Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Washington, 2002. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 94-103).

We used fMRI to examine the neural substrates of sublexical phoneme-grapheme conversion during spelling in a group of healthy young adults. Participants performed a writing-to-dictation task involving irregular words (e.g., choir), plausible nonwords (e.g., kroid), and a control task of drawing familiar geometric shapes (e.g., squares). Written production of both irregular words and nonwords engaged a left hemisphere perisylvian network associated with reading/spelling and phonological processing skills. Effects of lexicality, manifested by increased activation during nonword relative to irregular word spelling, were noted in anterior perisylvian regions (posterior inferior frontal gyrus/operculum/precentral gyrus/insula), and in left ventral occipito-temporal cortex. In addition to enhanced neural responses within domain-specific components of the language network, the increased cognitive demands associated with spelling nonwords engaged domain-general frontoparietal cortical networks involved in selective attention and executive control. These results elucidate the neural substrates of sublexical processing during written language production and complement lesion-deficit correlation studies of phonological agraphia.

Within a dual-route neuropsychological model, two distinct but interrelated pathways are used to read and write, known as the lexical and sublexical routes. Individuals with reading and writing deficits often exhibit impairments in one or both of these routes, and therefore must rely on the combined power of the integrated system in print processing tasks. The resultant errors reflect varying degrees of lexical and sublexical accuracy in a single production. However, no system presently exists to analyze bimodal errors robustly in both routes. The goal of this project was to develop a system that simultaneously, quantitatively, and qualitatively captures lexical and sublexical errors for single-word reading and writing tasks. This system evaluates responses hierarchically in both routes according to proximity to a target. Each response earns a bivariate score [sublexical, lexical], which is plotted along x and y axes. This scoring system was developed using data from a novel treatment study for patients with acquired alexia/agraphia. Repeated-measures multivariate analyses of variance and post hoc analyses revealed a significant treatment effect in both the lexical and sublexical systems. Qualitative analyses were also conducted to evaluate patterns of change in both the trained and untrained modalities, in the sublexical and lexical systems. Overall, the results of this study indicate that treatment-induced evolution of reading/writing responses can be comprehensively represented by this novel scoring system. / 2018-07-07T00:00:00Z

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Washington, 2004. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 62-66).

This study used an item-based approach to explore the full range of lexical-semantic (word frequency and imageability) and sublexical characteristics (regularity and consistency) of stimulus items. Oral reading and spelling-to-dictation data from 72 adults with acquired alexia/agraphia due to stroke or progressive aphasia were analyzed to determine unique influences of lexical-semantic and sublexical variables on performance. Multiple regression analyses were performed for each etiology and lesion group (i.e., perisylvian stoke, extrasylvian stroke, perisylvian atrophy, and extrasylvian atrophy). As expected, word frequency had a significant influence on reading and spelling performance in almost all contexts. Of particular interest was the consistent finding that written language performance associated with left perisylvian damage was moderated primarily by lexical-semantic features of stimuli (frequency and imageability), whereas performance by those with left extrasylvian damage was strongly influenced by sublexical features of sound-spelling regularity and, to a lesser extent, consistency.

Esta dissertação é composta por três estudos conduzidos de acordo com a abordagem da Neuropsicologia Cognitiva, a fim de compreender as habilidades e prejuízos na escrita de palavras/pseudopalavras de adultos com lesão cerebrovascular no hemisfério direito (LHD) e no hemisfério esquerdo (LHE), comparados a adultos neurologicamente saudáveis (controles). No primeiro estudo, comparou-se o desempenho dos grupos com LHE, LHD e controles em tarefas de linguagem oral e escrita e nos tipos de erros na tarefa Escrita Ditada em um instrumento de avaliação neuropsicológica breve. O grupo com LHE apresentou pior desempenho em todas as tarefas de linguagem oral e escrita (exceto em compreensão oral). Verificou-se que o grupo com LHE demonstrou déficits significativos nas habilidades linguísticas (rotas fonológica e lexical) e periféricas fundamentais para escrita de palavras, enquanto os casos com LHD destacaram-se por déficits no uso da rota lexical (Regularizações). No segundo estudo, descreveu-se o processo de construção de uma Tarefa de Escrita de Palavras/pseudopalavras controlada linguisticamente para avaliação das disgrafias em adultos. No terceiro estudo buscou-se analisar as habilidades de linguagem oral e escrita de adultos com LHE e LHD comparados a controles, analisar a associação entre características sociodemográficas e o desempenho em escrita ditada e distinguir o tipo de disgrafia adquirida dos casos com escores deficitários. Não foram encontradas diferenças significativas entre os perfis linguísticos dos grupos. Melhor desempenho na escrita de palavras mostrou estar associado com altos hábitos de leitura e escrita e maior escolaridade dos adultos. Verificaram-se características de disgrafias linguísticas (fonológica, lexical e mista) e periférificas em casos com LHE e LHD. A presente dissertação destaca a heterogeneidade dos déficits de escrita encontrados e ressalta a importância do controle das variáveis sociodemográficas no diagnóstico de disgrafia adquirida. / This dissertation consists of three studies conducted in accordance with the approach of Cognitive Neuropsychology, in order to understand the skills and damages in writing of words and pseudowords of adults with cerebrovascular lesions in the right hemisphere (LHD) and left hemisphere (LHE) compared to neurologically healthy adults (controls). The first study compared the performance of groups with LHE, LHD and controls on tasks of oral and written language and the types of errors in the task dictated writing in a brief neuropsychological assessment instrument. The LHE group showed worse performance on all tasks of oral and written language (except in oral comprehension). It was found that the group with LHE has demonstrated significant deficits in linguistic (phonological and lexical) and peripheral skills fundamental to writing of words, while cases with LHD highlighted for deficits in the use of the lexical route (Regularizations). In the second study, was presented the construction process of a words/pseudowords writing task linguistically controlled for evaluation of dysgraphias in adults. The third study aimed to examine the oral and writing language skills of adults with LHE and LHD compared to controls, examining the association between sociodemographic characteristics and performance on dictated written distinguish the type of acquired dysgraphia in the cases with deficient scores. There were no significant differences between the linguistic profiles of the groups. Best performance in writing of words was associated with higher reading and writing habits and higher education of adults. There were features linguistic (phonological, lexical and mixed) and peripherical dysgraphias in cases with LHE and LHD. This dissertation highlights the heterogeneity of deficits founded in the word writing and highlights the importance of controlling sociodemographic variables in the diagnosis of acquired dysgraphia.

Esta dissertação é composta por três estudos conduzidos de acordo com a abordagem da Neuropsicologia Cognitiva, a fim de compreender as habilidades e prejuízos na escrita de palavras/pseudopalavras de adultos com lesão cerebrovascular no hemisfério direito (LHD) e no hemisfério esquerdo (LHE), comparados a adultos neurologicamente saudáveis (controles). No primeiro estudo, comparou-se o desempenho dos grupos com LHE, LHD e controles em tarefas de linguagem oral e escrita e nos tipos de erros na tarefa Escrita Ditada em um instrumento de avaliação neuropsicológica breve. O grupo com LHE apresentou pior desempenho em todas as tarefas de linguagem oral e escrita (exceto em compreensão oral). Verificou-se que o grupo com LHE demonstrou déficits significativos nas habilidades linguísticas (rotas fonológica e lexical) e periféricas fundamentais para escrita de palavras, enquanto os casos com LHD destacaram-se por déficits no uso da rota lexical (Regularizações). No segundo estudo, descreveu-se o processo de construção de uma Tarefa de Escrita de Palavras/pseudopalavras controlada linguisticamente para avaliação das disgrafias em adultos. No terceiro estudo buscou-se analisar as habilidades de linguagem oral e escrita de adultos com LHE e LHD comparados a controles, analisar a associação entre características sociodemográficas e o desempenho em escrita ditada e distinguir o tipo de disgrafia adquirida dos casos com escores deficitários. Não foram encontradas diferenças significativas entre os perfis linguísticos dos grupos. Melhor desempenho na escrita de palavras mostrou estar associado com altos hábitos de leitura e escrita e maior escolaridade dos adultos. Verificaram-se características de disgrafias linguísticas (fonológica, lexical e mista) e periférificas em casos com LHE e LHD. A presente dissertação destaca a heterogeneidade dos déficits de escrita encontrados e ressalta a importância do controle das variáveis sociodemográficas no diagnóstico de disgrafia adquirida. / This dissertation consists of three studies conducted in accordance with the approach of Cognitive Neuropsychology, in order to understand the skills and damages in writing of words and pseudowords of adults with cerebrovascular lesions in the right hemisphere (LHD) and left hemisphere (LHE) compared to neurologically healthy adults (controls). The first study compared the performance of groups with LHE, LHD and controls on tasks of oral and written language and the types of errors in the task dictated writing in a brief neuropsychological assessment instrument. The LHE group showed worse performance on all tasks of oral and written language (except in oral comprehension). It was found that the group with LHE has demonstrated significant deficits in linguistic (phonological and lexical) and peripheral skills fundamental to writing of words, while cases with LHD highlighted for deficits in the use of the lexical route (Regularizations). In the second study, was presented the construction process of a words/pseudowords writing task linguistically controlled for evaluation of dysgraphias in adults. The third study aimed to examine the oral and writing language skills of adults with LHE and LHD compared to controls, examining the association between sociodemographic characteristics and performance on dictated written distinguish the type of acquired dysgraphia in the cases with deficient scores. There were no significant differences between the linguistic profiles of the groups. Best performance in writing of words was associated with higher reading and writing habits and higher education of adults. There were features linguistic (phonological, lexical and mixed) and peripherical dysgraphias in cases with LHE and LHD. This dissertation highlights the heterogeneity of deficits founded in the word writing and highlights the importance of controlling sociodemographic variables in the diagnosis of acquired dysgraphia.

Esta dissertação é composta por três estudos conduzidos de acordo com a abordagem da Neuropsicologia Cognitiva, a fim de compreender as habilidades e prejuízos na escrita de palavras/pseudopalavras de adultos com lesão cerebrovascular no hemisfério direito (LHD) e no hemisfério esquerdo (LHE), comparados a adultos neurologicamente saudáveis (controles). No primeiro estudo, comparou-se o desempenho dos grupos com LHE, LHD e controles em tarefas de linguagem oral e escrita e nos tipos de erros na tarefa Escrita Ditada em um instrumento de avaliação neuropsicológica breve. O grupo com LHE apresentou pior desempenho em todas as tarefas de linguagem oral e escrita (exceto em compreensão oral). Verificou-se que o grupo com LHE demonstrou déficits significativos nas habilidades linguísticas (rotas fonológica e lexical) e periféricas fundamentais para escrita de palavras, enquanto os casos com LHD destacaram-se por déficits no uso da rota lexical (Regularizações). No segundo estudo, descreveu-se o processo de construção de uma Tarefa de Escrita de Palavras/pseudopalavras controlada linguisticamente para avaliação das disgrafias em adultos. No terceiro estudo buscou-se analisar as habilidades de linguagem oral e escrita de adultos com LHE e LHD comparados a controles, analisar a associação entre características sociodemográficas e o desempenho em escrita ditada e distinguir o tipo de disgrafia adquirida dos casos com escores deficitários. Não foram encontradas diferenças significativas entre os perfis linguísticos dos grupos. Melhor desempenho na escrita de palavras mostrou estar associado com altos hábitos de leitura e escrita e maior escolaridade dos adultos. Verificaram-se características de disgrafias linguísticas (fonológica, lexical e mista) e periférificas em casos com LHE e LHD. A presente dissertação destaca a heterogeneidade dos déficits de escrita encontrados e ressalta a importância do controle das variáveis sociodemográficas no diagnóstico de disgrafia adquirida. / This dissertation consists of three studies conducted in accordance with the approach of Cognitive Neuropsychology, in order to understand the skills and damages in writing of words and pseudowords of adults with cerebrovascular lesions in the right hemisphere (LHD) and left hemisphere (LHE) compared to neurologically healthy adults (controls). The first study compared the performance of groups with LHE, LHD and controls on tasks of oral and written language and the types of errors in the task dictated writing in a brief neuropsychological assessment instrument. The LHE group showed worse performance on all tasks of oral and written language (except in oral comprehension). It was found that the group with LHE has demonstrated significant deficits in linguistic (phonological and lexical) and peripheral skills fundamental to writing of words, while cases with LHD highlighted for deficits in the use of the lexical route (Regularizations). In the second study, was presented the construction process of a words/pseudowords writing task linguistically controlled for evaluation of dysgraphias in adults. The third study aimed to examine the oral and writing language skills of adults with LHE and LHD compared to controls, examining the association between sociodemographic characteristics and performance on dictated written distinguish the type of acquired dysgraphia in the cases with deficient scores. There were no significant differences between the linguistic profiles of the groups. Best performance in writing of words was associated with higher reading and writing habits and higher education of adults. There were features linguistic (phonological, lexical and mixed) and peripherical dysgraphias in cases with LHE and LHD. This dissertation highlights the heterogeneity of deficits founded in the word writing and highlights the importance of controlling sociodemographic variables in the diagnosis of acquired dysgraphia.

<p>Syftet med denna studie var att utveckla och normera ett logopediskt stavningstest för vuxna., då det idag saknas ett sådant test. Det framtagna testet bestod till en början av en orddel som innehöll 80 ord i varierande svårighetsgrad, utvalda för att representera svenskans olika stavningskombinationer. Vidare fanns en del med 80 nonord, konstruerade för att följa svenskans ljudmässiga uppbyggnad. 146 deltagare från 18 – 94 år deltog i normeringen av testet. Urvalet stratifierades efter kön, ålder och utbildningsnivå så att inverkan av dessa olika faktorer på stavningsförmågan kunde undersökas. Resultaten visade att utbildningsnivå påverkade stavningsförmågan på så sätt att personer med eftergymnasial utbildning klarade stavning av både ord och nonord bättre än personer med förgymnasial/gymnasial utbildning. Vidare uppvisade kvinnor bättre resultat på stavning av ord jämfört med män, men ingen signifikant skillnad i stavningsförmåga av nonord uppmättes. Vid stavning av ord framkom ingen skillnad i förhållande till ålder, men vid stavning av nonord uppvisade äldre personer ett sämre resultat, troligen p.g.a. nedsatt hörsel. De vanligaste typerna av stavfel bland deltagarna var på orddelen enkel-/dubbelteckning och på nonorddelen utbyte av bokstav. Stavfelens placering förekom främst medialt i orden, medan de i nonorden fanns både initialt och medialt. Studien utmynnade i STAVUX, ett test med 45 ord och 45 nonord, utvalda från det ursprungliga testet. STAVUX deltest har en hög intern reliabilitet. Testet har normerats och är tänkt att användas vid utredning av vuxna med stavningssvårigheter.</p> / <p>Because a comprehensive clinical spelling test for adults does not exist today, the aim of this study was to develop and standardize such a test. The originally developed test consisted of one part containing 80 words of varying difficulty, chosen to represent the different spelling combinations of the Swedish language. Furthermore, the test had a part containing 80 pseudo-words, constructed to follow the Swedish sound system. 146 participants between the age of 18 to 94 participated in the standardization of the test. The selection was stratified by sex, age and level of education, in order to examine the influence of these variables on spelling ability. The results indicated that the level of education affected the spelling ability, so that participants with high education spelled both words and pseudo-words better than participants with low education. Moreover women had better results on the spelling of words than men, whereas no significant sex differences was found on pseudo-word spelling. Age did not influence word spelling, but elderly participants had significantly lower results on the pseudo-words, likely because of impaired hearing. The most common type of word misspelling was single/double spelling of consonants. On pseudo-words, grapheme substitutions were the most common error. Misspellings were most frequent medially in words and initially and medially in pseudo-words. The study resulted in STAVUX, a test consisting of 45 words and 45 pseudo words, selected from the original version. The different parts of STAVUX thus have high internal reliability. The test has been standardized and is intended to be a part of the assessment of adults with spelling difficulties.</p>

Syftet med denna studie var att utveckla och normera ett logopediskt stavningstest för vuxna., då det idag saknas ett sådant test. Det framtagna testet bestod till en början av en orddel som innehöll 80 ord i varierande svårighetsgrad, utvalda för att representera svenskans olika stavningskombinationer. Vidare fanns en del med 80 nonord, konstruerade för att följa svenskans ljudmässiga uppbyggnad. 146 deltagare från 18 – 94 år deltog i normeringen av testet. Urvalet stratifierades efter kön, ålder och utbildningsnivå så att inverkan av dessa olika faktorer på stavningsförmågan kunde undersökas. Resultaten visade att utbildningsnivå påverkade stavningsförmågan på så sätt att personer med eftergymnasial utbildning klarade stavning av både ord och nonord bättre än personer med förgymnasial/gymnasial utbildning. Vidare uppvisade kvinnor bättre resultat på stavning av ord jämfört med män, men ingen signifikant skillnad i stavningsförmåga av nonord uppmättes. Vid stavning av ord framkom ingen skillnad i förhållande till ålder, men vid stavning av nonord uppvisade äldre personer ett sämre resultat, troligen p.g.a. nedsatt hörsel. De vanligaste typerna av stavfel bland deltagarna var på orddelen enkel-/dubbelteckning och på nonorddelen utbyte av bokstav. Stavfelens placering förekom främst medialt i orden, medan de i nonorden fanns både initialt och medialt. Studien utmynnade i STAVUX, ett test med 45 ord och 45 nonord, utvalda från det ursprungliga testet. STAVUX deltest har en hög intern reliabilitet. Testet har normerats och är tänkt att användas vid utredning av vuxna med stavningssvårigheter. / Because a comprehensive clinical spelling test for adults does not exist today, the aim of this study was to develop and standardize such a test. The originally developed test consisted of one part containing 80 words of varying difficulty, chosen to represent the different spelling combinations of the Swedish language. Furthermore, the test had a part containing 80 pseudo-words, constructed to follow the Swedish sound system. 146 participants between the age of 18 to 94 participated in the standardization of the test. The selection was stratified by sex, age and level of education, in order to examine the influence of these variables on spelling ability. The results indicated that the level of education affected the spelling ability, so that participants with high education spelled both words and pseudo-words better than participants with low education. Moreover women had better results on the spelling of words than men, whereas no significant sex differences was found on pseudo-word spelling. Age did not influence word spelling, but elderly participants had significantly lower results on the pseudo-words, likely because of impaired hearing. The most common type of word misspelling was single/double spelling of consonants. On pseudo-words, grapheme substitutions were the most common error. Misspellings were most frequent medially in words and initially and medially in pseudo-words. The study resulted in STAVUX, a test consisting of 45 words and 45 pseudo words, selected from the original version. The different parts of STAVUX thus have high internal reliability. The test has been standardized and is intended to be a part of the assessment of adults with spelling difficulties.