Changes in speech prosody perception during Parkinson's disease: A comprehensive analysis.

INTRODUCTION: Parkinson's disease (PD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder that affects approximately 1%-2% of individuals aged 60 and above. Communication disorders in PD can significantly impact the overall quality of life. As prosody plays a vital role in verbal communication, the present study examines Persian prosody perception in PD, focusing on linguistic and emotional aspects of prosody. METHODS: This cross-sectional study aimed to compare the perception of linguistic and emotional prosody in three groups: middle-aged adults (n = 22; mean age = 50.40 years), healthy older adults (n = 22; mean age = 68.31 years), and individuals with Parkinson's disease (n = 22; mean age = 65years). All individuals with PD were classified in stages 1; 1.5; 2; 2.5, and 3 of the disease using the Hoehn and Yahr scale. All participants had an MMSE score of 24 or above. The Florida Affect Battery (FAB) was used to evaluate prosody perception. This Battery was validated in the Persian language and its reliability and validity were reported as 94 % and 100 % respectively. RESULTS: Participants with PD presented significantly lower scores than the older adults in all subtests of the FAB (p < 0.05), while healthy older adults were significantly different only in linguistic discrimination (ß = -2.14; -3.68 to -0.61), and linguistic naming of prosody (ß = 1.25; 0.17 to 2.33) compared to middle-aged adults. CONCLUSIONS: The present study sheds light on the influence of PD on Persian prosody perception. Given the crucial role of prosody in verbal communication, these findings enhance our understanding of communication disorders in PD and could bring attention to consider prosody perception, among other aspects, when assessing individuals affected by PD.

Adaptation and validation of the Persian version of pediatric Voice Handicap Index (pVHI).

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to assess the reliability and validity of the Persian version of the Pediatric Voice Handicap Index (pVHI). MATERIALS AND METHODS: The questionnaire was translated into Persian and then administrated to the parents of 45 dysphonic children and parents of 135 normal children. The content validity of the questionnaire was confirmed by eight speech-language pathologists. Internal consistency and test-retest reliability were measured via Cronbach's alpha and intra-class correlation coefficient, respectively. Independent-samples t-test was used to evaluate the discriminative and clinical validity of Persian pVHI. RESULTS: Cronbach's coefficient values were excellent for the total score (α = 0.94) and physical subcomponent (α = 0.91). Moreover, these corresponding values were satisfactory for functional (α = 0.82) and emotional (α = 0.79) subcomponents. Test-retest reliability for the total score was high in both dysphonic and control groups (intra-class correlation coefficient> 0.92). There were significant differences between the control and dysphonic groups in terms of the total score and all subcomponents scores of Persian pVHI. However, no significant difference was observed in the mean total score of the Persian pVHI between the control and dysphonic group regarding gender (P < 0.001). DISCUSSION: Persian version of pVHI is a valid and reliable tool to evaluate the severity of voice disorder and its negative effects on the daily life of Persian children with voice disorder from the Parents' viewpoint.

Discourse in aging: Narrative and Persuasive.

The growth in the elderly population has posed a social, economic and health challenge for the twenty-first century. OBJECTIVE: Aging is often characterized by changes in cognitive functions which affect the receptive and expressive capabilities of language. Since language plays a significant role in human life, we evaluate the existence of age-related differences in narrative and persuasive discourses. METHODS: The narrative discourse of 91 adults and persuasive discourse of 92 adults,aged from 19 to 75 years and stratified into four age groups,were examined. RESULTS: There was a statistically significant difference between coherence in the elderly group and each of the other three age groups for both types of discourse. There was also a significant difference for the cohesion variable between the elderly and the first age group for narrative discourse only. CONCLUSION: The results of this study demonstrate that discourse is influenced by aging and type (genre) of discourse task. Therefore, it is essential for clinicians to take into account the linguistic needs of elderly and incorporate these into their clinical programs. Also, this finding can help clinicians to distinguish between discourses of normal aging and other neurologic disorders (for example dementia, right hemisphere damage, aphasia).

O aumento da população idosa colocou um desafio social, econômico e de saúde para o século XXI. OBJETIVO: O envelhecimento é frequentemente caracterizado pela presença de alterações nas funções cognitivas que afetam as capacidades receptivas e expressivas da linguagem. Como a linguagem desempenha um papel significativo na vida humana, avaliamos a existência de diferenças relacionadas à idade nos discursos narrativos e persuasivos. MÉTODOS: O discurso narrativo de 91 adultos e o discurso persuasivo de 92 adultos com idade entre 19 e 75 anos, divididos em quatro faixas etárias, foram examinados. RESULTADOS: Existe uma diferença estatisticamente significativa entre a coerência no grupo de envelhecimento e cada um dos outros três grupos nos dois tipos de discursos. Existe também uma diferença significativa para a variável coesão entre idosos e a primeira faixa etária apenas no discurso narrativo. CONCLUSÃO: Os resultados deste estudo demonstram que o discurso é influenciado pelo envelhecimento e tipo da tarefa discursiva. Portanto, é essencial que os médicos levem em consideração as necessidades linguísticas dos idosos e as incorporem em seus programas clínicos. Além disso, esses resultados ajudam os médicos a distinguir entre discursos de envelhecimento normal e outros distúrbios neurológicos (por exemplo, demência, lesões do hemisfério direito, afasia).

Discourse in aging: Narrative and Persuasive / Discurso no envelhecimento: narrativa e persuasiva

ABSTRACT The growth in the elderly population has posed a social, economic and health challenge for the twenty-first century. Objective: Aging is often characterized by changes in cognitive functions which affect the receptive and expressive capabilities of language. Since language plays a significant role in human life, we evaluate the existence of age-related differences in narrative and persuasive discourses. Methods: The narrative discourse of 91 adults and persuasive discourse of 92 adults,aged from 19 to 75 years and stratified into four age groups,were examined. Results: There was a statistically significant difference between coherence in the elderly group and each of the other three age groups for both types of discourse. There was also a significant difference for the cohesion variable between the elderly and the first age group for narrative discourse only. Conclusion: The results of this study demonstrate that discourse is influenced by aging and type (genre) of discourse task. Therefore, it is essential for clinicians to take into account the linguistic needs of elderly and incorporate these into their clinical programs. Also, this finding can help clinicians to distinguish between discourses of normal aging and other neurologic disorders (for example dementia, right hemisphere damage, aphasia).

RESUMO O aumento da população idosa colocou um desafio social, econômico e de saúde para o século XXI. Objetivo: O envelhecimento é frequentemente caracterizado pela presença de alterações nas funções cognitivas que afetam as capacidades receptivas e expressivas da linguagem. Como a linguagem desempenha um papel significativo na vida humana, avaliamos a existência de diferenças relacionadas à idade nos discursos narrativos e persuasivos. Métodos: O discurso narrativo de 91 adultos e o discurso persuasivo de 92 adultos com idade entre 19 e 75 anos, divididos em quatro faixas etárias, foram examinados. Resultados: Existe uma diferença estatisticamente significativa entre a coerência no grupo de envelhecimento e cada um dos outros três grupos nos dois tipos de discursos. Existe também uma diferença significativa para a variável coesão entre idosos e a primeira faixa etária apenas no discurso narrativo. Conclusão: Os resultados deste estudo demonstram que o discurso é influenciado pelo envelhecimento e tipo da tarefa discursiva. Portanto, é essencial que os médicos levem em consideração as necessidades linguísticas dos idosos e as incorporem em seus programas clínicos. Além disso, esses resultados ajudam os médicos a distinguir entre discursos de envelhecimento normal e outros distúrbios neurológicos (por exemplo, demência, lesões do hemisfério direito, afasia).

Normative data on nasalance scores for Farsi speaking children: Influence of age, gender and phonetic context.

BACKGROUND: Normative nasalance scores are essential for treatment and assessment purposes for clinicians. The purpose of the current study is to determine the normative data on nasalance scores for Farsi speaking children. Comparing to the obtained normative data, hypernasal or hyponasal speech (i.e. the higher or lower nasalance score) can be evaluated. METHODS: Ninety-six Farsi speakers ranging from 4 years to 11 years old with typically developing speech were included in this study. Mean nasalance scores were obtained using the Universal Parameters System sentences with nasometer II (model 6450). The nasalance data was also analyzed for any gender, age and phonetic context dependence. RESULTS: Normative nasalance values were determined, Nno differences were found for gender and age for the school-aged children. With an increasing in age, the nasalance score also increased in oral passages but not in nasal passages. Furthermore, amongst the nasalance scores there was a significant difference between these four categories of sentences: 7 sentences loaded with oral stop consonants, 5 sentences loaded with oral fricative consonants, 2 sentences loaded with oral affricatives and 3 sentences loaded with nasal consonants. CONCLUSIONS: The absence of age and gender differences led to a computation of an overall mean nasalance score for different types of phonetic context (Nasal, oral and oronasal). These normative nasalance data for Farsi speaking children will provide important reference information during speech assessments of children with velopharyngeal insufficiency.

Identification of High-Frequency Morphosyntactic Structures in Persian-Speaking Children Aged 4-6 Years: A Qualitative Research.

BACKGROUND: Syntax has a high importance among linguistic parameters and the prevalence of syntax deficits is relatively high in children with language disorders. As such, independent examination of syntax in language development is of paramount importance. In this regard, Iranian language pathologists are faced with the lack of standardized tests. The present study aimed to determine the most frequent and essential morphosyntactic structures of the Persian-speaking children aged 4-6 years, as an initial step in the design of a test to assess their expressive morphosyntactic features. METHODS: The present descriptive qualitative study was designed and conducted in two phases in Tehran (Iran) during 2014-2015. The first phase involved an extensive review of the Persian grammar sources, language development texts, modeling a test called SPELT-3, and morphosyntactic analysis of samples of spontaneous speech from 30 Persian-speaking children aged 4-6 years. In this phase, 30 structures were extracted as the most frequent morphosyntactic features used by children aged 4-6 years. The second phase of the research involved directed content analysis via in-depth and semi-structured interviews with 10 specialists in the fields of linguistics, language, and speech pathology. RESULTS: In total, 30 morphosyntactic structures were extracted in the first phase of the study as the most frequent morphosyntactic structures of the Persian-speaking children aged 4-6 years. The overall validity of these structures was estimated at 70%. CONCLUSION: Based on the results, the selected morphosyntactic structures could be the foundation for morphosyntactic assessments in Persian-speaking children aged 4-6 years.

Language Parameters of 4- to 7-Year-Old Persian-Speaking Children with Cleft Lip and Palate.

OBJECTIVE: There are several risk factors including hearing difficulties, lack of language stimulation, and parents' low level of expectation leading to language disorders in children with cleft palate. Therefore, formal language assessments of children with cleft palate are of great importance in order to prevent further disabilities. The purpose of the present study is to evaluate language parameters in 4- to 7-year old Persian-speaking children with cleft palate. PATIENTS AND METHODS: 16 children with unilateral and bilateral cleft lip and palate aged between 4 and 7 years participated in the experiment. The Test of Language Development-Primary, third edition (TOLD-P3) was performed to evaluate the language parameters. The results were scored according to the test manual and compared to normative data published with the TOLD-P3. RESULTS: t test analysis showed a significant difference between language parameters in children with cleft lip and palate and the normative data (p < 0.0001). Furthermore, there was a positive correlation between different aspects of language performance. CONCLUSION: The findings emphasize that speech-language pathologists should also concentrate on early language assessment and treatment for children with cleft lip and palate.

Narrative discourse impairments in Persian-speaking persons with traumatic brain injury: a pilot study.

OBJECTIVE: Studies have shown the presence of narrative discourse difficulties in persons with traumatic brain injury (TBI), even in those who do not suffer from aphasia. Yet, there still exist inconsistencies between the results of different studies, in particular at the microlinguistic level. Moreover, a limited number of languages have been studied in this regard. Therefore, this study aimed at examining these skills in Persian-speaking individuals with TBI. The purpose of this pilot study was to analyse the microlinguistic and macrolinguistic skills of these individuals to determine impaired linguistic measures at different levels of narrative discourse. PARTICIPANTS AND METHODS: Fourteen non-aphasic Persian-speaking persons with TBI (9 with severe TBI and 5 with moderate TBI), aged 19-40 years (mean = 25.84, SD = 5.69), and 61 age-matched healthy adults completed a narrative task. Measures of language productivity, clause density, verbal error ratio, and cohesion ratio were calculated. Also, test-retest and inter-rater reliability coefficients were analysed. RESULTS: The TBI group was impaired in some microlinguistic and all macrolinguistic measures compared to their control peers. CONCLUSION: The results of this study suggest that multi-level narrative discourse analyses of Persian-speaking individuals with TBI may be useful for speech/language pathologists wishing to evaluate communication disorders in persons with TBI.