Aphasia and high-tech communication support: a survey of SLPs in USA and India.

Purpose: This survey was conducted to investigate American and Indian clinician's preference and usage of high-tech communication supports (HTCS) for aphasia rehabilitation to identify factors in each country that support the use of HTCS for improving post-aphasia communicative outcomes. In this study, HTCS include speech-generating augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) devices with varying methods of access.

Method: The survey exploring clinically practicing speech-language pathologists' (SLPs) training, assessment and aphasia rehabilitation practices using HTCS, was electronically distributed in both countries.

A Neural Marker of Speech Intention: Evidence From Contingent Negative Variation.

Purpose This study investigated whether changes in brain activity preceding spoken words can be used as a neural marker of speech intention. Specifically, changes in the contingent negative variation (CNV) were examined prior to speech production in three different study designs to determine a method that maximizes signal detection in a speaking task. Method Electroencephalography data were collected in three different protocols to elicit the CNV in a spoken word task that varied the timing and type of linguistic information.

Behind the Scenes of Noninvasive Brain-Computer Interfaces: A Review of Electroencephalography Signals, How They Are Recorded, and Why They Matter.

Purpose: Brain-computer interface (BCI) techniques may provide computer access for individuals with severe physical impairments. However, the relatively hidden nature of BCI control obscures how BCI systems work behind the scenes, making it difficult to understand electroencephalography (EEG) records the BCI related brain signals, brain signals are recorded by EEG, and these signals are targeted for BCI control. Furthermore, in the field of speech-language-hearing, signals targeted for BCI application have been of primary interest to clinicians and researchers in the area of augmentative and alternative communication (AAC).

Dysphonia Severity Index in Typically Developing Indian Children.

Background: Dysphonia is a variation in an individual's quality, pitch, or loudness from the voice characteristics typical of a speaker of similar age, gender, cultural background, and geographic location. Dysphonia Severity Index (DSI) is a recognized assessment tool based on a weighted combination of maximum phonation time, highest frequency, lowest intensity, and jitter (%) of an individual. Although dysphonia in adults is accurately evaluated using DSI, standard reference values for school-age children have not been studied.