Language and Neurocognitive Impairments Associated with Hypothyroidism.

Introduction: Accumulating clinical evidence has indicated that hypothyroidism was associated with neurocognitive and linguistic impairments; however, these impairments were not reported in Arabic individuals. The aims of the present study were (1) to investigate the patterns of linguistic and neurocognitive impairments associated with hypothyroidism in native speakers of Jordanian Arabic and (2) to examine the accuracy of TFT in confirming a clinical diagnosis of hypothyroidism.

Methods: A cross-sectional design with random recruitment of participants from targeted hypothyroid (HT) and euthyroid (ET) groups was conducted.

Nasalance Scores for Normal Speakers of American English Obtained by the Nasometer II Using the MacKay-Kummer SNAP-R Test.

Objective: To establish nasalance score norms for adolescent and young adult native speakers of American English and also determine age-group and gender differences using the Simplified Nasometric Assessment Procedures (SNAP) Test-R and Nasometer II.

Design: Prospective study using a randomly selected sample of participants.

Setting: Greater Cincinnati area and Miami University of Ohio.

An evaluation of the ability of thrombospondin-1 to predict stroke outcomes and mortality after ischemic stroke.

Introduction: Thrombspondin-1 (TSP-1) is a glycoprotein that has a variety of functions including suppression of angiogenesis and regulation of extracellular matrix deposition. These functions are central to the recovery process after stroke. Data regarding the association and predictive value of TSP-1 and stroke outcomes are limited.

Social and religious attitudes of Jordanian parents toward children born with orofacial clefts.

Background And Goals: Parental attitudes towards orofacial clefts (OFC) can be influenced by culture. Interestingly, there are no studies up to date examined parental attitudes towards these congenital anomalies in Jordan. The objectives of this study were to 1) explore the social and religious attitudes of Jordanian parents toward their children born with OFCs, and 2) determine the predictors of social and religious beliefs and behaviors.

An Assessment of Patients Factors Effect on Prescriber Adherence to Ischemic Stroke Secondary Prevention Guidelines.

Background: Stroke is the leading cause of long-term disability worldwide. Stroke recurrence is a major health problem with devastating consequences. Adherence to secondary prevention guidelines reduced stroke recurrence.

Normal Patterns of Nasometric Values in Adult Jordanian Speakers of Arabic.

Purpose: The study sought to establish normative nasometric values for adult Jordanian speakers of Arabic. Gender-related differences and intraspeaker variability of nasalance scores were investigated.

Methods: A total of 113 adult speakers of Jordanian Arabic (56 men and 57 women) without speech-language and hearing impairments or craniofacial anomalies ranging in age between 18 and 55 participated in the study.

Cleft Lip and Palate: Demographic Patterns and the Associated Communication Disorders.

Purpose: This study investigated demographical characteristics, health status, and associated communication disorders in patients with orofacial clefts (OFCs) in Northern Jordan.

Methods: A retrospective study of 226 cleft patients and their families was carried out between March 2012 and September 2016 at the Speech and Hearing Clinic and the Maxillofacial Center at King Abdullah University Hospital. Data were collected by interviewing patients and caregivers, having patients or caregiver to complete a questionnaire and reviewing the patient's medical records.

Prosthodontic Rehabilitation of Arabic Speaking Individuals with Velopharyngeal Incompetence: A Preliminary Study.

Background: Hypernasality is a frequently encountered problem in the speech of individuals with velopharyngeal incompetence. The use of palatal lift appliance (PLA) is the main treatment option for correction of velopharyngeal incompetence. The literature on the outcomes of using prosthetics treatment for Arabic speaking patients is scarce.

Validity of test stimuli for nasalance measurement in speakers of Jordanian Arabic.

Objective: The objective of the study was to establish the validity of passages for measuring nasalance of Jordanian speakers of Arabic.

Design: Two Arabic text passages were constructed; the Spring Passage is devoid of nasal consonants and the Home Passage contains both oral and nasal consonants. Nasalance was measured for participants while reciting each passage three times.

Outcomes of Palatal Lift Prosthesis on Dysarthric Speech.

Purpose: This study was designed to investigate the effect of palatal lift prosthesis (PLP) on the speech of individuals with different types of dysarthria.

Participants: Thirty (19 males and 11 females) native speakers of Jordanian Arabic with dysarthria participated in the study. The age of the participants ranged from 8 to 67 years with an average of 34.

The relationship of vocal tract dimensions and substitution of the palatal approximant /j/ for the alveolar trill /r/.

Purpose: To investigate the relationship of the vocal tract dimensions and dental arches in participants with substitution of palatal approximant /j/ for the trill variant of /r/.

Method: Cephalograms and dental casts of 60 native speakers of Arabic were used for comparison. The experimental group included 30 participants with substitution of /j/ for the trill variant of /r/ (17 males and 13 females, age ranged between 15-20 years, M = 18.

Constraint-induced aphasia therapy stimulates language recovery in patients with chronic aphasia after ischemic stroke.

Background: Constraint-induced aphasia therapy (CIAT) offers potential benefits to individuals with history of aphasia-producing ischemic stroke. The goals of this pilot study were to implement the original German CIAT protocol, refine the treatment program, and confirm its efficacy in patients with chronic aphasia.

Material/methods: We translated and modified the original CIAT protocol to include a hierarchy of individual skill levels for semantic, syntactic, and phonological language production, while constraining non-use behaviors.