Tyson S. Barrett

The Effects of Dyad Reading and Text Difficulty on Third-Graders' Reading Achievement.

ABSTRACT This study replicated, with modifications, previous research of dyad reading using texts at various levels of difficulty (Morgan, 1997). The current project measured the effects of using above–grade-level texts on reading achievement and sought to determine the influences of dyad reading on both lead and assisted readers. Results indicate that weaker readers, using texts at two, three, and four grade levels above their instructional levels with the assistance of lead readers, outscored both proficient and less proficient students in the control group across multiple measures of reading achievement. However, the gains made by assisted readers were not significantly different relative to the various text levels. When all assessments were considered, assisted readers reading texts two grade levels above their instructional levels showed the most robust gains in oral reading fluency and comprehension. Lead readers also benefited from dyad reading and continued their respective reading developmental trajectories across measures.

Rhythm Perception and Its Role in Perception and Learning of Dysrhythmic Speech.

Purpose The perception of rhythm cues plays an important role in recognizing spoken language, especially in adverse listening conditions. Indeed, this has been shown to hold true even when the rhythm cues themselves are dysrhythmic. This study investigates whether expertise in rhythm perception provides a processing advantage for perception (initial intelligibility) and learning (intelligibility improvement) of naturally dysrhythmic speech, dysarthria. Method Fifty young adults with typical hearing participated in 3 key tests, including a rhythm perception test, a receptive vocabulary test, and a speech perception and learning test, with standard pretest, familiarization, and posttest phases. Initial intelligibility scores were calculated as the proportion of correct pretest words, while intelligibility improvement scores were calculated by subtracting this proportion from the proportion of correct posttest words. Results Rhythm perception scores predicted intelligibility improvement scores but not initial intelligibility. On the other hand, receptive vocabulary scores predicted initial intelligibility scores but not intelligibility improvement. Conclusions Expertise in rhythm perception appears to provide an advantage for processing dysrhythmic speech, but a familiarization experience is required for the advantage to be realized. Findings are discussed in relation to the role of rhythm in speech processing and shed light on processing models that consider the consequence of rhythm abnormalities in dysarthria.

A Multisite Study Evaluating the Benefits of Early Intervention via Telepractice

This study sought to determine the effectiveness of telepractice as a method of delivering early intervention services to families of infants and toddlers who are deaf or hard of hearing. A comparison group design was applied to ascertain the child, family, and provider outcomes via telepractice compared with traditional in-person home visits. A total of 48 children and their families, along with 15 providers from 5 early intervention programs, across the country participated. Children in the telepractice group received more intervention, although the number of prescribed sessions was equal across groups. Analyses of covariance demonstrated that children in the telepractice group scored statistically significantly higher than children in the in-person group on the PLS-5 Receptive Language subscale and PLS-5 Total Language standard scores, and the groups scored similarly on other language measures. There were no statistically significant differences between groups in regard to family outcomes of support, knowledge, and community involvement. Analysis of video recordings of telepractice versus in-person home visits resulted in higher scores for provider responsiveness and parent engagement. This study supports the effectiveness of telepractice in delivering early intervention services to families of children who are deaf or hard of hearing. Further research involving randomized trials with larger, more diverse populations is warranted.

Losing Ground: Awareness of Congenital Cytomegalovirus in the United States

One in 150 infants is born with cytomegalovirus (CMV) and one in 750 will have lifelong disabilities due to CMV. Even though congenital CMV is the leading viral cause of congenital disabilities and the leading non-genetic cause of childhood hearing loss, most adults have never heard of it. Data from the 2015 and 2016 HealthStylesTM surveys were analyzed and compared to data from similar studies and show an awareness rate of 7% for U.S. adults (5% for men and 9% for women), a statistically significant decrease from 2005 and 2010 HealthStylesTM surveys. Predictors of awareness include gender and education level. The presence of a child ages 0–5 in the household does not increase the chance that an adult in the household is aware of CMV. CMV is a large public health burden and further research needs to be focused on awareness and prevention of the negative sequela associated with congenital CMV. Acronyms: CDC = Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, CMV = Cytomegalovirus, IOM = Institutes of Medicine (now known as National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine), STD = Sexually Transmitted Disease Corresponding author’s contact information: Sara M. Doutre; National Center for Hearing Assessment and Management, Utah State University; Phone: 801.620.0932; Email: saradoutre@gmail.com 2016; 1(2): 39-48

Increased Health Care Utilization and Costs Among Veterans With a Positive Screen for Military Sexual Trauma

Background: The effects of sexual trauma on long-term health care utilization and costs are not well understood due to infrequent documentation of sexual trauma history in health care systems. The Veteran’s Health Administration provides a unique opportunity to address this constraint as sexual trauma is actively screened for as part of routine care. Methods: We used a retrospective cohort design to analyze Veteran’s Health Administration mental health and medical service utilization and costs as a function of a positive screen for exposure to military sexual trauma (MST) among Veterans of recent conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan. We computed adjusted 5-year estimates of overall utilization and costs, and utilization and costs determined not to be related to MST. Results: The cohort included 426,223 men and 59,611 women. A positive MST screen was associated with 50% higher health care utilization and costs relative to a negative screen. Overall, a positive relative to negative MST screen was associated with a 5-year incremental difference of 34.6 encounters and

Prevalence and Trends of Childhood Hearing Loss Based on Federally-funded National Surveys: 1994–2013

10,734 among women, and 33.5 encounters and

Pediatric Hearing Aid Management: Parent-Reported Needs for Learning Support.

11,484 among men. After accounting for MST-related treatment, positive MST screen was associated with 11.9 encounters and

Understanding dysrhythmic speech: When rhythm does not matter and learning does not happen

4803 among women, and 19.5 encounters and

Trends in Hearing Loss Among Adolescents

8001 among men. Conclusions: Results demonstrate significant and consistent differences in health care utilization and costs between Veterans with a positive relative to negative MST screen. Even after accounting for MST-related care, a positive screen was associated with significantly higher utilization and costs. MST-related needs may be more readily recognized in women relative to men.

Network-behavior dynamics of adolescent friendships, alcohol use, and physical activity.

A recent highly cited publication, using data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), concluded that the prevalence of childhood hearing loss in the United States is increasing (Shargorodsky, Curan, Curhan, & Eavey, 2010). This article examines the accuracy of that conclusion based on additional data from three nationally-representative surveys of childhood health. Using data from NHANES, the National Survey of Children’s Health (NSCH), and the National Health Interview Survey (NHIS), logistic regression was used to assess trends from audiometry-measured and parent-reported childhood hearing loss. In contrast to prior research, the results were highly conflicting. NHANES suggested both an increasing (audiometry) and decreasing (parent-report) trend, NSCH (parent-report) suggested no trend, and NHIS (parent-report) suggested a possible increasing trend. Given the disagreements among these federally funded national surveys, administrators and policy makers should be very cautious about conclusions drawn from these surveys regarding prevalence and trends related to childhood hearing loss in the United States.