Cecyle K. Perry

Comparisons of children with delayed and normal language at 24 months of age on measures of behavioral difficulties, social and cognitive development

This investigation compared a group of expressive language-delayed children with language-normal children of the same age (M = 25.7 months; SD = 0.8 months) on various measures of development and behavioral difficulties. Data were obtained through language sampling, direct developmental assessment, and maternal reports of childrens development and behavior. Scores on measures of social and cognitive development for children with language delay were found to be significantly lower than normals. Further, maternal reports indicated that these children displayed significantly more behavioral difficulties overall than did the language-normal children. Specifically, the language-delayed children exhibited more symptoms of anxiety and depression, withdrawal, sleep problems, and other behavioral disturbances. In addition, children evaluated as expressive language delayed scored significantly lower on measures of receptive language, maternal ratings of communicative competency, and other indices of language proficiency. The results point to the centrality of expressive and receptive language development in relation to early-appearing behavior problems and other developmental milestones. With these findings in mind, early language intervention may not only promote language development, but also prevent the development or exacerbation of socioemotional problems.

Family Characteristics and Adolescent Competence in India: Investigation of Youth in Southern Orissa

This study examines the relationship among a host of family characteristics and indicators of adolescent competence in a sample (N = 107) of 8th- and 9th-grade students in one school located in Berhampur city in Orissa state, India. Social competence (SC) and antisocial behavior (AB) were assessed by teachers, and adolescents evaluated various areas of their own competence on a perceived competence scale. Final examination grades also were obtained as a general measure of cognitive competence. The results indicated that families of more socially competent participants tended to be verbally and emotionally expressive; democratic with regard to discipline, input, and decision making; close but not enmeshed; higher in their level of parent–adolescent communication and family ideals; and lower in external locus of control. Consequently, families of more antisocial adolescents had more conflict and enmeshment and were more external-locus-of-control oriented and either permissive or authoritarian. Finally, several personal and family demographic traits were positively associated with SC and negatively associated with AB, including gender (girls higher in SC and lower in AB than boys), age and grade (older students and those in grade 9 more competent and less problematic), education level of mothers and fathers (positively related to SC and negatively to AB), and birth order (middle children in the family lower in self-perceptions of competence than oldest or youngest children). The findings have implications for parenting and family-life education efforts in India that could have a major impact on the development of adolescent competence.

Effects of environmental noise on computer-derived voice estimates from female speakers*

The purpose of this study was to examine the influence of noise on voice profile statistics from female samples. Six young adult females served as subjects. Five had normal voices; one had a pathological voice with accompanying bilateral vocal nodules. Each female subject was required to match a generated 235 Hz tone (+/- 2 Hz) while maintaining a constant output level of 70 dB SPL (+/- 5 dB). Data collected from a previous study involving a normal male subject were included for comparative purposes. Noise was generated from a personal computer fan which had a strong center frequency component at 235 Hz. Six different A-weighted signal-to-noise [S/N(A)] conditions were created, ranging in 5 dB increments from 25 to 0 dB. Results revealed that fundamental frequency was reasonably resistant to the effects of noise and to the effects of the noisy (pathological) voice signal. Jitter and shimmer estimates generally increased as noise floors elevated. The greatest amount of measurement error was found for the pathological female voice when captured in the presence of environmental noise. Findings are discussed relative to clinical issues surrounding measurement error.

Vocal Abuse Prevention Practices: A National Survey of School-Based Speech-Language Pathologists.

A national survey of school-based speech-language pathologists was conducted to assess current practices regarding prevention of functional voice disorders. More than 80% of the 145 respondents did not have vocal abuse prevention programs primarily because of time constraints and the low incidence/low priority they assigned to voice problems. Twenty-seven speech-language pathologists had vocal abuse/misuse programs for groups of asymptomatic and symptomatic children who were primarily in the elementary grades. Positive attitudes about the quality of training received in prevention and treatment of voice disorders, belief in the importance and effectiveness of voice prevention, and belief that hoarseness is caused by vocal misuse/abuse were associated with those who had voice prevention programs.

Children's Language Proficiency at Ages 2 and 3 as Predictors of Behavior Problems, Social and Cognitive Development at Age 3

This study examined the relationship between language proficiency, behavior problems, and other areas of development in a sample of 36 children ranging from 36–40 months (M = 37.3; SD = 1.1). Although none of the children were in the clinical range of behavioral disturbance, the findings indicated a strong general association between deficiencies in both expressive and receptive language and childrens behavioral difficulties. Specifically, deficits in expressive language at age 2 (M = 25.5 mo.; SD = 0.6 mo.) were more predictive of internalizing rather than externalizing behavior problems at age 3, including symptoms associated with anxiety and depression, withdrawal, sleep and somatic problems. However, deficits in receptive language at age 3 were more predictive of these same types of symptoms at age 3, along with more destructive kinds of behaviors. Scores on measures of receptive language abilities at age 2 were positively predictive of social and cognitive development at age 3. These findings indicate a need for early identification of language delays in young children to help prevent deficits in language that might be linked to behavior problems or delays in other areas of development. Further, our results suggest the need for early intervention, especially for children who display both language delays and behavioral difficulties.

The Influence of Recording Systems on Jitter and Shimmer Estimates

In this study, the influence of recording systems on the important clinical voice parameters of jitter and shimmer was examined. Simulated voice samples (i.e., triangular waveforms) of 100 Hz, 200 ...

Measures of language proficiency as predictors of behavioral difficulties, social and cognitive development in 2-year-old children

An exploratory study of the relation of language proficiency, behavioral difficulties, and various areas of development was conducted with 64 children ranging from 24 to 29 months of age (M = 25.7 mo.). Data were obtained through language sampling, direct developmental assessment, and maternal reports of childrens development and behavior. While scores on measures of expressive language abilities were moderately predictive of scores on measures of behavior problems, a stronger association was found between indices of delayed speech and lower scores on both social and cognitive development. The results point to the centrality of language development to other developmental and behavioral milestones. Further, findings support the importance of identifying late-talking children at an early age so that remedial help may be considered.

Accuracy of jitter estimates using different filter settings on Visi-Pitch: A preliminary report

Preliminary findings are presented regarding Visi-Pitch settings in relation to automatically derived perturbation values (jitter). Jitter values were estimated from sustained phonation of /a/ at each of four filter settings for three subjects using Visi-Pitch. Data were compared to values obtained by hand measuring the same signals and employing Koikes formula. Results indicated that the magnitude of difference between jitter estimated by Visi-Pitch and hand measurement was small. Findings support the use of the manufacturers recommended filter settings as opposed to alternative settings suggested by Karnell.

Interaural Attenuation of a Click Stimulus Using Deep and Shallow Placement of an Insert Earphone

The effect of deep versus shallow insertion of the ER-3A insert earphone on interaural attenuation (IA) of a click stimulus was examined. IA values for five subjects with profound unilateral hearing loss were obtained. The results (a mean IA difference of 2 dB between the two insertion depths) indicated that IAs for deep insertion were not significantly different from IAs for shallow insertion. Thus deep insertion of insert earphones to achieve larger IA values was not recommended for click stimuli.