In recent years, tympanometry has been used to provide objective and definitive information regarding the status of middle ear conditions and functions. The present standard for tympanometric normalcy is based upon between-subject measures. This standard, however, does not allow precise differentiation between normal and pathological tympanometry curves. A within-subject comparison of right and left ear tympanometry curves of normal-hearing subjects could provide a narrow standard of tympanometric normalcy which would be more useful in differentiating between pathologic and non-pathologic middle ear function. The within-subject relationship between tympanometry curves for right and left ears was investigated by comparing the individual right and left ear tympanometry curves at 220 and 660 Hz of 30 normal-hearing young adults. This was done to determine if a difference exists between within-subject right and left ear tympanometry curves. Three characteristics, curve peak amplitude, curve width, and pressure at curve peak, were measured and compared for each tympanometry curve. All tympanometry was conducted with a Grason-Stadler Otoadmittance Meter (Model 1720) utilizing a combined mode of conductance and susceptance. All tympanometry curves were graphically recorded on a Hewlitt-Packard X-Y plotter (Model 7035B). Statistical analysis and graphic illustration showed that for practical purposes no significant clinical difference exists between within-subject right and left ear tympanometry curves and that measurement variability is predominantly due to between-subject differences. The ranges of between-ear differences were much reduced in comparison to the computed ranges for between-subject measures. These findings would suggest that a definition of tympanometric normalcy should be based not only upon between-subject measures, but also upon between-ear comparisons

A basic relationship between stethoscopic auscultation and background noise interference was reviewed and examined in this study. The principle experimental design of the study questioned whether hospital background noise levels are capable of masking the threshold of detection for auscultated heart sounds. Several cited studies monitoring background noise levels in various hospital locations have reported averages exceeding the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) (1974) and World Health Organization (WHO) (1980) recommendations of "quiet", namely 35 to 40 dBA (Falk & Woods, 1973; Hilton, 1985, 1987; Shapiro & Berland, 1972; Turner, et al., 1975; Woods & Falk, 1974) by as much as 46 to 51 dB, i.e., up to 86 dBA (Shapiro & Berland 1972). In addition to the previous query, a review of the literature reflected a lack of implementatory standards regarding the acoustic stethoscopic output and the masking effects of noise during the auscultation process. Specifically, this study ascertained the effective masking level (EML) intensities of two noise environments, white noise and cafeteria noise, for cardiac auscultation through an acoustic stethoscope and an amplified stethoscope. Two principle measurements were employed in the experimental protocol: an objective measurement employing a method of adjustment detection identification task of the EML, and subjective responses solicited by a forced-choice questionnaire. Sixteen normal hearing listener's were selected to participate in the experiment. Objective measures were analyzed using a MANOVA and a Pearson Product Moment Coefficient of correlation. The subjective questionnaire data were analyzed with a two-tailed T-test. All analyses were based on a .05 level of confidence.

The audiological characteristics of the Monge family of Costa Rica were investigated in a sample of fifty-two affected members and twelve unaffected members. Through laboratory analysis by staff personnel from the University of Costa Rica and audiological test results obtained in the present investigation, it was concluded that affected Monge members demonstrate a slowly progressive low frequency sensorineural hearing loss of autosomal dominant transmission. The initial site of lesion appears to be the apical portion of the cochlea, with significant onset occurring during early childhood following normal speech and language acquisition. The rate at which the hearing loss progresses and the frequency regions affected are contingent upon chronological age, culminating in a flat profound hearing impairment by age thirty for all affected members.

A survey instrument was designed to yield information regarding hearing conservation activities. This instrument was then distributed to those individuals identified as the coordinators for the various district programs.

Student speech-language pathologists begin their academic preparation as observers. Observations of the clinical management session are for the purpose of providing student clinicians with insight into the management process by providing clinical models. To make observation experiences meaningful there must be some guiding framework which will demonstrate the significance of behaviors observed.

Measurement of maximum duration of phonation has been suggested by several voice experts as a clinical tool for assessing vocal function (Arnold, 1955; Irwin, 1965; Yanagihara, Koike and von Leden, 1966; and Boone, 1971). Most of the investigations of maximum phonation time have been conducted using adult populations. exceptions to this can be found in the studies by Launer (1971) and Coombs (1976). An apparent need, therefore, existed to investigate maximum phonation time in children. The present study was designed to investigate the affects of age, sex, height, weight and vital capacity on the maximum duration of phonation of sustained /a/ in children eight and ten years of age when controlling for pitch and intensity.

The purpose of the present study was to investigate the effect of geographical differences on the DSS normative data for children ages 2 6.0 to 6.11, by comparing the original DSS normative data (Koenigsknecht, 1974) with that obtained in Canby, Oregon. A collateral purpose was to develop norms for the geographical area of Canby, Oregon, using the DSS procedure. Forty children, ten within each of the four, three-month age subgroups between 6.0 and 6.11, were chosen. All of the children came from monolingual, middle-class families and had normal hearing, normal receptive vocabulary skills, and no known unusual social, developmental, or behavioral histories. A language sample, from which a corpus of 50 utterances was selected for analysis, was elicited from each child. Each corpus was analyzed according to the DSS procedures recommended by Lee (1974).

This study examined the effects overt and covert observation of live clinical sessions have on the number of social/ neutral verbal behaviors emitted by untrained speech clinicians and their respective clients enrolled Summer Term, 1980, in the Articulation and Language Clinic at Portland State University, Speech and Hearing Sciences. The Boone-Prescott Interactional analysis System (Boone and Prescott, 1972), a numerically coded system, was used to record clinician-client interactions. Data were obtained for a randomly selected five minute period from each of forty clinical sessions.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the disfluency characteristics of normal 33-39 month old children in order to determine the differential role of the SSI with young children. The following questions were answered: 1. What are the types and frequencies of disfluencies demonstrated by normal 33-39 month old children? 2. How do the scores of normal 33-39 month old children distribute on the Stuttering Severity Instrument?

This investigation sought to determine the accuracy and consistency of judgements made by three groups of judges, relative to successive approximations of /r/. The three groups were made up of speech pathologists, student trainees, and untrained individuals, respectively. It was the task of these judges to rank order three /r/ productions into the following categories: correct; partially correct; and incorrect. This task is basically the same as reinforcing approximations of /r/ within the therapy situation, and appears not to require extensive training. Many authors (Curry et al., 1943; Perrin, 1954; Oyer, 1959; Siegel, 1962; Irwin, 1965; and Elbert et al., 1967) have found little difference between trained and untrained listeners in identifying correct versus incorrect articulation. An apparent need existed to investigate what the accuracy and consistency of judgements would be by introducing successive approximations as a controlled or independent variable.