Journal of Speech Language and Hearing Research (J SPEECH LANG HEAR R)

Publications in this journal

• Article: Language features in a mother and daughter of a chromosome 7;13 translocation involving FOXP2.

  J Bruce Tomblin, Marlea O'Brien, Lawrence D Shriberg, Charles Williams, Jeff Murray, Shivanand Patil, Jonathan Bjork, Steve Anderson, Kirrie Ballard
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  ABSTRACT: The aims of this study were (a) to locate the breakpoints of a balanced translocation (7;13) within a mother (B) and daughter (T); (b) to describe the language and cognitive skills of B and T; and (c) to compare this profile with affected family members of the KE family who have a mutation within FOXP2. The breakpoint locations for T and B were identified by use of fluorescent in situ hybridization analysis followed by DNA sequencing using long-range polymer chain reaction amplification methods. The cognitive and language characteristics were obtained via the use of standardized tests of intelligence, receptive and expressive vocabulary and sentence use, and a spontaneous language sample. The translocation breakpoints in T and B were found in FOXP2 on chromosome 7 and in RFC3 on chromosome 13. T and B's pattern of relative strengths and weaknesses across their cognitive and language performance was found to be similar to descriptions of the affected KE family members. Prior reports of individuals with chromosomal rearrangements of FOXP2 have emphasized their speech impairment. This study provides additional evidence that language-in particular, grammar-is likely to be influenced by abnormalities of FOXP2 function.
  Journal of Speech Language and Hearing Research 10/2009; 52(5):1157-74.
• Article: Tongue movements during water swallowing in healthy young and older adults.

  Catriona M Steele, Pascal Van Lieshout
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  ABSTRACT: The purpose of this study was to explore the nature and extent of variability in tongue movement during healthy swallowing as a function of aging and gender. In addition, changes were quantified in healthy tongue movements in response to specific differences in the nature of the swallowing task (discrete vs. sequential swallows). Electromagnetic midsagittal articulography (EMMA) was used to study the swallowing-related movements of markers located in midline on the anterior (blade), middle (body), and posterior (dorsum) tongue in a sample of 34 healthy adults in 2 age groups (under vs. over 50 years of age). Participants performed a series of reiterated water swallows, in either a discrete or a sequential manner. This study shows that age-related changes in tongue movements during swallowing are restricted to the domain of movement duration. The authors confirm that different tongue regions can be selectively modulated during swallowing tasks and that both functional and anatomical constraints influence the manner in which tongue movement modulation occurs. Sequential swallowing, in comparison to discrete swallowing, elicits simplification or down-scaling of several kinematic parameters. The data illustrate task-specific stereotyped patterns of tongue movement in swallowing, which are robust to the effects of healthy aging in all aspects other than movement duration.
  Journal of Speech Language and Hearing Research 10/2009; 52(5):1255-67.
• Article: The influence of speaking rate on nasality in the speech of hearing-impaired individuals.

  Claire H Dwyer, Michael P Robb, Greg A O'Beirne, Harvey R Gilbert
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  ABSTRACT: The purpose of this study was to determine whether deliberate increases in speaking rate would serve to decrease the amount of nasality in the speech of severely hearing-impaired individuals. The participants were 11 severely to profoundly hearing-impaired students, ranging in age from 12 to 19 years (M = 16 years). Each participant provided a baseline speech sample (R1) followed by 3 training sessions during which participants were trained to increase their speaking rate. Following the training sessions, a second speech sample was obtained (R2). Acoustic and perceptual analyses of the speech samples obtained at R1 and R2 were undertaken. The acoustic analysis focused on changes in first (F(1)) and second (F(2)) formant frequency and formant bandwidths. The perceptual analysis involved listener ratings of the speech samples (at R1 and R2) for perceived nasality. Findings indicated a significant increase in speaking rate at R2. In addition, significantly narrower F(2) bandwidth and lower perceptual rating scores of nasality were obtained at R2 across all participants, suggesting a decrease in nasality as speaking rate increases. The nasality demonstrated by hearing-impaired individuals is amenable to change when speaking rate is increased. The influences of speaking rate changes on the perception and production of nasality in hearing-impaired individuals are discussed.
  Journal of Speech Language and Hearing Research 10/2009; 52(5):1321-33.
• Article: Behavior predictors of language development over 2 years in children with autism spectrum disorders.

  Karen D Bopp, Pat Mirenda, Bruno D Zumbo
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  ABSTRACT: This exploratory study examined predictive relationships between 5 types of behaviors and the trajectories of vocabulary and language development in young children with autism over 2 years. Participants were 69 children with autism assessed using standardized measures prior to the initiation of early intervention (T1) and 6 months (T2), 12 months (T3), and 24 months (T4) later. Growth curve modeling examined the extent to which behaviors at T1 and changes in behaviors between T1 and T2 predicted changes in development from T1 to T4. Regardless of T1 nonverbal IQ and autism severity, high scores for inattentive behaviors at T1 predicted lower rates of change in vocabulary production and language comprehension over 2 years. High scores for social unresponsiveness at T1 predicted lower rates of change in vocabulary comprehension and production and in language comprehension over 2 years. Scores for insistence on sameness behaviors, repetitive stereotypic motor behaviors, and acting-out behaviors at T1 did not predict the rate of change of any child measure over 2 years beyond differences accounted for by T1 autism severity and nonverbal IQ status. The results are discussed with regard to their implications for early intervention and understanding the complex factors that affect developmental outcomes.
  Journal of Speech Language and Hearing Research 10/2009; 52(5):1106-20.
• Article: Effects of directional exercise on lingual strength.

  Heather M Clark, Katy O'Brien, Aimee Calleja, Sarah Newcomb Corrie
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  ABSTRACT: To examine the application of known muscle training principles to tongue strengthening exercises and to answer the following research questions: (a) Did lingual strength increase following 9 weeks of training? (b) Did training conducted using an exercise moving the tongue in one direction result in strength changes for tongue movements in other directions? (c) Were differential training effects observed for participants completing exercises sequentially (in isolation) versus concurrently (several exercises in combination)? (d) Were strength gains maintained after exercise was discontinued? Methods Participants were 39 healthy adults assigned to sequential or concurrent lingual strength training. Lingual exercise (elevation, protrusion, and/or lateralization) was conducted for 9 weeks, with lingual strength and cheek strength (control variable) assessed weekly. All lingual strength measures increased with training, but cheek strength remained unchanged. Training effects were not related to training condition (sequential vs. concurrent), nor were specificity effects observed for direction of exercise. Significant decreases in lingual strength were noted 2-4 weeks after exercise was discontinued. The findings replicate those of earlier studies demonstrating that lingual strength may be increased with a variety of exercise protocols and confirm that detraining effects may be observed when training is discontinued. The findings further suggest that the lingual musculature may demonstrate less dramatic training specificity than what has been reported for skeletal muscles.
  Journal of Speech Language and Hearing Research 09/2009; 52(4):1034-47.
• Article: Direct magnitude estimation of articulation rate in boys with fragile X syndrome.

  David J Zajac, Adrianne A Harris, Joanne E Roberts, Gary E Martin
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  ABSTRACT: To compare the perceived articulation rate of boys with fragile X syndrome (FXS) with that of chronologically age-matched (CA) boys and to determine segmental and/or prosodic factors that account for perceived rate. Ten listeners used direct magnitude estimation procedures to judge the articulation rates of 7 boys with FXS only, 5 boys with FXS and a diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder (ASD), and 12 CA boys during sentence repetition. Sentences had similar articulation rates in syllables per second as determined acoustically. Four segmental/prosodic factors were used to predict perceived rate: (a) percentage consonants correct, (b) overall fundamental frequency (F(0)) level, (c) sentence-final F(0) drop, and (d) acoustically determined articulation rate with the final word of the sentence excluded. Boys with FXS and ASD were judged to talk faster than CA controls. Multiple linear regression indicated that articulation rate with the final word of the sentence excluded and sentence-final F(0) drop accounted for 91% of the variance for perceived rate. Descriptions of speakers with FXS as having fast and/or fluctuating articulation rates may be influenced by autism status. Also, atypical sentence-final prosody may be related to perceived rate in boys with FXS and ASD.
  Journal of Speech Language and Hearing Research 09/2009; 52(5):1370-9.
• Article: The expressive elaboration of imaginative narratives by children with specific language impairment.

  Teresa A Ukrainetz, Ronald B Gillam
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  ABSTRACT: This study investigated the expressive elaboration of narratives from children with specific language impairment (SLI). Forty-eight 6- and 8-year-old children with SLI were compared with forty-eight 6- and 8-year-old typical language (TL) children. Two imaginative narratives were scored for 14 elements of expressive elaboration in 3 categories. A subset of simple elements was analyzed separately. The effect of adult models and context was also considered. Children with SLI (whether 6 or 8 years of age) and younger TL children produced stories with significantly fewer appendages (e.g., Abstract, Coda), orientations (e.g., name, personality feature), and evaluations (e.g., interesting modifier, dialogue) than older TL children. The children with SLI and younger children showed significantly poorer performance even on simple elements such as character names and repetition (He ran and ran). Children with SLI, although performing lower than their TL age peers, demonstrated improvements from the 1st to the 2nd fictional story. Children with SLI were not differentially affected by the adult models. This study shows that expressive elaboration of narratives is sensitive to age- and language-level differences. The results suggest that children with SLI need guidance on artful storytelling, even for simple story elements.
  Journal of Speech Language and Hearing Research 09/2009; 52(4):883-98.
• Article: Phonological accuracy and intelligibility in connected speech of boys with fragile X syndrome or Down syndrome.

  Elizabeth Barnes, Joanne Roberts, Steven H Long, Gary E Martin, Mary C Berni, Kerry C Mandulak, John Sideris
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  ABSTRACT: To compare the phonological accuracy and speech intelligibility of boys with fragile X syndrome with autism spectrum disorder (FXS-ASD), fragile X syndrome only (FXS-O), Down syndrome (DS), and typically developing (TD) boys. Participants were 32 boys with FXS-O (3-14 years), 31 with FXS-ASD (5-15 years), 34 with DS (4-16 years), and 45 TD boys of similar nonverbal mental age. We used connected speech samples to compute measures of phonological accuracy, phonological process occurrence, and intelligibility. The boys with FXS, regardless of autism status, did not differ from TD boys on phonological accuracy and phonological process occurrence but produced fewer intelligible words than did TD boys. The boys with DS scored lower on measures of phonological accuracy and occurrence of phonological processes than all other groups and used fewer intelligible words than did TD boys. The boys with FXS and the boys with DS did not differ on measures of intelligibility. Boys with FXS, regardless of autism status, exhibited phonological characteristics similar to those of younger TD children but were less intelligible in connected speech. Boys with DS showed greater delays in all phonological measures than the boys with FXS and the TD boys.
  Journal of Speech Language and Hearing Research 09/2009; 52(4):1048-61.
• Article: The growth of tense productivity.

  Matthew Rispoli, Pamela A Hadley, Janet K Holt
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  ABSTRACT: This study tests empirical predictions of a maturational model for the growth of tense in children younger than 36 months using a type-based productivity measure. Caregiver-child language samples were collected from 20 typically developing children every 3 months from 21 to 33 months of age. Growth in the productivity of tense morphemes, centered at 21 months, was examined using hierarchical linear modeling. The empirical Bayes residuals from 21- to 30-month productivity growth trajectories predicted children's accuracy of tense marking at 33 months. A random effects quadratic growth model with no intercept best characterized the growth of tense marking between 21 and 30 months. Average development was characterized by slow instantaneous linear growth of less than 1 morpheme per month at 21 months and acceleration overall. Significant variation around this trend was also evident. Children's linear and quadratic empirical Bayes residuals together predicted 33-month accuracy scores (r = .672, p = .008). Acceleration and variation about this trend are consistent with maturational models of language acquisition. With an empirically sound characterization of early variation in morphosyntactic growth rates, future investigations can more rigorously test hypotheses regarding biological, environmental, and developmental contributions to the acquisition of morphosyntax.
  Journal of Speech Language and Hearing Research 09/2009; 52(4):930-44.
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  Article: African American English-speaking students: an examination of the relationship between dialect shifting and reading outcomes.

  Holly K Craig, Lingling Zhang, Stephanie L Hensel, Erin J Quinn
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  ABSTRACT: In this study, the authors evaluated the contribution made by dialect shifting to reading achievement test scores of African American English (AAE)-speaking students when controlling for the effects of socioeconomic status (SES), general oral language abilities, and writing skills. Participants were 165 typically developing African American 1st through 5th graders. Half were male and half were female, one third were from low-SES homes, and two-thirds were from middle-SES homes. Dialect shifting away from AAE toward Standard American English (SAE) was determined by comparing AAE production rates during oral and written narratives. Structural equation modeling evaluated the relative contributions of AAE rates, SES, and general oral language and writing skills on standardized reading achievement scores. AAE production rates were inversely related to reading achievement scores and decreased significantly between the oral and written narratives. Lower rates in writing predicted a substantial amount of the variance in reading scores, showing a significant direct effect and a significant indirect effect mediated by measures of oral language comprehension. The findings support a dialect shifting-reading achievement hypothesis, which proposes that AAE-speaking students who learn to use SAE in literacy tasks will outperform their peers who do not make this linguistic adaptation.
  Journal of Speech Language and Hearing Research 09/2009; 52(4):839-55.
• Article: Phonation threshold pressure measurement with a semi-occluded vocal tract.

  Ingo R Titze
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  ABSTRACT: The purpose of this article was to determine if a semi-occluded vocal tract could be used to measure phonation threshold pressure. This is in contrast to the shutter technique, where an alternation between a fully occluded tract and an unoccluded tract is used. Five male and 5 female volunteers phonated through a thin straw held between the lips. Oral pressure behind the lips was measured. Mathematical predictions of phonation threshold pressures were compared to the measured ones over a range of frequencies. It was shown that, for a 2.5-mm diameter straw, phonation threshold pressures were obtainable over a 2-octave range of fundamental frequency by all volunteers. In magnitude, the pressures agreed with the 0.2-0.5 kPa values obtained in previous investigations. Sensitivity to viscoelastic and geometric properties of the vocal folds was generally not compromised with greater oral impedance, but some differences were predicted theoretically in contrast to an open mouth configuration. Because phonation threshold pressure is always dependent on vocal tract interaction, it may be advantageous to choose an exact and fixed oral semi-occlusion for the measurement and interpret the results in light of the known acoustic load.
  Journal of Speech Language and Hearing Research 09/2009; 52(4):1062-72.
• Article: Nonparticipatory stiffness in the male perioral complex.

  Shin-Ying Chu, Steven M Barlow, Jaehoon Lee
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  ABSTRACT: The objective of this study was to extend previous published findings in the authors' laboratory using a new automated technology to quantitatively characterize nonparticipatory perioral stiffness in healthy male adults. Quantitative measures of perioral stiffness were sampled during a nonparticipatory task using a computer-controlled linear servo motor to impose a series of tensile displacements over a span of approximately 24 mm at the oral angle in 20 healthy young male adults. Perioral electromyograms were simultaneously sampled to confirm nonparticipation or passive muscle state. Perioral stiffness, derived as a quotient from resultant force (DeltaF) and oral span (DeltaX), was modeled with regression techniques and subsequently compared to previously reported perioral stiffness data for female adults. Multilevel regression analysis revealed a significant quadratic relation between the perioral stiffness and interangle span; however, no significant difference was found between adult males and females. These normative measures will have application to future studies designed to objectively assess the effects of pathology (i.e., progressive neuromotor disease, traumatic brain insult) and intervention (pharmacologic, neurosurgical, and reconstructive surgery of the face [i.e., cleft lip, trauma, missile injuries]) on facial animation and speech kinematics.
  Journal of Speech Language and Hearing Research 09/2009; 52(5):1353-9.
• Article: A rat excised larynx model of vocal fold scar.

  Nathan V Welham, Douglas W Montequin, Ichiro Tateya, Tomoko Tateya, Seong Hee Choi, Diane M Bless
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  ABSTRACT: To develop and evaluate a rat excised larynx model for the measurement of acoustic, aerodynamic, and vocal fold vibratory changes resulting from vocal fold scar. Twenty-four 4-month-old male Sprague-Dawley rats were assigned to 1 of 4 experimental groups: chronic vocal fold scar, chronic vocal fold scar treated with 100-ng basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), chronic vocal fold scar treated with saline (sham treatment), and unscarred untreated control. Following tissue harvest, histological and immunohistochemical data were collected to confirm extracellular matrix alteration in the chronic scar group; acoustic, aerodynamic, and high-speed digital imaging data were collected using an excised larynx setup in all groups. Phonation threshold pressure (P(th)), glottal resistance (R(g)), glottal efficiency (E(g)), vibratory amplitude, and vibratory area were used as dependent variables. Chronically scarred vocal folds were characterized by elevated collagen Types I and III and reduced hyaluronic acid abundance. Phonation was achieved, and data were collected from all control and bFGF-treated larynges; however, phonation was not achieved with 3 of 6 chronically scarred and 1 of 6 saline-treated larynges. Compared with control, the chronic scar group was characterized by elevated P(th), reduced E(g), and intralarynx vibratory amplitude and area asymmetry. The bFGF group was characterized by P(th) below control-group levels, E(g) comparable with control, and vocal fold vibratory amplitude and area symmetry comparable with control. The sham group was characterized by P(th) comparable with control, E(g) superior to control, and vocal fold vibratory amplitude and area symmetry comparable with control. The excised larynx model reported here demonstrated robust deterioration across phonatory indices under the scar condition and sensitivity to treatment-induced change under the bFGF condition. The improvement observed under the sham condition may reflect unanticipated therapeutic benefit or artifact. This model holds promise as a tool for the functional characterization of biomechanical tissue changes resulting from vocal fold scar and the evaluation of experimental therapies.
  Journal of Speech Language and Hearing Research 09/2009; 52(4):1008-20.
• Article: Safety of electromagnetic articulography in patients with pacemakers and implantable cardioverter-defibrillators.

  Jose A Joglar, Carol Nguyen, Diane M Garst, William F Katz
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  ABSTRACT: Electromagnetic articulography (EMA) uses a helmet to create alternating magnetic fields for tracking speech articulator movement. An important safety consideration is whether EMA magnetic fields interfere with the operation of speakers' pacemakers or implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICDs). In this investigation, individuals with pacemaker/ICD devices were exposed to EMA fields under controlled conditions while potential interference was examined. Twelve adults with pacemaker/ICD devices from 3 major manufacturers were assessed for device function before, during, and after exposure to magnetic fields from a Carstens AG100 EMA system. Potential interference was probed, with EMA transmitters positioned at varying distances from the implantable devices and with the EMA system set at different operating strengths. No adverse affects in device operation were observed under any conditions. The only potential complication was temporary telemetry-link interference during device testing in some cases. The results suggest that EMA technology may be safely used with patients who have pacemakers and ICDs. However, the present findings do not rule out potential interference with other pacemaker/ICD manufacturers or with different articulography systems. Precautions are suggested for testing individuals with pacemaker/ICDs under EMA conditions.
  Journal of Speech Language and Hearing Research 09/2009; 52(4):1082-7.
• Article: Refinement of speech breathing in healthy 4- to 6-year-old children.

  Carol A Boliek, Thomas J Hixon, Peter J Watson, Patricia B Jones
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  ABSTRACT: The purpose of this study was to offer a better understanding of the development of neuromotor control for speech breathing and provide a normative data set that can serve as a useful standard for clinical evaluation and management of young children with speech disorders involving the breathing subsystem. Speech breathing was studied in 60 healthy children, including 10 boys and 10 girls, each at ages 4, 5, and 6 years. A variable inductance plethysmograph was used to obtain volume changes of the rib cage, abdomen, and lung as well as temporal features of the breathing cycle. Results indicated that breathing behavior was influenced by height and age but not gender. Some speech breathing behaviors were found to be highly variable, whereas others were more systematic. The data from this investigation demonstrate that the refinement of the speech breathing mechanism is gradual and presumably takes place from approximately 3-10 years of age. The rate of change associated with speech breathing parallels that observed in other subsystems of speech production.
  Journal of Speech Language and Hearing Research 09/2009; 52(4):990-1007.
• Article: Developing the communicative participation item bank: Rasch analysis results from a spasmodic dysphonia sample.

  Carolyn R Baylor, Kathryn M Yorkston, Tanya L Eadie, Robert M Miller, Dagmar Amtmann
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  ABSTRACT: The purpose of this study was to conduct the initial psychometric analyses of the Communicative Participation Item Bank-a new self-report instrument designed to measure the extent to which communication disorders interfere with communicative participation. This item bank is intended for community-dwelling adults across a range of communication disorders. A set of 141 candidate items was administered to 208 adults with spasmodic dysphonia. Participants rated the extent to which their condition interfered with participation in various speaking communication situations. Questionnaires were administered online or in a paper version per participant preference. Participants also completed the Voice Handicap Index (B. H. Jacobson et al., 1997) and a demographic questionnaire. Rasch analyses were conducted using Winsteps software (J. M. Linacre, 1991). The results show that items functioned better when the 5-category response format was recoded to a 4-category format. After removing 8 items that did not fit the Rasch model, the remaining 133 items demonstrated strong evidence of sufficient unidimensionality, with the model accounting for 89.3% of variance. Item location values ranged from -2.73 to 2.20 logits. Preliminary Rasch analyses of the Communicative Participation Item Bank show strong psychometric properties. Further testing in populations with other communication disorders is needed.
  Journal of Speech Language and Hearing Research 09/2009; 52(5):1302-20.
• Article: Measurement of speech effort during fluency-inducing conditions in adults who do and do not stutter.

  Roger J Ingham, Anne K Bothe, Erin Jang, Lauren Yates, John Cotton, Irene Seybold
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  ABSTRACT: To investigate the effects of 4 fluency-inducing (FI) conditions on self-rated speech effort and other variables in adults who stutter and in normally fluent controls. Twelve adults with persistent stuttering and 12 adults who had never stuttered each completed 4 ABA-format experiments. During A phases, participants read aloud normally. During each B phase, they read aloud in 1 of 4 FI conditions: auditory masking, chorus reading, whispering, and rhythmic speech. Dependent variables included self-judged speech effort and observer-judged stuttering frequency, speech rate, and speech naturalness. For the persons who stuttered, FI conditions reduced stuttering and speech effort, but only for chorus reading were these improvements obtained without diminishing speech naturalness or speaking rate. By contrast, speech effort increased during all FI conditions for adults who did not stutter. Self-rated speech effort differentiated the effects of 4 FI conditions on speech performance for adults who stuttered, with chorus reading best approximating normally fluent speech. More generally, self-ratings of speech effort appeared to constitute an independent, reliable, and validly interpretable dimension of fluency that may be useful in the measurement and treatment of stuttering.
  Journal of Speech Language and Hearing Research 09/2009; 52(5):1286-301.