Stuttering, affecting approximately 1% of the global population, is a complex speech disorder significantly impacting individuals\' quality of life. Prior studies using electromyography (EMG) to examine orofacial muscle activity in stuttering have presented mixed results, highlighting the variability in neuromuscular responses during stuttering episodes. Fifty-five participants with stuttering and 30 individuals without stuttering, aged between 18 and 40, participated in the study. EMG signals from five facial and cervical muscles were recorded during speech tasks and analyzed for mean amplitude and frequency activity in the 5-15 Hz range to identify significant differences. Upon analysis of the 5-15 Hz frequency range, a higher average amplitude was observed in the zygomaticus major muscle for participants while stuttering (p < 0.05). Additionally, when assessing the overall EMG signal amplitude, a higher average amplitude was observed in samples obtained from disfluencies in participants who did not stutter, particularly in the depressor anguli oris muscle (p < 0.05). Significant differences in muscle activity were observed between the two groups, particularly in the depressor anguli oris and zygomaticus major muscles. These results suggest that the underlying neuromuscular mechanisms of stuttering might involve subtle aspects of timing and coordination in muscle activation. Therefore, these findings may contribute to the field of biosensors by providing valuable perspectives on neuromuscular mechanisms and the relevance of electromyography in stuttering research. Further research in this area has the potential to advance the development of biosensor technology for language-related applications and therapeutic interventions in stuttering.

We examine the provision of elective pronunciation services, such as intelligibility enhancement, to non-native speakers by speech language pathologists (SLPs). Practices associated with the \'modification\' of non-native accent raise significant professionalism questions about bias for SLPs and healthcare professionals. These questions arise partly due to the socio-cultural context in which SLPs practice and their clients live, and the relational nature of communication. We argue that due to the ambiguity inherent in accent modification practices, SLPs must weigh a variety of considerations before determining the circumstances in which such services are professionally acceptable. Our argument is rooted in consideration of the complex nature of professionalism related to communication. After surveying potentially relevant models from other healthcare professions and finding them wanting, we support our position in light of current literature on topics such as accounts of functionality. We conclude by generalizing our anti-bias recommendations to interprofessional healthcare professionalism.

There is limited evidence regarding the effect of animation compared to static pictures on children\'s language development. The aim was to systematically review the available literature for evidence concerning the effect of brief animation on spoken language responses (receptive-listening or expressive-speaking) in typically developing (TD) children aged 3 to 9 years. Five databases were searched, resulting in seven included studies. The characteristics of animated stimuli, the manner of presentation, and the language-related tasks were recorded, and questions were posed about the effect of brief animation on children\'s receptive and expressive language abilities. The evidence suggests that animation may have a positive effect on expressive language abilities of children compared to static pictures. As far as the effect of animation on receptive language performance is concerned, the evidence is less concrete. Future directions regarding the potential of animation on language development are discussed.

OBJECTIVE: People with a total laryngectomy (PTL) confront safety threats related to altered airway anatomy and risk of adverse events is amplified during healthcare crises, as exemplified by COVID-19 pandemic. Understanding these challenges, how they are navigated by PTL, and what resources can be deployed to alleviate risk can improve interprofessional care by speech-language pathologists (SLPs), otolaryngologists, and other professionals.
METHODS: An online survey was disseminated to PTL in the United States during the COVID-19 pandemic, querying participants about safety concerns and sources of information accessed to address care. Descriptive statistics and Chi-square were used to analyze information sources consumed by tracheoesophageal, esophageal, and electrolaryngeal speakers. Content analysis was completed to identify themes and quantify responses by subtheme.
RESULTS: Among 173 respondent PTL, tracheoesophageal speakers preferentially sought otolaryngologist input, whereas esophageal and electrolaryngeal speakers more often chose SLPs (p < .01). Overall, tracheoesophageal speakers had more SLP or otolaryngologist contact. Many PTL reported stringent handwashing, neck cleaning, and hygienic risk mitigation strategies. Six themes emerged in content analysis involving risk of infection/transmission, heightened vigilance, changes to alaryngeal communication, modified tracheostoma coverage, diagnostic testing, and risk from comorbid conditions. Limited provider contact suggested pandemic barriers to healthcare access.
CONCLUSIONS: PTL have a range of laryngectomy-specific needs and concerns, and type of alaryngeal communication was associated with source of information sought. Collaborations among healthcare professionals need to be optimized to improve patient navigation and overall access to specialized care.

This article provides guidance on the integral role of physical therapy, occupational therapy (OT), and speech language pathology (SLP) in palliative care (PC), underlining the necessity for effective communication between physicians and therapists, the importance of caregiver education and support, the application of holistic treatment modalities in OT, the underutilization of resources in PC settings, the role of SLP professionals in feeding and nutrition, and the challenges in communication during the advanced stages of illness. The article draws on various studies and expert opinions to elucidate these issues, offering a valuable resource to health care professionals in ensuring high-quality patient-centered PC.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to compare auditory brainstem response (ABR) findings of normal-hearing preschool children with different types of speech and language pathology.
METHODS: This retrospective, non-randomized, cohort study was conducted at a tertiary speech and hearing rehabilitation institution according to STROBE guidelines. The study enrolled 123 preschool children diagnosed with speech language pathology and normal hearing. The participants included children with developmental language disorder, autism spectrum disorder, isolated articulation pathology, organic brain lesions, cognitive delay, and a group of very young children with clinically significant speech development delay. All patients underwent standard ABR procedures.
RESULTS: The latencies were the longest in the group of children with organic lesion, followed by the group of children with autism spectrum disorder, then the group with developmental language disorder, and the young children group. In the group of children with articulation pathology and the cognitive delay group, the latencies were the shortest.
CONCLUSIONS: This study showed a connection between several groups of children with language pathology that includes comprehension problems and prolongation of ABR latencies.

UNASSIGNED: The purpose of this study was to investigate how ataxia affects the task-dependent role of pitch auditory feedback control in speech. In previous research, individuals with ataxia produced over-corrected, hypermetric compensatory responses to unexpected pitch and formant frequency perturbations in auditory feedback in sustained vowels and single words (Houde et al., 2019; Li et al., 2019; Parrell et al., 2017). In this study, we investigated whether ataxia would also affect the task-dependent role of the auditory feedback control system, measuring whether pitch-shift responses would be mediated by speech task or semantic focus pattern as they are in neurologically healthy speakers.
UNASSIGNED: Twenty-two adults with ataxia and 29 age- and sex-matched control participants produced sustained vowels and sentences with and without corrective focus while their auditory feedback was briefly and unexpectedly perturbed in pitch by +/-200 cents. The magnitude and latency of the reflexive pitch-shift responses were measured as a reflection of auditory feedback control.
UNASSIGNED: Individuals with ataxia produced larger reflexive pitch-shift responses in both the sustained-vowel and sentence-production tasks than the control participants. Additionally, a differential response magnitude was observed by task and sentence focus pattern for both groups.
UNASSIGNED: These findings demonstrate that even though accuracy of auditory feedback control correction is affected by cerebellar damage, as evidenced by the hypermetric responses, the system still retains efficiency in utilizing the task-dependent role of auditory feedback.

Introduction: The objective of this work was to investigate Speech-Language Pathologists\' (SLPs) and audiologists\' telehealth awareness, experience, and perception in terms of applicability, effectiveness, barriers, facilitators, and the influence of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic on telehealth practice. Methods: A questionnaire was developed and validated based on relevant literature, authors\' clinical expertise, and a published survey. Sample size was determined through power analysis, and participants were recruited using a snowball-sampling technique. Results: Ninety-five (n = 95) clinicians completed a survey. A majority (87.4%) reported awareness of and 68.4% reported experience with telehealth. The SLPs (86.4%) had more experience than audiologists (38.9%). Overall, 78.5% first used telehealth during the COVID-19 pandemic, with no significant difference in telehealth use during versus after the pandemic lockdown; 63.8% reported telehealth being less effective than in-person. However, there were differences in perceived telehealth effectiveness: Telehealth was significantly more effective for consultations and counseling, with adults aged 18-40 years; and clients with fluency and speech sound disorders. The highest significant barrier to telehealth delivery was network issues, and available workplace resources was the highest facilitator although this was not significant. Conclusions: Most clinicians were aware of telehealth, had a positive attitude toward it, and had experience using telehealth. More SLPs than audiologists used telehealth. The COVID-19 pandemic had a positive influence on telehealth service provision with an increase in use that was maintained after in-person services were re-initiated. Perceived effectiveness of telehealth services varied depending on the type of clinical service, the client\'s age, and diagnosis. These factors must be considered while planning telehealth services in Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology.

BACKGROUND: Phonation and speech are known sources of respirable aerosol in humans. Voice assessment and treatment manipulate all the subsystems of voice production, and previous work (Saccente-Kennedy et al., 2022) has demonstrated such activities can generate >10 times more aerosol than conversational speech and 30 times more aerosol than breathing. Aspects of voice therapy may therefore be considered aerosol generating procedures and pose a greater risk of potential airborne pathogen (eg, SARS-CoV-2) transmission than typical speech. Effective mitigation measures may be required to ensure safe service delivery for therapist and patient.
OBJECTIVE: To assess the effectiveness of mitigation measures in reducing detectable respirable aerosol produced by voice assessment/therapy.
METHODS: We recruited 15 healthy participants (8 cis-males, 7 cis-females), 9 of whom were voice-specialist speech-language pathologists. Optical Particle Sizers (OPS) (Model 3330, TSI) were used to measure the number concentration of respirable aerosol particles (0.3 µm-10 µm) generated during a selection of voice assessment/therapy tasks, both with and without mitigation measures in place. Measurements were performed in a laminar flow operating theatre, with near-zero background aerosol concentration, allowing us to quantify the number concentration of respiratory aerosol particles produced. Mitigation measures included the wearing of Type IIR fluid resistant surgical masks, wrapping the same masks around the end of straws, and the use of heat and moisture exchange microbiological filters (HMEFs) for a water resistance therapy (WRT) task.
RESULTS: All unmitigated therapy tasks produced more aerosol than unmasked breathing or speaking. Mitigation strategies reduced detectable aerosol from all tasks to a level significantly below, or no different to, that of unmasked breathing. Pooled filtration efficiencies determined that Type IIR surgical masks reduced detectable aerosol by 90%. Surgical masks wrapped around straws reduced detectable aerosol by 96%. HMEF filters were 100% effective in mitigating the aerosol from WRT, the exercise that generated more aerosol than any other task in the unmitigated condition.
CONCLUSIONS: Voice therapy and assessment causes the release of significant quantities of respirable aerosol. However, simple mitigation strategies can reduce emitted aerosol concentrations to levels comparable to unmasked breathing.

BACKGROUND: Patients who were incarcerated were disproportionately affected by COVID-19 compared with the general public. Furthermore, the impact of multidisciplinary rehabilitation assessments and interventions on the outcomes of patients admitted to the hospital with COVID-19 is limited.
OBJECTIVE: We aimed to compare the functional outcomes of oral intake, mobility, and activity between inmates and noninmates diagnosed with COVID-19 and examine the relationships among these functional measures and discharge destination.
METHODS: A retrospective analysis was performed on patients admitted to the hospital for COVID-19 at a large academic medical center. Scores on functional measures including the Functional Oral Intake Scale and Activity Measure for Postacute Care (AM-PAC) were collected and compared between inmates and noninmates. Binary logistic regression models were used to evaluate the odds of whether patients were discharged to the same place they were admitted from and whether patients were being discharged with a total oral diet with no restrictions. Independent variables were considered significant if the 95% CIs of the odds ratios (ORs) did not include 1.0.
RESULTS: A total of 83 patients (inmates: n=38; noninmates: n=45) were included in the final analysis. There were no differences between inmates and noninmates in the initial (P=.39) and final Functional Oral Intake Scale scores (P=.35) or in the initial (P=.06 and P=.46), final (P=.43 and P=.79), or change scores (P=.97 and P=.45) on the AM-PAC mobility and activity subscales, respectively. When examining separate regression models using AM-PAC mobility or AM-PAC activity scores as independent variables, greater age upon admission decreased the odds (OR 0.922, 95% CI 0.875-0.972 and OR 0.918, 95% CI 0.871-0.968) of patients being discharged with a total oral diet with no restrictions. The following factors increased the odds of patients being discharged to the same place they were admitted from: being an inmate (OR 5.285, 95% CI 1.334-20.931 and OR 6.083, 95% CI 1.548-23.912), \"Other\" race (OR 7.596, 95% CI 1.203-47.968 and OR 8.515, 95% CI 1.311-55.291), and female sex (OR 4.671, 95% CI 1.086-20.092 and OR 4.977, 95% CI 1.146-21.615).
CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study provide an opportunity to learn how functional measures may be used to better understand discharge outcomes in both inmate and noninmate patients admitted to the hospital with COVID-19 during the initial period of the pandemic.