Purpose: This study aimed to describe the impact of a preschool hearing screening program in a low- and middle-income country (LMIC) in terms of referral outcomes and caregiver perspectives. Method: This study included two components. First, a review of outcomes from a large-scale community-based hearing screening program, facilitated by community…

Purpose: Researchers estimate the prevalence of developmental language disorder (DLD) in 5-year-olds to be between 7% and 12%. Current identification systems in public schools typically favor referral identification formats over targeted or universal screenings. Public schools face unique challenges when assessing the value of screening measures…

Purpose: This study aimed to describe and compare the performance of two screening protocols used for preschool hearing screening in resource-constrained settings. Method: Secondary data analysis was done to determine the performance of two protocols implemented during a preschool hearing screening program using mobile health technology in South…

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to review quality benchmarks from hearing screening programs conducted at local Head Start centers and preschool and elementary schools associated with our university training programs. Method: Hearing screening results from 6,043 children were reviewed. Hearing screening was accomplished using either…

Purpose: This research note presents a secondary data analysis of language impairment (LI) prevalence rates of children in public schools before and after a statewide mandate for response-to-intervention (RTI) implementation. Method: Statewide and district-level LI prevalence rates were compared across 10 school years. Prevalence data from 67…

Two methods of identifying language disordered children were examined in a study involving 54 regular kindergarten through fifth-grade teachers in two Albuquerque schools serving 1,212 children (assigned on a roughly matched basis to one of two groups). (Author/PHR)

This article reviews 19 common myths in voice therapy. Issues examined include developmental factors, iatrogenic voice disorders, breathing habits, optimum pitch, palate training, and etiology based on perceptual cues. More referral, assessment, and decision making are needed, as well as development of standards for the management of voice…

One hundred thirty-three kindergarten through sixth-grade classroom teachers in four school districts completed questionnaries designed to determine whether they would be more likely to refer a boy than a girl with an identical communication disorder. (Author/PHR)

This study compared 15 normally achieving and 15 low achieving (LA) fourth grade children on a wide range of linguistic tasks. Over half of the LA group earned scores on the language measures that were low enough to suggest referral for evaluation and/or treatment. (Author/DB)

Children with voice disorders do respond to treatment, with vocal hyperfunction being the predominant disorder on the caseload of the pediatric voice clinician. This article reviews the literature in describing what is known about these children and typical disorders, prevention of voice disorders, the need for treatment, the referral patterns of…

This study, with 45 elementary school classroom teachers and 64 elementary education majors, found that the classroom teachers were able to consistently identify children with disordered voices. Students were somewhat inclined to underrefer children with possible voice disorders. (Author/DB)

Paradoxical vocal fold motion (PVFM) is a complex adductory disorder of the vocal folds that frequently is mistaken for asthma. PVFM typically requires behavioral intervention by a trained speech-language pathologist for complete resolution of the symptoms. Once thought to be limited to adults, PVFM has been increasingly documented and…

This article reviews the critical issues that influence whether a child with language impairments can benefit from intervention. It recommends three procedures (profiling, dynamic assessment, and tracking/monitoring) as tools for helping speech-language pathologists make informed decisions about intervention. (Author/JDD)

The paper describes the referral, diagnostic, interventive, and evaluative procedures used in a self-contained behaviorally oriented noncategorical program for preschool children with speech and language impairments and other developmental delays. (CL)

This paper discusses the practice of educational audiology, its legislative basis, and services offered to hearing-impaired children, such as a high-risk register/referral system, comprehensive screening program, and classroom acoustics management. A plan for in-service education and a proposal for an accreditation program in Educational Audiology…