- The Necessity for Improvements in Twin Studies of Stuttering
- The Influence of Speaker and Listener Gender on Speech Naturalness Ratings: A Methodological Control Study
- Vygotskian Theory and Its Application to Assessment: An Overview for Speech-Language Pathologists
- Syntax and Speech-Language Pathology Graduate Students: Performance and Perceptions
- Incorporating Computers Into Language Intervention From a Social Context Perspective
- A Comparison of Characteristics of Males and Females in Graduate Speech-Language Pathology Programs
- Appalachian English and Standardized Language Testing: Rationale and Recommendations for Test Adaptation
- Assessing the Narratives of African America Children
- A Methodological Control Study of Scaled Vocal Breathiness Measurements
- Centenarian Female Voices: A Review of Emerging Data
- Scaling Concepts Underlying the Decibel
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1. The Necessity for Improvements in Twin Studies of Stuttering
Sara J. Booth
Abstract: Researchers of the link between stuttering and twins have been investigating and confirming possible genetic and environmental factors in the disorder's etiology since the 1930s. Unfortunately, methodological flaws in several areas of this research persist. The purpose of this article is to suggest ways in which researchers of stuttering and twins could improve their studies. One way is to employ the strict methods of subject selection and detailed definitions of environmental roles used by researchers of possible genetic components of mental illness and learning disabilities. Another way is to use fluency experts and visual cues in their studies in order to provide more accurate data.
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2. The Influence of Speaker and Listener Gender on Speech Naturalness Ratings: A Methodological Control Study
Nicole L. Ermlich
Dale Evan Metz
Nicholas Schiavetti
Robert L. Whitehead
Abstract: This experiment investigated the potential influence of gender in the scaling of perceived speech naturalness of male and female speakers by male and female listeners. Twenty male and female listeners rated the perceived speech naturalness of 20 male and female speakers using a 9-point equal-appearing interval speech naturalness scale that was developed by Martin, Haroldson, and Triden (1984). A two-way analysis of variance indicated that neither speaker nor rater gender influenced speech naturalness ratings, and there was no speaker-rater gender interaction. These results indicate that panels consisting of either males or females exclusively, or mixed panel of males and females, would not differ systematically from one another in their judgment of perceived speech naturalness of speakers of either gender.
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3. Vygotskian Theory and Its Application to Assessment: An Overview for Speech-Language Pathologists
Laura M. Justice
Helen Ezell
Abstract: Current directions in speech-language pathology are being influenced by the seminal theories of the Russian psychologists Lev Vygotsky. Vygostky believed that children's development of higher mental processes results from social interactions with more capable peers, such as parents. By identifying and interacting within children's zone of proximal development, adults can stimulate children's development. The present article describes in further detail these major premises of Vygotskian theory and illustrates their contemporary applications to assessment strategies in speech-language pathology. In particular, two methods of assessment are discussed: the assessment of children's learning potential (dynamic assessment) and the assessment of parental scaffolding during dyadic interactions.
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4. Syntax and Speech-Language Pathology Graduate Students: Performance and Perceptions
Laura M. Justice
Helen K. Ezell
Abstract: The purpose of this study was to examine the performance of speech-language pathology graduate students on tasks assessing their knowledge of basic syntactic constituencies and sentence types, and to compare their performance to that of graduate students in linguistics and education. Also, this study investigated graduate students' perceptions concerning syntax, as related to professional and personal issues. Seventy-eight graduate students in these three disciplines completed a 60-item questionnaire designed to investigate these topics. Results indicated that students in linguistics outperformed those in both speech-language pathology and education, but that, for the most part, all participants held similar perceptions concerning syntax. These findings are discussed in terms of their relevance toward enhancing clinical education for students in speech-language pathology.
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5. Incorporating Computers Into Language Intervention From a Social Context Perspective
Diana L. Zimmerman
Teresa A. Ukrainetz
Abstract: This article critically considers the role of computer software in language intervention. A social context approach is recommended, wherein computer software is used as an activity base for clinical mediation, rather that as an independent drill context. Three software packages are reviewed: Bailey's Book House (Edmark, 1997), Stanley's Sticker Stories (Edmark, 1997), and Sky Island Mysteries (Edmark, 1998). Suggestions are provided for language objectives and pre-/post-computer activities to create integrated language intervention sessions incorporating both computer and more traditional therapy activities.
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6. A Comparison of Characteristics of Males and Females in Graduate Speech-Language Pathology Programs
Gregory L. Lof
Robin Mullen
Leanne Rabinowitz
Abstract: A questionnaire was distributed nationally to a quasi-random selection of male and female speech-language pathology graduate students to determine gender differences in five areas: (a) academic backgrounds, experiences, and influences before entering graduate programs; (b) professional expectations; (c) perceived treatment within graduate programs by peers and faculty; (d) variables that influenced graduate school selection; and (e) personality variables. Of the 163 questionnaires sent, surveys from 60 males and 57 females were returned (72%) from 31 graduate programs in 20 states. Some gender differences were found, but frequently the males and females responded similarly. The results have implications for recruiting and retaining both males and female students in graduate programs in speech-language pathology.
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7. Appalachian English and Standardized Language Testing: Rationale and Recommendations for Test Adaptation
Pamela G. Garn-Nunn
Lori Perkins
Abstract: Based on educational legislation and the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association Code of Ethics, speech-language pathologists are required to use culturally fair methods of assessment in speech and language testing. Appalachian English, used by more than 9 million people in the southeastern United States, remains largely uninvestigated with regard to potential cultural bias. This report is based on results from a study exploring the results of the Test for Examining Expressive Morphology (Shipley, Stone, & Sue, 1983) with 12 Appalachian English-speaking children. A review of dialect characteristics and suggested methods for test adaptation with Appalachian English speakers are included.
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8. Assessing the Narratives of African America Children
Lynn S. Bliss
Zenara Covington
Allyssa McCabe
Abstract: The purpose of this article is to describe the narrative styles of African American speakers. Topic-associating and topic-centered narratives produced by children with normal and impaired language development are presented. Narrative deficits are distinguished from impaired language processing. The former refers to deficiencies in narrative structure; the latter includes word retrieval deficits, disfluencies, echolalia, and preservation. Normal and impaired narrative abilities are contrasted. The results are discussed in terms of assessment and intervention.
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9. A Methodological Control Study of Scaled Vocal Breathiness Measurements
Amy Sewall
Andrea Weglarski
Dale Evan Metz
Nicholas Schiavetti
Robert Whitehead
Abstract: The purpose of this methodological contract study was to examine the reliability and validity of scaled vocal breathiness judgments in normal speakers. Twenty male and 20 female raters judged perceived vocal breathiness in speech samples produced by 20 male and 20 female normal speakers. Intraclass correlations indicated reliable group mean judgments and interjudge agreement was reasonably good for interval scale judgments. A comparison of direct magnitude estimation and equal-appearing interval scales revealed a metathetic continuum that yields valid scaling data with either technique. No differences were found between mean breathiness judgments of male and female speakers by either male or female raters. These data provide a background for the use of scaled breathiness judgments in future clinical research.
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10. Centenarian Female Voices: A Review of Emerging Data
Peter B. Mueller
Abstract: The results of three recent studies of the centenarian female voice are presented and discussed in light of the heterogeneity of the aging process.
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11. Scaling Concepts Underlying the Decibel
Melinda K. Rhea
Lee M. Terrio
Stephen E. Oshrin
This article was originally published in 1988 and received the Editor's Award for that year. We will, on occasion, reprint past Editor's Award articles that provide important information to a wide range of students and professionals. This article provides important fundamental information in communication science.
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