Prevalence and functional impact of social (pragmatic) communication disorders.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to evaluate the Children's Communication Checklist-2 (CCC-2) for measuring social-pragmatic communication deficits and to ascertain their prevalence and functional impact in a community sample. METHODS: We used parent and teacher responses to the CCC-2 to approximate inclusion (poor social-pragmatic skills) and exclusion (poor structural language skills or autistic symptomatology) criteria for social (pragmatic) communication disorder (SPCD). We tested the prevalence of social-pragmatic deficits in a population-based sample of children (n = 386) aged 5-6 years old using CCC-2 algorithms. We also investigated the academic and behavioural profiles of children with broadly defined limitations in social-pragmatic competence on the CCC-2. RESULTS: Regardless of the diagnostic algorithm used, the resulting prevalence rates for social-pragmatic deficits indicated that very few children had isolated social-communication difficulties (0-1.3%). However, a larger proportion of children (range: 6.1-10.5%) had social-pragmatic skills outside the expected range alongside structural language difficulties and/or autism spectrum symptoms, and this profile was associated with a range of adverse academic and behavioural outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: A considerable proportion of children in the early years of primary school has social-pragmatic deficits that interfere with behaviour and scholastic activity; however, these rarely occur in isolation. Exclusionary criteria that include structural language may lead to underidentification of individuals with social-pragmatic deficits that may benefit from tailored support and intervention.

The diagnostic intersection of cognitive-communication disorders and aphasia secondary to TBI.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: The present retrospective study examines veterans and military personnel who have sustained a cognitive-communication deficit/disorder (CCD) and/or aphasia secondary to traumatic brain injury (TBI). The prevalence of each disorder secondary to TBI is identified and demographic factors are analysed to determine whether specific characteristics (age, gender, race and/or ethnicity) differentially influenced diagnosis (CCD or aphasia). METHODS & PROCEDURES: A retrospective analysis examining the prevalence of CCD and aphasia among US service personnel with a complicated mild-to-severe TBI treated over a 4-year period (1 January 2016-31 December 2019) was conducted. Medical diagnoses and demographic factors were obtained from administrative data repositories and a logistic regression was performed to identify the relationship between demographic factors and diagnoses. OUTCOMES & RESULTS: Analyses revealed that 8.8% of individuals studied had a secondary diagnosis of CCD (6.9%), aphasia (1.5%) or both (0.4%). This signifies 6863 cases of CCD, 1516 cases of aphasia and 396 cases of CCD and aphasia (dual diagnosis) per 100,000 individuals who have sustained a complicated mild-to-severe TBI. The proportion of cases observed with these diagnoses was consistent with the racial, gender and ethnic demographics of those diagnosed with TBI. Statistical modelling revealed that increased age is predictive of a diagnosis of aphasia relative to CCD. CONCLUSIONS & IMPLICATIONS: Service personnel sustaining TBIs are at increased risk of communication impairments with deficits observed across all gender, racial and ethnic demographics. CCD is more commonly observed than aphasia, though clinicians should be cognisant of both when performing assessments. Age is a factor that can influence diagnosis. WHAT THIS PAPER ADDS: What is already known on the subject Military personnel are at increased risk of communication disorders (CCDs) with TBI associated with multiple types of communication impairments including CCD, aphasia, dysarthria and apraxia of speech. What this paper adds to existing knowledge This paper examines CCD and aphasia occurring following TBI. The proportion of observed cases of CCD and aphasia secondary to TBI are calculated over a 4-year period and the prevalence of these disorders is provided. Additionally, statistical modelling is used to identify differences in the diagnosis of CCD relative to aphasia using the demographic factors of age, racial identity and ethnicity. What are the potential or actual clinical implications of this work? CCD is a frequently occurring issue following TBI, and the findings of this study demonstrate that it is a concern observed across gender, racial and ethnic lines. Advanced age is linked with the diagnosis of aphasia relative to CCD following TBI and should be a consideration during evaluation of patients who have sustained significant head trauma.

Mental capacity legislation and communication disability: A cross-sectional survey exploring the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the provision of specialist decision-making support by UK SLTs.

BACKGROUND: Mental capacity legislation in the UK is designed to safeguard the rights of people who may need support, or may be unable, to make autonomous decisions. Very limited evidence has been published about the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the application of mental capacity legislation and, to our knowledge, none on the ability of speech and language therapists (SLTs) to support people with communication disabilities to engage in decision-making. AIMS: To describe how UK SLTs supported people with communication disabilities to make decisions and participate in mental capacity assessments, best interests decision-making and advance care planning during the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS & PROCEDURES: This descriptive, cross-sectional study used an online survey to collect quantitative and qualitative data about SLTs' practice experiences between August and November 2020. SLTs working with a range of adult clinical populations in different care settings were sampled purposively from all UK jurisdictions. Participants were recruited through professional networks and social media. Quantitative data were summarized using descriptive statistics. Qualitative data were analysed thematically. OUTCOMES & RESULTS: Data were collected from 107 SLTs working in a range of settings across all four UK nations. The sample included SLTs working with people with neurological conditions, learning disabilities, mental health conditions and acute confusion. The need for SLT support appeared to increase during the pandemic. Most respondents were still able to offer support; however, the amount and nature of support varied. Quality of support was impacted by adjustments associated with social distancing and infection control restrictions. Personal protective equipment (PPE) was identified as a barrier to communication. Indirect working methods (e.g., telehealth) were inaccessible to some people with communication disabilities. Most respondents felt confident that legal requirements were upheld, but suggested this group was less able to engage in decision-making and had reduced access to support to manage their own health conditions. CONCLUSIONS & IMPLICATIONS: Some SLT services were limited in their ability to meet the decision-making support needs of people with communication disabilities during the COVID-19 pandemic due to structural and systemic barriers. This suggests that existing inequities in the provision of care for people with communication disabilities in the UK were amplified during the pandemic. WHAT THIS PAPER ADDS: What is already known on the subject People with communication disabilities may require support from healthcare professionals, including SLTs, to make decisions and communicate their wishes and preferences about their care, in line with mental capacity legislation. There is a lack of published evidence relating to how changes in staff deployment and resource during the COVID-19 pandemic may have impacted on the ability of SLTs to provide this support. What this paper adds to existing knowledge This study provides novel evidence about the ways in which UK SLTs supported people with communication disabilities to engage in mental capacity assessments, best interests decision-making and advance care planning during the COVID-19 pandemic. In some cases, the amount and quality of decision-making support available was affected negatively due to changes in healthcare delivery and resource management and SLT working practices. What are the potential or actual clinical implications of this work? This study suggests that some people with communication disabilities experienced greater barriers to receiving professional support to maximize their autonomy and manage their health conditions during the COVID-19 pandemic. Speech and language therapy services and healthcare commissioners should consider how best to ensure equitable service delivery to this population in resource-limited situations.

A preliminary epidemiologic study of social (pragmatic) communication disorder in the context of developmental language disorder.

BACKGROUND: There is extremely limited population-based research on social (pragmatic) communication disorder (SCD). Population-based samples have the potential to better characterize the SCD phenotype by mitigating confounds and biases that are typical of convenience and clinical samples. AIMS: The aims of this preliminary epidemiologic study were to advance our understanding of the SCD phenotype relative to developmental language disorder (DLD), obtain an estimate of prevalence, identify risk factors and lay the groundwork for future population level research of SCD. METHODS & PROCEDURES: We analysed existing data from the EpiSLI Database to examine social communication skills in 393 8th grade (13-14 years) children with and without a history of DLD. The primary measure used to evaluate SCD was the Children's Communication Checklist (CCC-2). Two case definitions of SCD reflecting DSM-5 criteria were examined. Both definitions involved significant pragmatic impairment, employing a commonly adopted clinical cut-point of 1.5 SD. In one case, pragmatic deficits could occur along with structural language deficits and, in the other case (established using principal component analysis), pragmatic and social skills were disproportionately lower than structural language abilities. OUTCOMES & RESULTS: When using the first case definition, SCD was much more common in children with a history of DLD than without DLD and history of language disorder at kindergarten was a significant risk factor for SCD in adolescence. However, it is important to note that SCD could be found in children with no prior deficits in other aspects of language. When the second definition was employed, SCD was equally distributed across children with and without a history of DLD. Male sex was a significant risk factor using this case definition of SCD. The estimated prevalence of SCD ranged from 7% (SE = 1.5%) to 11% (SE = 1.7%), acknowledging that prevalence depends on the cut-point selected to determine communication disorder. CONCLUSIONS & IMPLICATIONS: These findings contribute to our understanding of the association between SCD and DLD by recognizing varying profiles of pragmatic and social communication difficulties, which in turn may help refine our diagnostic categories. Preliminary prevalence estimates of SCD can serve as an initial guidepost for identification and planning for intervention services for this condition. WHAT THIS PAPER ADDS: What is already known on this subject There is considerable debate about the diagnostic category of SCD and its relation to other neurodevelopmental disorders. What this study adds to existing knowledge Using data from a US-based epidemiologic sample of DLD, this study offers new information about the association between SCD and DLD, provides preliminary estimates of SCD prevalence, and identifies risk factors for SCD. Clinical implications of this study Improved understanding of possible profiles of pragmatic and social communication deficits will help to clarify diagnostic categories and preliminary prevalence estimates may assist with ensuring availability of adequate intervention services.

A survey of school-age children with highly unintelligible speech.

Prevalence studies in the AAC discipline are fundamental to establishing funding, instructional, and research priorities. These data inform policy-makers on the allocation of clinical and educational services, help prioritize AAC pre-service and in-service trainings, and support AAC research grant applications. A survey study was designed to (a) provide prevalence estimates of school-age students who have highly unintelligible speech, (b) describe the demographic makeup of these students, and (c) describe their access to AAC. Rigorous web-based survey development and distribution procedures were followed. Special education administrators in New Mexico, USA were recruited to distribute the surveys to speech-language pathologists (SLPs) in their respective school districts. The majority of school districts in the state participated, and the overall SLP response rate for participating districts was high (65%). Based on the results, the best estimate indicates that approximately 1 in 89 school-age students in New Mexico has severely unintelligible speech. SLPs averaged 5.4 students per caseload with severely unintelligible speech, with 86% of SLPs providing services to at least one of these students. Only 22% of students with highly unintelligible speech had been seen by an AAC specialist. The findings highlight the substantial number of school-age students with highly unintelligible speech and the ongoing need for high quality AAC service provision for these students.

The speech, language and communication needs of rough sleepers in London.

BACKGROUND: There is very little awareness of the speech, language and communication needs (SLCN) of rough sleepers. The small amount of documentation that does exist involves a wider group of homeless adults (not just rough sleepers), and reports that communication needs are an area of concern. AIMS: To investigate: (1) the reported prevalence of SLCN amongst UK nationals recorded on the Combined Homeless and Information Network (CHAIN) as sleeping on the streets of London; (2) whether rough sleepers with reported SLCN differ from those without; and (3) what factors best predict patterns of rough sleeping and accommodation stays. METHODS & PROCEDURES: A data set of 513 participants was provided by CHAIN, which contained information relating to all new rough sleepers and people with long-term histories of rough sleeping (UK nationals only) recorded by street outreach teams in London between 1 April and 30 June 2013. Also included was data about UK nationals provided with support by the Homelessness and Brain Injury Project. The data set contained information including basic demographics, communication skills, health and social care needs, and institutional background and extended to a 5-year period. OUTCOMES & RESULTS: (1) SLCN data were often not recorded with data available for only 62% of individuals on the CHAIN databases. However, for those with SLCN data, the prevalence of SLCN was significantly higher than for the general population (17.1%; p < 0.001). (2) There were no significant differences between those with and without SLCN on additional risk factors, quarters rough sleeping, accommodation stays or staff-recorded alerts. (3) There was a positive correlation between rough sleeping and additional risk factors for those with SLCN (r = 0.32, p < 0.001) and for those without (r = 0.25, p < 0.001). Regression analysis indicated that additional risk factors were more predictive than SLCN in explaining the number of quarters rough sleeping and accommodation stays. CONCLUSIONS & IMPLICATIONS: SLCN are highly prevalent amongst rough sleepers and significantly greater than for the UK general population. SLCN are not clearly related to rough sleeping behaviour, but the presence of additional risk factors is highly significant in this regard. Homelessness organizations should provide training for staff in SLCN in order to promote better recording of SLCN, inclusive communication and appropriate support to people who are homeless. Further research is also needed to understand better the communication needs of rough sleepers. What this study adds What is already known on the subject There is very little literature concerning the SLCN of rough sleepers, but that which exists suggests that communication needs are an area of concern. There is relatively little awareness of SLCN in practice in this field. What this paper adds to existing knowledge This study is the first to provide information on SLCN recording in this population. It reports large-scale prevalence data on SLCN in rough sleepers, showing a significantly higher risk in this group. Unexpectedly, SLCN did not clearly relate to patterns of rough sleeping and accommodation, but this may be due to the relatively crude data available in routine practice. What are the potential or actual clinical implications of this work? Wider awareness and training on SLCN in the homelessness sector is needed coupled with more systematic and objective assessment of communication in rough sleepers.

Academic achievement and productivity losses associated with speech, language and communication needs.

BACKGROUND: Childhood speech, language and communication needs (SLCN) impose a significant burden on individuals, families and society. There are explicit costs related to increased health utilization and expenditure. Additionally, there may be indirect costs associated with a child's employment prospects in the long term because of the child's low literacy and numeracy, which in turn affects adult labour force participation (LFP). Several reviews have identified that there is paucity of published evidence on the costs of SLCN. Motivated by broad policy implications, and the lack of prior research in this area, this paper calculates the indirect costs and workplace productivity losses of children with SLCN. AIMS: To estimate the indirect costs of SLCN associated with a child's reduced long-term productivity. METHODS & PROCEDURES: Using 12 years of data from a longitudinal study of Australian children, we employed a panel fixed-effects model to estimate academic achievement at 14-15 years of age. Using these estimates, we employed a human capital approach (HCA) to estimate the projected LFP for children with SLCN, measured by workforce participation and foregone wages. LFP is estimated by extrapolating a child's academic achievement at 14-15 years of age to adulthood outcomes. OUTCOMES & RESULTS: The results showed that a 1 SD (standard deviation) decrease in SLCN is equivalent to 0.19 (95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.09, 0.30) SD decrease in academic achievement at 14-15 years, 0.79% (95% CI = 0.37, 1.21) decrease in work participation and A$453 (95% CI = A$207, A$674) per annum in lost wages. The average work participation penalty across all level of SLCN (-3, -2, -1) is A$628 (95% CI = A$236, A$894) per person per year. Based on the prevalence of 8.3% from our sample, this equates to lifetime costs of A$21.677 billion (US$14.28 billion, €13.08 billion, £11.66 billion) for children with SLCN in Australia. Speech pathology treatment appears to have a positive impact on work participation and wages. On average A$355 (95% CI = A$346, A$355) per person per year could be saved through treatment or identification (the difference in lost wages for children with and without speech pathology treatment at each SLCN level (-1, -2 ,-3) calculated as a weighted average). This equates to lifetime savings of A$5.22 billion (US$3.44 billion, €3.15 billion, £2.81 billion) for children with SLCN in Australia. CONCLUSIONS & IMPLICATIONS: Overall, the findings showed that SLCN are associated with increased indirect costs through reduced workforce participation. The evidence from this study can be used to inform policies on the societal costs of SLCN. What this paper adds What is already known on this subject Childhood SLCN impose significant burden on individuals, families and society. There are explicit costs related to increased health utilization and expenditure. Additionally, there may be indirect costs associated with a child's employment prospects in the long term because of the child's low literacy and numeracy, which in turn affects adult LFP. Several reviews have identified that there is paucity of published evidence on the costs of SLCN. Motivated by broad policy implications, and the lack of prior research in this area, this paper calculates the indirect costs and workplace productivity losses of children with SLCN. What this paper adds to existing knowledge This study estimates the academic achievement and indirect costs of SLCN associated with a child's reduced long-term productivity. Using 12 years of data from a longitudinal study of Australian children, we employed a panel fixed-effects model to estimate academic achievement at 14-15 years of age. Using these estimates, we used a human capital approach to estimate the projected LFP for children with SLCN, measured by workforce participation and foregone wages. LFP is estimated by extrapolating a child's academic achievement at 14-15 years of age to adulthood outcomes. What are the potential or actual clinical implications of this work? SLCN are associated with increased indirect costs through reduced workforce participation. The evidence from this study provides one of the first indirect cost estimates of how SLCN impacts LFP through educational achievement. Early identification, intervention and screening for SLCN may be useful offsets to reduce the economic effects identified here.

Childhood neurodevelopmental difficulties and risk of adolescent depression: the role of irritability.

BACKGROUND: Children with neurodevelopmental disorders are at increased risk of developing depression. Irritability predicts depression in the general population and is common in children with neurodevelopmental disorders. Thus, it is possible that irritability in children with neurodevelopmental disorders contributes to the link with later depression. This study aimed to (a) examine the association between childhood neurodevelopmental difficulties and adolescent depression and (b) test whether irritability explains this association. METHODS: Children with any neurodevelopmental difficulty at the age of 7-9 (n = 1,697) and a selected, comparison group without any neurodevelopmental difficulty (n = 3,177) were identified from a prospective, UK population-based cohort, the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children. Neurodevelopmental difficulties were defined as a score in the bottom 5% of the sample on at least one measure of cognitive ability, communication, autism spectrum symptoms, attention-deficit/hyperactivity symptoms, reading or motor coordination. The Development and Well-Being Assessment measured parent-reported child irritability at the age of 7, parent-reported adolescent depression at the age of 10 and 13, and self-reported depression at the age of 15. Depression measures were combined, deriving an outcome of major depressive disorder (MDD) in adolescence. Logistic regression examined the association between childhood neurodevelopmental difficulties and adolescent MDD, controlling for gender. Path analysis estimated the proportion of this association explained by irritability. Analyses were repeated for individual neurodevelopmental problems. RESULTS: Childhood neurodevelopmental difficulties were associated with adolescent MDD (OR = 2.11, 95% CI = 1.24, 3.60, p = .006). Childhood irritability statistically accounted for 42% of this association. On examining each neurodevelopmental difficulty separately, autistic, communication and ADHD problems were each associated with depression, with irritability explaining 29%-51% of these links. CONCLUSIONS: Childhood irritability appears to be a key contributor to the link between childhood neurodevelopmental difficulties and adolescent MDD. High rates of irritability in children with autistic and ADHD difficulties may explain elevated rates of depression in the neurodevelopmental group.

Impact of social disadvantage on cerebral palsy severity.

AIM: To investigate the impact of socio-economic disadvantage on indicators of cerebral palsy (CP) severity - motor impairment, intellectual disability, and the presence of severe comorbidities - in children with CP in Australia. METHOD: Data from the Australian Cerebral Palsy Register were analysed. Socio-economic disadvantage was assessed using maternal age, maternal country of birth, and a measure of neighbourhood socio-economic status (SES) at the time of the child's birth. Descriptive bivariate analysis, trend analysis, risk ratios, and mediation analysis were undertaken to examine the impact of disadvantage on the indicators of CP severity. RESULTS: A socio-economic gradient was demonstrated with an increasing proportion of children with non-ambulant status, at least moderate intellectual disability, and the presence of severe comorbidities (having epilepsy, functional blindness, bilateral deafness, and/or no verbal communication) with decreasing neighbourhood SES, adolescent motherhood, and maternal minority ethnicity. INTERPRETATION: In Australia, socio-economic disadvantage at birth impacts adversely on CP severity at age 5 years. By identifying that socio-economically disadvantaged children with CP are at greater risk of more severe functional outcomes, we can inform targeted interventions at the family and neighbourhood level to reduce these inequities for children with CP. WHAT THIS PAPER ADDS: Socio-economic disadvantage is associated with increased severity of cerebral palsy functional outcomes. This encompasses low neighbourhood socio-economic status, adolescent motherhood, and maternal minority ethnicity.

IMPACTO DE LA DESVENTAJA SOCIAL SOBRE LA SEVERIDAD DE LA PARÁLISIS CEREBRAL: OBJETIVO: Investigar el impacto de la desventaja socioeconómica en los indicadores de severidad de la parálisis cerebral (PC), definida como - deterioro motor, discapacidad intelectual y la presencia de severidad de las comorbilidades: en niños con PC en Australia. MÉTODO: Se analizaron los datos del Australian Cerebral Palsy Register. La desventaja socioeconómica se evaluó utilizando la edad materna, el país de nacimiento de la madre, y una medida de estado socioeconómico del vecindario (SES) en el momento del nacimiento del niño. Se realizaron análisis bivariados, análisis de tendencias, índices de riesgo y análisis de mediación para examinar el impacto de la desventaja en los indicadores de severidad PC. RESULTADOS: Se demostró un gradiente socioeconómico con una proporción creciente de niños con estado no ambulante, al menos discapacidad intelectual moderada, y la presencia de comorbilidades graves (con epilepsia, ceguera funcional, sordera bilateral y / o sin comunicación verbal) con SES vecinales, maternidad adolescente, y etnia de la minoría materna. INTERPRETACIÓN: En Australia, la desventaja socioeconómica al nacer tiene un impacto adverso en la severidad de PC a la edad de 5 años. Al identificar a los niños con desventajas socioeconómicas con PC tienen un mayor riesgo de resultados funcionales más severos. Con esta información podemos guiar intervenciones a nivel familiar y de vecindario para reducir estas inequidades en los niños con PC.

IMPACTO DA DESVANTAGEM SOCIAL NA SEVERIDADE DA PARALISIA CEREBRAL: OBJETIVO: Investigar o impacto da desvantagem sócio-econômica nos indicadores de severidade da paralisia (PC) - comprometimento motor, deficiência intelectual, e a presença de comorbidades graves - em crianças com PC na Austrália. MÉTODO: Dados do Registro Austrliano de Paralisia Cerebral foram analisados. Desvantagens sócio-econômicas foram avaliadas usando-se a idade materna, o país de Nascimento da mãe, e uma medida do estado sócio-econômico (ESE) da vizinhança no momento do nascimento da criança. Análise bivariada descritiva, análise de tendências, taxas de risco, e análise de mediação foram realizados para examinar o impacto da desvantagem nos indicadores da severidade da PC. RESULTADOS: Um gradiente sócio-econômico foi demonstrado com um aumento da proporção de crianças com situação não ambilante, deficiência intelectual pelo menos moderada, e presença de comorbidades severas (epilepsia, cegueira funcional, surdez bilateral, e/ou nenhuma comunicação verbal) quanto menor o ESE da vizinhança, a minoria étnica materna e maternidade na adolescência. INTERPRETAÇÃO: Na Austrália, a desvantagem sócio-econômica ao nascimento impacta adversamente a severidade da PC na idade de 5 anos. Ao identificar que crianças com PC em desvantagem sócio-econômica têm maior risco de resultados funcionais mais severos, podemos informar intervenções específicas voltadas para a família e para a vizinhança para reduzir o nível destas inequidades para crianças com PC.

Adults with Communication Disabilities Experience Poorer Health and Healthcare Outcomes Compared to Persons Without Communication Disabilities.

BACKGROUND: Persons with speech, language, and/or voice disabilities (collectively referred to as communication disabilities (CD)) represent 10% of the US population, yet their healthcare outcomes have not been described. Generally, research shows that persons with disabilities have poorer health and healthcare outcomes than their non-disabled peers. OBJECTIVES: To examine the health and healthcare outcomes of persons with CD compared to persons without CD. DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study of the 2012 National Health Interview Survey, which contained the first supplemental questions on CD. We compared proportional differences in outcomes; logistic and ordered logistic regression assessed the outcome measures across CD categories, controlling for demographics, non-communication disabilities, and chronic conditions. Findings are weighted to permit national inferences. PARTICIPANTS: Adults (≥ 18 years old) were divided into 4 mutually exclusive groups: people with voice disabilities only; speech/language disabilities only; speech/language and voice disabilities; and people without CD. MAIN MEASURES: Chronic health conditions; self-rated health; access to care; unmet needs for care; healthcare utilization. KEY RESULTS: Adults with CD more frequently had ≥ 1 chronic condition (voice 67.9%, speech/language 68.6%, speech/language and voice 79.9%, no CD 50.1%, p < 0.001) and reported fair/poor health (voice 19.5%, speech/language 32.5%, speech/language and voice 48.3%, no CD 11.2%, p < 0.001) compared to those without CD. Adults with CD more frequently utilized healthcare compared to those without CD. However, persons with CD endorsed greater difficulties accessing care than those without CD, including identifying a usual source of care, trouble finding a physician, and delaying or foregoing care (e.g., delayed due to availability of care: voice 26.1%, speech/language 37.2%, speech/language and voice 30.8% no CD 16.1%, p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Persons with CD are medically complex and experience greater challenges accessing healthcare than persons without CD. Healthcare providers need support and tools to provide equitable care that addresses the medical needs of persons with CD.

Time to and predictors of dual incontinence in older nursing home admissions.

AIMS: There are few studies of nursing home residents that have investigated the development of dual incontinence, perhaps the most severe type of incontinence as both urinary and fecal incontinence occur. To determine the time to and predictors of dual incontinence in older nursing home residents. METHODS: Using a cohort design, records of older nursing home admissions who were continent or had only urinary or only fecal incontinence (n = 39,181) were followed forward for report of dual incontinence. Four national US datasets containing potential predictors at multiple levels describing characteristics of nursing home residents, nursing homes (n = 445), and socioeconomic and sociodemographic status of the community surrounding nursing homes were analyzed. A Cox proportional hazard regression with nursing home-specific random effect was used. RESULTS: At 6 months after admission, 28% of nursing home residents developed dual incontinence, at 1 year 42% did so, and at 2 years, 61% had dual incontinence. Significant predictors for time to developing dual incontinence were having urinary incontinence, greater functional or cognitive deficits, more comorbidities, older age, and lesser quality of nursing home care. CONCLUSIONS: The development of dual incontinence is a major problem among nursing home residents. Predictors in this study offer guidance in developing interventions to prevent and reduce the time to developing this problem which may improve the quality of life of nursing residents.

Autism spectrum disorder, social communication difficulties, and developmental comorbidities in Sturge-Weber syndrome.

Sturge-Weber syndrome (SWS) is a neurocutaneous disorder characterized by the combination of a facial naevus flammeus and pial angioma, often associated with learning difficulties and/or epilepsy. Here, we report on the neuropsychological characteristics of a cohort of 92 children with SWS seen at a national referral center between 2002 and 2015. Almost a quarter (24%) had a diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder (ASD), with 45% overall having evidence of social communication difficulties (SCD). Autism spectrum disorder was more commonly seen in those individuals with bilateral angioma (p = 0.021). Significant behavioral difficulties were reported in 50% while 26% had difficulties with sleep. Difficulties with social communication, behavior, and sleep were closely associated with one another. They were not, however, significantly associated with markers of epilepsy severity and were noted to occur even in children without epilepsy. The prevalence of ASD/SCD, sleep difficulties, and behavioral disorders seen in SWS is high and reflects the complex needs of this group.

Development of Patient-Centered Disability Status Questions to Address Equity in Care.

BACKGROUND: Patients with disabilities experience disparities in accessing and receiving high-quality health care services as compared to patients without disabilities. To address the disparities, health care organizations need to identify which of their patients have disabilities to track quality of care and provide appropriate health care accommodations. To date, no evidence-based sets of disability questions exist that serve these purposes. A study was conducted to identify patient-centered disability questions for health care organizations to determine which patients require health care accommodations and to track the quality of care experienced by patients with disabilities. METHODS: In the first of three phases, a focus group with patients and caregivers (N = 54) and interviews with providers (N = 15) were conducted to explore the disability questions that they believed were important. In the second phase, nationally recognized experts (N = 17) participated in a modified Delphi panel to develop a set of disability questions. The third phase entailed cognitive interviews (N = 46) with patients with and without disabilities to refine the wording of the disability questions identified through the previous rounds. RESULTS: Through the three phases, six essential questions and three additional recommended questions were identified. Questions addressed hearing, visual, motor, cognitive, communication, and learning disabilities, and the ability to conduct activities of daily living. An overall question for disabilities not included in the previous questions was also identified. CONCLUSION: Through a rigorous, three-stage process that engaged multiple stakeholders, patient-centered disability questions were identified for health care organizations to use to identify disparities within their organizations and accommodations that address these disparities.

Cleft Lip and Palate: Demographic Patterns and the Associated Communication Disorders.

PURPOSE: This study investigated demographical characteristics, health status, and associated communication disorders in patients with orofacial clefts (OFCs) in Northern Jordan. METHODS: A retrospective study of 226 cleft patients and their families was carried out between March 2012 and September 2016 at the Speech and Hearing Clinic and the Maxillofacial Center at King Abdullah University Hospital. Data were collected by interviewing patients and caregivers, having patients or caregiver to complete a questionnaire and reviewing the patient's medical records. The frequencies of OFC type, demographic, health status, and communication disorders variables were calculated. χ analysis was used to test for significance of associated demographic and communication disorders variables with OFC type. RESULTS: Results revealed higher percentage of males compared with female patients. The majority of OFC patients were born to families who lived in urban areas, obtained high school diploma or lower educational level, lived below poverty cutoff, and showed nonconsanguineous marriages. Most mothers took the prescribed pregnancy supplements. Only one-third of the families received health education and reported other incidences of OFCs. Twenty percent of the patients had other congenital anomalies, 80% experienced dysphagia prior to the cleft repair, dropped to 14% after the repair. Higher percentage of patients with isolated cleft palate and cleft lip and palate exhibited hearing loss, hypernasality, articulation and phonological disorders, and dysphagia compared with those with cleft lip only. None of the demographic variables was associated with OFC type. CONCLUSIONS: Data suggested that families who had children with OFCs displayed poor socioeconomic status and low educational level which may impede the delivery of health education by health practitioners. Increased risk of comorbid communication disorders and malformations in OFC patients must be emphasized and disseminated to health professionals involved in the management of patients with OFC.

Speech and Communication Changes Reported by People with Parkinson's Disease.

BACKGROUND: Changes in communicative functions are common in Parkinson's disease (PD), but there are only limited data provided by individuals with PD on how these changes are perceived, what their consequences are, and what type of intervention is provided. AIM: To present self-reported information about speech and communication, the impact on communicative participation, and the amount and type of speech-language pathology services received by people with PD. METHODS: Respondents with PD recruited via the Swedish Parkinson's Disease Society filled out a questionnaire accessed via a Web link or provided in a paper version. RESULTS: Of 188 respondents, 92.5% reported at least one symptom related to communication; the most common symptoms were weak voice, word-finding difficulties, imprecise articulation, and getting off topic in conversation. The speech and communication problems resulted in restricted communicative participation for between a quarter and a third of the respondents, and their speech caused embarrassment sometimes or more often to more than half. Forty-five percent of the respondents had received speech-language pathology services. CONCLUSIONS: Most respondents reported both speech and language symptoms, and many experienced restricted communicative participation. Access to speech-language pathology services is still inadequate. Services should also address cognitive/linguistic aspects to meet the needs of people with PD.

Picturing the Size and Site of Stroke With an Expanded National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) includes minimal assessment of cognitive function, particularly in right hemisphere (RH) stroke. Descriptions of the Cookie Theft picture from the NIHSS allow analyses that (1) correlate with aphasia severity and (2) identify communication deficits in RH stroke. We hypothesized that analysis of the picture description contributes valuable information about volume and location of acute stroke. METHODS: We evaluated 67 patients with acute ischemic stroke (34 left hemisphere [LH]; 33 RH) with the NIHSS, analysis of the Cookie Theft picture, and magnetic resonance imaging, compared with 35 sex- and age-matched controls. We evaluated descriptions for total content units (CU), syllables, ratio of left:right CU, CU/minute, and percent interpretive CU, based on previous studies. Lesion volume and percent damage to regions of interest were measured on diffusion-weighted imaging. Multivariable linear regression identified variables associated with infarct volume, independently of NIHSS score, age and sex. RESULTS: Patients with RH and LH stroke differed from controls, but not from each other, on CU, syllables/CU, and CU/minute. Left:right CU was lower in RH compared with LH stroke. CU, syllables/CU, and NIHSS each correlated with lesion volume in LH and RH stroke. Lesion volume was best accounted by a model that included CU, syllables/CU, NIHSS, left:right CU, percent interpretive CU, and age, in LH and RH stroke. Each discourse variable and NIHSS score were associated with percent damage to different regions of interest, independently of lesion volume and age. CONCLUSIONS: Brief picture description analysis complements NIHSS scores in predicting stroke volume and location.

The profiles of students with significant cognitive disabilities and complex communication needs.

Understanding the characteristics of students with complex communication needs and significant cognitive disabilities is an important first step toward creating the kinds of supports and services required to help them successfully access the general education curriculum, achieve grade-level standards, and improve overall communication competence. The First Contact Survey was designed to collect important information about students with significant cognitive disabilities who were eligible to take the Dynamic Learning Maps™ (DLM(®)) alternate assessment based on alternate achievement standards. From November 2012-May 2013, the survey was used to gather information regarding more than 44,787 students. At that time, the goal was to use the data to inform the development of the DLM assessment. Although the survey includes a wealth of information regarding this large sample of students, the reanalysis of the data reported in the current study focused on the motor, sensory, language, reading, and writing skills of students with significant cognitive disabilities, based on their speech production abilities. Significant differences were identified across each of the domains between students who do and do not use speech with or without aided augmentative and alternative communication.

Moderating effect of communication difficulty on the relationship between depression and pain: a study on community-dwelling older adults in Hong Kong.

OBJECTIVES: This study examined the relationship between depression and pain, and the moderating effect of communication difficulty on this relationship, among community-dwelling older adults in Hong Kong. METHOD: We used logistic regression to analyze secondary data regarding 12,402 Chinese older adults applying for long-term care service in Hong Kong in 2012. RESULTS: Approximately 30% of participants were depressed and 37% experienced communication difficulty. Depression was associated with increased pain. Communication difficulty was found to moderate the relationship between depression and pain. Pain scores increased more when individuals who experienced communication difficulty reported being depressed, compared to those who did not experience communication difficulty. CONCLUSION: The moderating effect of communication difficulty may be explained by the interaction between depression and communication difficulty. Participants who were depressed and concurrently experienced communication difficulty may be more likely to catastrophize their pain and may tend to report or experience more pain. Health care professionals need to be aware of the different effects of communication difficulty on the pain experiences of older adults. Psychosocial intervention may be provided to minimize older adults' communication barriers to pain management.

A long-term follow-up of children and adolescents referred for assessment of auditory processing disorder.

OBJECTIVE: This study investigated whether young adults (between 18 and 30 years at the time of the project) who were assessed for auditory processing disorder (APD) in childhood (between 7 and 16 years) experience persistence of listening and communication difficulties. DESIGN: Participants completed a mixed methods questionnaire focusing on common areas of complaint in APD and two open-ended questions exploring participants' past and present experiences with listening and communication difficulties. STUDY SAMPLE: Ninety-seven of the 722 potential participants returned completed questionnaires, of whom 66 had been diagnosed with APD (APD group) at the time of their auditory processing assessment and 31 had not met diagnostic criteria (NAPD group) at that time. RESULTS: Substantial commonality was noted in the reported listening and communication difficulties between the APD and NAPD participants. Volunteered comments aggregated into four major content themes which included: listening and communication difficulties; participants' sense of self; change; and participation. Members of the APD group reported greater communication difficulty than NAPD group members, irrespective of environmental listening conditions. CONCLUSIONS: Young adults with a prior referral for, and in some cases a diagnosis of, APD as children continue to experience auditory processing difficulties across a range of daily situations.

Autism, Language Disorder, and Social (Pragmatic) Communication Disorder: DSM-V and Differential Diagnoses.

• Based on strong research evidence (1), the prevalence of autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) has increased over the past decade, with a 2010 prevalence of 1:68 (1.5%) in children age 8 years. • Based on some research evidence as well as consensus (3), the most recent revision of the American Psychiatric Association's Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM-V) identifies two core dimensions for the diagnosis of ASD: social (social communication and social interaction) and nonsocial (restricted, repetitive patterns of behaviors, interests, or activities). • Based on some research evidence as well as consensus (3) (31) (32) (33) (34), DSM-V identifies social pragmatic communication disorder (SPCD) as a dissociable dimension of language and communication ability that affects how individuals use language for social exchanges. SPCD is often found in children with language impairments and children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder and other genetic/neurologic conditions. • Based on strong research evidence (2) (26) (27) (28), childhood language disorders affect 7.4% of kindergarteners, and 50% to 80% of these children experience persistent language, academic, and social-emotional difficulties into their adult years, despite having normal nonverbal cognitive abilities. • Based primarily on consensus due to lack of relevant clinical studies, differential diagnosis of autism and language disorders may require a multidisciplinary evaluation that takes into account a child's overall development, including cognitive, communication, and social abilities. Monitoring the response to appropriate interventions and trajectory of development over time may improve the accuracy of diagnosis, especially in very young children.