Search PubMed⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search PubMed

Results for “Language Therapy”

Search indexed PubMed citations on genomics, clinical trials, systematic reviews and public health. Explore titles, authors and supplied subject terms, then open the PubMed record.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 1,351 records · Page 75Linked to original sources

Validation of a melasma quality of life questionnaire for Brazilian Portuguese language: the MelasQoL-BP study and improvement of QoL of melasma patients after triple combination therapy.

BACKGROUND: Pigmentation disorders, such as melasma, greatly influence the quality of life (QoL) of affected individuals who usually consider the disorder to be more severe than the objective clinical scores. Several instruments have been successfully developed to evaluate QoL. However, they must be adapted to the target population in terms of language and cultural diversity. The first, specific QoL questionnaire for melasma (MelasQoL) was developed for English speaking patients. OBJECTIVES: To validate the Brazilian Portuguese version of the MelasQoL evaluation questionnaire for patients with melasma (MelasQoL-BP) and to assess the impact of treatment with a triple combination cream (hydroquinone, fluocinolone acetonide and tretinoin) on the QoL of patients with moderate-to-severe melasma. METHODS AND RESULTS: Three hundred individuals from the five Brazilian geographic regions took part in this multicentre study. Their mean age was 42 years and skin phototype distribution was: type II 7.0% of patients, III 23.7%, IV 42.7% and V 22.7%. Melasma Area and Severity Index (MASI), MelasQoL-BP and the short version of the QoL assessment instrument from the World Health Organization (WHOQOL-BREF) were used to assess melasma severity and QoL at baseline. MelasQoL-BP was previously translated and culturally adapted from the English version, with participation of the authors and according to the standards of the World Health Organization (WHO). From the original sample, we randomized150 volunteers to treat melasma and repeated the evaluation after 8 weeks. The analysis of the MelasQoL-BP baseline answers demonstrated an important impact of the disease on skin appearance (65% of patients were bothered all the time or most of the time), frustration (55%), embarrassment (57%) and influence of the disease on interpersonal relationships (42%). Forty-three per cent of patients felt not attractive or even dirty due to their skin condition. MelasQoL-BP results showed significant internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha coefficient 0.919; P < 0.001) and good correlation with MASI scores. After treatment, the global assessment showed good or excellent results in 91.4% of the patients. The clinical outcome was not associated with the initial MASI score (P = 0.814; chi-square), skin colour (P = 0.449; probability ratio) or skin pigmentation (P = 0.814; chi-square). There was also a significant reduction on MelasQoL-BP scores (Wilcoxon test; P < 0.001) after treatment, with the mean +/- SD results shifting from 44.4 +/- 14.9 at baseline to 24.3 +/- 15.5 after treatment. The analysis of the MelasQoL-BP before and after treatment showed an important effect of the impact of treatment on a number of QoL measures. Of note, skin appearance (69.8 vs. 10.1% of patients were bothered all the time or most of the time, respectively), frustration (59.7% vs. 12.2%, respectively), embarrassment (56% vs. 9.3%, respectively) and influence of the disease on interpersonal relationships (35.3% vs. 5.8%, respectively) were greatly improved. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates that MelasQoL-BP is a valid instrument and can be used to evaluate the quality of life and response to melasma treatment in Brazilian patients. The triple combination treatment produced significant results, regarding both clinical severity and quality of life.

Adult↗

Validating the knowledge base of a therapy planning system.

Validation of expert system knowledge bases has proved to be difficult. This paper presents a description of a system called ScriptGen that generates test data for validating the knowledge base of the ONCOCIN cancer therapy planning system. Because of the size and complexity of the ONCOCIN knowledge base, we require tools for automated validation. ScriptGen, which applies techniques developed in testing both traditional software and expert systems, uses a parallel model of the ONCOCIN knowledge base and its own inference engine to generate test cases. We derived the limits of the system from a study that seeded errors into an existing knowledge base.

Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols↗

[The language and speech skills in 417 children with cleft formations].

Children with cleft palate often suffer from hearing, speech, and language articulation disorders. In order to design an efficient rehabilitation program for children thus affected, it is mandatory to acquire knowledge of the long term results achieved by the various therapeutical strategies including velopharyngoplasty and speech therapy. In this follow-up study 417 children with cleft palate (excluding isolated cleft lip) were examined in an interdisciplinary approach by maxillofacial surgeons, orthodontists, otolaryngologists, audiologists, and speech and language pathologists. The examinations determined that 93% of the children had speech or language disorders and 80% of these children suffered from mild to severe conductive hearing loss with or without clinical signs of otitis media with effusion. In 58 children (14%) with rhinolalia aperta, which had not been improved after one year of speech therapy, velopharyngoplasty with a cranial based pharyngeal flap was performed. The study showed that language skills do not correlate to the type of cleft palate, but rather to the frequency and degree of hearing loss. Using an interdisciplinary approach in early detection and the prompt clinical correction of cleft palate disorders resulted in only 49% of the affected children having to undergo speech and language therapy. In 51% of the affected children no speech therapy was necessary at all. The results presented in this study lead to the conclusion that our program for managing the rehabilitation of children with cleft palate is efficient.

Adolescent↗

[Clinical analysis of 91 cases with articulation error].

OBJECTIVE: To study classification of the articulation errors, find the related factors which affect the therapy effect, and compare the therapy effect in the different patterns of the phonemic errors and build up a clinical model of the speech therapy on the basis of more than 4 years speech therapy in the clinic. METHOD: After excluding the organic articulation disorders, 91 cases of consonant phonemic errors were classified into different patterns according to the phonemic placement errors. The 91 cases were divided into two groups as effective one and ineffective one depending on whether the symptoms disappeared or not after the speech therapy. Ten factors including sex, age, oral-motor function problem, developmental delay, history of language development delay, history of middle ear affection, lingua frenata, mental retardation, the therapy frequency and times, were analyzed. The statistics software SPSS (SPSS Inc, 1997) was applied to show the factors related to the therapy effect by logistic multiple stepwise regression analysis. The therapy effect was compared between the single pattern (phonemic error < 2 groups) and multiple pattern (phonemic errors > or = 2 groups). RESULTS: The 91 cases with consonant phonemic errors were classified into four groups. The multiple pattern of the articulation errors was the most common (37 cases, 41%) among the 4 groups, followed by velar errors (33 cases, 36%). The third one was the apico-dental errors (12 cases, 13%) and the last one was the linguo-alveolar errors (8 cases, 9%). Only one case had labiodental error (/f/). The logistic multiple stepwise regression analysis showed that the history of the positive developmental delay, language delay and the frequency of the speech therapy were related to the therapy effect. The effective rate of the speech therapy in the single pattern of the phonemic error was as high as 87% while the one in the multiple pattern group was only 2.7%. The difference was significant (P < 0.000 1) when the therapy effect in these two groups was compared. The clinical model of the speech therapy included speech assessment, designing of the goal, choice of the target sound, sound production and oral-motor functional training. CONCLUSION: The consonant phonemic errors in the clinic represent four groups. The developmental delay, the language delay and frequency of the speech therapy influence the therapy effect. The frequency of the speech therapy should be increased every week, for example not less two times a week. The therapy effect of the single pattern of the phonemic errors is much better than that of the multiple pattern. The primary model of the speech therapy has been built in the clinics.

Articulation Disorders↗

Base-10 programmed stimulation: task specification, scoring, and plotting performance in aphasia therapy.

This report explains and advocates the applicability of time-series designs to document the effects of therapy with aphasic subjects; it describes a measurement system that contributes to organization of therapy, task specification and scoring, and graphic display of change in speech and language behaviors. Examples of patient performances illustrate the application of Base-10 Programmed Stimulation to therapy with aphasic persons.

Aphasia↗

Attitudes and knowledge of students in the allied health professions toward their future professional team members.

The investigators wished to explore final-year allied health students' knowledge of their future colleagues. A survey developed by Felsher and Ross (1994) was adapted and administered to 35 occupational therapy (OT), 35 physical therapy (PT), and 35 speech-language pathology (SLP) students. Findings suggested that all students had a good understanding and knowledge of their own professions. Differences were found among the three groups of students regarding their understanding of other disciplines and the overlap in OT and SLP roles. Specifically, OT and SLP students perceived their own professions as the primary providers of cognitive treatment. Ways to foster student understanding and collaboration are suggested.

Allied Health Personnel↗

Efficacy and safety of drotrecogin alfa (activated) for the therapy of surgical patients with severe sepsis.

BACKGROUND: The efficacy of therapy with drotrecogin alfa (activated) (DrotAA) (recombinant human activated protein C) for surgical patients with severe sepsis has been questioned, and there is concern that patients who have undergone surgery recently may be at increased risk of bleeding complications from the drug. This review was performed to analyze recent data and clinical trends in the management of surgical patients with severe sepsis with respect to the efficacy and safety of therapy with DrotAA. METHODS: Review and synthesis of the pertinent English-language literature. RESULTS: Source control is the mainstay of therapy for surgical infections, including intraabdominal infections, whereas antibiotics, fluid resuscitation, and support of visceral organ function are necessary adjuncts. Therapy with DrotAA can be given to surgical patients, albeit with some delay (most protocols specify a 12-h wait after major surgery to mitigate the perceived increased risk of bleeding), but efficacy as well as safety have been questioned. In the pivotal PROWESS clinical trial, DrotAA therapy did not appear to be efficacious for surgical sepsis, but rigorous scrutiny of surgical indications and adequacy of source control by blinded reappraisal of the PROWESS database suggested that DrotAA therapy may be effective for surgical patients at high risk of death (Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation [APACHE] II score>or=25 points). Several comparable studies have now been aggregated in the INDEPTH database, which shows a significant reduction in mortality (OR 0.66; 95% CI 0.45-0.97) for therapy with DrotAA of surgical patients with severe sepsis and a high risk of death. The risk of bleeding is higher in surgical patients compared with DrotAA-treated non-surgical patients, but there is a substantial improvement in survival with DrotAA treatment. In contrast, surgical patients at a lower risk of death do not benefit from therapy with DrotAA but are placed at risk for bleeding. CONCLUSION: Accumulating experience indicates that surgical patients with severe sepsis and a high risk of death (APACHE II>or=25 points) have a significantly lower mortality rate if treated with DrotAA. The increased risk of bleeding associated with therapy is acceptable given the clear improvement in survival. Surgical patients with sepsis who are at lower risk of death do not appear to benefit from therapy with DrotAA, which should be withheld in most circumstances because of the increased risk of bleeding.

APACHE↗

An alternating treatment comparison of oral and total communications training programs with echolalic autistic children.

An alternating treatment comparison was conducted of the relative effectiveness of oral and total communication training models for teaching expressive labeling skills to three echolalic autistic children. The results of this comparison demonstrated that total communication proved to be the most successful approach with each of the subjects. In addition, the replication of these findings both within and across subjects suggest that total communication may be, in general, the most effective of these two training models for teaching basic vocal language skills to echolalic children. A number of hypotheses are presented that may provide a basis for the demonstrated effect.

Autistic Disorder↗

Symbolic play language during sensory integration treatment.

OBJECTIVE: Clinical writings on sensory integration treatment and theory have long professed that play serves as an important means of implementing treatment goals. However, to date, there has been little research that examines this aspect of the intervention. With the use of play language as an indicator for the occurrence of play, this study examined the frequency and characteristics associated with symbolic play language that therapists and children use during sensory integration therapy. This study is part of an ongoing research program designed to examine therapist-child interactions. METHOD: The frequency of symbolic play language observed in 41 videotaped treatment sessions of therapist-child dyads (21 children, 12 therapists) was recorded with the Challenge Coding System. The presence of symbolic play language was recorded if the child or therapist used language that incorporated the child, therapist, equipment, or activity into a symbolic or pretend play theme. The frequency of symbolic play language and percentage of time spent using play language were calculated. Associations among frequency of play language, child age, and behavior during the session (e.g., seeking assistance, cooperation) were also examined. RESULTS: Symbolic play language proved to be a major feature of sensory integration treatment sessions. It also correlated with child age and with some features associated with therapeutic interactions (i.e., child tries hard, child seeks assistance, therapist assists child, therapist modifies activity, therapist structures activity). CONCLUSION: The results suggest that these therapists used play language frequently and that this usage may support children in sensory integrative therapy to successfully accomplish activities.

Child↗

The experiences of school nurses caring for students receiving continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion therapy.

Diabetes mellitus is the most common metabolic disorder in childhood. Today, children with diabetes are receiving new technologically advanced treatment options, such as continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion (CSII) therapy. School nurses are the primary health caregivers of children with diabetes during school hours. Therefore, it is important to determine their perceptions, resources, and resource needs when caring for students with continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion or insulin pump therapy. This study uses a phenomenological approach to examine the experiences of school nurses caring for students receiving insulin pump therapy. Eleven school nurses were interviewed using semistructured taped interviews. The nurses' responses indicated that they were "scared" when first caring for students with continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion therapy. However, they were able to work through their fear by using their resources and gaining more knowledge and hands-on experience with insulin pumps. The data also revealed that school nurses who were able to learn the language of continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion therapy and successfully deal with pump problems developed trusting and knowing relationships with students, teachers, and parents.

Adult↗

Recent advances in liver-directed gene transfer vectors.

BACKGROUND: Gene therapy as part of modern molecular medicine holds great promise for the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and has the potential to bring a revolutionary era to cancer treatment. For the past decade various viral and non-viral vectors have been engineered for improved liver gene therapy. DATA RESOURCES: An English-language literature search using MEDLINE (2004), Index Medicus (2004) and bibliographic reviews of books and review articles. Liver-directed gene transfer vectors and their history and recent clinical applications. RESULTS: The ultimate goal of liver-directed gene therapy for HCC is the stable expression of a therapeutic transgene in a significant proportion of hepatocytes. The design of a vector system providing efficient and stable gene engraftment and expression in human hepatocytes is still a challenging issue. The advantages and disadvantages of the genetically engineered vector of viral or non-viral origin are discussed with respect to their essential relevance. CONCLUSION: Liver gene therapy has a long way to go and efficient and innocuous liver-directed gene transfer vectors are therefore urgently required.

Animals↗

Replacing a chronic schizophrenic man's delusional speech with stimulus appropriate responses.

This study attempted to extend the use of Cues, Pause, Point language training procedures (developed to treat the speech disorders of mentally handicapped persons) to delusional speech. The direct and potential generalized effects of the procedures on the delusional and socially appropriate responding of an institutionalized, chronic schizophrenic man were evaluated in a multiple baseline design across stimulus-response pairs. The procedures encouraged the subject to (a) remain quiet before, during, and after the presentation of verbal stimuli and then (b) respond on the basis of environmental cues (i.e. written word cards) that contained the correct responses. Delusional responding was rapidly replaced by appropriate responding on both sets of the trained stimuli. Across person and setting generalization occurred in assessments conducted immediately following training, and these effects were maintained for 15 months. The results suggest that Cues, Pause, Point procedures may offer some potential for replacing delusional responding with appropriate responding to social stimuli.

Aged↗

[Problems of therapeutic training in conducting short-term psychotherapy].

On the basis of personal experience several problems facing the psychotherapist in the practice of short-term therapy are reviewed. The paper begins with a brief review of the training given with reference to the time element and the language used in psychotherapy. The chapter entitled "Hard and Soft Elements in Therapy" shows how much influence so-called external or contextual factors have on therapy. This is followed by two short chapters on the involvement of the patient's family or other partners or a health worker in the treatment given.

Attitude↗

Efficacy and generalization of treatment for aphasic naming errors.

Two severely aphasic patients who made frequent semantic errors in verbal picture naming, as well as frequent errors in written naming, were studied. Contrasting patterns of errors across various language tasks provide evidence that the two patients' naming errors arose from different underlying deficits. The effectiveness of cueing hierarchies on improving each patient's written naming was demonstrated in single-subject experiments using a multiple baseline design. Although both patients exhibited acquisition and maintenance of written naming, only one showed generalization to verbal naming and to untrained stimuli. Different results are interpreted as a reflection of separate sources of the subjects' naming errors. It is concluded that determining the cognitive basis of an individual's naming difficulty may permit predictions concerning language behaviors that are likely to improve concurrently as a function of treatment. Also, reporting specific deficits of patients should allow other clinicians to select appropriate candidates for therapy procedures found to be effective in within-subject treatment experiments.

Anomia↗