Behavior Assessment Battery Research Articles

Relationships Between Psychological Distress and Affective, Behavioral, and Cognitive Experiences of Stuttering.

People who stutter (PWS) are vulnerable to the development of various psychopathological symptoms, although prevalence data are mixed and less clarity exists about factors that potentially influence their occurrence. The current study sought to shed light on the prevalence of self-reported psychopathology in PWS and aimed to identify relationships between affective, behavioral, and cognitive (ABC) experiences of stuttering and psychological distress (PD). Forty-four PWS were administered the Behavior Assessment Battery (BAB) for Adults who Stutter and the Brief Symptom Inventory-18. The prevalence of clinically significant PD was calculated via BSI-18 global severity index t-score cutoffs. Regression analyses examined relationships between ABC variables of stuttering and PD. Participants' BAB scores approximated normative values, while the PD score distribution was similar to that of a nonclinical sample. Nine percent of participants met thresholds for clinically significant PD. All ABC correlates of stuttering significantly and positively correlated with PD scores, capturing considerable amounts of shared variance. Levels of PD in PWS approximate those of the general community, highlighting the existence of psychologically distressed subgroups of PWS. Speech situation-specific anxiety had the strongest relationship to PD, followed closely by one's report of situation-specific speech disruption. To a lesser but still significant extent, PWS' frequency to which they engage in various avoidance/escape behaviors, as well as their communication attitude, predicted levels of psychopathology. These data inform diagnostic and clinical decision making, drawing attention to factors that should be attended to in treatment.

Self-perceived affective, behavioral, and cognitive reactions associated with voice use in people with Parkinson’s disease: a pilot study

Purpose This study aimed to compare the affective, behavioral, and cognitive reactions related to vocal function in people with Parkinson’s disease (PWPD) and healthy controls using the Behavior Assessment Battery – Voice (BAB-Voice). The test’s internal consistency was also described. Methods 31 PWPD and 19 healthy controls were recruited from September 2020 to March 2021. Participants completed four BAB-Voice subtests: Speech Situation Checklist – Emotional Reaction (SSC-ER), the Speech Situation Checklist – Speech Disruption (SSC-SD), Behavior Checklist (BCL), and Communication Attitude Test for Adults (BigCAT), describing the experienced negative emotional reaction, voice disruptions, coping behaviors, and negative attitude regarding communication respectively. Subtest scores were calculated and analyzed. Results The scores of the PWPD were significantly different from those of the controls (Pillai’s Trace = 0.344, F[4] = 5.508, p = .001, ηp 2 = .344): PWPD showed more negative emotions and voice problems, more coping behaviors, and more negative speech-related attitude compared to healthy controls. All subtests showed excellent internal consistency. Conclusions The BAB-Voice proved a tool with a good internal consistency that measured different psychosocial reactions in PWPD versus controls. PWPD exhibited significantly more negative emotions and voice problems in specific speech situations, more coping behaviors, and a more negative speech-related attitude. The specificity of information obtained from the BAB-Voice may aid in improving the treatment planning of voice disorders in PWPD.

Partner perception of affective, behavioral, and cognitive reactions to voice use in people with Parkinson’s disease

IntroductionPeople with Parkinson’s disease (PWPD) experience negative feelings, thoughts, and coping behaviors due to the experienced communication challenges. This study aimed to compare the perceptions of PWPD with those of proxies for the affective, behavioral, and cognitive reactions specific to voice production during communicative interactions. MethodsThe Behavior Assessment Battery – Voice (BAB-Voice) was administered to 31 PWPD and their close communication partner/proxy. The BAB-Voice contained four subtests: Speech Situation Checklist – Emotional Reaction (SSC-ER), Speech Situation Checklist – Speech Disruption (SSC-SD), Behavior Checklist (BCL), and Communication Attitude Test for Adults (BigCAT). The scores for each of these subtests were calculated and statistically analyzed. ResultsA repeated measures MANOVA did not find statistically significant differences between the subscores of PWPD and proxies (Pillai’s trace = 0.25, F[4] = 2.22, p =.094, ηp2 = 0.25). Fair to excellent agreement between the PWPD and proxies was found. The highest agreement was found on the BigCAT (ICC = 0.80). The SSC-SD (ICC = 0.77) and SSC-ER (ICC = 0.71) still showed excellent agreement, while only fair agreement was found for the BCL (ICC = 0.57). ConclusionProxies were able to identify the affective, behavioral, and cognitive reactions to voice use in PWPD. Communication partners close to the PWPD could, therefore, provide valuable information regarding the assessment and treatment of hypophonia in PD.

Life partners’ perceptions of the emotional, speech disruptive, and attitudinal correlates of stuttering

PurposeThe purpose of the current investigation was to explore the extent to which the life partners (LPs) of people who stutter (PWS) perceive their loved ones’ speech-situation specific emotional reaction, expectancy of speech disruption, and speech-related communication attitude. MethodsThree subtests of the Behavior Assessment Battery (BAB): the Speech Situation Checklist - Emotional Reaction (SSC-ER), the Speech Situation Checklist - Speech Disruption (SSC-SD) and the Communication Attitude Test for Adults Who Stutter (BigCAT) were administered to 33 PWS and modified versions were administered to their LPs via Qualtrics Survey Software. Effect of relationship duration on subtest scores was considered. Perceived stuttering severity by the participant and their LP was also queried as part of a demographic questionnaire. ResultsPWS and their LPs rated BigCAT items in a similar way, while they rated certain SSC-ER and SSC-SD items differently. Importantly, between-group agreement was not affected by relationship duration. Among the PWS and LP, perceived stuttering severity influenced all BAB subtest scores. ConclusionLPs of PWS appear to be in tune with the cognitive aspects of their partner’s experience of stuttering. This has important clinical implications as it relates to active involvement of the family in speech intervention targeting fluency.

Comprehensive Diagnosis of Polish School-Age Children Who Stutter: Normative and Psychometric Iinvestigation of the Behavior Assessment Battery

Comprehensive Diagnosis of Polish School-Age Children Who Stutter: Normative and Psychometric Iinvestigation of the Behavior Assessment Battery

Associations Between Medical History, Cognition, and Behavior in Youth With Down Syndrome: A Report From the Down Syndrome Cognition Project.

The cause of the high degree of variability in cognition and behavior among individuals with Down syndrome (DS) is unknown. We hypothesized that birth defects requiring surgery in the first years of life (congenital heart defects and gastrointestinal defects) might affect an individual's level of function. We used data from the first 234 individuals, age 6-25 years, enrolled in the Down Syndrome Cognition Project (DSCP) to test this hypothesis. Data were drawn from medical records, parent interviews, and a cognitive and behavior assessment battery. Results did not support our hypothesis. That is, we found no evidence that either birth defect was associated with poorer outcomes, adjusting for gender, race/ethnicity, and socioeconomic status. Implications for study design and measurement are discussed.

Behavior Assessment Battery: Normative and Psychometric Investigation Among Polish Adults Who Do and Do Not Stutter.

The aim of this study was to establish normative data for Polish persons who stutter (PWS) and persons who do not stutter (PWNS) with the adapted version of the Behavior Assessment Battery (BAB; Vanryckeghem & Brutten, 2018) for adults and to investigate whether or not gender and age influenced the results. In addition, the BAB subtests' reliability and validity were examined. A Polish version of the BAB test procedures, including the Speech Situation Checklist-Emotional Reaction, Speech Situation Checklist-Speech Disruption, Behavior Checklist, and Communication Attitude Test for Adults Who Stutter (Vanryckeghem & Brutten, 2018), were individually administered to 123 adults who stutter and 151 adults who do not stutter between the ages of 17 and 70. PWS scored statistically significantly higher on all BAB subtests compared to PWNS. No significant between-groups gender or age difference was detected. The test data indicate high internal validity. The test items correlate well with the total score and significantly differentiate the two groups. The test battery validly differentiates PWS from PWNS with high accuracy. The Polish version of the BAB for adults confirms data collected in previous cross-cultural investigations. The results once again differentiate PWS from PWNS in a powerful way. Compared to PWNS, PWS report significantly more anxiety and speech breakdown when speaking in particular speech situations. They also report their attitude toward speech to be significantly more negative compared to the typical speaker and indicate using a significant number of coping behaviors to avoid or escape difficult speaking conditions. The BAB test battery, in its totality, assists in multidimensional assessment, pre- and posttreatment comparison, and identification of treatment targets based on the answers of PWS to each test item.

Communication-related affective, behavioral, and cognitive reactions in speakers with spasmodic dysphonia.

ObjectivesTo investigate the self‐perceived affective, behavioral, and cognitive reactions associated with communication of speakers with spasmodic dysphonia as a function of employment status.Study DesignProspective cross‐sectional investigationMethods148 Participants with spasmodic dysphonia (SD) completed an adapted version of the Behavior Assessment Battery (BAB‐Voice), a multidimensional assessment of self‐perceived reactions to communication. The BAB‐Voice consisted of four subtests: the Speech Situation Checklist for A) Emotional Reaction (SSC‐ER) and B) Speech Disruption (SSC‐SD), C) the Behavior Checklist (BCL), and D) the Communication Attitude Test for Adults (BigCAT). Participants were assigned to groups based on employment status (working versus retired).ResultsDescriptive comparison of the BAB‐Voice in speakers with SD to previously published non‐dysphonic speaker data revealed substantially higher scores associated with SD across all four subtests. Multivariate Analysis of Variance (MANOVA) revealed no significantly different BAB‐Voice subtest scores as a function of SD group status (working vs. retired).ConclusionsBAB‐Voice scores revealed that speakers with SD experienced substantial impact of their voice disorder on communication attitude, coping behaviors, and affective reactions in speaking situations as reflected in their high BAB scores. These impacts do not appear to be influenced by work status, as speakers with SD who were employed or retired experienced similar levels of affective and behavioral reactions in various speaking situations and cognitive responses. These findings are consistent with previously published pilot data. The specificity of items assessed by means of the BAB‐Voice may inform the clinician of valid patient‐centered treatment goals which target the impairment extended beyond the physiological dimension.Level of Evidence2b

The effect of SpeechEasy® on attitudes, emotions and coping behaviors. Outcomes of short time usage

This study investigated the effect of SpeechEasy® on attitudes, emotions and coping behaviors after a short period of usage. Nine individuals who stutter were fitted with the SpeechEasy® and used the device for at least 4h/day during a period of less than 2 months. Before and after this period spontaneous speech samples were collected and attitudes, emotions and coping behaviors were assessed by means of the Behavior Assessment Battery (Brutten & Vanryckeghem, 2003b) and the adult form of the Communication Attitude Test (Vanryckeghem & Brutten, 2011). Results indicate that after a short time using the SpeechEasy® some people who stutter may to some extent show an amelioration of the negative attitudes, emotions and coping behaviors that usually accompany the stuttering. However, self-reported changes in attitudes, emotions and coping behaviors do not necessarily reflect objective fluency scores and there seems to be considerable individual variation in reaction the SpeechEasy®.

Behavior Assessment Battery: A Pilot Study of the Affective, Behavioral, and Cognitive Correlates Surrounding Spasmodic Dysphonia

This study investigates if adults with adductor spasmodic dysphonia (ADSD) report to experience anxiety and voice problems in particular situations, indicate the presence of negative speech-associated attitude, and/or the use of coping behaviors, by means of the Behavior Assessment Battery (BAB) modified for voice. Thirty-two participants with ADSD and 32 adults without a voice disorder participated in this study. Each person completed four different BAB-Voice subtests. These standardized self-report tests are adaptations of the original BAB for people who stutter and explore an individual's speech-related belief, negative emotional reaction to and speech problems in particular speech situations, and the use of concomitant behaviors. Individuals with spasmodic dysphonia (SD) scored statistically significantly higher compared to typical speakers on all BAB subtests, indicating that individuals with SD report being significantly more anxious and experiencing significantly more voice problems in particular speech circumstances. They also reported a significant amount of negative speech-associated attitude and the use of a significant number of coping behaviors. Internal reliability was good for three of the four BAB subtests. The BAB is capable of reflecting the dimensions that surround the disorder of SD. The self-report measures have the potential to augment the observations made by the clinician and may lead to a more diverse and all-encompassing therapy for the person suffering from SD. Future research with a revised version of the BAB-Voice will continue to explore the validity, reliability, and replicability of the initial data.

A Preliminary Investigation of the Affective, Behavioral and Cognitive Variables Associated with Spasmodic Dysphonia

Background: Spasmodic dysphonia (SD) is often assessed and treated in a rather mono-dimensional way, despite knowledge of the impact of SD on a person’s quality of life. This study investigates how adults with SD think and feel about their speech, and cope with their voice problem. Methods: Adults with SD were asked to fill out the Behavior Assessment Battery’s (BAB-Voice) self-report tests. The Speech Situation Checklist-Emotional Reaction and Speech Disruption investigate negative emotional reaction and voice problems in particular speech situations. The Behavior Checklist provides an inventory of behaviours that might be used to avoid or escape voice problems. The Communication Attitude Test for Adults assesses speechassociated attitude. Results: Adults with SD had elevated scores on all BAB tests. Their results were comparable to BAB research with people who stutter. Conclusion: The data show the BAB’s potential to assist clinicians in diagnosis and in designing a tailored multidimensional treatment plan.

The BigCAT: A normative and comparative investigation of the communication attitude of nonstuttering and stuttering adults

The purpose of this investigation was to provide normative and comparative data for the BigCAT, the adult form of the Communication Attitude Test, a sub-test of the Behavior Assessment Battery. The BigCAT, a 35-item self-report test of speech-associated attitude was administered to 96 adults who stutter (PWS) and 216 adults who do not (PWNS). The difference in the extent to which the two groups of participants reported a negative attitude toward their speech and speech ability, as measured by the BigCAT, was statistically significant. Moreover, the overlap in the scores of the PWS and PWNS was minimal, and the effect size attributable to group membership was very large. The BigCAT's high Cronbach Alpha coefficients, together with the fact that each of its items significantly differentiated PWS from PWNS, indicate that the BigCAT is an internally consistent measure of the attitude that they have about their speech. Gender did not have a significant influence on the attitude toward speech or speech ability of either the PWS or PWNS. Overall, the present data suggest that the BigCAT holds promise as an aid to clinical decision making that relates to the assessment and treatment of those who stutter.Learning outcomes: (1) The reader will learn about the BigCAT, a self-report measure of speech-associated attitude. (2) The reader will be given normative and comparative data that relate to the speech-associated attitude of PWS and PWNS as measured by the BigCAT. This will enable the clinician to use the BigCAT data as a useful source of information in clinical decision making that relates to assessment and treatment. (3) The reader will be informed about the internal reliability and content validity of the BigCAT, a gender-free measure of the speech-associated attitude of PWS and PWNS.

Behavior Assessment Battery for School‐Age Children Who Stutter

By Gene Brutten and Martine Vanryckeghem(San Diego, CA: Plural, 2007)[Pp. 66.] ISBN 1‐59756‐114‐2. £158.00Ask clinicians to define ‘stuttering’, and they will almost certainly mention speech disrup...

Behavior Assessment Battery for School-Age Children Who Stutter

Behavior Assessment Battery for School-Age Children Who Stutter

The Behavior Assessment Battery: a preliminary study of non‐stuttering Pakistani grade‐school children

In recent years, the importance of a multimodal approach to the assessment of the person who stutters (PWS) has become increasingly recognized. The Behavior Assessment Battery (BAB), which is a normed test procedure developed by G. Brutten, makes it possible to assess the multidimensional facets of this disorder. The emotional and speech-disruptive components that differentiate one who stutters from one who does not (PWNS) are evaluated by means of the Speech Situation Checklist (SSC), their use of behaviours secondary to stuttering are assessed through the Behavior Checklist (BCL) and the person's speech-related attitude is determined via the Communication Attitude Test (CAT). Each of these BAB tests has been shown to be a reliable and valid measure whose obtained normative data are essentially equivalent in Western countries. Because of the lack of normative data on children from non-Western cultures, the present preliminary study was aimed to investigate if the affective, behavioural and cognitive reports of non-stuttering Pakistani children on the BAB measures are like those of their Western peers. Forty-five non-stuttering Pakistani children between the ages of 8 and 11 were administered the SSC, BCL and CAT. As in previous studies, the mean score of the normally fluent children on each of the BAB tests fell into the lower end of the possible distribution of scores. Intercorrelations between the different tests were statistically significant. Although the BCL and CAT results were similar to those found in Western-based investigations, the emotional reaction and speech disruption scores on the SSC reported by Pakistani children sampled were numerically higher to an extent that is noteworthy. The latter finding suggests that this particular BAB measure might be affected by cultural differences. It points to the possibility that the norms of test procedures, such as the BAB, might not be fully appropriate for use in other than Western cultures.