Search

Inferencing abilities are crucial to development of reading comprehension. However, few studies addressed those abilities in interventions promoting early literacy skills, especially in kindergartners. The aim of this study was to measure the efficacy of an interactive book-reading intervention targeting inferencing abilities, delivered by a school-based speech-language pathologist (SLP) in whole group kindergarten classes. Two hundred and forty-nine 5-year-old kindergartners from low socio-economic settings were quasi-randomly assigned to either one of the experimental groups (EG1 and EG2) or an active control group (CG). EG1 received a 7-week interactive book-reading intervention followed by a 7-week period where it was up to the teachers to implement aspects of the intervention in their teaching or not. EG2 received the 7-week interactive book-reading intervention only and the active control group received an initial workshop only. Three subtests targeting (1) causal inferences during book-reading, (2) causal inferences in a formal task, and (3) referential inferences in a formal task were performed at pre- and post-intervention assessments. There was a significant Time × Group interaction effect for the first subtest indicating an advantage for EG1 compared to CG over time. EG2 appeared as an intermediary group as its results were not different from EG1 and showing only a trend toward significance (p = 0.064) when compared to CG. There was no significant Time × Group interaction effect for the second subtest. A significant Time × Group interaction effect was present for the third subtest, EG1 and EG2 showing larger improvement than CG.

AbstractThis study examined the effects of an SLP-delivered whole-class interactive book reading intervention and a professional development program on children’s self-initiated participation. Eleven kindergarten teachers and the children in their classes participated in this quasi-experimental study. They were filmed during book reading at pre- and post-intervention, and follow-up. Children’s types of spontaneous comments appeared to be more diverse after the intervention, and the types that increased or emerged were consistent with the language targets of the interactive book reading. Nonparametric statistical tests were conducted. Significant changes were found in the number of hands raised by children to make a spontaneous comment and in the number of spontaneous comments after the intervention and at follow-up. Results for child-initiated interaction sequences were mitigated. This study invites school-based SLPs to foster children’s self-initiated participation in their tier-1 intervention and to support teachers in using children’s spontaneous comments to further scaffold children’s learning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Communication is at the heart of relationships, especially for couples. When language is altered, as it is in aphasia, communication in couples can be affected. Aims: To explore how members of a couple perceive the impact of aphasia on their communication. Methods & Procedures: Nine French-speaking couples participated in the study. One member of each couple had chronic stroke-related aphasia, which varied in type and severity. The 18 participants took part in individual semi-structured interviews to understand their perspective on communication within their couple. The interviews were recorded, transcribed and analysed with a qualitative thematic analysis. Outcomes & Results: Three main themes emerged: (1) experiencing limitations in conversation; (2) assuming changed speaking and listening roles; and (3) experiencing new emotions, feelings and reactions in communication. Couples experienced diminished frequency and duration of conversations as well as restrained topics after the onset of aphasia. Ten participants reported that each member's communication role of listener versus speaker had changed, and that the person with aphasia became a less active participant. Communication was described as 'positive' before aphasia and 'fine' to 'difficult' following aphasia. Persons with aphasia and spouses expressed experiencing difficulties managing emotions related to communication. Frustration and caution towards the other member of the couple had been associated with aphasia. In addition, five spouses reported that they refrained from initiating discussions on specific topics in order to maintain a positive relationship with the person with aphasia. Conclusion & Implications: The results describe some of the consequences of aphasia on communication in couples. Clinicians could use interviews to understand the impact of aphasia on a couple's communication. This may help to design communication partner training (CPT) that better aligns with the particular needs of couples living with aphasia, acknowledging the importance of emotional dimensions of relationships.

Copyright of Canadian Journal of Speech-Language Pathology & Audiology is the property of Speech-Language & Audiology Canada and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Background: While communication partner training (CPT) is recommended in the treatment of aphasia, more research on the long-term effect of CPT is needed to enhance the knowledge base about its effects. Aim: To measure the effects both during training and maintenance phases of a CPT offered to a spouse of a man with aphasia by using quantitative and qualitative procedures. Method: One couple participated in 8 sessions of CPT. Conversations were recorded at baseline, throughout the intervention and three months post-intervention. The intervention targeted the type of questions asked by the spouse and the use of extended pauses in conversation. We defined these behaviors and counted their occurrences using a software. Visual analysis and standard deviation band analysis were performed. Also, the spouse participated in a semi-structured interview before and after intervention, which was analysed qualitatively. Outcomes & Results: Positive changes were observed during intervention - more open-ended questions were produced, and the number of pauses increased - but these improvements were not maintained three months later. The spouse reported that CPT had changed their daily communication and that it provided support for her. Conclusions & Implications: The quantitative results gave precise and specific information on how the spouse responded to CPT overtime and that could lead to suggestions regarding the content of the intervention in order to promote maintenance in future studies. The qualitative analysis reflected the broader impact of CPT on the couple's communication. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Inferencing abilities are crucial to development of reading comprehension. However, few studies addressed those abilities in interventions promoting early literacy skills, especially in kindergartners. The aim of this study was to measure the efficacy of an interactive book-reading intervention targeting inferencing abilities, delivered by a school-based speech-language pathologist (SLP) in whole group kindergarten classes. Two hundred and forty-nine 5-year-old kindergartners from low socio-economic settings were quasi-randomly assigned to either one of the experimental groups (EG1 and EG2) or an active control group (CG). EG1 received a 7-week interactive book-reading intervention followed by a 7-week period where it was up to the teachers to implement aspects of the intervention in their teaching or not. EG2 received the 7-week interactive book-reading intervention only and the active control group received an initial workshop only. Three subtests targeting (1) causal inferences during book-reading, (2) causal inferences in a formal task, and (3) referential inferences in a formal task were performed at pre- and post-intervention assessments. There was a significant Time × Group interaction effect for the first subtest indicating an advantage for EG1 compared to CG over time. EG2 appeared as an intermediary group as its results were not different from EG1 and showing only a trend toward significance (p = 0.064) when compared to CG. There was no significant Time × Group interaction effect for the second subtest. A significant Time × Group interaction effect was present for the third subtest, EG1 and EG2 showing larger improvement than CG. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The literature on communication partner training (CPT) includes mainly studies with a small number of participants, because methods to measure changes in conversation pose practical challenges limiting the analysis of large samples. Aim: The aim of this study was to explore a quantitative procedure that would allow one to measure specific behavioral changes occurring in conversational exchanges involving a person with aphasia and a partner. Methods & Procedures: Forty-three problem-solving situations presented visually as well as with a simple written explanation were created to elicit conversation. In order to test the situations and develop further a procedure, we used data from a spouse of a man with aphasia during CPT delivered in a clinical setting. We developed specific definitions related to conversational behaviors targeted in the CPT. These defined behaviors were analyzed using a transcription-less method and an annotation software in the couple’s 39 conversation samples collected before, throughout, and 3-months post CPT. Reliability data were collected. Outcomes & Results: The procedure enabled us to create a protocol with two types of conversational situations and reliable definitions for measurement of conversational behaviors in a timely fashion. Pilot data of the measures are provided. Conclusions: It is expected that the method presented in this pilot study may be used to document the outcomes of CPT. It could be used with single-subject designs that require repeated measures and multiple group designs that require comparable data over large samples. It provides a method of data collection and analysis to better evaluate the effects of conversation-based treatments such as CPT. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]