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The oral narrative consists of the expression of a series of experiences or sequenced events that took place in time within a context. The objective of this study was to analyze the oral narratives in preschool children with soft neurological signs in the presence or absence of speech disorder. We chose 80 preschool children (32 girls and 48 boys) with an average age of 5 years 8 months, DE = 5.2, from low to middle socioeconomic level of public schools in Xalapa, Veracruz, Mexico. Verbal intelligence was assessed with the Wechsler scale for the preschool and primary levels; the soft neurological signs and the narration of a series of illustrations. Significant differences were found in the level of narrative coherence with speech disorders where children with moderate to severe language difficulties were located at the initial levels of coherence. Narratives are relevant tools for the evaluation and development of language. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Describe the main speech disorders found among children with epilepsy and their most common causes. Methods: The databases PubMed, SciELO and EBSCO were used to search for reference papers, mainly publications from the last five years (2013 to 2018) written in Spanish, English or French. Attention was paid to documents containing original information. Results: Among people with epilepsy, the so-called "specific speech disorders" are the most commonly diagnosed. These are mainly due to epilepsy itself, abnormal brain electrical activity, the origin of epilepsy and the treatment. On occasion, other dysfunctions are added which may also occur in people without epilepsy, among them psycholinguistic alterations or damage to speech organs (hearing and speaking). Conclusions: Patients with epilepsy have a high risk of presenting speech difficulties. Organization of the diagnostic method is crucial to define the cause, modify the prognosis and timely determine whether a difficulty is a specific speech disorder. The main complementary tests to be indicated are audiometry, brain-stem auditoryevoked potentials, electroencephalography, psychological evaluation and brain imaging. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper compares the results of using compressed voice signals versus uncompressed speech signals to automatically detect voice abnormalities. Coding techniques and voice compression used in this study are the same as those used by default in the fixed, mobile and ip telephony systems, and techniques of characterization and classification used are also among the most used for detecting automatic speech abnormalities. The results obtained indicate that it is possible to use compressed voice signals for automatic detection of vocal pathologies without compromising the success rate in the diagnosis, which would make the implementation of automatic remote diagnosis of vocal pathologies possible. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The test for evaluating phonological simplification processes (TEPROSIF, according to its initials in Spanish) is a tool which is used to identify dyslalias. Our objective was to establish, by using TEPROSIF, the association between dyslalias and malocclusion in children from 4 to 6 years of age. Methods: After we standardized the tool with a kappa of 0.9, we applied it to 116 children from 4 to 6 years of age. Patients were conducted to a central occlusion through deglutition. We observed type of bite, overbite, oclussion and terminal plane in order to relate them to the dyslalia presented. For statistical analysis, we used Χ² test (p < 0.05). Results: They were 55 (47.4 %) boys and 61 (52.6 %) girls, with a median age of 5 years ± 0.71. Phoneme substitution was the most common alteration. We found significant correlation between omission of the phonemes and terminal plane (p = 0.01), Baume type I arch (p = 0.00) and absence of teeth (p = 0.00), as well as between phoneme substitution and terminal plane (p = 0.03), bite type (p = 0.01) and absence of teeth (p = 0.00). Conclusions: Phoneme substitution is the most common alteration, followed by omission and distortion of phonemes in children between 4 and 6 years of age. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The need for instrumental objective assessment of voice quality is reflected in the increasing number of acoustic analysis methods developed for clinical diagnosis and as research outcome in the area. Acoustics measures of vocal productions received much attention in the literature and a variety of commercial packages are available. Those systems packages are presented as objective tools with apparently standardized, well-designed measurement protocols and acceptably low incidence of technical problems. The fact of using the same labels for similar measurement output like mean jitter or mean shimmer induce to think that results from different programs are comparable. However, there is no standardization of technique methodology and considerable variability is observed about which acoustic parameters must be measured. Furthermore, product documentation often makes it difficult to know how a particular system actually produces its measurements. Little formal information is available about the actual comparability of measures from different analysis packages. In this study, acoustic analysis was performed using two different programs: PRAAT and ANA-GRAF. Both systems are computer programs commonly used in Latin America, in clinical and research to detect and characterize speech and voice disorders. PRAAT, was designed by Boersma and Weenink (2009) and ANAGRAF is a national software designed by Gurlekian (1997). The purpose of this work was to compare the results obtained by a set of acoustic parameters, many of which are defined similarly in both programs, and analyze whether it can distinguish clinically between normal and pathological voices within different severity levels. A total of 776 voice samples corresponding to 4 repetitions of the vowel /a/ of 194 speakers of Spanish in Buenos Aires were measured using the available parameters such as: the fundamental frequency, jitter, shimmer, and noise-to harmonic ratio. The LilliefordsTest, with a significance level of 5%, was used to verify the normal distribution of the results of each measurement. The parameters with normal distribution had their means compared to the standard measurements proposed by the program using the t test (significance level of 5%). General results separated by sex are reported. The findings of analyzed voice samples are showed by definitions for mean, standard deviation, and thresholds of normal for each parameter, which helps the clinician to immediately assess the findings for a particular patient. The test-retest reliability in each pair of measures was calculated. For both programs the results show similar values of fundamental frequency (F0). However, the values of jitter, shimmer and harmonic-to-noise ratio (HNR) were significantly lower measured by PRAAT, and higher using AÑAGRAF in relation which the default results proposed by each system. The empirical evidence shows that if followed the default values and thresholds of each system, the diagnostic accuracy might be questioned by considering both cases as false positives or false negatives. Results demonstrate that the reliability of the values obtained by both programs was significantly reduced with the increase of irregularities in the signal. Parameters related with shimmer were more reliable than parameters related with jitter. For the normal data, r Pearson correlations ranged from .72 (ANAGRAF) to .87 (PRAAT) for measures of jitter, with lower correlations among measures of shimmer .27 (ANAGRAF) to .80 (PRAAT) and noise measures .55 (ANAGRAF) to .87 (PRAAT). The large differences found between the measurements from the systems imply that the accuracy of the measurements are questionable, especially for severely pathological samples. Therefore, it seems important to establish normal and pathological voice standards norms for Spanish in Buenos Aires to take a step in the validity and reliability of the professional practices. Future research be aimed at establishing differences between vowels in addition to sex and system used. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper describes a useful technique for quantifying the degree of speech deficits in dementia of GDS 4 Alzheimer's type (DAT). Production of prosodic speech in DAT patients and healthy older controls was analysed using variation in fundamental frequency (FO) measures on a reading task. The prosogram computational model was used to analyze the prosodic contours of the speech samples, using melodic styling of FO based on perceptual principles and prominence detection of spectral and amplitude fluctuations in the speech signal. Results revealed significant differences in most of these prosodic parameters among the DAT group. Normal pitch variation in speech and variations in syllable timing were reduced in the DAT group, these features cause «fiat» speech prosody in these patients. These speech parameters may have diagnostic and prognostic value for Alzheimer's disease and therefore could be a useful aid in clinical trials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. In regard to conditions of the oral cavity in children, malocclusions occur with a prevalence of 60%, whereas the most common speech disorder among school-age children are the changes in pronunciation known as dyslalias, with a prevalence of 70%. The aim of this study was to describe the prevalence of malocclusions and speech disorders in a 4- to 6-year-old preschool population in eastern Mexico City. Methods. We performed an observational, prospective, cross-sectional and descriptive study. Clinical assessment of malocclusion was performed at the base of the terminal planes and the diagnosis of speech disorders was made using the test of Melgar, considering the categories with and without speech disorders. Results. Data were processed using SPSS v.11 and descriptive statistics were obtained from the study variables. The results allowed the observation that the revised total number of preschool-age children, 61% (n = 48) presented malocclusions, whereas speech disorders occurred in 42% (n = 39). In our study, however, no association was demonstrated between malocclusions and speech disorders. Both conditions were present and 40% (n = 19) of preschool-age children showed the presence of malocclusions and speech disorders; 42% (n = 13) had no malocclusions but demonstrated speech disorders. Conclusions. The prevalence of malocclusion and speech disorders in preschool-age children in this community is considered as a health problem. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The neurolinguistic diagnosis of dysarthria is typical in cases of ataxia and cerebellar syndromes, as consequence of motor disorders that disrupt the motor program preventing the correct completion and coordination of joint movements, velar, of the vocal chords, of the thoracic cage. Within this context, dysprosody plays an important social role, which is the focus of an integral strategy for language development, that starts from a detailed evaluation of language itself. The main objective of this paper was to characterize language and to determine dysprosody variations, starting from an intervention strategy designed for this purpose in 32 ataxic patients. Method: The strategy was developed during a minimum cycle of 28 days. To analyze the language characterization, the percentage, mean and mode were applied and for therapy the ICARS items related to language. All data were processed with the non parametric Wilcoxon test. Results: The results showed that coordination difficulties have a repercussion on language; significant statistical changes were obtained after the application of a strategy aimed to dysprosody applied in a systematic way. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Phonetics is a linguistic theoretical and experimental discipline. Sound knowledge of the different branches of phonetics has different applications in the day-to-day life of society: 1) it is used didactically in phonetic correction in one's native language as well as as in the process of acquisition of other languages; 2) it is used in clinical logopaedic practice in the evaluation and rehabilitation of speech and hearing disorders; 3) it is used in linguistic engineering through synthesis and automatic recognition; and 4) it is used in legal environments because forensic phonetic analyses represent important evidence in many judicial processes. All this demonstrates that phonetics is useful and that the contempt that some persons demonstrate towards this type of knowledge is totally unjustified. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A double-lip is an anomaly which may be either congenital or acquired and may occur either isolated or as a component of Ascher's syndrome. The upper lip is involved more often than the lower, although on occasion both may be involved. Apart from a deformity that interferes with mastication and speech, surgical treatment may be indicated for cosmetic reasons. Various surgical techniques to correct the double lip have been described: elliptical incision, w-plasty, triangle incision and elliptical incision on each side, combined with a vertical midline z-plasty to release the lip's central constriction. In the case presented a long midmoon incision was used, preserving the maxillary labial frenum. Satisfactory function and aesthetic results were achieved in this patient. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To determine the association between the number of teeth prematurely lost in the anterosuperior sector and disorders in the articulation of fricative phonemes. Material and method: A descriptive cross-sectional study in a sample of 30 pre-school age children was done. We performed a dental examination to record the conditions of the anterosuperior sector including the premature loss of the tooth or of the clinical crown by caries or trauma. We had also the diagnosis of language therapist, which included several alterations of speech through the test of Melgar. We employed the Chi-square statistical test to determine the association of variables. Results: We found the association between the phonological changes in the fricative phonemes F, S, Z and the premature loss of anterosuperior teeth, but not of the fricative phonemes J , Y . Conclusions: Relationship exists between the alteration of fricative phonemes F, S, Z and the premature loss of anterosuperior teeth, but not of fricative phonemes J, Y. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sulcus vocalis represents one of the most important challenges for the laryngologist due to the marked dysphonia it produces and the lack of a treatment that is completely effective. Sulcus vocalis is a scar which alters the vocal vibration wave and it is classified into three different types: a) Type I or physiologic sulcus with no alteration of vocal fold vibration, b) Type II due to a scar from the epithelium to the vocal ligament which originates a rigid segment and, c) Type III with the epithelium adhered to the deep planes and even to the thyroarytenoid muscle which produces a non vibratory vocal fold and a disabling dysphonia. Sulcus vocalis requires an exhaustive evaluation between the speech language pathologist and laryngologist, to be able to determine adequate management for the nature and magnitude of the vocal incapacity in order to establish the most appropriate treatment. There are two different treatments: surgical and non-surgical. Different rehabilitation approaches are presented and applied to a clinic case. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Foreing accent syndrome was first described in 1907 by Pierre Marie, it´s a rare speech disorder characterized by segmental and prosodical deficits without abnormal grammatical alterations, the patient´s speech resembles a non native accent. There have been 70 cases reported in the international literature. Case report: 30 years old woman who presented Foreing Accent Syndrome in the postoperative period, she underwent a resection of a giant tumor located in the left insular lobe with involvement of the frontotemporoparietal region, plus oncological and neuroradiological management. Histopatological examination revealed an oligoastrocytoma grade II. There were no alterations in the communication and quality of life. The syndrome persisted for 4 months. This is the first case reported in Mexico. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]