Retraining Method Research Articles

READING DIFFICULTIES, READING-RELATED SELF-PERCEPTIONS, AND STRATEGIES FOR OVERCOMING NEGATIVE SELF-BELIEFS

In this article, we review a number of studies on thedevelopmentofachievement-related self-system factors in relation to young children's reading acquisition. Reading self-concept, academic self-concept, and reading self-efficacy appear to develop in response to initial experiences in learning to read. For children who experience initial and ongoing success or difficulty in reading, development of relations between reading performance and self-system factors occurs within the first year of schooling. Our studies also show that phonological processing ability and letter-name knowledge at the outset of schooling not only predict subsequent reading performance but also academic self-concept and reading self-efficacy. Children who are deficient in phonological processing or state a preference for using text-level cues for identifying unfamiliar words in text rather than word-level information tend to develop difficulties in reading as well as negative reading-related self-perceptions. To overcome both skill deficiencies in reading and the negative reading- and achievement-related self-beliefsthat develop in response to reading difficulties, we maintain that attention to the development of word-level skills and strategies is essential. Inaddition, we advocate the use of attribution retraining methods, combined with appropriate skills training, for overcoming children's negative self-beliefs.

Tinnitus.

Tinnitus is a common otologic symptom secondary to numerous etiologies, such as noise exposure, otitis, Meniere's disease, otosclerosis, trauma, medications, and presbycusis. A thorough evaluation is necessary to rule out less common causes, which may include acoustic neuromas, glomus tumors, atherosclerosis of the carotid arteries, arteriovenous fistulae (AVFs), arteriovenous fistulae malformations (AVMs), and intracranial hypertension. Treating physicians need to have a very compassionate attitude towards these patients, and statements such as "there is nothing that can be done" are very inappropriate and should be strongly condemned. Reassurance, hearing aids, masking devices, retraining methods, antidepressants, intratympanic medications, and management of underlying pathologies such as carotid artery atherosclerosis, skull base tumors, intracranial hypertension, and AVMs/AVFs provide relief for the majority of these patients.

Classification of temporal sequences via prediction using the simple recurrent neural network

An approach to classify temporal sequences using the simple recurrent neural network (SRNN) is developed in this paper. A classification problem is formulated as a component prediction problem and two training methods are described to train a single SRNN to predict the components of temporal sequences belonging to multiple classes. Issues related to the selection of the dimension of the context vector and the influence of the context vector on classification are identified and investigated. The use of a different initial context vector for each class is proposed as a means to improve classification and a classification rule which incorporates the different initial context vectors is formulated. A systematic method in which the SRNN is trained with noisy exemplars is developed to enhance the classification performance of the network. A 4-class localized object classification problem is selected to demonstrate that (a) a single SRNN can be trained to classify real multi-class sequences via component prediction, (b) the classification accuracy can be improved by using a distinguishing initial context vector for each class, and (c) the classification accuracy of the SRNN can be improved significantly by using the distinguishing initial context vector in conjunction with the systematic re-training method. It is concluded that, through the approach developed in this paper, the SRNN can robustly classify temporal sequences which may have an unequal number of components.

PELVIC FLOOR MUSCLE RETRAINING FOR PEDIATRIC VOIDING DYSFUNCTION USING INTERACTIVE COMPUTER GAMES

Purpose We evaluated a new noninvasive outpatient method of pelvic muscle retraining in children using computer game assisted biofeedback. Materials and Methods All patients in whom voiding dysfunction was confirmed by history, uroflowmetry-electromyography and voiding cystourethrography were enrolled in a pelvic floor muscle retraining program. Patients received a pretreatment, mid treatment and posttreatment survey instrument documenting subjective improvement, including the frequency of diurnal enuresis, nocturnal enuresis, constipation and encopresis. Pretreatment and posttreatment simultaneous uroflowmetry surface electrode electromyography was performed and post-void residual urine volume was determined in all patients. Results A total of 8 boys and 33 girls 5 to 11 years old (mean age 7.2) completed therapy and were available for evaluation. These patients completed 2 to 11 (average 6) hourly treatment sessions. Followup was 3 to 15 months (average 7). At the midterm evaluation improvement in nocturnal enuresis was reported by 57% of the patients, diurnal enuresis by 84%, constipation by 83% and encopresis by 91%. End treatment evaluation revealed improvement in nocturnal enuresis by 90% of patients, diurnal enuresis by 89%, constipation by 100% and encopresis by 100%. Uroflowmetry-electromyography patterns improved in 42% of the patients and post-void residual urine decreased in 57%. Comparison of initial to end recorded millivoltage pelvic floor muscle values demonstrated that 56% of the patients had lower resting tone at the beginning of the session after completing therapy and 78% had improved contracting tone after performing Kegel exercises, as proved by increased microvoltage values. Initial uroflowmetry-electromyography revealed certain categories of cases, including a flattened voiding curve with a hyperactive pelvic floor and low post-void residual urine in 40%, a flattened voiding curve with a hyperactive pelvic floor and high post-void residual urine in 40%, a staccato voiding curve with a hyperactive pelvic floor and low post-void residual urine in 3%, and a staccato voiding curve with a hyperactive pelvic floor and high post-void residual urine in 17%. Of the girls 91% presented with the classic spinning top deformity on voiding cystourethrography. A total of 22 patients presented with a significant history of recurrent urinary tract infections, and infection developed in 3 during treatment and followup. Vesicoureteral reflux in 14 patients resolved during treatment in 3, reimplantation was performed in 1 and 10 are still being observed. Conclusions A program of conservative medical management with computer game assisted pelvic floor muscle retraining resulted in significant subjective improvement in continence, constipation and encopresis as well as objective improvement in uroflowmetry-electromyography, post-void residual urine volume and the microvoltage value of pelvic floor muscles in the majority of patients with dysfunctional voiding.

Attribution Retraining in Forgiveness Therapy

This paper focuses on the central role of attributions in psychotherapy, particularly in the forgiveness process. Self-enhancing and self-defeating attributions are defined with special emphasis given to those attributions that lead to unforgiveness. The relative effect of positive and negative attributions on the individual is also examined. Based on classical models of attribution theory and attribution retraining methods, an attribution-retraining program for use in forgiveness therapy is described. A case study is utilized to illustrate the use of attribution retraining in the context of forgiveness.

The use of participation-oriented education in the rehabilitation of driving skills in older adults

The driving abilities of adults appear to diminish in conjunction with age-related physical and cognitive changes. In this exploratory study, rehabilitation strategies used with 21 older adults were examined to determine the most effective method of retraining driving skills. Subjects, who met the study's eligibility criteria (aged 55 years or older, held a valid driver's license, drove a minimum of 1000 miles/year, and no participation in an adult re-education program) received driver simulation training, classroom viewing of driver simulation films, or no treatment. Outcome measures included on-road and clinical evaluations, as well as self-report information. A significant difference was found between treatment type and subjects' accuracy scores for on-road evaluation, thus suggesting that driving simulation may result in a significant improvement in older adults' driving performance as compared to other intervention strategies. The study has particular relevance to occupational therapy practitioners, with their growing involvement in driving programs throughout the United States.

Connected spoken word recognition using multistate Markov model for the feature vector

AbstractAn automatic speech recognition method is proposed using the Markov model in which a large number of states is adopted to model the transitional characteristics of speech more accurately. Unlike the traditional HMM, the feature vector of this proposed model is considered to be the parameter of the state of the Markov model.First, the transition‐probability of the state and the symbol output probability are estimated on the assumption that they are represented by multidimensional normal density functions of the feature vector. The optimal time sequence is determined by using DP‐matching.Next, the multistate model is obtained by quantizing the feature vector space and calculating (or sampling) the value of the probability density function at each code vector (at multipoints). The probability distribution of the multistate Markov model is adapted by the retraining method to be more accurate in distribution. The resulting recognizer is evaluated on a vocabulary of English four‐digit numerals. The multistate model has attained a recognition score of 98.2 percent, i.e., 1.6 percent higher than that of a five‐state traditional HMM. The processing time for the reference pattern generation is one‐fiftieth that of the HMM.

Årsaksattnbusjon og skoleresultater: Teoretiske overveielser og empiriske resultater

The theoretical models of Weiner (attributional theory of motivation), Seligman/Abramson (learned helplessness), and Bandura (self-efficacy) are presented. The models are compared with respect to maladaptive and adaptive attributional patterns. A maladaptive attributional pattern refers to persons who constantly attribute their negative outcomes to the internal factors of low ability or lack of skills and/or attribute positive outcomes to luck or other external factors. It can be concluded from the presented research experiments relevant to the three models, that attributional retraining methods have been consistently successful in increasing student’s performance.

Hyperventilation syndrome and the assessment of treatment for functional cardiac symptoms

Three methods of breathing retraining (guided breathing retraining, guided breathing retraining with physiologic monitoring of thoracic and abdominal movement plus peripheral temperature, and guided breathing retraining with physiologic monitoring of thoracic and abdominal movement, peripheral temperature and end-tidal carbon dioxide) were compared with a no-treatment control group to determine the effectiveness of breathing retraining on modifying respiratory physiology and reducing functional cardiac symptoms in subjects with signs associated with hyperventilation syndrome. Of 41 subjects studied, 16 were diagnosed with mitral valve prolapse. Results demonstrated that all 3 methods of breathing retraining were equally effective in modifying respiratory physiology and reducing the frequency of functional cardiac symptoms. Results determined that respiratory rate and subject's perception that training had generalized were the best predictors of treatment success. Furthermore, it was found that subjects with mitral valve prolapse responded as well to treatment as did those without prolapse.

A case of panic disorder treated with breathing retraining

In view of the marked prevalence of panic attacks in psychiatric populations, it is surprising that little interest has been devoted to their behavioral management. It has been suggested that hyperventilation may be important in the onset and/or maintenance of panic attacks and hence some form of respiratory control may be of value in their treatment. A method of breathing retraining is presented and applied to a subject suffering panic disorder (DSM-III). The results indicate that breathing retraining can reduce the frequency and intensity of panic attacks. A number of suggestions are made regarding the nature of panic attacks including the possible role of aberrant cognitions and the unique nature of panic attacks compared to other forms of anxiety.

Considering the opposite: a corrective strategy for social judgment.

It is proposed that several biases in social judgment result from a failure--first noted by Francis Bacon--to consider possibilities at odds with beliefs and perceptions of the moment. Individuals who are induced to consider the opposite, therefore, should display less bias in social judgment. In two separate but conceptually parallel experiments, this reasoning was applied to two domains--biased assimilation of new evidence on social issues and biased hypothesis testing of personality impressions. Subjects were induced to consider the opposite in two ways: through explicit instructions to do so and through stimulus materials that made opposite possibilities more salient. In both experiments the induction of a consider-the-opposite strategy had greater corrective effect than more demand-laden alternative instructions to be as fair and unbiased as possible. The results are viewed as consistent with previous research on perseverance, hindsight, and logical problem solving, and are thought to suggest an effective method of retraining social judgment.

Urodynamic Biofeedback: A New Approach to Treat Vesical Sphincter Dyssynergia

Some children with vesical sphincter dyssynergia are refractory to conventional pharmacologic therapy. Three such patients were treated using a method of sphincter retraining, biofeedback. They observed the urinary sphincter electromyogram while voiding to appreciate visually the abnormality. Two children learned to suppress voluntarily the inappropriate sphincter contraction during voiding. This normalized the subsequent electromyographic recordings and offered subjective improvement in the voiding symptoms. Retraining the urethral sphincter dysfunction may be approached using biofeedback techniques in selected patients.

"Frigidity": a critical review.

Freudian theory linking emotional development with somatic correlates has not been shown to explain certain phenomena from the laboratory and from clinical experience. Comparative studies, however, suffer from problems in methodology. Population samples may be biased by an absence of women more likely to be “frigid,” interview methods are emotionally superficial even though apparently comprehensive, and reliability and validity studies are generally not done. However, on the basis of these studies “neurotic” personality appears to be associated with sexual fears. Higher social class and younger age group are associated with less inhibition. Relationship to past personal experiences is more controversial, and there is less support for this hypothesis in comparative studies. Marital happiness appears to form a motivation for adaptation between partners. Successful treatment of “frigidity” has been accomplished by many forms of psychotherapy, including behavior therapy. In all types, nonconsummation has been very successfully treated, while treatment of orgasmic inadequacy has been disappointing. The absence of any comparative trials and the effects of self-selection of patients (especially in retraining schemes) make it impossible to compare the efficacies of treatment. Attention should be drawn to the similarity of nonconsummation to a phobic state and orgasmic inadequacy to a state of hysterical dissociation. This similarity would lead to an expectation, theoretically, of better results with behavior therapy and methods of desensitization and retraining.

The Preventive Method of Speech Rehabilitation in Aphasia

Making use of our knowledge of systematic relationships between the various aspects of aphasic syndromes, we have raised the possibilities of applying a preventive (prophylactic) method to direct the rehabilitation process along definite paths. An effort was made to correct telegraphic style in patients with motor aphasia by means of training at an early stage when expressive speech was fully absent. The words introduced into the patients' speech were strictly chosen according to their grammatical categories. At the beginning the communication of substantive words from outside was excluded and words bearing a predicative , verbal character and expressing complete ideas were introduced with the aid of various methods which are outlined. This early and purposeful development of expressive speech through the introduction of a limited and definite vocabulary served as a basis for reconstructing the inner speech of patients with motor aphasia. The results of our extensive rehabilitative experiment corroborate the hypothesis that if efforts are exerted early on the primary defective function, this may prevent the emergence of some of the symptoms of speech disturbance in the course of rehabilitation. Thus 25 patients with cortical motor aphasia, who had been subjected to observation from the stage of total aphasia, did not exhibit any “telegraphic style.” The rehabilitation of their expressive speech was governed by quite different laws from those which regulate recovery with conventional methods of retraining. This investigation has demonstrated the value of elaborating methods of prevention as the most active means of overcoming aphasic disorders.

Cortisone in immediate therapy of apoplectic stroke.

Cerebrovascular diseases still remain among those most neglected because of the fatalistic philosophy commonly associated with their management. It is estimated that there are approximately 1,800,000 sufferers from this affliction in the United States today and that a large percentage of these require one to four persons to take care of their needs. 1 In recent years progress has been made in restoring many such patients to lives of independence and productivity, as a result of the application of modern methods of rehabilitation and retraining. 2 The advances in the therapy of residual paralytic defects by physical methods, however, have far exceeded the questionable gains in the treatment of the acute phase of the cerebrovascular accident. METHODS OF TREATMENT The immediate treatment of stroke is mainly devoted to measures for saving life and restoring physiological balance. All authorities stress the importance of skillfull nursing care, maintenance of hydration, attention to