Speech Problems Research Articles

Anti-NMDAR encephalitis in a paediatric patient: A case report

A rare autoimmune disease called anti-NMDAR encephalitis usually affects young people and frequently manifests as cognitive deterioration, seizures, and psychiatric symptoms. The diagnostic challenge and the importance in recognizing the clinical features and employing appropriate laboratory and imaging techniques for accurate and timely diagnosis will be discussed. We describe the example of an 8-year-old girl who suddenly began exhibiting strange behavioral and speech problems. Anti-NMDAR encephalitis was diagnosed after further investigation. This casee illustrates how different clinical presentations can lead to a delay in the disorder’s diagnosis. Healthcare practitioners continue to have difficulties in diagnosing heterogeneous clinical manifestations of anti- NMDAR encephalitis, particularly in the juvenile age range. Bangladesh Journal of Medical Science Vol. 23 No. 04 October’24 Page : 1233-1237

Multimodal Outcomes of Early Open Extended Midline Strip Craniectomy With Bilateral Microbarrel Staving for Correction of Isolated Nonsyndromic Sagittal Synostosis.

Sagittal synostosis is the most common craniosynostosis. The aim of surgery is to preserve cognitive function and to correct the morphologic changes. In our unit, the authors offer strip craniectomy and microbarrel staving (SMB) performed at 16 to 22 weeks. This study aims to ascertain the 7-year outcome of scaphocephaly correction by SMB. The authors investigate whether the improvement in cranial index (CI) is sustained over time, and report speech and language and neurodevelopmental outcomes. All nonsyndromic patients with sagittal synostosis who underwent SMB between 2009 and 2012 were identified from a prospectively created database that recorded anthropometric measurements, quality metrics, and neurodevelopmental outcomes. A total of 27 patients were analyzed. The mean CI preoperatively was 67.5% (±3.5), and at 7 years 78% (±4.8). Regarding neurodevelopmental outcomes at 7 years, SDQ responses did not highlight any concerns for social, emotional, or behavioral outcomes. The vast majority of those who completed a WASI-II assessment performed within the average ranges in terms of cognitive ability. In terms of speech and language 70% of subjects demonstrated receptive language within normal level (WNL). Seventy-seven percent of subjects demonstrated expressive language WNL. In conclusion, after 7 years of follow-up, early open extended SMB is a safe and effective method for correction of isolated nonsyndromic isolated sagittal synostosis. Across the neurodevelopmental measures and assessments, the children in the current study appeared to perform within expected ranges. Speech and language problems are more prevalent than in the general population.

The effect of two speech and language approaches on speech problems in people with Parkinson's disease: the PD COMM RCT.

Speech impairments are common with Parkinson's disease (reported prevalence 68%), increasing conversational demands, reliance on family and social withdrawal. The PD COMM trial compared the clinical and cost-effectiveness of two speech and language therapy approaches: Lee Silverman Voice Treatment LOUD and National Health Service speech and language therapy for the treatment of speech or voice problems in people with Parkinson's disease to no speech and language therapy (control) and against each other. PD COMM is a phase III, multicentre, three-arm, unblinded, randomised controlled trial. Participants were randomised in a 1 : 1 : 1 ratio to control, National Health Service speech and language therapy or Lee Silverman Voice Treatment LOUD via a central computer-generated programme, using a minimisation procedure with a random element, to ensure allocation concealment. Mixed-methods process and health economic evaluations were conducted. United Kingdom outpatient and home settings. People with idiopathic Parkinson's disease, with self-reported or carer-reported speech or voice problems. We excluded people with dementia, laryngeal pathology and those within 24 months of previous speech and language therapy. The Lee Silverman Voice Treatment LOUD intervention included maximum effort drills and high-effort speech production tasks delivered over four 50-minute therapist-led personalised sessions per week, for 4 weeks with prescribed daily home practice. National Health Service speech and language therapy content and dosage reflected local non-Lee Silverman Voice Treatment speech and language therapy practices, usually 1 hour, once weekly, for 6 weeks. Trained, experienced speech and language therapists or assistants provided interventions. The control was no speech and language therapy until the trial was completed. Primary outcome: Voice Handicap Index total score at 3 months. Secondary outcomes: Voice Handicap Index subscales, Parkinson's Disease Questionnaire-39; Questionnaire on Acquired Speech Disorders; EuroQol-5D-5L; ICEpop Capabilities Measure for Older Adults; Parkinson's Disease Questionnaire - Carers; resource utilisation; and adverse events. Assessments were completed pre-randomisation and at 3, 6 and 12 months post randomisation. Three hundred and eighty-eight participants were randomised to Lee Silverman Voice Treatment LOUD (n = 130), National Health Service speech and language therapy (n = 129) and control (n = 129). The impact of voice problems at 3 months after randomisation was lower for Lee Silverman Voice Treatment LOUD participants than control [-8.0 (99% confidence interval: -13.3, -2.6); p = 0.001]. There was no evidence of improvement for those with access to National Health Service speech and language therapy when compared to control [1.7 (99% confidence interval: -3.8, 7.1); p = 0.4]. Participants randomised to Lee Silverman Voice Treatment LOUD reported a lower impact of their voice problems than participants randomised to National Health Service speech and language therapy [99% confidence interval: -9.6 (-14.9, -4.4); p < 0.0001]. There were no reports of serious adverse events. Staff were confident with the trial interventions; a range of patient and therapist enablers of implementing Lee Silverman Voice Treatment LOUD were identified. The economic evaluation results suggested Lee Silverman Voice Treatment LOUD was more expensive and more effective than control or National Health Service speech and language therapy but was not cost-effective with incremental cost-effectiveness ratios of £197,772 per quality-adjusted life-year gained and £77,017 per quality-adjusted life-year gained, respectively. The number of participants recruited to the trial did not meet the pre-specified power. People that had access to Lee Silverman Voice Treatment LOUD described a significantly greater reduction in the impact of their Parkinson's disease-related speech problems 3 months after randomisation compared to people that had no speech and language therapy. There was no evidence of a difference between National Health Service speech and language therapy and those that received no speech and language therapy. Lee Silverman Voice Treatment LOUD resulted in a significantly lower impact of voice problems compared to National Health Service speech and language therapy 3 months after randomisation which was still present after 12 months; however, Lee Silverman Voice Treatment LOUD was not found to be cost-effective. Implementing Lee Silverman Voice Treatment LOUD in the National Health Service and identifying alternatives to Lee Silverman Voice Treatment LOUD for those who cannot tolerate it. Investigation of less costly alternative options for Lee Silverman Voice Treatment delivery require investigation, with economic evaluation using a preference-based outcome measure that captures improvement in communication. This study is registered as ISRCTN12421382. This award was funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Health Technology Assessment programme (NIHR award ref: 10/135/02) and is published in full in Health Technology Assessment; Vol. 28, No. 58. See the NIHR Funding and Awards website for further award information.

“Aiming at a moving target”—The daily life experiences of adolescents and young adults with a low-grade glioma

Abstract Background Low-grade gliomas (LGG) are among the most frequently occurring tumors in adolescent and young adult (AYA) patients (aged 18–39 years old at primary diagnosis). These tumors have a variable prognosis, presenting challenges for patients in shaping their future. This study aimed to identify the age-specific experiences and needs of AYA patients with LGG in their daily lives. Methods In-depth interviews were conducted with AYA patients diagnosed with LGG. Thematic analysis was performed to derive the age-specific codes, looking for overarching themes and sub-themes. Results Sixteen patients participated in this study. The cognitive symptoms of the disease (including difficulty concentrating, memory issues, and speech problems) are invisible to others but caused significant disruptions in many domains that were particularly important to AYA patients (eg, employment, family life, and autonomy). Additionally, the uncertainty regarding their life expectancy led to difficulties in making decisions about the future. They also perceived a lack of control over their future and the time they had left. Conclusions LGG have a significant impact on AYA patients. However, this impact is not fully understood by others close to them. The results highlight the importance of providing these patients with appropriate peer support, interventions tailored to both their disease and life phase, utilizing a multidisciplinary approach, and maintaining a focus on long-term support for these patients. It is crucial to provide AYA care for these patients within the neurology department, as LGG involve both tumor- and age-specific problems.

Design and Development of a Multimedia Reading Application for Pre-schoolers as a Foundation in the Area of TVET

The greatest time for this is during early childhood schooling, when children are just beginning to become aware of their job options and form an imagination about the careers, they are interested in. In order to prepare pre-schoolers for their future employment, Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) aims to expand their knowledge and skill sets. Technology development also aids in these preschool students' knowledge and skill development in preparation for their future employment, particularly in TVET. At this preschool stage, their reading skills is essential for learning the TVET sector since it aids in their understanding of the subject that piques their interest. Yet, there are a number of reasons why they can struggle to read, including a lack of prior book experience, speech or hearing problems, and a lack of phonemic awareness. This design and development research (DDR) methodology was chosen to assist pre-schoolers in learning to read as a foundational skill in the field of TVET. The researcher focused on the development of multimedia applications for the teaching and learning process using a quantitative approach through ADDIE Model instructional design. The researcher used a random sampling technique to select three academic staff members with the required TVET educational credentials. This sample includes two academics with experience and skill in multimedia creation, as well as a preschool teacher from an appropriate educational institution, so the feedback gained is adequate to obtain precise comments and points of view. Data were acquired and assessed using frequency and percentage values based on a checklist form that was given. To facilitate data analysis, each item is categorised, and frequency information is quantified as a percentage. Professionals who believe that this multimedia application is useful as one of the self-learning mediums have responded favourably to the study's findings about how this multimedia application functions in terms of assisting pre-schoolers in learning to read from the aspects of content design, interaction, and interface. The study's conclusions can be used as a guide by anyone, especially when it comes to encouraging pre-schoolers’ TVET growth.

Impact of alexithymia, speech problems and parental emotion recognition on internalizing and externalizing problems in preschoolers.

Alexithymia, characterized by difficulty identifying and describing emotions and an externally oriented thinking style, is a personality trait linked to various mental health issues. Despite its recognized importance, research on alexithymia in early childhood is sparse. This study addresses this gap by investigating alexithymia in preschool-aged children and its correlation with psychopathology, along with parental alexithymia. Data were analyzed from 174 parents of preschoolers aged 3 to 6, including 27 children in an interdisciplinary intervention program, all of whom attended regular preschools. Parents filled out online questionnaires assessing their children's alexithymia (Perth Alexithymia Questionnaire-Parent Report) and psychopathology (Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire), as well as their own alexithymia (Perth Alexithymia Questionnaire) and emotion recognition (Reading Mind in the Eyes Test). Linear multivariable regressions were computed to predict child psychopathology based on both child and parental alexithymia. Preschool children's alexithymia could be predicted by their parents' alexithymia and parents' emotion recognition skills. Internalizing symptomatology could be predicted by overall child alexithymia, whereas externalizing symptomatology was predicted by difficulties describing negative feelings only. Parental alexithymia was linked to both child alexithymia and psychopathology. The findings provide first evidence of the importance of alexithymia as a possible risk factor in early childhood and contribute to understanding the presentation and role of alexithymia. This could inform future research aimed at investigating the causes, prevention, and intervention strategies for psychopathology in children.

A Comparative Study to Appraise the Level of Behavioural Problems of Preschool Children with Employed and Unemployed Progenitor in the Selected Rural Area of Salem

Background: Preschool children exhibit deviated behavior from the normal behavior as expressed by mothers was assessed by using Modified Lenore Behar Preschool Behavioural rating scale, which will be categorized in to Temper tantrum, Speech disorder, Sleep disorder, eating habits, Pollex sucking, Onychophagia, Bed-wetting, Encopresis, Emotional stability, School refusal, Self-care activities and Social behavior.  Method: The study was applied descriptive research design. The researcher decided on 60 samples through convenience sampling technique, in which 30 were work in female parent and 30 samples were workless in female parent of nursery kid. Modified Lenore Behar Preschool Behavioural rating scale were used to gather the data. The appliances consist of two portion, division I: demographic variables of mother, division II: Modified Lenore Behar Prekindergarten Behavioural rating scale which include speech problem, sleep problem, eating habit, temper tantrum, thumb sucking, nail biting, self- help, encopresis, encopresis, school refusal, and social factor. Inferential statistics and descriptive statistics were utilized to assemble data.  Result: The findings stated that, the level of behavioural among 30 samples of employed mothers, 3(10%) had preschool children with Mild behavioural problems, 23(77%) had nipper with Moderate behavioural problems and 4(13%) of the samples had nipper with Severe behavioural problems and among. The 30 samples of unemployed mothers, 22(73%) had preschool children with Mild behavioural problems, 6(20%) had nursery school with Moderate habitual problems and 2(7%) of the samples had crèche with Severe habitual problems.  Conclusion: This study examined the prevalence of behavioral issues in nipper of work in female parent versus workless in female parent. The results indicated that preschoolers with employed mothers exhibited more behavioural problem compared to those with unemployed mothers. The research topic is important issue in the society for identifying the behavioral problem, the preschool children are the future wellbeing of the world So, it is necessary to aware the parent to prevent the behavioural problem of preschool children by treatment, psychological counseling and health education.

CSLNSpeech: Solving the extended speech separation problem with the help of Chinese sign language

Previous audio-visual speech separation methods synchronize the speaker's facial movement and speech in the video to self-supervise the speech separation. In this paper, we propose a model to solve the speech separation problem assisted by both face and sign language, which we call the extended speech separation problem. We design a general deep learning network to learn the combination of three modalities, audio, face, and sign language information, to solve the speech separation problem better. We introduce a large-scale dataset named the Chinese Sign Language News Speech (CSLNSpeech) dataset to train the model, in which three modalities coexist: audio, face, and sign language. Experimental results show that the proposed model performs better and is more robust than the usual audio-visual system. In addition, the sign language modality can also be used alone to supervise speech separation tasks, and introducing sign language helps hearing-impaired people learn and communicate. Last, our model is a general speech separation framework and can achieve very competitive separation performance on two open-source audio-visual datasets. The code is available at https://github.com/iveveive/SLNSpeech

القفاز الناطق الذكي بيد واحدة للصم و البكم

The sign language is an effective means of communication between the deaf and dumb communities and the general public, but it requires human translators. This paper describes the development of a smart speaking glove with one-hand deaf and Dumb individuals using Arabic sign language. The glove bridges the communication gap between those with hearing and speech problems and those who don't understand sign language. It accurately converts sign language motions into audio and text, enhancing dignity, independence, and social inclusion. The glove, made of flexible sensors and a six-dimensional motion tracking device, allows deaf individuals to communicate with regular people via a smartphone, reducing the gap between them. It has focused on six major scenarios based on sentences and words of foodstuff and welcome signs. In cooperation with the Zawia Center for the Deaf and Dumb, every scenario was evaluated. The glove performed well when tested for side bending, resistance, voltage, and angle.

Mengenali dan Menangani Speech Delay Pada Anak

The language development problems, especially speech delay, are developmental problems that are often found. Research in several countries states that about 6 to 8% of preschool children have speech delay problems (Boyle, Gillham, &amp; Smith, 1996; Tomblin, Smith, &amp; Zhang, 1997 in Law et all., also Macias and Wagner, 2005). The purpose of this study is to recognize and treat speech delay in children. This research method is a literature study. The result of this study is an explanation of children's speech development, speech problems in children, the definition, characteristics and causes of speech delay in children and how to deal with speech delay in children. This study concludes that speech learning involves children's receptive and expressive speech. Problems in speech development can also be seen and addressed from these two bases.

Speech sound error patterns may signal language disorder in Swedish preschool children with autism.

Within cohorts of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) there is considerable variation in terms of language ability. In the past, it was believed that children with ASD either had delayed articulation and phonology skills or excelled in those areas compared to other language domains. Very little is known about speech sound ability in relation to language ability and non-verbal ability in Swedish preschool children with ASD. The current study aimed to describe language variation in a group of 4-6-year-old children with ASD, focusing on in-depth analyses of speech sound error patterns with and without non-phonological language disorder and concomitant non-verbal delays. We examined and analysed the speech sound skills (including consonant inventory, percentage of correct consonants and speech sound error patterns) in relation to receptive language skills in a sample of preschool children who had screened positive for ASD in a population-based screening at 2.5 years of age. Seventy-three children diagnosed with ASD participated and were divided into subgroups based on their receptive language (i.e., non-phonological language) and non-verbal abilities. The subgroup division revealed that 29 children (40%) had language delay/disorder without concurrent non-verbal general cognitive delay (ALD), 27 children (37%) had language delay/disorder with non-verbal general cognitive delay (AGD), and 17 children (23%) had language and non-verbal abilities within the normal range (ALN). Results revealed that children with ALD and children with AGD both had atypical speech sound error patterns significantly more often than the children with ALN. This study showed that many children who had screened positive for ASD before age 3 years - with or without non-verbal general cognitive delays - had deficits in language as well as in speech sound ability. However, individual differences were considerable. Our results point to speech sound error patterns as a potential clinical marker for language problems (disorder/delay) in preschool children with ASD. What is already known on the subject Children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) have deficits in social communication, restricted interests and repetitive behaviour. They show very considerable variation in both receptive and expressive language abilities. Previously, articulation and phonology were viewed as either delayed in children with ASD or superior compared with other (non-phonological) language domains. What this paper adds to existing knowledge Children with ASD and language disorders also have problems with speech sound error patterns. What are the potential or actual clinical implications of this work? About 75% of children with ASD experience language delays/disorders, as well as speech sound problems, related to speech sound error patterns. Understanding/acknowledging these phonological patterns and their implications can help in the diagnosis and intervention of speech sound disorders in children with ASD. Direct intervention targeting phonology might lead to language gains, but more research is needed.

Deep learning model of semantic direction exploration based on English V+able corpus distribution and semantic roles

In order to improve English learning efficiency, this paper constructs a deep learning model of semantic orientation exploration based on English V+able corpus distribution and semantic roles. This article combines the practical needs of English learning and establishes an ILP model with the optimization objective of minimizing spectrum resource occupation. A traffic grooming based time aware multipath RSA algorithm (HMRSA-TG) is proposed to solve the standardization problem of English speech recognition. To improve the system efficiency of intelligent English learning systems, a traffic grooming based time aware multipath RSA algorithm (HMRSA-TG) is proposed. Through research, it has been verified that the semantic orientation exploration deep learning model based on the distribution of semantic roles in English V+able corpora can effectively improve the effectiveness of English speech learning. The corpus model proposed in this paper can provide a reliable benchmark database for many speech problem learners and play an important role in English translation software in recognizing input speech with different accents

Impact of acute therapeutic toxicities on anxiety during radiotherapy among Chinese patients with newly diagnosed nonmetastatic head and neck cancer: A cross-sectional study.

147 Background: Head and neck cancer (HNC) poses a significant threat to both psychological and physical health. This study aimed to depict the anxiety status of Chinese newly diagnosed nonmetastatic HNC patients during radiotherapy (RT) and to examine predictors of anxiety symptoms. Methods: Newly diagnosed nonmetastatic HNC patients who received RT at the Radiation Therapy Center of Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center from August 23,2023 to August 24,2023 were recruited into this study. Using Zung Self-Rating Anxiety Scale (Zung SAS) to screen anxiety. Twenty-four common acute therapeutic toxicities (18 patient-reported and 6 clinician-rated) were assessed according to European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire Head and Neck 35 (EORTC QLQ-HN35) and Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events, fifth version (CTCAE V5.0). Chi-square ( χ2) test and multivariate binary logistic regression stepwise forward selection: likelihood ratio (LR) method were applied to identify factors associated with anxiety. Results: A total of 457 patients were included ultimately. Up to 29.10% of the patients showed varying degrees of anxiety and the average SAS standardized score was 45.66 ± 8.83. Chi-square test manifested that sex, annual household income, fatigue, anorexia, nausea, vomit, pain, dysphagia, sense problems (smell and taste), speech problems, trouble in social eating, trouble in social contact, sexual frustration, teeth problems, difficulty in opening mouth, xerostomia, sticky saliva, coughing, feeling ill, use of analgesics, use of nutritional supplements and weight loss were related to anxiety ( p &lt; 0.05). But multivariate logistic regression only demonstrated fatigue (OR = 3.696, 95% CI = 2.096-6.519), speech problems (OR = 3.247, 95% CI = 1.554-6.783), sexual frustration (OR = 2.029, 95% CI = 1.232-3.341), nausea (OR = 3.075, 95% CI = 1.807-5.234), feeling ill (OR = 2.283, 95% CI = 1.215-4.291), use of nutritional supplements (OR = 1.930, 95% CI = 1.136-3.280) and difficulty in opening mouth (OR = 3.007, 95% CI = 1.081-8.363) as independent predictive factors of anxiety. Conclusions: The Chinese newly diagnosed nonmetastatic HNC patients suffered greatly from anxiety during RT. This study identified the predictive contribution of sociodemographic and clinical characteristics and 24 common acute therapeutic toxicities to the vulnerability to anxiety, which can provide evidence and reference for medical staff to carry out psychological intervention.

Language Model Method for Collocation Rules of Parts of Speech in Machine Translation System

With the development of the times, modern society has now entered the Internet of Things (IoT) information age and Machine Translation (MT) plays an important role in increasingly frequent cross-language communication. In recent years, China's artificial intelligence industry has been in a stage of rapid construction, and the scale of its core industries has grown explosively, and a large number of artificial intelligence companies, including issuers, have emerged. Part of speech has always been a major problem in MT. One of the reasons is that there are a large number of multi-category words in Chinese and a large number of polysemy words in English, so part of speech collocation problems account for a large proportion of MT errors, which to some extent affects the credibility and accuracy of the translation. To reduce the error problem in MT of part of speech collocation, this paper used Machine Learning (ML) methods to study the Language Model (LM) of part of speech collocation based on recurrent neural network (NN) and compared it with the traditional statistical LM. In terms of the accuracy rate of the two LMS in the automatic evaluation index of machine translation, the experimental results show that the recursive NN LM established by the ML method had an accuracy rate of 80.42% and 83.57%, respectively, for the part-of-speech matching rules of the IoT machine translation system in the dialogue between Chinese and English and the translation of articles. The accuracy of traditional statistical LM evaluation was 71.29% and 69.52%, respectively. Compared to traditional statistical LM, the accuracy of translation was higher. This showed that the recurrent NN LM reduced the number of errors in the collocation of parts of speech in MT and improved the accuracy and credibility of MT.

A study on the Application of Virtual Reality Technology in Children's Rehabilitation Therapy

This article discusses the value of virtual reality (VR) technology in paediatric rehabilitation therapy, which can create immersive, interactive and imaginative virtual environments and provide children with safe and interesting therapeutic modalities to effectively improve their cognitive, motor, speech and emotional problems. The article analyses the application of VR technology in different scenarios, such as attention training, motor training, verbal expression training and emotion recognition training, and points out that the advantages of VR technology are to increase the interest of treatment, enhance the patient's participation, and achieve personalised treatment. However, VR technology also has challenges such as technical limitations, evaluation difficulties and high equipment costs. With the continuous development and improvement of the technology, VR technology is expected to overcome these challenges and play a greater role in the field of children's rehabilitation therapy, bringing hope for the rehabilitation of more children.

Bridging the Gap: Deep Learning Techniques for American Sign Language Recognition

Abstract: Communication stands upon the pillars of verbal and non-verbal conversations, and hence it holds the basis of human social relationships. Along with words, gestures are another component of nonverbal communication that achieves the purpose of conveying the intended sense and bridging the gab of the languages and cultures. People with speech or hearing problems usually read manual or verbal signs that often don't make sense to a hearing-challenged person. Gestures are the first sign of instruction that overcomes the speech gap. A kaleidoscopic patchwork of facial expressions comprising of facial movements and body language! Such variations occurring in linguistic areas overall are not surprising, as community cultures and tongues around the planet typically shape their language. In the United States and Canada, American Sign Language (ASL) is common and is an independent language from what is heard in the surrounding community but is also used as a way of communication between individuals and in groups that are deaf and hearing alike. There are some restrictions. Common language review and adequate practice are of crucial importance here, that is why it is so hard for deaf people to work outside. The accessibility of the translation tools decreases radically, which means it will be difficult to communicate, and it will further be hard to understand and to be understood. By integrating the AI technologies as neural networks and deep learning into the goals, the system will proceed to bridging various communication channels from manual writing to voice operation. The task goes with webcam installation together with gesture capture and then as an input it goes to the system. The proposed model will be divided into several stages namely, data acquisition, pre-training to the neural network, testing and the post-testing phases. This research project will do that through developing digital technology which in turn will enhance accessibility, encourage integration and let people who are film-blind or deaf to associate with the environment.

What is the nature and impact of cognitive difficulties following hormonal treatments for prostate cancer?: An interpretative phenomenological analysis

ObjectiveProstate cancer hormonal treatments (e.g. androgen deprivation therapy) yield clinical benefits. However, there is increasing evidence these treatments may adversely impact cognitive functioning. This study aimed to qualitatively characterise the nature and impact of cognitive difficulties following these treatments.MethodsProstate cancer survivors (PCS) self-reporting cognitive difficulties following hormonal treatments (via an online survey) and their partners were invited to participate in semi-structured interviews. Telephone or videoconferencing interviews were conducted, then transcribed, double-coded and analysed using the Framework Method, following the principles of Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis.ResultsEleven participants (six PCS and five partners) were interviewed. PCS reported a range of cognitive difficulties, verified by their partners, including forgetfulness, “fogginess”, fatigue and slowed processing speed. For some PCS, word-finding difficulties, tangential speech and memory problems were apparent during interviews. The aetiology of the reported cognitive difficulties was unclear as it was attributed to a possible combination of cancer treatments, compounding side-effects (e.g. fatigue, sleep problems, hot flashes), exacerbation of pre-existing conditions and/or age-related changes. Cognitive difficulties were reported to have led to shifts in self-perception, interpersonal dynamics and increased emotionality. Engagement in cognitively-stimulating activities and reliance on compensatory strategies were reported to be helpful in managing some cognitive difficulties. All participants endorsed the potential benefits of neuropsychological intervention.ConclusionsThere are a diverse range of cognitive difficulties following hormonal treatments for prostate cancer experienced by PCS and their partners. Understanding the impact of these difficulties is important for the development of targeted neuropsychological interventions.

Clinical profile and associated comorbidities of cerebral palsy in children visiting Orotta National Referral Hospital, Eritrea: a cross-sectional study

BackgroundCerebral Palsy (CP) is one of the most common physical disabilities in children. This study aimed to explore the clinical spectrum of CP at Orotta National Referral and Teaching Hospital, including CP subtypes, gross motor function, patterns of associated comorbidities, and possible risk factors in children aged 2 to 12 years.MethodsA hospital-based cross-sectional study was conducted from January to April 2022 in 153 children with suspected motor symptoms. The Surveillance of CP in Europe (SCPE) decision tree was used as an inclusion criteria guideline and the evaluation of the participants was done using a standardized questionnaire and clinical examination. Descriptive statistics, chi-square test, and logistic regression were employed to statistically analyze the data.ResultsEighty-four children who fulfilled the clinical criteria were included in the study. The median age was 5-years [IQR: 3.8] with an equal distribution of males and females. Quadriplegic CP was the most common subtype (51.2%) followed by unilateral (hemiplegic) CP (22.6%), and dyskinetic CP (14.3%). Most children had severe gross motor impairment GMFCS level IV-V and females were almost three times more likely to have GMFCS level IV/V than males (AOR: 2.70; CI: 1.08–6.72; p-value = 0.033.) More than half (52.4%) of the neonates either did not cry within five minutes and/or needed breathing resuscitation, 55.3% had to be admitted to the NICU with a median of 5 days’ hospital stay. Between the first week of birth and the first year of life, 28.6% had trouble feeding, 26.2% had an infection, 10.7% had difficulty breathing, 20.2% had seizures and 6% had jaundice. Feeding problems (64.3%), speech problems of some sort (91.7%), and epilepsy (46.4%) were the most commonly associated comorbidities with CP.ConclusionsThe clinical profile of the CP patients was found to be dominated by the spastic subtype and moderate to severe disability. Since perinatal risk factors were found to be dominant, strengthening maternal and child healthcare systems is recommended to minimize incidents of preventable risk factors and the burden of the disability.

Analysis of Melodic Intonation Therapy (MIT) on Speech Ability in Stroke Patients with Aphasia at Srondol Health Center

The Irreversible brain disorders that cause sequelae in the form of motor aphasia or speech disorders which are mostly clinical manifestations in post-stroke patients cause inability to move, speech problems, perspective, because there are problems with brain function. Melodic Intonation Therapy (MIT) is the development of music as a therapeutic medium to improve language skills that use musical elements (intonation and beats) as therapy to improve language skills for people with aphasia. The purpose of this study is to analyze Melodic Intonation Therapy (MIT) on Speech Ability in Stroke Patients With Aphasia with the research stage based on field research in the Srondol community who experienced Stroke with speech difficulties/Aphasia. This research method uses an experimental quasy with a pre-post test with control group design with a sample of 30 respondents with the results of speech development of aphasia patients, international publications, and guidelines for the management of Melodic Intonation Therapy (MIT) in Stroke Patients with Aphasia. Based on the results of the study, it was found that patients who experienced stroke of the families of stroke patients supported him because family support was very important to maintain and maximize physical and cognitive recovery.

Unveiling a Novel THOC2 Mutation's Role in X-linked Intellectual Disability

Background: Intellectual disabilities encompass a spectrum of neurodevelopmental disorders profoundly impacting an individual's cognitive abilities, adaptive behaviors, and communication skills. This article delves into the complex challenges encountered by an individual with intellectual disability, particularly examining the interplay between cognitive limitations and speech difficulties, while presenting a case report detailing the experience of a son within a non-consanguineous family diagnosed with intellectual disability due to a new genetic defect in THOC2, thereby contributing significantly to our comprehension of THOC2-related pathogenic variants. Case presentation: A 14-year-old boy from a non-consanguineous Iranian family presented with significant challenges in academics, communication, and adaptive skills, accompanied by speech problems and exhibiting distinctive physical characteristics. The exome-sequencing analysis revealed a novel hemizygous c.1559+5A&gt;T mutation located in intron 14 (NM_001081550.2) within the THOC2 gene in the proband. Sanger sequencing further confirmed the mother as a carrier of the mutation, although she remains in good health, while the father exhibits a normal genotype. This delineates an X-linked inheritance pattern, shedding light on the familial transmission of the identified genetic anomaly. Conclusion: The precise identification of the c.1559+5A&gt;T splicing mutation in the THOC2 gene, achieved through exome-sequencing, conclusively diagnoses X-linked intellectual disability in our patient. This breakthrough not only unravels the molecular intricacies contributing to intellectual disability but also underscores the urgency for accurate and swift disease diagnosis.