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Purpose: Both Rapid Syllable Transition Treatment (ReST) and ultrasound biofeedback are effective approaches to treating childhood apraxia of speech (CAS). The purpose of the study was to compare outcomes from these two motor-based treatment approaches for school-age children with CAS. Method: In a single site, single blind randomized control trial, 14 children with CAS ages 6–13 years were randomly assigned to 12 sessions over 6 weeks of either of ultrasound biofeedback treatment (with a speech motor chaining practice structure) or ReST. Treatment was delivered at The University of Sydney by students trained and supervised by certified speech-language pathologists. Transcriptions from blinded assessors were used to compare the two groups on speech sound accuracy (percent phonemes correct) and prosodic severity (lexical stress errors and syllable segregation) in untreated words and sentences at three time points: pretreatment, immediately posttreatment, and 1-month posttreatment (i.e., retention). Results: Both groups showed significant improvement on treated items indicating a treatment effect. At no time was there a difference between groups. Both groups showed a significant improvement in speech sound accuracy on untreated words and sentences from pre to post and neither group showed an improvement in prosody pre–post. Changes to speech sound accuracy were retained by both groups at 1-month follow-up. Significant improvement in prosodic accuracy was reported at the 1-month follow-up. Conclusions: ReST and ultrasound biofeedback were equally effective. Either ReST or ultrasound biofeedback may be viable treatment options for school-age children with CAS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to explore the current practices and training requirements for supporting clients experiencing psychosocial concerns in the audiology setting, from the perspectives of audiology clinicians, managers, and reception staff. Method: Convenience sampling was used to recruit audiologists, reception staff, and clinic managers (N =13, Mage = 32.2 ± 8.1, range: 25--47 years, 11 female) through a large hearing services provider in Western Australia. A semistructured focus group was used to elicit participant views regarding current experiences relating to clients who express psychosocial concerns in the audiology setting, familiarity with psychosocial interventions, and training requirements for delivery of psychosocial interventions in the audiological setting. Results: Twenty-four subthemes were identified across six themes: (1) awareness of psychosocial well-being, (2) the role of others, (3) identifying client's psychosocial needs, (4) managing client's psychosocial needs, (5) barriers to providing psychosocial support, and (6) broadening audiological services to include psychosocial support. Conclusions: Participants reported an awareness of their clients' psychosocial challenges within the audiology setting, yet they described uncertainty in how best to respond in providing support and whether this was within their scope of practice. A majority of audiology staff expressed desire and motivation to broaden the scope of their service in order to better address their clients' hearing loss--related psychosocial needs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]