Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of California, San Diego, 2005. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (M. Communication Pathology)--University of Pretoria, 2004. / Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (B.Sc)--University of Hong Kong, 2000. / "A dissertation submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the Bachelor of Science (Speech and Hearing Sciences), The University of Hong Kong, May 10, 2000." Also available in print.

Thesis (B.Sc)--University of Hong Kong, 1997. / "A dissertation submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the Bachelor of Science (Speech and Hearing Sciences), The University of Hong Kong, April 30, 1997." Also available in print.

Thesis (B.Sc)--University of Hong Kong, 1997. / "A dissertation submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the Bachelor of Science (Speech and Hearing Sciences), The University of Hong Kong, April 30, 1997." Also available in print.

Thesis (M. Phil.)--University of Hong Kong, 2006. / Title proper from title frame. Also available in printed format.

A DISSERTATION SUBMITTED TO THE DEPARTMENT OF SPEECH PATHOLOGY AND AUDIOLOGY, FACULTY OF ARTS, UNIVERSITY OF THE WITWATERSRAND, JOHANNESBURG IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE OF MASTER OF ARTS IN SPEECH PATHOLOGY / Aspects of communicative competence encompassing syntactic, pragmatic and social skill dimensions were examined in preschool children. Subjects comprised five language-impaired children who had been declared remediated after a period of language therapy (Age 5.0-6.5) and five children of the same age considered to be linguistically normal. unstructured mother/child interactions yielded language samples which were analysed according to the Language Assessment Remediation and Screening procedure. Structured child/unfamiliar interlocutor dyadic interactions were analysed in terms of the Behavioural Inventory of Speech Act Performances and according to a devised pragmatic addendum. Social skill profiles were obtained by means of the Devereaux Elementary school Behaviour Rating Scale. No statistical differences occurred between groups on linguistic, pragmatic and social skill dimensions. Individual profiles of certain presumably remediated subjects revealed ineffective communicative modes in a structured dyadic context as well as communicative deficits and behavioural problems in the classroom situation. Significant correlations emerged among various linguistic pragmatic and social skill parameters. Theoretical and clinical implications of these correlations and of deficits uncovered by particular measures in different contexts, are discussed. / Andrew Chakane 2018

A thesis submitted in fulfilment of the requirement for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy, Faculty of Humanities; University of the Witwatersrand. June 2016 / This study explored the experiences of and interactions between speech-language therapists and interpreters in cross-linguistic mediated consultations with caregivers of children with severe disabilities within a health care setting. The objectives of the study included: to analyse the interactional characteristics and features of speech-language therapists and interpreters; and to identify speech therapists’ and interpreters’ perceptions of their competence and experiences in multicultural settings. Patients who do not speak the same language as the health care professionals receive limited health services when compared with people who speak the same language as the professionals who serve them, which may result in poor health outcomes. The research was conducted from an interpretive approach, which includes a respect for intra- personal values, beliefs and interests in the topic. The design included multiple data collection methods and analysis. The data was collected from consultation experience of thirteen caregivers of children with communication disabilities, five SLTs and one interpreter in two urban hospitals in Gauteng. The participants were recruited using purposive sampling procedures from two urban tertiary hospitals in Gauteng. And group Research instruments used were video recordings, individual interviews. The objectives were investigated through a qualitative study using ethnographic observations; video recordings of the interactions between speech therapists and an interpreter during interviews with caregivers of children with disabilities; audio recordings; and individual interviews with speech-language therapists and interpreters post-consultation. The data collected were analysed using thematic content analysis and conversational analysis. The findings highlighted the diversity challenges faced by SLTs working in multilingual and multicultural hospital settings. Language and translation issues had a marked impact on information received by caregivers. Despite the challenges that clinicians experienced in multilingual settings, they seemed to find that their working experience was an important leveller when they had an interpreter present during their consultations. The findings inform academic curricula and the clinical practice of speech-language and audiology students and professionals and will help improve application to transform the way in which they apply theoretical knowledge when treating speech and hearing disorders in a multilingual and multicultural context; thus enhancing the efficacy of management of communication disorders within this context. / MT 2018

Researchers are seeking more information . on how and why language disorders tend to run in families, particularly siblings of language disordered children. The purpose of this study was to examine the prevalence of language and related disorders in the siblings of two groups of children: those with slow expressive language development (SELD) and those with a normal language history. This study sought to answer the following questions: 1) Is there a significant difference in prevalence of language problems in two groups of children: those with SELD and those with a normal language history?, and 2) Is there a greater probability of language problems in the siblings of children in the SELD group who have receptive/expressive language disorders when compared to those SELD children with pure expressive language deficits or to those with a normal language history? Subjects were 45 7-and 8-year old children participating in a longitudinal study at Portland State University. The children were divided into two groups, normal and SELD, based on test scores administered at intake to the original study. In order to look at the effect of a receptive component on heritability of language disorders, the SELD group was subgrouped into pure expressive language disorders and receptive/expressive language disorders based on tests administered at intake. A family history questionnaire was the method of data collection, asking parents to report on ten areas of language and related disorders in the siblings of subjects. Results of one-sided z-tests and a chi-square test were computed and consistently found a highly significant difference between groups, with families of SELD subjects more likely to report a history of language problems over the normal group. These results are consistent with previous research in showing the heritability of language disorders. Results may also indicate that a receptive language component is associated with heritability of specific language disorders among children.

The effectiveness of any language training program is determined by generalization of the clinically trained behaviors to spontaneous speech (Hedge, Noll and Pecora, 1979). Traditional language programs which employ operant procedures to establish the behavior in the clinic and reinforcement from family, teachers and peers in a variety of settings to obtain generalization, have been successful in establishing the use of grammatical rules in the clinic setting, but reportedly have failed to promote generalization (Rees, 1978). Recent literature in the areas of semantics and pragmatics has produced a trend toward teaching language in natural contexts. The purpose of this study was to investigate: 1) whether a group taught with a traditional syntax program would generalize the trained structure to spontaneous speech, 2) whether a group trained with a traditional syntax program in combination with nontraditional methods (natural context) would evidence generalization, 3) whether one of the above methods would evidence greater, lesser or the same generalization and 4) which method would take fewer, the same or greater number of sessions.