Anatomy and Neuroscience - Research Publications
Permanent URI for this collection
Search Results
1 - 3 of 3
-
ItemAcoustic analysis of the effects of 24 hours of sustained wakefulness(Australasian Speech Science and Technology Association, 2010)The effect of 24 hours of sustained wakefulness on the speech of healthy adults is poorly documented. Therefore, speech samples were systematically acquired (e.g., every four hours) from 18 healthy adults over 24 hours. Stimuli included automated and extemporaneous tasks, sustained vowel and a read passage. Measures of timing and frequency were derived acoustically using Praat and significant changes were observed on all tasks. The effect of fatigue on speech was found to be strongest just before dawn (after 22 hours). Key features of timing (e.g., mean pause length), frequency (e.g., F4 variation) and power (alpha ratio) changed as a function of increasing levels of fatigue. Index Terms: fatigue, voice, tiredness, clinical marker
-
ItemNo Preview AvailableAcoustic analysis of the effects of sustained wakefulness on speech(ACOUSTICAL SOC AMER AMER INST PHYSICS, 2010-12)Exposing healthy adults to extended periods of wakefulness is known to induce changes in psychomotor functioning [Maruff et al. (2005). J. Sleep Res. 14, 21-27]. The effect of fatigue on speech is less well understood. To date, no studies have examined the pitch and timing of neurologically healthy individuals over 24 h of sustained wakefulness. Therefore, speech samples were systematically acquired (e.g., every 4 h) from 18 healthy adults over 24 h. Stimuli included automated and extemporaneous speech tasks, sustained vowel, and a read passage. Measures of timing, frequency and spectral energy were derived acoustically using PRAAT and significant changes were observed on all tasks. The effect of fatigue on speech was found to be strongest just before dawn (after 22 h). Specifically, total speech time, mean pause length, and total signal time all increased as a function of increasing levels of fatigue on the reading tasks; percentage pause and mean pause length decreased on the counting task; F4 variation decreased on the sustained vowel tasks /a:/; and alpha ratio increased on the extemporaneous speech tasks. These findings suggest that acoustic methodologies provide objective data on central nervous system functioning and that changes in speech production occur in healthy adults after just 24 h of sustained wakefulness.
-
ItemNo Preview AvailableEvaluation of communication assessment practices during the acute stages post stroke(WILEY-BLACKWELL PUBLISHING, INC, 2010-12)RATIONALE, AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: Early detection of communication impairment post stroke is an important prognostic indicator and promotes the use of individualized treatment protocols. Therefore, the methods for speech and language assessment used by communication experts in acute settings following stroke were investigated. METHODS: A survey was conducted among 254 speech and language pathologists providing acute care for patients following stroke in all states and territories across Australia and New Zealand. Respondent attitudes and practices in speech and language assessment post stroke were recorded with a standardized questionnaire collected online. RESULTS: A total of 174 (68.5%) speech and language pathologists responded. Over 70% of participants assessed language and 80% assessed speech using their own clinical assessments. Respondents identified limited test repeatability and poor sensitivity to change over acute periods as key areas of concern for currently available standardized assessments. CONCLUSIONS: Subjective and/or un-standardized assessments were the most commonly used measures of communication during the acute phases post stroke. These results highlight a critical need for the development of population-specific communication assessments that build on existing clinician derived techniques and expertise while considering the acute time demands and transient nature of patient's communicative functioning.