Salome Geertsema

• PhD (SLP)
• Senior Lecturer at University of Pretoria

Background: Language analytic ability is well researched in the context of foreign language acquisition but its role in the acquisition of grammar in the native language is under investigation. Objectives: Our study explored the influence of language analytic ability and print exposure on receptive grammar and reading comprehension in childhood. Ad...

Background: Physical, financial, social and emotional demands placed on caregivers caring for their children with severe intellectual disabilities (CWSID) could lead to high levels of burden. Aim: This study aimed to evaluate the potential level of burden experienced by South African caregivers and aimed to identify possible contributing risk fact...

Background: Despite extensive research on the specific learning disorder (developmental dyslexia) – SLD (DD), many fallacies still cause confusion amongst professionals worldwide. These myths involve the characteristics, diagnoses and treatment of SLD (DD) and should be eradicated.Aim: The authors aimed to determine the knowledge, needs and perspec...

Classrooms across the world are becoming more diverse, forcing mainstream teachers to accept responsibility for teaching second language (L2) learners. As a result, pedagogical translanguaging has come to the fore as a potential practice to help L2 learners perform academically. In South Africa pedagogical translanguaging had not previously been st...

Background: Learners with reading and writing difficulties (RWD) are accommodated in Mauritian government schools without formal curriculum adjustment and teacher support. Little is known about their RWD. The aim was to describe the characteristics of Grade 4 learners with RWD. Aim: To describe the characteristics of Grade 4 learners with RWD. Se...

Background: Learners with reading and writing difficulties (RWD) are accommodated in Mauritian government schools without formal curriculum adjustment and teacher support. Little is known about their RWD. The aim was to describe the characteristics of Grade 4 learners with RWD. Aim : To describe the characteristics of Grade 4 learners with RWD. Set...

In South Africa, as is globally, many people struggle with the challenges which emanate from developmental dyslexia (DD). It is thus important for educators to have adequate knowledge and a positive mindset regarding DD and the management thereof in the school context. One such important method of management is the accommodation of these learners i...

Through the bioecological framework, Gr 1 teachers of second language learners' needs for personal development were determined and delineated.

BACKGROUND: The use of sensory based interventions (SBI) by many parties including speech-language pathologists (SLPs) are evident despite limited proof of their efficacy. Insight into SLPs’ implementation, knowledge, and perceptions of SBI are crucial to define and guide such practices in the field of speech-language therapy. OBJECTIVES: The study...

Background: Dyslexia and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are marked comorbid neurodevelopmental disorders with an estimated bidirectional comorbidity of 25% – 40%. Previous international studies have identified strong hereditary and neurological overlap between these disorders, but the comorbidity of these developmental disorders in...

Background: South Africa has a dearth of research regarding the management of children with dyslexia (CWD), which could be exacerbated by the apparent lack of parental support. South Africa has a unique educational, linguistic and socio-economic context; thus, more specific investigations were warranted into the perspectives and needs of parents an...

The primary aim of this study was to determine and describe the ages of acquisition of the various Afrikaans phonemes according to the theoretical framework of 75% correct production by children aged 24-72 months. The phonemes studied included all Afrikaans vowels (monophthongs and diphthongs), single consonants, and consonant clusters. The sub-aim...

Reading and writing difficulties (RWD) in learners pose significant challenges not just for children but also for parents. While there is limited support available for children with RWD and their parents in Mauritian schools, research may reveal areas of parental need that speech-language therapists may address. The aim was to determine parents’ pe...

There is a need for professional development (PD) among second language (12) learners' teachers to bring 12 learners up to the same level as their home language (LI) peers globally and in South Africa. Speech-language therapists (SLTs) can provide PD for teachers on language and literacy development of L2 learners. Within the bioecological framewor...

Background: Phonological awareness (PA) skills and working memory (WM) are universally regarded as crucial precursors to skilled reading. The orthography of the language being read influences the ease with which a child learns to read. Research has been undertaken on reading in languages with an opaque orthography. Research on the role of PA and WM...

This study investigated the correlation and predictive capacity of verbal working memory (VWM) to the reading comprehension of children in their first language (L1) and second language (L2). The term VWM refers to a cognitive system with a limited capacity that can hold and manipulate verbal and auditory information temporarily. A subaim was to inv...

Background: Literacy achievement of learners is a concern in many developing countries, particularly for English second language (EL2) learners with inadequate language development. It is important to investigate foundational phonological awareness (PA), as well as speech perception skills to guide the development of effective intervention for EL2...

This study employs the Comprehensive Emergent Literacy Model (CELM) theoretical framework, as it refers to the impact of context on learning early literacy skills. It is relevant to this study as the participants were English second language learners from cultures, communities, and demographics different from those of English first language speaker...

Use of nonwords is a potentially more appropriate method of assessment for English second language (EL2) learners. A mixed comparative design was used to compare the effects when using nonwords instead of picture-based stimuli to assess articulation of EL2 learners. Subaims were to compare results between two tests and age groups. In all, 16 Setswa...

The application of specific motor learning principles (MLPs) in treatment for developmental motor-based articulation disorder in children has not been reported to date. The aims were to determine treatment effects of a novel hybrid intervention approach for a single participant with motor-based articulation disorder, and to examine the role of spec...

div class="WordSection1"> Children with autistic disorder (AD) display atypical eye contact and struggle with the social imitation of eye contact. Impaired social imitation may be indicative of disruptions in motor learning processes. The application of specific motor learning principles, such as external feedback, may suggest which variables will...

Background The PA skills of phonological blending and segmentation and auditory word discrimination relate directly to literacy and may be weak in English second language (EL2) learners. In South Africa, literacy skills have been found to be poor in especially EL2 learners. Objectives The purpose of this paper is to determine the effects of vowel...

This study aimed to determine whether the use of prosodically varied speech within a traditional language therapy framework had any effect on the listening skills, pragmatic skills and social interaction behaviour of three children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). A single participant multiple baseline design across behaviours was implemented....

Objectives: The application of systemic hydration as an instrument for optimal voice quality has been a common practice by several professional voice users over the years. Although the physiological action has been determined, the benefits on acoustic and perceptual characteristics are relatively unknown. The present study aimed to determine wheth...

Limited research has been published about the demographic characteristics of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) in South Africa. Describing the profiles of learners from a school for children with ASD may contribute to local knowledge in the field. A retrospective comparative design was utilised to compare the demographic characteristics...

HIV has been shown to have significant effects on the development of a child. Currently, there is limited South African research regarding HIV and specific characteristics of communication development, and the treatment thereof, in the child infected with HIV. The objective of the research was to describe the communication characteristics of a grou...

Purpose: The primary purpose of this study was to investigate the impact of an auditory perceptual training programme on children within a traditional articulation therapy framework. As part of this larger purpose, this study identified perceptual vowel outcomes for English Additional Language (EAL) learners, as well as a preliminary impact on thes...

Objective. To investigate whether privately practising speech-language therapists in South Africa are fulfilling their role of identification, assessment and intervention for adolescents with written-language and reading difficulties. Further needs concerning training with regard to this population group were also determined. Method. A survey study...

Objective: To investigate whether privately practising speech-language therapists in South Africa are fulfilling their role of identification, assessment and intervention for adolescents with written-language and reading difficulties. Further needs concerning training with regard to this population group were also determined. Method: A survey st...

SMS language is English language slang, used as a means of mobile phone text messaging. This practice may impact on the written language skills of learners at school. The Main aim of this study was to determine the perspectives of Grade 8 and 9 English (as Home Language) educators in Gauteng regarding the possible influence of SMS language on certa...

Thesis (M. Communication Pathology)--University of Pretoria, 2004. Includes bibliographical references. Adobe Acrobat Reader needed to open files.