Receptive Communication Research Articles

A left-lateralized white matter tract associated with communication in domestic dogs

The ability to communicate with conspecifics is an adaptive behavior important for survival and reproduction, particularly in lineages that evolved enlarged brains and complex social behavior. In humans, language is supported by a robust, left-lateralized white matter fiber tract called the arcuate fasciculus, which links Broca's and Wernicke's areas, the core neocortical language regions located in the frontal and temporal lobes, respectively1. This tract is also present in chimpanzees, less substantial than in humans and either weakly leftwardly-asymmetric or not asymmetric2. Other mammalian lineages have evolved large brains, complex behavior and social communication in parallel with primates, notably including carnivores. In dogs (Canis familiaris), domestication has almost certainly involved additional selective pressures and environmental factors that have shaped the evolution and development of neural circuits for communication. We report that the dog brain possesses a large, left-lateralized white matter tract that links cortical centers for productive and receptive communication, and that this tract is positively associated with individual variation in receptive vocabulary size.

Working towards consensus on the assessment of mood after severe acquired brain injury: Focus groups with UK-based professionals.

The assessment of mood after brain injury is more challenging when people have ongoing severe cognitive and receptive communication impairments. There is no gold standard on how these assessments should be undertaken. This study aimed to reach a consensus on this among specialists working with this population. Focus groups were completed using a structured nominal group technique. Groups were compared for overlapping themes and agreed processes. Five focus groups with a total of 14 participants who work with the population of interest were completed. Participants included 12 clinical psychologists, one psychiatrist and one consultant in rehabilitation medicine. Each of the five groups reached a consensus on a process for assessing mood in this population. Results overlapped and were combined into a proposed circular and iterative model of assessment that includes: (pre) information gathering, (peri) assessment processes, and (post) treatment; with formulation being seen as a vital part of the process. Standardised measures were not recommended for use with this population. Beyond the consensus processes, three implicit themes were identified: (1) depression is different after severe brain injury, (2) overlapping tasks and roles, and (3) looking at the bigger picture. A good level of consensus was achieved across the five groups on processes to follow when assessing mood when people have ongoing cognitive and receptive communication impairments after severe brain injury. We recommend that this formulation-based model be followed when assessing people in this clinical population.

Associations of inflammation related prenatal adversities with neurodevelopment of offspring in one year: a longitudinal prospective birth cohort study

BackgroundThe recent Maternal Immune Activation (MIA) theory suggests maternal systemic inflammation may serve as a mediator in associations between prenatal maternal adversities and neurodevelopmental diseases in offspring. Given the co-exposure to multiple adversities may be experienced by pregnant person, it is unclear whether a quantitative index can be developed to characterize the inflammation related exposure level, and whether this index is associated with neurodevelopmental delays in offspring.MethodsBased on Jiangsu Birth Cohort (JBC), a total of 3051 infants were included in the analysis. Inflammation related Prenatal Adversity Index (IPAI) was constructed using maternal data. Neurodevelopmental outcomes were assessed using the Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development, third edition, screening test in one year. Multivariate linear regression and Poisson regression model were performed to analyze the associations between IPAI and neurodevelopment in offspring.ResultsCompared with “low IPAI” group, offspring with “high IPAI” have lower scores of cognition, receptive communication, expressive communication, and fine motor. The adjusted β were − 0.23 (95%CI: -0.42, -0.04), -0.47 (95%CI: -0.66, -0.28), -0.30 (95%CI: -0.49, -0.11), and − 0.20 (95%CI: -0.33, -0.06). Additionally, the elevated risk for noncompetent development of cognition and receptive communication among “high IPAI” group was observed. The relative risk [RR] and 95% confidence interval [CI] were 1.35 (1.01, 1.69) and 1.37 (1.09, 1.72).ConclusionsOur results revealed a significant association between higher IPAI and lower scores across cognition, receptive communication, expressive communication, and fine motor domains, and an increased risk of noncompetent development in the cognition and receptive communication domains.

Assessment of mood after severe acquired brain injury: Interviews with UK clinical psychologists and medical professionals

Objective Mood assessment is challenging when people have cognitive and receptive communication impairments after severe brain injury. This study explored how UK-based medical and psychology professionals working with people with severe cognitive and communication impairments after brain injury assess mood in this population. Design Following their participation in an online survey, professionals were invited to participate in individual semi-structured interviews. Interviews were analysed using thematic analysis to label explicit data (semantic themes) and implicit data (latent themes). Participants Twenty-three clinical psychologists and nine medical professionals participated in online or in-person interviews. Results Both groups explicitly reported using a combination of collateral information, history, observations, and patient interviews when assessing mood in this population. Medical professionals did not routinely use standardised measures and clinical psychologists often adjusted them when they used them. The respondents discussed difficulties conceptualising depression after brain injury, the experience needed by the assessor, and the need for an individualised approach for this population. Clinical psychologists discussed the pressures of working in healthcare systems and medical professionals discussed how symptoms may influence prescription choices. Seven latent themes were labelled which highlighted additional challenges and complexities experienced by those assessing mood, beyond the actual assessment process itself. Conclusions No ‘gold standard’ approach to assessing mood in those with cognitive and communication difficulties after severe brain injury was identified. There was overlap in assessment approaches but no clear consensus. Interviewees felt that mood assessment must be approached differently in this population and that self-report measures are not useful.

Prenatal tobacco and alcohol exposure, white matter microstructure, and early language skills in toddlers from a South African birth cohort.

Tobacco and alcohol are the two most common substances used during pregnancy, and both can disrupt neurodevelopment, resulting in cognitive and behavioral deficits including language difficulties. Previous studies show that children with prenatal substance exposure exhibit microstructural alterations in major white matter pathways, though few studies have investigated the impact of prenatal substance exposure on white matter microstructure and language skills during the toddler years. In this study, 93 children (34 exposed to alcohol and/or tobacco) aged 23 years from the Drakenstein Child Health Study, South Africa, completed Expressive and Receptive Communication assessments from the Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development, Third Edition (BSID-III) and underwent diffusion MRI scans. Diffusion images were preprocessed, and 11 major white matter tracts were isolated. Fractional anisotropy (FA) and mean diffusivity (MD) were extracted for each white matter tract. Linear regression was used to examine differences between the tobacco/alcohol exposed group and unexposed controls for FA, MD, and language scores, as well as relationships between brain metrics and language. There were no significant group differences in language scores or FA. Children with alcohol or tobacco exposure had lower average MD in the splenium of the corpus callosum compared to unexposed controls. Significant interactions between prenatal substance exposure and language scores were seen in 7 tracts but did not survive multiple comparisons correction. Our findings show that prenatal alcohol and/or tobacco exposure appear to alter the relationship between white matter microstructure and early language skills in this population of toddlers, potentially laying the basis of language deficits observed later in older children with prenatal substance exposure, which may have implications for learning and interventions.

Long-term outcomes and adaptive behavior in adult patients with Lennox-Gastaut syndrome.

Lennox-Gastaut syndrome (LGS) is a severe form of epilepsy characterized by difficult-to-control seizures and cognitive dysfunction. Previous studies mainly focused on pediatric populations, and little is known about the long-term cognitive outcome in adult patients with LGS. The objective of this study was to investigate the long-term functional and adaptive behavior in adult patients with LGS. This cross-sectional study enrolled adult patients diagnosed with LGS according to the recently published International League Against Epilepsy (ILAE) diagnostic criteria. The adaptive behavior of participants was assessed using the Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scales, Survey Interview, Second Edition (VABS-II). Demographic, clinical, electroencephalography (EEG), and antiseizure medication (ASM) data were also collected at different timepoints, to investigate their association with VABS-II scores. The study included 38 adult patients with LGS. A low score on the Adaptive Behavior Composite Scale was found in all patients. When considering single VABS-II domains, particularly low scores were found in daily living skills and socialization, whereas slightly higher performances were observed in communication. An earlier age at LGS diagnosis was identified as the most significant predictor of worse adaptive outcomes in adult life. At the time of study evaluation, high seizure frequency, higher EEG background slowing, and multifocal EEG epileptiform abnormalities were significantly associated with lower VABS-II raw scores. Furthermore, in an exploratory correlation analysis with ASM regimen at the study visit, treatment with cannabidiol was associated with higher adaptive behavior scores, whereas benzodiazepine intake correlated with lower scores. This study provides relevant insights into the long-term challenges faced by adults with Lennox-Gastaut syndrome (LGS), highlighting significant impairments in adaptive behavior as well as the associated clinical and electroencephalography features. Additionally, this study provides a more specific neuropsychological profile in adults with LGS and underscores the importance of comprehensive care approaches that go beyond seizure control in this population. This study examined adults with Lennox-Gastaut syndrome (LGS), a severe type of epilepsy, to understand their long-term abilities to perform daily tasks and adapt socially. We found that these adults have significant difficulties with daily living and social skills, although not all areas were equally affected. They performed somewhat better in communication, particularly in understanding others (receptive communication). Importantly, the younger the age at which LGS was diagnosed, the worse their outcomes were as adults. This study highlights the need for research and treatment approaches that focus not only on controlling seizures but also on improving daily life skills.

Nutritional status and neurodevelopmental levels in infants at high risk of cerebral palsy.

Nutrition is associated with neurodevelopment. Infants at high risk of cerebral palsy (CP) usually suffer from undernutrition, yet the relationship between nutritional status and neurodevelopmental levels is unclear. To describe the nutritional status characteristics of infants at high risk of CP, and to explore the relationship between neurodevelopmental levels and nutritional status. This single-center cross-sectional study enrolled infants at high risk of CP, with corrected age from 0 days to 12 months. Weight and height were measured and calculated into z-scores, which were used to classify the nutritional status based on the World Health Organization growth charts and American Society for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition standards. The Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development were used to evaluate the developmental levels of gross motor, fine motor, cognition, receptive communication, and expressive communication. A total of 479 infants at high risk of CP were recruited, with 43.4% classified as undernutrition. Compared to those with normal neurodevelopment, the odds of moderate and severe undernutrition were about 1.8 and 3.9 times higher in gross motor delay, 2.2 and 3.1 times higher in fine motor delay, 2.5 and 9.4 times higher in cognition delay, 2.2 and 3.9 times higher in receptive communication delay, and 3.0 and 5.6 times higher in expressive communication delay. There were significant positive correlations between nutritional status and neurodevelopmental levels (P < 0.001). Undernutrition and neurodevelopmental delays are prevalent among infants at high risk of CP. Worse nutritional status was correlated with lower neurodevelopmental levels.

Joint attention and maternal attention across varying dyadic interactions for autistic children

BackgroundJoint attention (JA) is an area of delay associated with autism. Individual differences in JA are shown to relate to language development. The present study examined JA initiations (IJA) and responses to JA (RJA) of autistic children in structured and unstructured contexts with their mothers to examine the relation between mother attention and JA. MethodForty-two autistic children (ages 2.5 to 5.5 years) and their mothers engaged in 15 m interactions in three social contexts (competing demands, teaching, free play). Children were categorized by language level into limited language (N = 20) and verbal (N = 21) groups based on ADOS-2 module to assess group and contextual differences. Contingency analyses assessed bi-directional temporal relations between observed child JA and mother attention in lagged intervals. ResultsRate of children’s IJA and maternal attention differed depending on the context of their interaction. Child IJA and mother attention showed a bi-directional temporally contingent association such that child IJA predicted subsequent maternal attention, and maternal attention predicted subsequent child IJA. RJA was unrelated to maternal attention in contingency analyses. Post-hoc analyses indicated a language level group by receptive communication, and group by expressive communication interaction on the contingency between child IJA and subsequent mother attention such that a stronger contingency emerged for dyads wherein children had limited language. ConclusionsThe present study illustrates the important role that children’s social communication behaviors may have within mother-child social interactions, and how children’s verbal ability, as well as the context of the social interaction may influence bi-directional social attention.

Assessing the Language Abilities of Preterm-Born Children: An Examination of Standardized Testing and Language Sample Analysis.

To understand how best to assess the language abilities of preterm-born children, this study: (a) compared preterm- and term-born children's language skills using standardized testing and language sample analysis (LSA), (b) investigated how executive function skills and the language sampling context respectively affect standardized test and LSA scores, and (c) examined the pattern of associations between standardized test and LSA scores among preterm-/term-born groups. Twenty-five term-born and 23 preterm-born 2-year-old singletons were administered the language scales of the Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development-Third Edition (receptive communication, expressive communication, language composite scores). Parent-child free-play recordings were used to quantify the (para)linguistic features of the children's speech. Executive function was measured via parent report. The preterm-born group obtained significantly lower scores than the term-born group on all Bayley language measures (though differences were not consistently observed when using cutoff scores). Few preterm-term differences in LSA measures were found. The preterm-term differences in Bayley scores were not explained by between-group differences in executive function. Some preterm-term differences in LSA scores were moderated by the language sampling context. The preterm- and term-born groups exhibited different patterns of Bayley-LSA correlations. Preterm language difficulties were more apparent on standardized test than LSA scores. Nonetheless, the Bayley-LSA correlations indicate that poor test performance (linked with preterm birth) is associated with functional communication difficulties. The discussion outlines the complementary utility of standardized tests and LSA while acknowledging the limited utility of cutoff scores and the confounding influence of the language sampling context. https://doi.org/10.23641/asha.26142661.

Myogenic artifacts masquerade as neuroplasticity in the auditory frequency-following response.

The frequency-following response (FFR) is an evoked potential that provides a neural index of complex sound encoding in the brain. FFRs have been widely used to characterize speech and music processing, experience-dependent neuroplasticity (e.g., learning and musicianship), and biomarkers for hearing and language-based disorders that distort receptive communication abilities. It is widely assumed that FFRs stem from a mixture of phase-locked neurogenic activity from the brainstem and cortical structures along the hearing neuraxis. In this study, we challenge this prevailing view by demonstrating that upwards of ~50% of the FFR can originate from an unexpected myogenic source: contamination from the postauricular muscle (PAM) vestigial startle reflex. We measured PAM, transient auditory brainstem responses (ABRs), and sustained frequency-following response (FFR) potentials reflecting myogenic (PAM) and neurogenic (ABR/FFR) responses in young, normal-hearing listeners with varying degrees of musical training. We first establish that PAM artifact is present in all ears, varies with electrode proximity to the muscle, and can be experimentally manipulated by directing listeners' eye gaze toward the ear of sound stimulation. We then show this muscular noise easily confounds auditory FFRs, spuriously amplifying responses 3-4-fold with tandem PAM contraction and even explaining putative FFR enhancements observed in highly skilled musicians. Our findings expose a new and unrecognized myogenic source to the FFR that drives its large inter-subject variability and cast doubt on whether changes in the response typically attributed to neuroplasticity/pathology are solely of brain origin.

Voice Disorders and Hearing Loss May Be Additive Risk Factors for Depression in a National Cohort.

Hearing loss (HL) (receptive communication impairment) is a known risk factor for depression. However, dysphonia (expressive communication impairment), has received little study. We study HL, self-reported voice disorder, and combined impairment as risk factors for depression in a large national cohort. This was a cross-sectional epidemiologic study. Data were analyzed from the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES) cycles 2008-2012 and 2019-2020. KNHANES uniquely contains both audiometry and voice disorder data. HL (yes/no) was defined as ≥25 dB pure tone average. Voice disorder (yes/no) was defined by self-report. Depression (yes/no) was defined by physician diagnosis. Odds ratios for depression were calculated using multivariable logistic regressions with HL and voice disorder. 8,524 individuals aged 19 to 80 years old had complete data. The mean age was 57.3 years (SD = 13.4) and 64% were women. All regressions were controlled for age and sex. Those with HL, versus those without, had 1.27 times the odds (95% CI = 1.07-1.52, p = 0.007) of depression. Those with self-reported voice disorder, versus those without, had 1.48 times the odds (1.22-1.78, p < 0.001) of depression. Those with HL and self-reported voice disorder, versus those with neither, had 1.79 times the odds (1.27-2.48, p < 0.001) of depression. This study demonstrates independent relationships between HL and depression and self-reported voice disorder and depression. Combined HL and self-reported voice disorder had nearly 1.8 times the odds of depression. This is likely due to the grossly additive effect of difficulty with incoming and outgoing communication streams. II Laryngoscope, 134:4060-4065, 2024.

Assisted reproductive technology and neurodevelopment in children at 1 year of age: a longitudinal birth cohort study

BACKGROUNDWith remarkable advancements in assisted reproductive technology (ART), the number of ART conceived children continues to increase. Despite increased research investigating the outcomes of ART children, evidence on neurodevelopment remains controversial. OBJECTIVEThe aim of this study was to investigate the association between ART use and neurodevelopment in children at one year of age and to determine whether the characteristics of parental infertility and specific ART procedures affect neurodevelopment in children. STUDY DESIGNThe Jiangsu Birth Cohort enrolled couples who received ART treatment and who conceived spontaneously (2014-2020) in Jiangsu Province, China. In this study, we included 3,531 pregnancies with 3,840 cohort children who completed neurodevelopment assessment at one year of age, including 1,906 infants conceived by ART (including 621 twins). Poisson regressions were fitted to estimate unadjusted and adjusted risk ratios (RRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for ART use with neurodevelopmental outcomes (cognition, receptive communication, expressive communication, fine motor, and gross motor) in children. RESULTSAmong singletons, ART use was associated with a 24%-34% decrease in the risk for noncompetent development in three domains (cognition, adjusted RR, 0.66; 95% CI, 0.53-0.82; receptive communication, 0.76; 0.64-0.91; expressive communication, 0.69; 0.51-0.93) after adjustment for conventional covariates. However, an inverse association was observed in the gross motor domain, with ART singletons having a greater risk of being noncompetent in gross motor development than their non-ART counterparts (adjusted RR, 1.41; 95% CI, 1.11-1.79). Compared with singletons, twins resulting from ART treatment demonstrated compromised neurodevelopment in several domains. Furthermore, we continued to observe that the transfer of ‘poor’ quality embryos was associated with greater risks for noncompetent development in receptive communication (adjusted RR, 1.50; 95% CI, 1.05-2.14) and gross motor domains (1.55; 1.02-2.36) among ART singletons. CONCLUSIONSThese results generally provide reassuring evidence among singletons born after ART in the cognition, communication, and fine motor domains, but drawn attention to their gross motor development. The quality of transferred embryos in ART treatment might be associated with offspring neurodevelopment; however, the potential associations warrant further validation in independent studies, and the clinical significance needs careful interpretation.

Perinatal inflammation, fetal growth restriction, and long-term neurodevelopmental impairment in Bangladesh.

There are limited data on the impact of perinatal inflammation on child neurodevelopment in low-middle income countries and among growth-restricted infants. Population-based, prospective birth cohort study of 288 infants from July 2016-March 2017 in Sylhet, Bangladesh. Umbilical cord blood was analyzed for interleukin(IL)-1α, IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8, and C-reactive protein(CRP). Child neurodevelopment was assessed at 24 months with Bayley-III Scales of Infant Development. We determined associations between cord blood inflammation and neurodevelopmental outcomes, controlling for potential confounders. 248/288 (86%) live born infants were followed until 24 months, among whom 8.9% were preterm and 45.0% small-for-gestational-age(SGA) at birth. Among all infants,elevated concentrations (>75%)of CRP and IL-6 at birth were associated with increased odds of fine motor delay at 24 months; elevated CRP was also associated with lower receptive communication z-scores. Among SGA infants, elevatedIL-1α was associated with cognitive delay, IL-8 with language delay, CRP with lower receptive communication z-scores, and IL-1β with lower expressive communication and motor z-scores. In rural Bangladesh, perinatal inflammation was associated with impaired neurodevelopment at 24 months. The associations were strongest among SGA infants and noted across several biomarkers and domains, supporting the neurobiological role of inflammation in adverse fetal development, particularly in the setting of fetalgrowth restriction. Cord blood inflammation was associated with fine motor and language delays at 24 months of age in a community-based cohort in rural Bangladesh. 23.4 million infants are born small-for-gestational-age (SGA) globally each year. Among SGA infants, the associations between cord blood inflammation and adverse outcomes were strong and consistent across several biomarkers and neurodevelopmental domains (cognitive, motor, language), supporting the neurobiological impact of inflammation prominent in growth-restricted infants. Prenatal interventions to prevent intrauterine growth restriction are needed in low- and middle-income countries and may also result in long-term benefits on child development.

Social withdrawal behaviour in Nepalese infants and the relationship with future neurodevelopment; a longitudinal cohort study.

Social withdrawal in infants may be a signal of distress and a precursor for non-optimal development. To examine the relationship between infant social withdrawal and neurodevelopment up to 4 years in Nepalese children. A total of 597 Nepalese infants 6-11 months old were assessed with the modified Alarm Distress Baby Scale (m-ADBB), and of these, 527 with the Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development 3rd edition (Bayley-III) during early childhood, and the Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence (WPPSI-IV) and NEPSY-II subtests at 4 years. We examined whether social withdrawal defined by the m-ADBB was associated with neurodevelopmental scores in regression models. Children socially withdrawn in infancy had lower Bayley-III language scores (-2.6 (95% CI -4.5, -0.7)) in early childhood. This association seems to be driven by the expressive communication subscale (-0.7 (95% CI -1.0, -0.3)), but not the receptive communication subscale (-0.2 (95% CI -0.6, 0.1)). There were no differences in the other Bayley-III scores or the WPPSI-IV and NEPSY-II scores at 4 years in children who were socially withdrawn or not. Social withdrawal in infancy was reflected in early language development but not cognitive functioning at 4 years.

Golf training as an effective therapeutic tool for autism spectrum disorder: a multisite evaluation

Objectives A 6-week adapted golf training program was delivered to 31 individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and the effects of the program were examined on golf skills, physical fitness abilities, and socio-communicative functioning. Methods The program led to significant improvements in golf skills such as grip positioning, shot control, aim, and posture as well as physical activity abilities including leg strength, core stability, and balance. Results Additionally, staff involved with the program documented significant improvements amongst participants in expressive and receptive communication, as well as social and regulatory skills. However, there were no significant changes in social or communicative abilities in the parent-rated, standardized instrument. Conclusions The adapted golf training program proved to be effective for boosting a variety of abilities in individuals with ASD; sport-training programs should continue to be studied and implemented at autism treatment facilities.

Speech and language in DDX3X-neurodevelopmental disorder: A call for early augmentative and alternative communication intervention.

Pathogenic variants in DDX3X are associated with neurodevelopmental disorders. Communication impairments are commonly reported, yet specific speech and language diagnoses have not been delineated, preventing prognostic counseling and targeted therapies. Here, we characterized speech and language in 38 female individuals, aged 1.69-24.34 years, with pathogenic and likely pathogenic DDX3X variants (missense, n = 13; nonsense, n = 12; frameshift, n = 7; splice site, n = 3; synonymous, n = 2; deletion, n = 1). Standardized speech, language, motor, social, and adaptive behavior assessments were administered. All participants had gross motor deficits in infancy (34/34), and fine motor deficits were common throughout childhood (94%; 32/34). Intellectual disability was reported in 86% (24/28) of participants over 4 years of age. Expressive, receptive, and social communication skills were, on average, severely impaired. However, receptive language was significantly stronger than expressive language ability. Over half of the assessed participants were minimally verbal (66%; 22/33; range = 2 years 2 months-24 years 4 months; mean = 8 years; SD = 6 years) and augmented speech with sign language, gestures, or digital devices. A quarter of the cohort had childhood apraxia of speech (25%; 9/36). Despite speech and language impairments, social motivation was a relevant strength. Many participants used augmentative and alternative communication (AAC), underscoring the need for early, tailored, and comprehensive AAC intervention.

Evaluation of Deaf Employees' Work Ability on Cognitive, Affective and Psychomotor Aspects in a Cigarette Factory PT. Cakra Guna Cipta Malang Regency

Special Schools are formal institutions that are responsible for the quality of human resources for deaf people so that they can be accepted in the job market, especially labor-intensive industries. The learning process is expected to produce quality human resources in cognitive, affective and psychomotor aspects that influence work ability. This work ability will have an impact on the level of satisfaction of the company that employs them. This research aims to evaluate the work abilities of deaf people in cognitive, affective and psychomotor aspects. This research uses a qualitative exploratory case study methodology with an instrumental case study research design type. The research results prove that deaf employees who work at the Cakra Cigarette Factory must be able to communicate both orally and in writing. They generally have low literacy skills, poor receptive and expressive communication skills, resulting in a lack of understanding of the work contract text. In terms of discipline, they are much more disciplined than normal employees. Socially, they are able to establish good relationships with fellow colleagues. In terms of work skills, deaf employees have higher productivity than normal employees.

Effect of thyroid function on offspring neurodevelopment in people receiving ART therapy: a prospective cohort study.

Adequate maternal thyroid hormone is vital for fetal neurodevelopment. Abnormal thyroid function can cause developmental defects in offspring from spontaneous pregnancies; however, research in assisted reproduction is lacking. To investigate the association between thyroid disorders and offspring neurodevelopment from assisted reproduction. Prospective cohort study. In this prospective and longitudinal birth cohort study (Jiangsu, China), we included 729 women who had their thyroid function tested before ART cycle and delivered liveborn babies between November 2015 and June 2020. Maternal thyroid function was assessed by measuring thyroid antibodies, free thyroxine, and serum thyroid-stimulating hormone. The third edition Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development screening test (Bayley-III screening test) is used to assess the infant's neurodevelopment. In multivariate corrected linear regression analysis, infants of women with subclinical hypothyroidism demonstrated a significantly lower receptive communication score (β = -0.63, 95% CI [-1.12, -0.14], P = 0.013), with stratified analysis showing a significant association among female offspring (β = -0.87, 95% CI [-1.59, -0.15], P = 0.018) but null association among male offspring (β = -0.44, 95% CI [-1.03, 0.15], P = 0.145). No significant differences were found in assisted pregnancy population with normal thyroid function and positive antibodies according to the diagnostic cut-offs applied to normal pregnant women. Subclinical hypothyroidism in assisted pregnancies correlates with lower communication scores in 1-year-olds, especially in girls. Recommending medication for subclinical hypothyroidism throughout, regardless of thyroid autoantibody status.

Adaptive functioning and neurodevelopment in patients with Dravet syndrome: 12-month interim analysis of the BUTTERFLY observational study

ObjectiveThe BUTTERFLY observational study aims to elucidate the natural trajectory of Dravet syndrome (DS) and associated comorbidities in order to establish a baseline for clinical therapies. We present the 12-month interim analysis of the study. Materials and methodsPatients with a genetically confirmed diagnosis of DS were enrolled in the study. Adaptive functioning and neurodevelopmental status were measured using the Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scale, Third Edition (Vineland-III), Bayley Scales of Infant Development, Third Edition (BSID-III), and Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence, Fourth Edition (WPPSI-IV). Executive function, ambulatory function and locomotor activities, and overall clinical status were measured using the Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function – Preschool Version (BRIEF-P) scale, Gillette Functional Assessment Questionnaire (Gillette FAQ), and Clinician or Caregiver Global Impression of Change scales (CGI-C or CaGI-C) respectively. ResultsOverall, 36 patients were enrolled across three age groups, with 35 patients completing at least part or all of one post-baseline visit through Month 12. Significant improvements in receptive communication, as assessed by Vineland-III and BSID-III raw scores, and in verbal comprehension subtests, as assessed by WPPSI-IV raw scores, were observed in BUTTERFLY patients for the all-patient group. Many patients performed on the impaired end of the BRIEF-P Global Executive Composite scale at baseline suggesting difficulties in executive function, and no significant change was observed in BRIEF-P scores for the all-patient group. Most patients performed in the dynamic range of the Gillette FAQ at baseline, and no significant change was observed in Gillette FAQ scores for the all-patient group. Lastly, there was significant improvement observed in the CaGI-C scores for the all-patient group. SignificanceThis BUTTERFLY interim analysis shows small improvements in communication skills along with stability in other developmental abilities across patients with DS enrolled in the study from baseline to Month 12.

ASSESSMENT PRACTICES OF SPEECH AND LANGUAGE PATHOLOGISTS FOR COGNITIVE COMMUNICATION IMPAIRMENT AFTER TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY

Background of the Study: The aim of the present research was to examine the assessment practices of Speech-Language Pathologists for Cognitive Communication Disorders after Traumatic Brain Injury. Methodology: It was a cross-sectional survey method, a convenient sampling technique. Research was carried out from January 2021 to June 2021. The sample size was n=21, out of which n= 9 (42.8%) participants, each from Rawalpindi and Islamabad n= 3 (14.4%) participants from Lahore filled in their responses. Medium; being Online, the questionnaire was distributed either through email, WhatsApp or Facebook MessengerApp. SLPs who were undergraduates or who had no experience working with TBI clients were excluded. Questionnaire included 12 items. Responses of research participants were recorded using Google Forms and presented in the form of n (%). The data were analyzed using descriptive analysis, and chi-square analysis was performed to confirm the association between settings, city of practice and years of experience through Statistical Package of Social Sciences (SPSS) Version 22.0. Results: Speech-Language Pathologists reported that they routinely assessed (62% each) Receptive and Expressive communication. However; less than half of the participants routinely evaluated domains like verbal pragmatic skills (43.3%), functional communication (33.3%) and phonemic awareness (33.3%). SLPs assessed their clients by employing tests like MoCA (55.62%), Quick Aphasia Battery (18.75%), Cognitive Assessment (LOTCA Protocol) (14.35%) and a combination of Formal (48%) and Informal (52%) clinical interviews. Conclusion: Informal discourse assessment is incorporated more frequently as compared to informal discourse evaluation in assessment practices of Speech-Language pathologists of Pakistan for cognitive communication impairment followed by traumatic brain injury. Keywords: Brain injuries, cognitive dysfunction, language therapy, rehabilitation, speech therapy, traumatic.