Friday, November 18, 2005
Eating & Drinking Difficulties Associated with Intellectual Impairment & Dementia
7:30 am - 8:30 am, San Diego Convention Center, 6C
Eating and drinking difficulties in adults with intellectual impairments and dementia often go unidentified, a trend that will likely continue as this population group ages. This session will focus on the issues and factors that influence clinical decision making and intervention, and the complex ethical considerations therapists face.
Contemporary Medical Issues & Cognition
1:30 pm - 3:30 pm, San Diego Convention Center, Ballroom B
Heart disease and hypertension can negatively affect cognitive abilities. This session will outline some of the cognitive consequences of these medical conditions and treatment approaches, including the controversy surrounding the use of hyperbaric oxygen treatment in treating traumatic brain injury, cerebral palsy, and stroke.
Saturday, November 19, 2005
Communication Wellness Check-Up: Age-Related Changes in Communicative Abilities
7:30 am - 8:30 am, San Diego Convention Center, Ballroom A
This session will present research that compared the cognitive-communicative performance of neurologically healthy young and old adults and older adults with neurogenic communication disorders.
The Psychophysics of Taste: Relevance to Swallowing Across the Lifespan
8 am - 11 am, San Diego Marriott Hotel, Marina E
This session will focus on the sensation of taste and how variations in taste can affect swallowing. For example, variations in taste can inhibit activities incompatible with eating (gagging) and stimulate activities necessary for eating (swallowing). Genetic and pathological variations in oral sensation, such as those born with many taste buds ("supertasters") and disorders that can reduce taste while intensifying oral sensations
like burn (eating hot peppers or chili) or touch (eating fats) will be examined.
Auditory Processing Disorders and Audiology
9 am - 12 pm, San Diego Convention Center, Room 5AB
This session will present research on the role of auditory processing disorder (APD) in the cognitive development of children and the impact of APD on language and literacy. How APD affects speech communication in older adults and identification of the factors that underlie speech understanding difficulties will be addressed.
Stress & Coping in Spouses of People with Aphasia
9:30 am - 11:00 am, San Diego Convention Center, Sails Pavilion
Comparative study results from Israeli, Palestinian, Jewish, and American caregivers of individuals with aphasia will be the focus. Variables include caregivers' perceptions of signs, causes and coping mechanisms of stress and stressors.
Speech-Language Pathologist's Role in Managing Falls in Cognitively Impaired Patients
11:30 am - 1:30 pm, San Diego Convention Center, 32AB
Speech-language pathologists (SLP) are vital to the care of fall-prone older adults with cognitive impairments. This session will focus on fall risk factors that relate to the SLP's scope of practice. They include improving communication, cognition, and nutrition and their role with early, middle, and late stage dementia. This session will also cover therapies for reducing the risk of falling.
Farm Families' Attitudes & Perceptions on Hearing: Impact Study
12:30 pm - 2 pm, San Diego Convention Center, Sails Pavilion
This study of adults from community-based agricultural events examined attitudes and perceptions of hearing loss and noise-exposure patterns, among other things. It also allowed for self-reporting of hearing loss.
Efficacy of Training Older Adults: Memory-Enhancing Strategies
2:30 pm - 4:30 pm, San Diego Marriott Hotel, Hall 1
This session will present the results of a randomized, pre- and post-test, control group, strategy intervention study. The theoretical framework, methods, results, and implications will be discussed.
Using Writing to Improve Verbal Output in Adults with Aphasia
4:15 pm -4:30 pm, San Diego Convention Center, 15B
Individuals with fluent aphasia often have difficulty in word-retrieval or word finding. This session will feature a study that examined the effects of a written signaling on participants' ability to verbally name pictures. Two participants with fluent aphasia participated in the study, both of whom improved their verbal naming abilities in response to the written naming treatment.
Sunday, November 20, 2005
Excessive Noise Level Measures in a Large Metropolitan Subway System
8 am - 8:15 am, San Diego Convention Center, Room 1A
According to a subway noise assessment study in a major metropolitan area, individuals are exposed to excessive and dangerous noise levels. Levels ranging from 56 to 97 decibels (dB) were recorded, highest levels resulting from "impulse" noises (e.g., as trains braked when they entered stations). This session will consider the implications of study results, given that noise-induced hearing loss is the most common occupational health problem for industrial societies.
Migraine Associated Dizziness
1:30 pm - 2:30 pm, San Diego Convention Center, Room 3
Although underdiagnosed, migraine headaches are likely one of the most common sources for dizziness, imbalance and motion sensitivity. This session will look at the diagnostic criteria for this problem and treatment options.
Innovative Strategies for Communicating with Dementia & Cognitively Impaired Residents
2:30 pm - 4:00 pm, San Diego Convention Center, Sails Pavilion
Routinely, speech-language pathologists instruct rehabilitation and nursing staff and family in effective communication with residents who have dementia and are in long term care settings. This session will cover some innovative strategies to use when common techniques and cuing aren't effective.
ASHA is the national professional and scientific association for more than 120,000 audiologists, speech-language pathologists, and speech, language, and hearing scientists. Audiologists specialize in preventing and assessing hearing disorders as well as providing audiologic treatment including hearing aids. Speech-language pathologists identify, assess, and treat speech and language problems including swallowing disorders.
Editor's Note: To obtain a press pass or for more information, contact Mona Thomas at 301-897-0156, mthomas@asha.org. [Beginning November 16, 1 pm through November 20, 10 am (PST), call 240-401-2003 (cell) or the press room numbers below.]
On November 18 at 8:30 a.m., the press room will be open and located in Room 13, Mezzanine Level, San Diego Convention Center, 619-525-6335 or 619-525-6336. Free parking is offered for registered reporters. Call Mona Thomas for more details.
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