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 67 OF 205 · NEWEST FIRST

• PTOTSLPOther2020A Psychometric Evaluation of the Motor-Behavioral Assessment Scale for Use as an Outcome Measure in Rett Syndrome Clinical Trials.American journal on intellectual and developmental disabilitiesThe revised Motor-Behavioral Assessment Scale works best as a single total score rather than separate subscales. Its 24 items reliably capture overall Rett syndrome severity, correlating strongly with clinical status and genetic mutation type, making it a valid outcome measure for trials.
• SLPOther2020Inhibitory Control of Lexical Selection in Adults who Stutter.Journal of fluency disordersAdults who stutter showed a larger delay naming pictures with multiple word options than fluent adults, suggesting difficulty selecting words. However, their general ability to suppress unrelated distractions was intact. This points to a specific language planning issue, not a global attention deficit.
• SLPOther2020Stuttering therapy through telepractice in Turkey: A mixed method study.Journal of fluency disordersTelepractice and in-person stuttering therapy in Turkish adults reduced stuttering similarly for spontaneous speech and telephone calls; reading showed a difference, but most severity measures did not differ. Nine of ten telepractice participants found it suitable.
• SLPCohort2020Associations Between Measures of Auditory Function and Brief Assessments of Cognition.American journal of audiologyIn older adults, MoCA tracked more cognitive domains than MMSE or AQT. Poor ability to sequence sounds was linked to MoCA failure. Hearing loss rarely predicted cognition, and the paper does not show that hearing aids improve cognitive scores.
• SLPCohort2020Combined frequency-tagging EEG and eye-tracking measures provide no support for the "excess mouth/diminished eye attention" hypothesis in autism.Molecular autismBoys with autism looked at faces just as much as typical boys did, focusing on the eyes rather than the mouth. Brain scans showed no difference in how they processed these features. The idea that autistic people avoid eyes is not supported by this data.
• SLPOther2020Visual exogenous and endogenous attention and visual memory in preschool children who stutter.Journal of fluency disordersPreschoolers who stutter tracked moving shapes less accurately than non-stuttering peers and remembered them less well, even without language demands. Both groups did worse when the target was less distinctive.
• SLPCohort2021Characterizing the early vocabulary profiles of preverbal and minimally verbal children with autism spectrum disorder.Autism : the international journal of research and practiceChildren with autism producing 1-10 words used a higher proportion of verbs than typically developing toddlers with the same vocabulary size. They used fewer animal, people, and sound-effect words, and more food and drink words. Both groups still showed a noun bias.
• SLPOther2021The Influence of Airflow Via High-Flow Nasal Cannula on Duration of Laryngeal Vestibule Closure.DysphagiaIn healthy young adults, higher airflow from a high-flow nasal cannula significantly increased the time the airway remained closed during swallowing. No aspiration occurred at any airflow level, and airway protection scores remained stable despite the change in closure duration.
• SLPOther2021Do Biological Sex and Early Developmental Milestones Predict the Age of First Concerns and Eventual Diagnosis in Autism Spectrum Disorder?Autism research : official journal of the International Society for Autism ResearchThe sex difference in age at diagnosis was not clear. Girls with ASD had first concerns over 7 months later than boys, despite speaking their first word about 3 months and first three-word phrase nearly 6 months earlier.
• SLPRCT2021Family navigation to increase evaluation for autism spectrum disorder in toddlers: Screening and Linkage to Services for Autism pragmatic randomized trial.Autism : the international journal of research and practiceFamily navigation increased the likelihood of toddlers receiving an autism diagnostic evaluation but did not improve rates of referral to early intervention services or eligibility determination. Benefits were concentrated among families who actually engaged with the navigator, while many eligible families could not be reached.
• SLPCohort2021How many words make a sample? Determining the minimum number of word tokens needed in connected speech samples for child speech assessment.Clinical linguistics & phoneticsFor most speech measures, a connected speech sample of 75 words is as reliable as 100. However, samples of 50 words are too unstable. For complex measures like pMLU or error counts, stick to 100 words to ensure accuracy.
• SLPSurvey2021Five Specific Tongue Movements in a Healthy Population.DysphagiaMost healthy adults can roll their tongue (83.7%), but few can make a cloverleaf (14.7%). People accurately judge these two abilities. However, they frequently overestimate their capacity to fold or twist the tongue. This suggests rolling and cloverleaf are reliable self-reported measures, unlike folding or twisting.
• PTOTSLPOther2021An Exercise Mimetic Approach to Reduce Poststroke Deconditioning and Enhance Stroke Recovery.Neurorehabilitation and neural repairIn rats, resveratrol improved early balance and reduced compensatory gait, while delayed exercise restored cardiovascular fitness. Neither intervention improved long-term balance more than the other, and the combination showed no additive benefit. These findings do not yet apply to human stroke recovery.
• PTOTSLPCohort2021Early Stage Longitudinal Subcortical Volumetric Changes following Mild Traumatic Brain Injury.Brain injuryPatients with persistent post-concussive symptoms showed early volume loss in the thalamus and hippocampus within one month of mild traumatic brain injury. This thalamic shrinkage persisted at six months and correlated with worse self-reported symptoms and lower quality of life, unlike objective cognitive test scores which recovered.
• SLPOther2020An Updated Theoretical Framework for Vocal Hyperfunction.American journal of speech-language pathologyVocal hyperfunction splits into phonotraumatic and non-phonotraumatic types with distinct biomechanics. Phonotraumatic voice disorders involve high collision forces and tissue damage, while non-phonotraumatic cases show inefficient closure without trauma. Treatment paths differ, with surgery plus therapy required for full phonotraumatic recovery.
• SLPNarrative Review2020Causal Pathways for Specific Language Impairment: Lessons From Studies of Twins.Journal of speech, language, and hearing research : JSLHRTwin studies show that language ability is strongly influenced by genetics, with heritability increasing from age 2 to 16. Being a twin causes early language delays that often resolve by age 6, but this twinning effect does not affect nonverbal IQ.
• SLPOther2020Development and Validation of Sentences Without Semantic Context to Complement the Basic English Lexicon Sentences.Journal of speech, language, and hearing research : JSLHRResearchers created 500 nonsense sentences to remove semantic context from speech tests. Listeners guessed fewer than 1% of missing words in these new sentences versus 21% in normal sentences. The new lists are validated for research use and may eventually aid clinical testing for hearing loss.
• SLPCohort2021Complex Interplay Between Cognitive Ability and Social Motivation in Predicting Social Skill: A Unique Role for Social Motivation in Children With Autism.Autism research : official journal of the International Society for Autism ResearchIn children with autism, low social motivation predicts poor social skills independently of IQ. This link is strongest in those without intellectual disability. For these children, targeting social motivation may be more effective than focusing solely on skill acquisition.
• SLPPilot2021Ameliorating the disadvantage for autistic job seekers: An initial evaluation of adapted employment interview questions.Autism : the international journal of research and practiceAdapting job interview questions by breaking them into parts and giving candidates a printout improved answer quality for both autistic and non-autistic applicants. This reduced the disadvantage autistic candidates faced when answering standard questions, though employers still rated them lower on overall impression.
• PTOTSLPQualitative2021New obstacles and widening gaps: A qualitative study of the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on U.S. adults with disabilities.Disability and health journalThirty-eight U.S. adults with disabilities described how pandemic measures created new barriers. Masks blocked communication for speech-readers, drive-through testing was inaccessible, and telehealth helped some but burdened others. These obstacles varied by disability type but affected every group in the study.
• PTOTSLPCohort2021School outcomes of adolescents with cerebral palsy in Sweden.Developmental medicine and child neurologyAdolescents with cerebral palsy had significantly lower school grades and were less likely to progress to secondary school or university compared to matched peers. Communication ability was the strongest functional predictor of these poor outcomes, outweighing gross or manual motor skills.
• PTOTSLPSurvey2021Supports for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities during the COVID-19 pandemic from their own perspective.Research in developmental disabilitiesPeople with intellectual disabilities reported that lockdown support depended heavily on where they lived. Those in residential settings lost natural supports and relied on staff, while those at home depended on family. Contact with loved ones was the most missed aspect across all groups.
• SLPCase-Control2021Attend Less, Fear More: Elevated Distress to Social Threat in Toddlers With Autism Spectrum Disorder.Autism research : official journal of the International Society for Autism ResearchThe main distress result did not show one overall difference between groups. Toddlers with ASD looked less at the stranger and used more varied regulation strategies; their distress was higher than in typical toddlers in stranger probe and lower in object and mask probes.
• PTOTSLPPilot2021Distance support and online intervention to blind and visually impaired children during the pandemic COVID-19.Research in developmental disabilitiesDuring lockdown, blind and visually impaired children received online therapy at home. Parents rated the support highly, with median satisfaction scores of 9/10. Professionals also found it useful but rated it lower than parents, citing difficulty adapting face-to-face methods to a screen.
• SLPOther2020Advances in Specific Language Impairment Research and Intervention: An Overview of Five Research Symposium Papers.Journal of speech, language, and hearing research : JSLHRThis is a summary of a conference symposium covering five different research papers. It outlines broad themes in specific language impairment research, such as early identification and diagnostic criteria, but reports no original data or direct clinical outcomes.
• SLPSurvey2020Perceived barriers to compliance with speech-language therapist dysphagia recommendations of South African nurses.The South African journal of communication disorders = Die Suid-Afrikaanse tydskrif vir KommunikasieafwykingsNurses reported time constraints (93%) and staff shortages (91%) as the biggest barriers to following dysphagia recommendations. Many also lacked familiarity with SLT terminology (72%) and training (72%). These workplace and knowledge gaps hinder compliance.
• SLPNarrative Review2020Retrieval Practice and Word Learning in Children With Specific Language Impairment and Their Typically Developing Peers.Journal of speech, language, and hearing research : JSLHRRepeated spaced retrieval helps preschool children with specific language impairment learn new words better than repeated study or immediate retrieval. This method improved word form and meaning recall, maintained retention over one week, and helped children apply words to new objects.
• SLPNarrative Review2020Promoting Reading Achievement in Children With Developmental Language Disorders: What Can We Learn From Research on Specific Language Impairment and Dyslexia?Journal of speech, language, and hearing research : JSLHRChildren with developmental language disorder often go unidentified because their reading skills appear normal. Screening for oral language weaknesses in school reading programs can catch these hidden deficits early. This allows access to support before reading comprehension problems emerge in later grades.
• SLPOther2020Exploring Sentence Diversity at the Boundary of Typical and Impaired Language Abilities.Journal of speech, language, and hearing research : JSLHRToddlers with severe language delays often lack third-person subjects at 30 months, even when producing diverse 'I' sentences. This specific gap predicts persistent impairment. Clinicians should monitor third-person subject diversity as an early risk marker, not just total sentence length.
• OTSLPCase-Control2020Alpha connectivity and inhibitory control in adults with autism spectrum disorder.Molecular autismAdults with autism matched controls on lab-based inhibition tasks but reported more everyday difficulties. Brain scans showed reduced alpha-band connectivity in a right-hemisphere network, which correlated with self-reported poor inhibition. This suggests a specific difficulty suppressing distractions in complex real-world settings.
• SLPOther2021GPS predicts stability of listening environment characteristics in one location over time among older hearing aid users.International journal of audiologyListening environments are more stable at a specific GPS-tagged location than in general, but still fluctuate significantly. Reverberation and noise levels remained consistent about three-quarters of the time, while talker location and visual cues varied so much that fixed hearing aid settings would only be appropriate about half the time.
• SLPQualitative2021Embedding school cultures and climates that promote evidence-based practice implementation for youth with autism: A qualitative study.Autism : the international journal of research and practiceTeachers identified seven principal behaviors that support evidence-based practice, including providing autism-specific training, adjusting evaluations to fit student needs, and allocating adequate resources. Conversely, generic professional development and rigid performance standards were linked to low teacher support and high stress.
• PTOTSLPOther2021Motor Impairment Increases in Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder as a Function of Social Communication, Cognitive and Functional Impairment, Repetitive Behavior Severity, and Comorbid Diagnoses: A SPARK Study Report.Autism research : official journal of the International Society for Autism ResearchIn children with autism, the risk of motor impairment rises alongside social, cognitive, and functional difficulties. The risk also increases with comorbid diagnoses like ADHD or intellectual disability. This suggests motor issues are pervasive and linked to overall severity.
• PTOTSLPCohort2021Comparison of Common Methodologies for the Determination of Knee Flexor Muscle Strength.International journal of sports physical therapyKnee flexor strength measured by a wall-anchored handheld dynamometer correlates with lab equipment but cannot be swapped for it. Seated testing yields higher torque than supine, and dorsiflexing the foot increases force compared to plantarflexion.
• SLPOther2021Effects of Practice Variability on Second-Language Speech Production Training.Folia phoniatrica et logopaedica : official organ of the International Association of Logopedics and Phoniatrics (IALP)High-variability practice improved short-term accuracy within sessions, but long-term retention was poor for most participants. Only one person showed clinically meaningful change after four weeks. Use with caution for lasting speech modification.
• PTOTSLPCohort2021Factors associated with met and unmet rehabilitation needs after stroke: A multicentre cohort study in Denmark and Norway.Journal of rehabilitation medicineThree months after stroke, 67% reported needing training and 69% needed help, with similar rates in Norway and Denmark despite different rehabilitation pathways. Unmet needs for training were linked to lower function and anxiety, while unmet needs for help were linked to living alone and depression.
• SLPCohort2020Manual response inhibition and quality of life in adults who stutter.Journal of communication disordersAdults who stutter showed slower manual response inhibition than non-stuttering adults. Within the stuttering group, lower quality of life scores predicted slower inhibition, but overt stuttering severity did not. This links cognitive control deficits to psychosocial impact rather than speech disfluency.
• PTOTSLPCase-Control2020Quantitative Videofluoroscopic Analysis of Swallowing Physiology and Function in Individuals With Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease.Journal of speech, language, and hearing research : JSLHRStable COPD patients showed no aspiration but had poor airway closure timing and weak pharyngeal muscle squeeze. Thickened liquids caused significant residue in this group, meaning texture modification requires careful evaluation rather than automatic prescription.
• OTSLPCohort2020Daily-Life Fatigue in Mild to Moderate Hearing Impairment: An Ecological Momentary Assessment Study.Ear and hearingOver 14 days, adults with mild to moderate hearing impairment and normal hearing reported similar current, daily and usual fatigue. Fatigue rose across the day in both groups, and people who spent more time in speech or group conversations reported higher fatigue.
• SLPNarrative Review2020Three New Outcome Measures That Tap Into Cognitive Processes Required for Real-Life Communication.Ear and hearingThree new hearing tests (SWIR, neural tracking, pupillometry) measure working memory, attention, and effort. They detect noise reduction benefits at realistic listening levels where standard speech tests hit ceiling. None are standardized yet.
• PTOTSLPOther2021Post-intensive care syndrome following cardiothoracic critical care: Feasibility of a complex intervention.Journal of rehabilitation medicineImplementing a complex post-ICU rehabilitation programme was feasible and safe, with high completion rates. Patients and caregivers experienced significant physical, emotional, and social challenges, including anxiety and sleep problems, that persisted for months after discharge.
• SLPPilot2021The feasibility of an m-health educational programme (m2Hear) to improve outcomes in first-time hearing aid users.International journal of audiologyFirst-time hearing aid users found this mobile educational programme easy to use, with 88% rating usability as high. All participants accessed the site, and most preferred it to written information. Improvements in hearing aid handling and communication were seen, but the study cannot separate the benefit of the app from the hearing aids themselves.
• PTSLPCohort2021Speech-Language Profile Groups in School Aged Children with Cerebral Palsy: Nonverbal Cognition, Receptive Language, Speech Intelligibility, and Motor Function.Developmental neurorehabilitationReceptive language scores largely matched nonverbal cognitive scores in 27 speaking children with cerebral palsy. For most, typical language comprehension suggested typical cognition, and impaired comprehension suggested cognitive impairment. This supports using language tests as a rough proxy when motor issues make cognitive testing difficult.
• OTSLPOther2021Evaluation of the National Task Group-Early Detection Screen for Dementia: Sensitivity to 'mild cognitive impairment' in adults with Down syndrome.Journal of applied research in intellectual disabilities : JARIDFor adults with Down syndrome, memory and language concerns on the NTG-EDSD screen were informative for early decline, but the total score was weak and produced many false positives. Use it with other clinical information.
• PTOTSLPCohort2021People with intellectual disability in Ireland are still dying young.Journal of applied research in intellectual disabilities : JARIDPeople with intellectual disability in Ireland still die about 20 years younger than the general population, and this gap has not closed over 16 years. Those living in large residential settings and those with profound disabilities face the highest mortality rates.
• PTOTSLPCohort2021Societal burden of stroke rehabilitation: Costs and health outcomes after admission to stroke rehabilitation.Journal of rehabilitation medicineStroke rehabilitation costs one year post-admission averaged US$70,601 for inpatients and US$27,473 for outpatients. Inpatient utility scores improved significantly over 12 months, while outpatient scores remained stable. Lower baseline health predicted higher total costs.
• SLPNarrative Review2020Potential of Augmented Reality Platforms to Improve Individual Hearing Aids and to Support More Ecologically Valid Research.Ear and hearingCurrent hearing aids struggle in noisy social settings because of limited microphone spacing and processing power. Augmented Reality glasses could bridge this gap by using eye-tracking and cloud computing to isolate specific speakers, but these technologies remain largely theoretical and require significant development.
• SLPOther2020The Accuracy of Envelope Following Responses in Predicting Speech Audibility.Ear and hearingBrain responses to speech sounds were easier to detect for high-frequency fricatives than for vowel stimuli in 21 young adults with normal hearing. A detected response usually meant the sound was audible; a missing response often did not prove inaudibility.
• SLPOther2020Gene functional networks and autism spectrum characteristics in young people with intellectual disability: a dimensional phenotyping study.Molecular autismGenetic cause of intellectual disability did not predict overall autism likelihood. However, chromatin-related variants linked to greater inflexibility, especially with hyperactivity. Synaptic variants linked to social withdrawal with anxiety. These patterns suggest distinct mechanisms for specific autism traits rather than a single global risk.
• SLPOther2020Binaural Pitch Fusion: Binaural Pitch Averaging in Cochlear Implant Users With Broad Binaural Fusion.Ear and hearingWhen cochlear implant users hear two different pitches at once, their brains blend them into one average sound. This averaging is biased toward the lower pitch. This loss of spectral detail explains why some users struggle to separate voices in noise.