Thesis (M.S.)--Brigham Young University. Dept. of Communication Disorders, 2008. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 30-33).

Thesis (M.S.)--Brigham Young University. Dept. of Communication Disorders, 2008. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 37-44).

Thesis (M.A.)--University of Missouri-Columbia, 2003. / Typescript. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 63-66). Also available on the Internet.

Thesis (M.A.)--University of Missouri-Columbia, 2003. / Typescript. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 63-66). Also available on the Internet.

The purpose of this study was to investigate how the special education, for children with language impairment in preschool, was organised in a municipality in Sweden. The study was based on interviews and field studies as the primary research tools in qualitative and ethnographic method. The result showed that special education teachers were localised in different geographic areas of school and that there were preschools that lacked special educational expertise in language impairment. Literature and the importance of playing for language development were emphasised as well as the use of signs and visual aids as augmentative and alternative communication. In the preschool for children with language impairment, the teachers carried their knowledge into practical and pedagogical work. Different professions were involved in the work with the children with language impairment. Analysis based on the special educational perspectives showed that there was an emphasis on the compensatory perspective. There was also a strong main focus in sociocultural theory that highlighted that children acquire and develop language in social interaction with the environment.

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is a commonly diagnosed mental health condition among children and adolescents, with studies suggesting that OCD has the potential for significant disruption of academic and social performance. Subjective well-being (SWB) represents a non-traditional conceptualization of mental health within the dual factor model, wherein SWB and measures of psychopathology (e.g., problematic levels of internalizing and externalizing behaviors) provide a more comprehensive picture of mental wellness. The current study examined the nature of the relationship between clinical characteristics of pediatric OCD and SWB within school-age youth (N=65) seeking treatment from an outpatient pediatric neuropsychiatric clinic. Additionally, the potential for moderation of this relationship by various symptom-related and demographic variables was examined, as was the potential for SWB to moderate the relationship between clinical characteristics of pediatric OCD and associated impairments in academic and general functioning. Results indicated that a majority of the sample (n=58; 89.2%) met or exceeded the clinically significant threshold for OCD symptoms, while roughly half of the sample (n=33; 50.8%) endorsed significant levels of academic impairment associated with symptom onset. Subjective well being varied among participants, with levels of SWB showing a statistically significant negative relationship with obsessive thoughts, but little to no relationship with compulsive behaviors. Finally, results of multiple regression analyses failed to identify variables that effectively moderated the relationship between clinical characteristics of pediatric OCD and SWB. Similarly, SWB was not indicated as a moderator of the relationship between clinical characteristics of pediatric OCD and academic functioning. Implications of the findings and directions for future research are discussed.

The primary purpose of the present review was to determine why conflicting findings have been reported regarding the long-term effects of phonological awareness training for children from low socioeconomic status families (low-SES) and children with familial risk for reading impairment. Four aspects of intervention were analyzed for each of the studies: service delivery, content of intervention, length of sessions, and total number of sessions. The second purpose of the review was to determine which aspects of intervention had the largest effect on improving later reading skills as well as if general aspects were beneficial to both at-risk groups or if there were population-specific factors. A total of ten intervention studies, five involving children from low-SES and five involving children with familial risk for reading impairment, were reviewed. Of the ten interventions reviewed, only three interventions, two involving children from low-SES and one involving children at familial risk for reading impairment, demonstrated successful long-term effects on reading. The remaining interventions demonstrated differences across the four aspects analyzed and conflicting long-term outcomes. As no population specific factors were observed across studies, the similarities found in the three successful interventions suggest that a general intervention program can be beneficial for both populations of at-risk children. / text

This qualitative case study focuses on the efforts of the education staff at the Meadows Museum of Art as they planned and implemented INsights and OUTlooks – an inclusive educational program, meaning that it was designed for sighted and non-sighted visitors. Although this is an inclusive program, the study concentrates mostly on how it was designed to make art accessible to visitors with visual impairments. The researcher interviewed the staff in charge of leading the program, observed two program sessions, and attended staff meetings related to INsights and OUTlooks to gain a better understanding of how it functions. Current literature (Andrus, 1999; McGinnis, 2007) within the field of art education suggests that staff at art museums should adopt inclusive practices as they design programs and exhibitions. This study explores the process of creating such a program, the tools and approaches utilized to make art accessible to visitors with visual impairments, and the benefits of being inclusive. Research studies such as this one add to the existing but limited literature regarding inclusive programming in art museums. / text

The impact of the physical environment on communication for residents of long-term care (LTC) facilities has not been examined in depth. No study currently exists which explores environmental influences on communication within the long-term care setting. Investigation of such facilities is important because of the a large impact environmental features have on the quality of life of residents due to the often restricted nature of daily routines and reduced level of cognitive and/or physical function of residents. A definition of environment is needed in order to create a methodology for assessment and treatment of residents in LTC facilities. This study investigates what factors contribute to a positive communication environment in long-term care facilities and how the physical environment should be assessed. Observational data was obtained for three LTC residents with different types of physical and communicative impairments to determine what environmental factors inhibit or support communication. Barriers and facilitators to communication are identified, and recommendations for assessment of the long-term care environment are made. Contributions from the fields of aphasiology, environmental gerontology, and environmental psychology are described in order to contribute to the understanding of what contributes to a positive communication environment. Study results included support for: participant observation as a component of resident assessment, assessment of multiple environments, the importance considering individual needs during assessment, and assessment of resident perception of environment. Furthermore, this study presents a checklist to be used to guide observational assessments. / text

The purpose of this thesis is to provide a review and discussion of the current literature on auditory processing, speech discrimination, word recognition, and early lexical representations in children with normal hearing and those with hearing impairment in addition to identifying areas in which current research is lacking. This information is needed to consider potential interactions between various factors affecting the development of spoken word recognition. This will also provide a starting point for identifying further research needs. Since children with hearing loss do not receive the same amount of exposure to speech and language as typically developing children, it can be expected that the development of speech and word recognition in this population may progress differently. If we can identify differences in auditory processing and phonological development in children with hearing impairment, we can modify speech and language therapy to focus on more specific and effective targets. The subsequent chapters will provide a critical review of the current literature on the aforementioned topics. In Chapters 2 and 3, studies assessing differences in processing, attention to sound, intersensory perception, and sound discrimination abilities in children with normal hearing and hearing impairment will be discussed. Chapters 4 and 5 focus on word recognition skills, and early lexical representations. Chapter 6 will synthesize results of available studies and suggest areas in which more research is needed. Together, these chapters will help us gain a better understanding of the complex interactions between auditory processing, executive functioning, phonological development and later word recognition outcomes. By identifying which avenues have the greatest effect on outcomes in cochlear implant users, we can modify speech and language therapy in order to address the unique needs of this special population. / text