Albert W. Knox

Auditory laterality and tested handedness.

Summary Eleven out of 80 self-referred left handed subjects met the investigators criteria for strong left sidedness and were matched with 11 right sided subjects. The experimental task required each subject to listen to six subtests of dichotic words, developed previously by Kimura and Dirks, which had been altered by adding white noise and random interruption. Under these difficult listening conditions (dichotic words plus white noise or random interruption), left sided subjects demonstrated a significant left ear effect. These data support the contention that, when handedness and footedness are tested for exclusivity, sidedness and language dominance are positively related.

The effects of training in comprehension of electrolaryngeal speech

Abstract This study was designed to measure the effect of various signal-to-noise ratios on the comprehension of electrolaryngeal speech by sophisticated and naive subjects, and the effect of training on naive subjects. It was hypothesized: (1) a 9 dB signal-to-noise ratio listening condition would permit the subjects in all three groups to maintain a high degree of comprehension of the electrolaryngeal speakers message; (2) reducing signal- to-noise ratios would produce a difference between the intelligibility scores obtained by the sophisticated group and the untrained naive group; (3) naive trained subjects would maintain intelligibility scores not significantly different from those of the sophisticated subjects across the three listening conditions. Video training and task tapes were used to provide training and measure intelligibility. Scores from subject performance were analyzed statistically and the conclusions were: (1) a 4 dB signal-to-noise ratio produced a high intelligibility function; (2) below 4 dB listeners demonstrated a decrease in ability to comprehend; (3) no significant difference was found between 4 and 9 dB conditions; (4) trained naive subjects did not score significantly different from sophisticated subjects.

Application of the utilization technique to the behavior of a brain-injured patient

Abstract The speech pathologist often encounters behaviors that interfere with the rehabilitation of a patient with speech and language disorders. This paper describes the utilization technique and presents an account of how the technique was used to control a behavior that was interfering with the speech and language evaluation of a brain-injured adult.

Judgments by children and adults regarding communication skills of esophageal speakers

The intelligibility and acceptability of esophageal speech were judged by a group of children and a group of adults. Eight esophageal speakers demonstrating a range of speech proficiency and differing vocal characteristics were videotaped reading a childrens story. These recordings were played to child and adult judges. Data were analyzed to provide information about within-group and between-group comparisons. Findings indicated that children achieved higher intelligibility scores and employed different values than did adults when listening to esophageal speech.

Effects of Punishment on Learning by Aphasic Subjects

Effects of three types of punishment on learning a paired-associate visual-matching task by aphasic Ss were investigated. Ss matched response buttons with stimulus patterns in three punishment conditions—time-out, when E inactivated the pushbuttons and refrained from presenting a stimulus card for a period of 15 sec.; response-cost, when E took a penny from S for every incorrect response; and presentation of an aversive stimulus, during which 95 dB SPL of noise was presented for 0.75 sec. contingent upon an incorrect response. Each punishment condition lasted either until criterion (10 correct responses in 10 trials) was reached, or until 10 min. had elapsed. All aphasic Ss learned the task under at least one type of punishment condition; types of punishment had differential effects for individual Ss, and Ss learned more rapidly when positive reinforcement and punishment were combined.