children and Young People with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD): The Assessment of Concerning Behavior (ACB) Scale.Journal of autism and developmental disordersThe new Assessment of Concerning Behavior scale is a 35-item parent-report tool that reliably screens autistic children for both internalizing and externalizing mental health issues. It correlates strongly with established measures but is tailored to autism, making it a valid alternative for clinical assessment.
• SLPCohort2020Stroke risk in African Americans with subclinical auditory dysfuntion evidenced by Distortion Product Otoacoustic Emissions: the Jackson heart study.International journal of audiologyIn African American adults with normal hearing, those with high stroke risk scores had slightly weaker cochlear function on distortion product otoacoustic emissions than low-risk peers. The difference was small, 3 to 6 decibels, and the study did not show that hearing tests predict future stroke.
• SLPOther2020Tracking Cognitive Spare Capacity During Speech Perception With EEG/ERP: Effects of Cognitive Load and Sentence Predictability.Ear and hearingListening to predictable sentences requires less mental effort than unpredictable ones, even when speech is degraded. This was shown by brainwave patterns and memory performance in young adults with normal hearing, suggesting predictability frees up cognitive resources.
• SLPRCT2020The Hearing Intervention for the Aging and Cognitive Health Evaluation in Elders Randomized Control Trial: Manualization and Feasibility Study.Ear and hearingA manualized hearing intervention for older adults was feasible in a small study. Participants improved their speech-in-noise scores and reduced perceived handicap. High visit completion and hearing aid use confirmed the protocol could be delivered within reasonable timeframes, though efficacy was not tested.
• SLPOther2020Pharmacological intervention to restore connectivity deficits of neuronal networks derived from ASD patient iPSC with a TSC2 mutation.Molecular autismNeurons from one TSC2 patient showed high excitability but poor network synchronisation. Rapamycin lowered excitability but did not fix the network. A ULK1 activator restored synchronisation in the dish, suggesting a new target for TSC-related brain issues.
• PTOTSLPSurvey2020Impact of COVID-19 outbreak on mental health and perceived strain among caregivers tending children with special needs.Research in developmental disabilitiesCaregivers of children with special needs in India reported high rates of depression and significantly increased strain during the COVID-19 lockdown. Factors like lack of tele-rehabilitation and difficulty with homecare therapy were linked to worse mental health, suggesting a need for better remote support and caregiver training.
• PTOTSLPCohort2020Pubertal Timing During Early Adolescence: Advanced Pubertal Onset in Females with Autism Spectrum Disorder.Autism research : official journal of the International Society for Autism ResearchFemales with autism showed earlier breast development and menarche than typically developing females, with menarche occurring 9.5 months earlier on average. No such difference was found in males. This suggests girls with autism may need puberty education and support sooner than peers.
• PTOTSLPOtherConvergent Validity of In-Person Assessment of Inpatients With Traumatic Brain Injury Using the Brief Test of Adult Cognition by Telephone (BTACT).The Journal of head trauma rehabilitationThe BTACT composite scores align well with standard neuropsychological tests in patients with severe brain injury, but individual subtests for reasoning and speed do not. Use the overall or domain composite scores for monitoring recovery. Do not rely on single subtest scores for clinical decisions.
• PTOTSLPCohortNovel Claims-Based Outcome Phenotypes in Survivors of Pediatric Traumatic Brain Injury.The Journal of head trauma rehabilitationInsurance claims data identified four distinct recovery profiles in children surviving traumatic brain injury. The two highest-need groups required significantly more speech and physical therapy, mobility equipment, and neurologic medications. Injury severity, seizures, and inflicted injury mechanisms predicted these high-resource outcomes.
• SLPOther2021Adding a fourth rater to three had little impact in pre-linguistic outcome classification.Clinical linguistics & phoneticsAdding a fourth rater to pre-linguistic speech assessments changed classification outcomes in only 1 of 4 video samples. Three raters were sufficient for canonical babbling presence, ratio, and syllable inventory size in most cases. A fourth rater did not improve stability enough to justify the extra time.
• SLPNarrative Review2021Iconicity in Word Learning and Beyond: A Critical Review.Language and speechIconic words are easier to learn, but evidence that they help learn other words is weak. They also aid communication and expression in adults, so therapy should value them for clarity and affect, not just as learning shortcuts.
• SLPNarrative Review2021Deficits in musical rhythm perception in children with specific learning disabilities.NeuroRehabilitationChildren with dyslexia and other learning disabilities show deficits in rhythm perception and production, which correlate with reading accuracy and phonological skills. Rhythm-based interventions may enhance auditory processing and language development, offering a potentially enjoyable, low-stress therapeutic avenue.
• SLPOther2021Explicit and implicit self-esteem in youth with autism spectrum disorders.Autism : the international journal of research and practiceYouth with ASD had lower conscious self-esteem than peers, by themselves and parents, but automatic self-esteem was similar. In ASD, lower conscious self-esteem was associated with more depressive symptoms; lower automatic self-esteem with more externalizing symptoms.
• PTOTSLPCase Report2021Inter-Disciplinary Conservative Management of Bilateral Non-United Lumbar Pars Defects in a Junior Elite Golfer.International journal of sports physical therapyA 15-year-old golfer with bilateral lumbar pars fractures avoided surgery through a 12-month interdisciplinary exercise program. He returned to competitive golf and accepted a college scholarship, remaining asymptomatic 18 months post-intervention.
• PTOTSLPSurvey2021Impact of COVID-19 on services for people with disabilities and chronic health conditions.Disability and health journalPrivileged patients with disabilities reported frequent service discontinuations, leading to health declines and reliance on untrained family. Telehealth helped some but not others. Remote work benefits were noted, but the sample was small, white, and highly educated, limiting generalizability.
• SLPOther2021Validation of the German Version of Functional Oral Intake Scale (FOIS-G) for Flexible Endoscopic Evaluation of Swallowing (FEES).DysphagiaThe German version of the Functional Oral Intake Scale showed high agreement between speech therapists and strong links to stroke disability and swallowing test scores. It is a reliable tool for documenting what patients can safely eat and drink after a stroke.
• SLPOther2021Correlation of Temporal Parameters of Laryngeal Excursion by Using Force-Sensing Resistor Sensors with Hyoid Motion in Videofluoroscopic Swallowing Study.DysphagiaForce-sensing resistor sensors on the neck tracked hyoid bone timing closely during swallowing in healthy adults. The sensors correlated strongly with video X-ray measurements, suggesting they could offer a radiation-free way to monitor swallowing timing in clinical settings.
• SLPCohort2021The Impact of Asymptomatic Congenital Cytomegalovirus on Adult Quality of Life.Journal of developmental and behavioral pediatrics : JDBPAdults who had asymptomatic congenital CMV reported average life satisfaction similar to uninfected adults. Hearing loss did not lower scores, but only 14 had hearing loss.
• SLPCohort2021Biomechanical Biomarkers of Tongue Impairment During Swallowing in Persons Diagnosed with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis.DysphagiaIn 12 people with ALS, slower tongue movement during thin liquid swallows was strongly linked to aspiration risk. A tongue speed below 43.8 mm/s detected penetration or aspiration with 100% sensitivity. These biomechanical markers may help identify patients at high risk before clinical signs appear.
• SLPCohort2020Social attention to activities in children and adults with autism spectrum disorder: effects of context and age.Molecular autismChildren and adults with autism looked less at actors' heads and more at the shared activity than typically developing controls. Unlike toddlers with autism, they did not look more at background distractors, and their attention did not shift based on the actors' gaze direction.
• PTOTSLPCohort2020Intergenerational Effects of Maternal Childhood Experiences on Maternal Parenting and Infant Developmental Progress.Journal of developmental and behavioral pediatrics : JDBPMothers who felt their own mothers were supportive were more likely to scaffold their infants. This scaffolding predicted better infant communication and problem-solving progress at 12 months. Adverse childhood experiences did not predict scaffolding, and maternal sensitivity did not predict developmental progress.
• PTOTSLPOther2021Ipsilateral Motor Pathways and Transcallosal Inhibition During Lower Limb Movement After Stroke.Neurorehabilitation and neural repairIn people with chronic stroke, the brain uses more ipsilateral pathways to the paretic leg during dynamic movement than during static holds. Transcallosal inhibition was also greater in the paretic leg. These neurophysiological changes did not correlate with walking speed or overall impairment.
• PTOTSLPCohort2021Persistent Symptoms and Disability After COVID-19 Hospitalization: Data From a Comprehensive Telerehabilitation Program.Archives of physical medicine and rehabilitationOne month after discharge, many older COVID-19 survivors reported persistent symptoms and disability. ICU patients had worse outcomes than ward patients, including higher rates of breathlessness, pain, and dependence in daily activities.
• SLPSurvey2021Attitudes Toward the Use of Voice-Assisted Technologies Among People With Parkinson Disease: Findings From a Web-Based Survey.JMIR rehabilitation and assistive technologiesMost surveyed people with Parkinson disease owned a voice assistant, and some reported it helped them speak more clearly, louder, or with less repetition. Others reported it misunderstood their speech or reduced confidence.
• SLPSystematic Review2021The Effect of Cranial Nerve Stimulation on Swallowing: A Systematic Review.DysphagiaCranial nerve stimulation cannot be recommended for swallowing problems. Evidence came only from tiny, low-quality studies; some showed aspiration or worse swallowing during vagal nerve stimulation, while tiny recurrent laryngeal nerve series reported less aspiration.
• SLPCase-Control2021Pharyngeal Swallowing Pressures in Patients with Radiation-Associated Dysphagia.DysphagiaPatients with radiation-associated dysphagia had weaker and shorter-lasting pharyngeal muscle contractions than healthy controls. This suggests poor bolus clearance and higher aspiration risk, but the study was too small to prove a specific treatment effect.
• PTOTSLPOther2021Tracking Hyoid Bone Displacement During Swallowing Without Videofluoroscopy Using Machine Learning of Vibratory Signals.DysphagiaA neck sensor and machine learning located about half of the hyoid bone's position on each video frame during swallowing. It could also distinguish reduced from normal hyoid movement. This is a promising non-invasive screening tool, but it is not yet accurate enough to replace imaging for diagnosis or treatment monitoring.
• SLPCase-Control2021Reduced Proactive Control Processes Associated With Behavioral Response Inhibition Deficits in Autism Spectrum Disorder.Autism research : official journal of the International Society for Autism ResearchPeople with autism had more difficulty stopping eye movements when they had to wait and see, but reacted faster once they decided to stop. This suggests the issue is not a lack of ability to stop, but trouble preparing to hold back in uncertain situations.
• SLPOther2021A lexical advantage in four-year-old children's word repetition.Journal of child languageFour-year-olds repeated sounds more clearly inside real words than nonsense words. The gap was smaller when they knew more words. In speech assessment, nonsense word repetition should be read with receptive vocabulary.
• SLPCohort2021The role of socioeconomic and sociocultural predictors of Spanish and English proficiencies of young Latino children of immigrants.Journal of child languageSocioeconomic factors like poverty and parental education predicted English proficiency, while sociocultural factors like home language use and parent origin predicted Spanish proficiency. Maintaining Spanish at home or in preschool did not harm English development.
• SLPPilot2021Pilot Study of Quantitative Methods for Differentiating Pharyngeal Swallowing Mechanics by Dysphagia Etiology.DysphagiaBoth kinematic analysis and CASM distinguished swallowing mechanics across four dysphagia etiologies. However, the study was a pilot with too few subjects to draw generalizable conclusions about clinical outcomes.
• SLPPilot2021Surface Electromyographic Biofeedback and the Effortful Swallow Exercise for Stroke-Related Dysphagia and in Healthy Ageing.DysphagiaAcute stroke participants could raise swallowing muscle activity during effortful swallows, and a screen showing muscle activity raised it further. Most said the screen helped and would use it regularly. This measured muscle activity, not whether swallowing improved.
• SLPSystematic Review2021Adverse event reporting in intervention research for young autistic children.Autism : the international journal of research and practiceMost autism intervention studies for young children do not monitor or report harms. Only 11 of 150 reports mentioned adverse events, and just 4 noted actual harm. Withdrawal reasons often revealed distress or family crises, while negative outcomes were rarely labelled as adverse effects.
• SLPPilot2021Tablet-Based Telerehabilitation Versus Conventional Face-to-Face Rehabilitation After Cochlear Implantation: Prospective Intervention Pilot Study.JMIR rehabilitation and assistive technologiesAdult cochlear implant users who had face-to-face therapy then tablet training improved on sentence-in-noise and speech tracking, but word and number tests and self-rated hearing did not change.
• SLPSurvey2021The Landscape of Videofluoroscopy in the UK: A Web-Based Survey.DysphagiaUK speech therapists often do not know the technical settings of their own videofluoroscopy clinics. Many use lower frame rates than recommended, and half do not use standardised assessment protocols, which risks inaccurate diagnosis of swallowing problems.