Independent Studies and Capstones

Speech perception and localization abilities in pediatric bilateral sequential cochlear implant recipients

Lindsay Weberling — Sat, 28 Jul 2012 09:09:06 PDT

The primary purpose of this study was to evaluate speech perception and localization abilities in children who have received sequential cochlear implants, with the first implant received before age 4 and the second implant received before age 12. Results indicate performance in the bilateral cochlear implant condition is significantly better than listening with each implant alone for the outcome measures used in this study.

Lipreading difficulty during audiovisual integration

Stephanie Shapiro Wieczorek — Sat, 28 Jul 2012 09:09:03 PDT

Audiovisual integration ability for word-level stimuli was assessed using two talkers, one easy to lipread and the other hard to lipread. No significant effect for integration ability was found for the two talkers.

Comparing the semantic networks of deaf and hearing children using the DRM paradigm

Molly Katharine Wignes — Sat, 28 Jul 2012 09:09:00 PDT

This study uses the Deese-Roediger-McDermott paradigm to investigate how deaf children with cochlear implants organize their semantic networks as compared to their hearing age-mates.

Spectral modulation detection in normal hearing children

Lori Rakita — Sat, 28 Jul 2012 07:48:26 PDT

This Capstone Project attempts to determine the ability of normal hearing children to resolve spectral information, and the relationship between spectral resolution ability and speech recognition ability in noise. This study also examines how these abilities develop with age.

An analysis of teaching methods for children who are deaf with multiple disabilities

Adrienne Anne Rudelic — Sat, 28 Jul 2012 07:48:22 PDT

This study analyzes the placement, services, and teaching methods of students who are deaf with additional disabilities. Through this analysis, these students are compared to students with multiple disabilities, not including deafness.

Knowledge of basic concepts in deaf/hard of hearing children

Lauren Schafer — Sat, 28 Jul 2012 07:48:18 PDT

Basic concept knowledge of children who were deaf/hard of hearing was tested using the Bracken Basic Concept Scale: 3rd Edition. These children were given both the receptive and expressive portions of the test. Results indicate delays in overall basic concept knowledge in children who are deaf compared to their normal-hearing peers.

The role of linguistic input in shaping the conversational language of deaf preschoolers with a cochlear implant

Julie Schenker — Sat, 28 Jul 2012 07:48:15 PDT

This study investigates whether mothers who have children with cochlear implants fine-tune their own vocabulary and sentence complexity to that of their child. Whether and how fine-tuning leads to faster growth in these language skills is explored.

Stress, time pressure, and decision making

Lindsey Michelle Schutte — Sat, 28 Jul 2012 07:48:12 PDT

This study surveys parents with children who are deaf or hard of hearing from one private school in St. Louis, Missouri. The issue of stress and time pressure on decision making is addressed and the importance of how stress and time pressure effect parents’ decisions regarding their children who are deaf and hard of hearing.

Reliability, validity and acceptability of modified response formats of APD instruments for children using AAC

Allison Cara Soll — Sat, 28 Jul 2012 07:48:08 PDT

A pilot study consisting of a parent questionnaire, four APD tests and an acceptability questionnaire were presented to normal hearing and cognitively developing children between the ages of 8-12 years. Responses to a standard and modified response format of the APD tests were obtained over two test sessions. Results indicated that the modified response formats of the four APD tests were acceptable, fairly reliable and three out of the four APD tests were valid.

Students who are deaf/hard of hearing with learning challenges: Strategies for classroom instruction

Stacey N. Busch — Sun, 22 Jul 2012 13:34:49 PDT

This paper discusses the prevalence of children who are deaf or hard of hearing with additional learning challenges and the need for further trainings for strategies to better serve this population.

Subjective and objective measures of adult bimodal users' listening

Roseanna M. Christal — Sun, 22 Jul 2012 13:34:46 PDT

Inconsistencies exist between traditional objective measures such as speech recognition and localization, and subjective reports of bimodal benefit. The purpose of this study was to expand the set of objective measures of bimodal benefit to include non-traditional listening tests, and to examine possible correlations between objective measures of auditory perception and subjective satisfaction reports.

Acceptance of earphones in children 12- to 24-months of age during visual reinforcement audiometry

Allyson Davis — Sun, 22 Jul 2012 13:34:43 PDT

Insert and circumaural earphones were used during visual reinforcement audiometry with children 12-to 24-months of age. Acceptance of earphones was determined by the number of ear specific thresholds obtained and by audiologist subjective ratings. Results indicate that children in this age range accept both types of earphones; however, significantly more ear specific thresholds were obtained using insert earphones compared to circumaural.

Cisplatin ototoxicity and hair cell regeneration in the zebrafish lateral line

Alisa A. Genualdi — Sun, 22 Jul 2012 13:34:40 PDT

Hair cell death and regeneration on the zebrafish posterior lateral line was investigated after cisplatin administration. Hair cell regeneration was first observed by 24 hours of recovery and was further analyzed after specific recovery intervals. Disruption of the notch signaling pathways by the y-secretase inhibitor DAPT resulted in an increase in hair cells at three days of recovery.

Cytomegalovirus: Educational outcomes and implications for newborn screening

Emily Margaret Humphrey — Sun, 22 Jul 2012 13:34:37 PDT

The focus of this study was to review existing literature and analyze a survey of professional opinion regarding how children with hearing loss caused by congenital cytomegalovirus (CMV) function audiologically and educationally. This study proposes a benefit for adding CMV screening to the battery of tests included in the newborn screening protocol to improve educational outcomes of children deafened from CMV.

Gaze stabilization testing: The efficiency and test-retest reliability of user operated control versus the parameter estimation (PEST) algorithm

Michelle E. Hungerford — Sun, 22 Jul 2012 13:34:34 PDT

The primary objective of this research study is to determine which form of testing, the PEST algorithm or an operator-controlled condition is most accurate and time efficient for administration of the gaze stabilization test

Acceptable noise levels for neonates in the neonatal intensive care unit

Allysa Jennie Knutson — Sun, 22 Jul 2012 13:34:31 PDT

The study was a sound survey of naturally occurring noise in a metropolitan hospital NICU. The collected sound level samples were then compared to the noise standard recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics. It was concluded that sound levels in the NICU exceed the standard and the standard does not have a proper foundation.

Evaluation of directional microphone drift in digital hearing aids

Roxanne Kohilakis — Sun, 22 Jul 2012 13:34:28 PDT

The occurrence of directional microphone drift following hearing aid use has been infrequently examined. This study uses the front-to-side ratio to evaluate changes in directional microphone output from new behind-the-ear hearing aids and following approximately three months of hearing aid use. Results indicate no overall significant differences in the front-to-side ratio between initial and follow-up measurements.

Educating and motivating adolescents who are deaf or hard of hearing with drug and alcohol addiction: Components of a curriculum that links adolescents to appropriate treatment

Lindsey K. Legendre — Sun, 22 Jul 2012 13:34:25 PDT

This paper highlights the components necessary for a drug and alcohol addiction curricula to educate, motivate, and link adolescents who are deaf or hard of hearing using oral communication to appropriate treatment.

The relation between speech recognition in noise and the speech-evoked brainstem response in normal-hearing and hearing-impaired individuals

Sheli Lipson — Sun, 22 Jul 2012 13:34:22 PDT

Little is known about the way speech in noise is processed along the auditory pathway. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the relation between listening in noise using the R-Space system and the neurophysiologic response of the speech-evoked auditory brainstem when recorded in quiet and noise in adult participants with mild to moderate hearing loss and normal hearing.

The effect of an external auditory stimulus on postural stability of participants with cochlear implants

Rachael Jeanette Mangiore — Sun, 22 Jul 2012 13:34:19 PDT

Postural control was evaluated in cochlear implant participants with and without amplification under several auditory paradigms. Speed of sway was recorded in each condition by means of Computerized Dynamic Posturography. Results indicate that an external sound source significantly improves balance in patients with cochlear implants.