Image use in aphasia rehabilitation: Practices of speech-language pathologists in South Africa and international contexts.

Purpose: The study aimed to explore speech-language pathologists' practices regarding image selection and use in the treatment of people living with aphasia. Images are widely utilised with people living with aphasia, however, supporting their communication optimally remains challenging.

Method: Ninety-two speech-language pathologists from South Africa, Australia, USA, and the UK completed a custom-designed online survey.

Caregivers' perspectives of early developmental tele-assessments in challenging circumstances.

Background:  Outbreaks, such as the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, exacerbate barriers to accessing early childhood developmental care. Tele-assessment may serve as an innovative approach to developmental monitoring to overcome service delivery amidst challenging circumstances. It is vital to collect caregivers' perspectives of this potential service delivery method to inform clinical decision making.

Long-Term Outcomes of Self-Fit vs Audiologist-Fit Hearing Aids.

Importance: With rising interest in over-the-counter (OTC) hearing aids as an alternative to traditional audiologist-fit devices, understanding their long-term efficacy is crucial. However, given the novelty of the US Food and Drug Administration category of OTC hearing aids, minimal evidence currently supports their long-term efficacy.

Objective: To compare the long-term self-reported outcomes at 8 months of self-fit OTC hearing aids to the same hearing aids fit by audiologists.

Swallowing and feeding of young children on high-flow oxygen therapy.

Background:  Oral feeding practices of young patients on high-flow oxygen (HFO2) have been controversial. Limited literature exists on this topic, but new studies suggest introducing oral feeds.

Objective:  This study aims to describe the changes in swallowing and feeding of a group of young children on HFO2.

Exploring facilitators and barriers for delivering person-centered care in a socio-economically diverse context: Perspectives of speech-language pathologists and audiologists.

Objective: The study aimed to explore facilitators and barriers in delivering person-centered care from the perspective of speech-language pathologists and audiologists in a socio- economically diverse workplace across micro, meso, and macro levels.

Method: A national cross-sectional e-survey was conducted among pooled speech-language pathologists and/or audiologists from South Africa. The e-survey included quantitative components to describe participant demographics which was analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics.

The Hearing Aid Effect across Diverse African Populations and Various Hearing Device Modalities.

Introduction: The stigma associated with wearing hearing aids, known as the "hearing aid effect," remains a significant issue in hearing healthcare. Despite notable changes in the look and feel of hearing aids over the last decade, little is known about the influence of socioeconomic factors on the perception of different hearing devices in a socioeconomically diverse setting. Therefore, the objective of the study is to determine the hearing aid effect across a range of hearing devices and its association with socioeconomic factors, namely, area of residence and level of education across African communities.

Factors Associated With Hearing Aid Outcomes Including Social Networks, Self-Reported Mental Health, and Service Delivery Models.

Purpose: This study aims to identify and describe factors that influence hearing aid outcomes including social networks, self-reported mental health, and service delivery models.

Method: A prospective cross-sectional online survey was sent to hearing aid users recruited through an online platform (http://www.hearingtracker.

The significance of feeling safe for resilience of adolescents in sub-Saharan Africa.

Introduction: Adolescents in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) are exposed to several challenges and risk factors, linked to historical legacies. Sub-Saharan Africa has one of the highest rates of poverty and inequality in the world, is one of the regions most negatively affected by climate change, performs poorly on many health measures, and has high rates of different forms of violence, especially gender-based violence. These contextual challenges impact adolescent mental health outcomes, preventing them to access resilience-enabling pathways that support positive outcomes despite adversity.

Evolution of Feeding and Developmental Outcomes in Infants With Moderate Hypoxic-Ischemic Encephalopathy: A Pilot Study.

The purpose of the study was to describe the evolution of outcomes among full-term infants with moderate hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE); from their early swallowing and feeding abilities during hospitalization, to their later developmental outcomes at 6 and 12 months. Four participants with moderate HIE were recruited. Early feeding and swallowing were assessed using the Neonatal Feeding Assessment Scale and video fluoroscopic swallow studies.

Vocal Characteristics across English-Northern Sotho Bilingual Speakers: A Comparative Study.

Introduction: Bilinguals constitute a significant portion of speech-language pathologists' (SLPs) caseloads. Insight into the cross-linguistic effect on voice is needed to guide SLPs to make linguistically appropriate observations when working with heterogenous populations.

Method: Nineteen female English-Northern Sotho bilinguals performed three speech tasks (reading, picture description, and monologue) in each language.

Person-centered care: preferences and predictors in speech-language pathology and audiology practitioners.

Introduction: Increasingly person-centered care (PCC) is being recognized as an important aspect of speech-language pathology and audiology (SLP/A) service delivery. This study aimed to (i) identify preferences toward PCC; (ii) determine predictors of these preferences; and (iii) describe the understanding and views of PCC among SLP/A in South Africa.

Methods: A mixed-method design was followed utilizing an online survey and four focus group discussions.

Developmental characteristics of young children in a low-income South African community.

Adequate early childhood development is critical for later-life success. Developmental profiles of specific populations are required to support implementation of early intervention services. Three hundred fifty-three caregivers of children with mean age 17.

Effectiveness of an Over-the-Counter Self-fitting Hearing Aid Compared With an Audiologist-Fitted Hearing Aid: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

Importance: Hearing loss is a highly prevalent condition, with numerous debilitating consequences when left untreated. However, less than 20% of US adults with hearing loss use hearing aids. Over-the-counter (OTC) hearing aids became available in October 2022 to improve access and affordability.

Comparing Hearing Aid Outcomes in Adults Using Over-the-Counter and Hearing Care Professional Service Delivery Models.

Purpose: More affordable hearing aids are now available due to over-the-counter (OTC) hearing aid regulations. Although laboratory studies have validated many OTC hearing technologies, there are limited real-world benefit studies. This study compared hearing aid outcomes reported by clients from OTC and conventional hearing care professional (HCP) service delivery models.

Self-reported Vocal Demands, Perceptions, and Knowledge of Occupational Voice Users in South Africa.

Objectives: The study aimed to describe daily vocal demands, perceptions and knowledge as reported by occupational voice users.

Study Design: A descriptive, cross-sectional research design was employed.

Methods: A survey on vocal demands, perceptions and knowledge was distributed to 102 occupational voice users via a snowball sampling technique.

Describing the Spoken Language Skills of Typically Developing Afrikaans-Speaking Children Using Language Sample Analysis: A Pilot Study.

Purpose: Language sample analysis is widely regarded as the gold standard of language assessment. However, the uncertainty regarding the optimal length of sample and the limited availability of developmental language data for nonmainstream languages such as Afrikaans complicate reliable use of the method. The study aimed to provide guidelines on representative length of sample and concurrently provide a preliminary description of the spoken language skills of Afrikaans-speaking children.

An Assessment of the Reliability and Validity of the PERMA Well-Being Scale for Adult Undergraduate Students in an Open and Distance Learning Context.

Background: The PERMA well-being scale measures the multidimensionality of well-being in human populations. It highlights positive emotions, engagement, relationships, meaning, and accomplishment. Despite the empirical advancement and evolution of the PERMA scale in different settings, its applicability to open and distance learning (ODL) has not been adequately established among undergraduate students in sub-Saharan Africa.

South African speech-language therapists' practices regarding feeding tube placement in people with advanced dementia.

Background:  Studies related to tube feeding in people with dementia (PWD) remain a contested topic, neglecting the importance of speech-language therapists' (SLTs) role in dysphagia management. Furthermore, SLT practices and beliefs regarding tube feeding in people with advanced dementia in an upper-middle-income country, such as South Africa, are unexplored.

Objective:  This study aimed to determine the practices and beliefs of SLTs in South Africa regarding tube feeding placement in PWD.

Extended High-Frequency Audiometry for Ototoxicity Monitoring: A Longitudinal Evaluation of Drug-Resistant Tuberculosis Treatment.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to describe extended high-frequency (EHF) pure-tone audiometry monitoring of ototoxicity in a longitudinal treatment program for drug-resistant tuberculosis (DRTB).

Method: This was a retrospective record review of longitudinal conventional (0.25-8 kHz) and EHF (9-16 kHz) audiometry for ototoxicity monitoring of DRTB patients undergoing treatment at community-based clinics between 2013 and 2017.

Evolution of swallowing and feeding abilities of neonates with hypoxic-ischaemic encephalopathy during hospitalisation: A case series.

Purpose: To describe the evolution of swallowing and feeding abilities of neonates with hypoxic-ischaemic encephalopathy (HIE) during hospitalisation.

Method: A longitudinal cohort study was used. Twenty-nine participants (median age 39.

Audiologists' Perceptions of Hearing Healthcare Resources and Services in South Africa's Public Healthcare System.

Background: Hearing loss poses a significant burden globally. Its prevalence is exceptionally high in countries across the African region, where healthcare resources and services remain inaccessible. This study aimed to describe audiologists' perceptions regarding hearing healthcare resources and services within South Africa's public healthcare system.

mHealth-Supported Hearing Health Training for Early Childhood Development Practitioners: An Intervention Study.

(1) Hearing health training and promotion is a priority for early childhood development (ECD) practitioners, but training opportunities are limited, especially in low- and middle-income countries (LMIC). mHealth (mobile health) has the potential to deliver scalable ear and hearing training to ECD practitioners. (2) This study investigated the effect of an mHealth training intervention program for ECD practitioners to improve knowledge and perceptions of hearing health in young children.

Reflux symptoms and vocal characteristics in adults with non-organic voice disorders.

Background:  Laryngopharyngeal reflux (LPR) is prevalent and can lead to voice disorders, but its diagnosis is difficult, because of limited correlations between clinical symptoms and organic pathology. Various tools and methods have been explored to aid a diagnosis of LPR.

Objective:  To investigate associations between reflux symptoms, acoustic-, perceptual-, and physical vocal characteristics, glottal function index (GFI), and vocal handicap index (VHI) in adults with non-organic voice disorders.

Changes in vestibular and cochlear function following platinum-based chemotherapy: A preliminary report.

Objectives: This study investigated the changes in vestibular and cochlear function in patients receiving platinum-based chemotherapy.

Methods: A longitudinal study of 32 participants (10-70 years) receiving chemotherapy participated in the study. Baseline and exit vestibular and hearing assessments that included video head impulse (VHIT) testing, cervical and ocular vestibular evoked myogenic potentials (VEMP), dynamic visual acuity (DVA) and pure-tone audiometry were performed at the patient's treatment venue.