Speech Function Research Articles

Electronic Means of Communication as a Means of Remote Speech Therapy for Adult Stroke Survivors

The article discusses the types of strokes, general statistics and prevalence of strokes in the world and in Ukraine. The survey and tendencies to occurrence in younger people were carried out; the factors of stroke occurrence in young people have been studied. Statistics on the uneven distribution of strokes by gender were analyzed. It has been determined that women are at higher risk of suffering a severe or fatal stroke than men. The main reasons for such statistics are indicated. The main types of speech and language impairments that can occur after cerebral circulatory disorders are analyzed. The leading signs of aphasia, apraxia and dysarthria in adults have been identified. The definition of progressive apraxia of speech is revealed. It is established that these disorders occur due to damage to the language areas of the brain. The advantages of using electronic means of communication in speech-language therapy during quarantine restrictions and martial law in Ukraine are revealed. Software and messengers were characterised, such as Google Meet, Zoom, Teams, and Skype, that are used during distance and/or face-to-face sessions with a speech language pathologist. The main advantages of using these programs and the requirements for a speech language pathologist in the use of electronic means of communication are described. The concept of "social networks" and their impact on the rehabilitation of adult patients is revealed. The positive aspects of using social networks with adults during speech-language therapy, in particular Instagram and Facebook, are highlighted. Mobile applications are described as an additional means of restoring various aspects of speech, language and higher mental functions. It is noted that the current situation in the country, taking into account quarantine restrictions and martial law, can not provide full, continuous and quality speech language therapy in these cases, which leads to the conclusion that the lack of effectiveness of using exclusively traditional methods and techniques to compensate speech and language disorders caused by stroke, and encourages further search for ways to improve it by electronic means of communication. The author sees the need for a research aimed at studying the use of electronic means of communication in speech language therapy for people who have suffered a stroke.

ЭЛЕМЕНТЫ ВОКАЛА КАК СМОДЕЛИРОВАННАЯ ФОРМА ПРОДУКТИВНОЙ ДЕЯТЕЛЬНОСТИ ДЛЯ КОРРЕКЦИИ ПРОСОДИЧЕСКОЙ СТОРОНЫ РЕЧИ В ЛОГОПЕДИИ

In this study, the authors consider the concepts of "prosody", "prosodics" and "prosodic side of speech" in the context of their synonymous use in speech therapy and taking into account the integration of voice components and speech breathing in terms of their practical application. The prosodic components schematically described by the authors serve to implement the communicative function of speech, since it is through them that the speaker conveys a variety of information and his or her emotional state. Disorders of the prosodic components of speech, namely its melody, speech tempo, speech rhythm, pausing, logical stress and diction, speech breathing, timbre, strength and loudness of the voice, its pitch, flight and modulation most negatively affect the development of human communicative activity and, first of all, interpersonal communication. In this study, the authors consider in detail the experience of using vocal elements as a form of productive activity for corrective action in the restoration and development of impaired prosodic components due to certain logopathologies (speech disorders), including those of persons with disabilities. It seems to the authors that the use of vocal elements by speech therapists is most productive only if they master the initial foundations of professional vocal and pedagogical skills, which primarily include "objective feedback" and "vocal ear".

A tool to assess functional communication skills and its correspondence with traditional language testing in patients with brain tumors

To identify the relationship between speech impairment as measured by the Russian Aphasia Test (RAT) and functional communication as assessed by the Communicative Effectiveness Index (CETI). RAT and CETI were administered to 87 patients at two time points, before surgery and in 3 months after brain tumor resection surgery. There were significant correlations between CETI and the total scores on RAT subtests for speech comprehension and production before surgery but not in the follow-up period. The present research is the first to present the Russian version of CETI and to confirm the relationship between speech disorders measured by the comprehensive standardized battery for evaluating speech function RAT and functional communication as measured by CETI.

Multi-Stage Audio-Visual Fusion for Dysarthric Speech Recognition With Pre-Trained Models.

Dysarthric speech recognition helps speakers with dysarthria to enjoy better communication. However, collecting dysarthric speech is difficult. The machine learning models cannot be trained sufficiently using dysarthric speech. To further improve the accuracy of dysarthric speech recognition, we proposed a Multi-stage AV-HuBERT (MAV-HuBERT) framework by fusing the visual information and acoustic information of the dysarthric speech. During the first stage, we proposed to use convolutional neural networks model to encode the motor information by incorporating all facial speech function areas. This operation is different from the traditional approach solely based on the movement of lip in audio-visual fusion framework. During the second stage, we proposed to use the AV-HuBERT framework to pre-train the recognition architecture of fusing audio and visual information of the dysarthric speech. The knowledge gained by the pre-trained model is applied to address the overfitting problem of the model. The experiments based on UASpeech are designed to evaluate our proposed method. Compared with the results of the baseline method, the best word error rate (WER) of our proposed method was reduced by 13.5% on moderate dysarthric speech. In addition, for the mild dysarthric speech, our proposed method shows the best result that the WER of our proposed method arrives at 6.05%. Even for the extremely severe dysarthric speech, the WER of our proposed method achieves at 63.98%, which reduces by 2.72% and 4.02% compared with the WERs of wav2vec and HuBERT, respectively. The proposed method can effectively further reduce the WER of the dysarthric speech.

Spreadability and hate speech of radical conservatism: The Peruvian case on TikTok

This study aimed to establish a typology of the modes of spreadability of hate speech by radicalized conservative groups. Using Veron’s semiotic model, we focused on three analytical dimensions of circulation: temporalization, spatialization, and tracking. This approach helped us understand the qualities of spreadability inherent in hate speech. Employing a qualitative methodological strategy, we selected a corpus of 188 videos featuring Peruvian radical conservatives on TikTok. Through this analysis, we identified four modes of spreadability among conservative groups on TikTok: contagion, propagation, contamination, and population. The modes of spreadability through contagion and propagation generate themes of change. Spreadability through contamination and population upholds the preservation of the past. The contribution of this study lies in explaining how the modes of circulation for conservative hate speech function as strategies within a cultural war aimed at ideological entrenchment.

ДОПОЛНИТЕЛЬНАЯ МОТОРНАЯ ОБЛАСТЬ И КЛИНИЧЕСКАЯ КАРТИНА ПРИ ЕЁ ПОРАЖЕНИИ

Methods: The supplementary motor area (SMA) is a cortical region, that is located on the medial surface of the frontal lobe entirely within the interhemispheric fissure between the primary motor cortex (PMC) and prefrontal cortex (PFC). This area is a heterogeneous region in its structure, as well as in its connections with other parts of the brain; on the basis of these differences, the pre-SMA and SMA-proper regions are distinguished in it. Numerous neural connections with other parts of the central nervous system (CNS) suggest the involvement of the SMA in many cognitive functions, and not only in higher motor ones, as previously was thought. In particular, in the dominant hemisphere, the SMA performs the speech function through the frontal oblique fascicle (FOF), a bundle of association fibers that connects the SMA with Broca's area. In the event of various pathologies affecting the SMA and after neurosurgical manipulations in this area, a variety of neurological disorders can occur both motor and verbal. With the damage of this cortical region in the dominant hemisphere, SMA syndrome (akinetic mutism) can occur. This paper provides a review of the anatomical, cytoarchitectonic, and functional features of the SMA, as well as a detailed description of the clinical picture of the lesion of this cortical region. Keywords: Brain, supplementary motor area, SMA syndrome.

Exploring the status of filled pauses as pragmatic markers

Abstract The present study aims to explore the status of filled pauses as pragmatic markers by taking into account their accompanying visual and gestural behavior. This aspect has not yet been widely explored, and the current study breaks new ground by demonstrating that the analysis of gaze and gesture can shed substantial light on the pragmatic functions of filled pauses and other pausing phenomena. Filled pauses (FPs) serve several pragmatic functions in speech, mainly planning but also turn-holding and emphasis, and their use is also highly determined by register and setting. This research explores the different pragmatic functions of FPs by analyzing their distribution in two different communication settings (conversation vs presentation setting), combining a quantitative and a qualitative methodology, following Kosmala & Crible’s (2021) study on the same data. Particular attention was paid to the co-occurring gestural activity of uh/ums and gaze behavior. Analyses show that the pragmatic functions of FPs are also embodied in kinetic activities which differ according to the setting: more pragmatic and referential ones were found during FPs in conversation than in the presentation setting, as well as more eye-contact, which reflects their potential communicative role during interactional sequences.

تحليل الأفعال الكلامية الإلوكوسية في حوار الرسوم المتحركة الفربي

This research has two objectives. The first objective is to describe the form of illocutionary speech acts in the dialogue of the cartoon film "al-Farabi" by Abu Giyas. The second objective is to find out the function of illocutionary speech acts in the dialogue of the cartoon film "al-Farabi" by Abu Giyas.
 This research is a qualitative research with descriptive analysis method. The data source of this research is the dialogue of the film "al-Farabi" by Abu Giyas. The research data are oral data containing illocutionary speech acts which include the form of illocutionary speech acts and the function of illocutionary speech acts in the dialogue film "al-Farabi" by Abu Giyas. The data collection technique used the listening method with the free-of-conversation listening technique followed by a transcript, and the last one was the note-taking technique. The validity of the data is done by using the persistence of observation of triangulation theory.
 The conclusion from the results of this study is related to illocutionary speech acts seen from the aspect of form and function. In the dialogue of the film "al-Farabi" found five forms of illocutionary speech acts, namely Assertive, Directive, Expressive, Commissive and Declaration. Judging from the function of illocutionary speech acts, the dialogue of the film "al-Farabi" has various functions. Assertive illocutionary speech acts have the functions of stating, suggesting, claiming, affirming, and complaining. The form of directive illocutionary speech acts has the functions of ordering, commanding, pleading, and recommending. Expressive illocutionary speech acts have the functions of praising, expressing sadness, thanking, and apologizing. The form of commissive illocutionary speech acts has the function of promising and offering something. The illocutionary speech act form of declaration has the function of surrender.

Speech Acts of The Main Character in Anomalisa Movie Script by Charlie Kaufman

The research aimed to find out the types of speech acts and the function of speech acts produced by the main character which contained in Anomalisa movie script written by Charlie Kaufman. The researcher used qualitative descriptive and pragmatic approach in analyzing the data. The data were obtained by reading, identifying, classifying the words that contained speech acts in the main character’s utterance in the movie script by applying the Austin and Searle’s theories. The results show that there were three types of speech acts used in Anomalisa movie script, they were (1) Locutionary(2) Illocutionary (3) Perlocutionary, each speech acts have functions, they were (1) Locutionary which consisted of imperative, interrogative and declarative. (2) Illocutionary which consisted of directive, assertive, commissive and expressive. Then, (3) Perlocutionary which consisted of act of laughing, act of asking, act of scaring, act of inviting and act of persuading. The dominant speech act used in the movie script of Anomalisa is Illocutionary.

Психолінгвістичні аспекти дослідження комунікативної діяльності дошкільників з порушеннями мовлення

Meaningful communication, which brings emotional satisfaction, stability in relationships, confidence, allows children to feel full members of society. The role of communication in human life is extremely important, so the study of this problem has become relevant in modern life. The aim of the article is theoretical study and empirical research of features of communicative activity of preschool children with speech disorders. We have organized a special study on the basis of senior and preparatory groups of preschool institutions, which included 50 children of 5-6 years of age. The purpose of the experimental study was to study communicative activity in its holistic aspect, so we tried to cover all its sides: motivational, communicative, emotional, moral-ethical and intellectually creative. The following methods were used to investigate the described characteristics: expert evaluation of parameters of communication of children (questionnaires were used for parents and teachers); psychological observation (during the role-playing game); conversation with children; psychological experiment; projective tests. Children with low levels of communication have the following features: formal contact, difficult to establish, no need for communication, children indecisive, do not initiate communication. Children with middle levels such characteristics are inherent: contact is meaningful, established gradually, children are characterized by shyness, need encouragement; the need for communication episodic. In preschoolers with sufficient level of communication, the contact is meaningful, easy to establish; the need for communication is stable. The results of experimental research have led to the conclusion that the level of development of speech functions and the level of communication are interdependent functions. All children with speech impairment have communication impairment. Accordingly, corrective work on the formation of communication skills should be carried out in parallel with the development of children's speech.

Social Network Characteristics and Correlations With Cognitive, Psychosocial, and Speech Function and Communication Participation for Adults With Multiple Sclerosis: A Pilot Study.

This cross-sectional observational pilot study investigated egocentric social networks for 10 paired sex- and age-matched adults with and without multiple sclerosis (MS). This study also investigated the relationship between social network measures and various disease factors associated with MS. The relationship between social network measures and communication participation restrictions was also examined. Participants completed a seven-item social network survey. Social network structure and composition were quantified. The network organization measures (structure analysis) included the total number of members (network size) and extent to which members are connected (network density). The measured characteristics of people around a participant (composition analysis) included the amount of kin relative to network size (proportion of kin), gender variation (gender diversity index), and age variation (standard deviation of age). Standard clinical neuropsychological, psychosocial, and speech metrics quantified processing speed, memory, depression, fatigue, and sentence intelligibility. Measures of communication participation and MS severity were also obtained. Matched-pairs tests indicated that the proportion of kin significantly differed between paired participants, whereas all other social network measures were similar. For participants with MS, correlation analyses indicated weak associations between proportion of kin and cognitive, psychosocial, and speech measures. However, strong correlations were found between social network size and processing speed, memory, fatigue, MS severity, and communication participation. Gender diversity index also strongly correlated with depression. Results from this pilot study highlight the importance of evaluating egocentric networks in the clinical management of MS, as maintaining nonkin friendships may be difficult for adults with MS making them vulnerable to social isolation. Furthermore, those with small and less diverse networks may experience more severe cognitive and psychosocial problems and limited communication participation.

Cross-Gender Interpersonal Meaning in Banking Product and Service Offerings

This study examines the realization of interpersonal meaning through the speech function of offering products and services carried out by male and female Customer Service Representatives in banking service activities. Although in the results of the study, it was found that the similarity of the dominant mood type was used, it was concluded that male and female CSR realized interpersonal meanings differently. This can be seen from the emergence of imperative forms by male CSR and the dominant use of my subject compared to other subjects as well as types of High Modalities, compared to female CSR which uses more product name subjects and medium modalities in offering banking products and services to their customers. The results of the study concluded that when offering products and services to customers, A man's CSR tends to show its identity as mentioned in gender theory, namely speaking with authority, direct, and placing oneself as a superior party, while female CSR in addition to offering products and services she also tends to show a desire to establish close relationships with her customers.

Scandcleft randomized trials of primary surgery for unilateral cleft lip and palate: Speech proficiency at 10years of age.

To assess consonant proficiency and velopharyngeal function in 10-year-old children born with unilateral cleft lip and palate (UCLP) within the Scandcleft project. Three parallel group, randomized, clinical trials were undertaken as an international multicentre study by nine cleft teams in five countries. Three different surgical protocols for primary palate repair (Arm B-Lip and soft palate closure at 3-4months, hard palate closure at 36months, Arm C-Lip closure at 3-4months, hard and soft palate closure at 12months, and Arm D-Lip closure at 3-4months combined with a single-layer closure of the hard palate using a vomer flap, soft palate closure at 12months) were tested against a common procedure (Arm A-Lip and soft palate closure at 3-4months followed by hard palate closure at 12months) in the total cohort of 431 children born with a non-syndromic UCLP. Speech audio and video recordings of 399 children were available and perceptually analysed. Percentage of consonants correct (PCC) from a naming test, an overall rating of velopharyngeal competence (VPC) (VPC-Rate), and a composite measure (VPC-Sum) were reported. The mean levels of consonant proficiency (PCC score) in the trial arms were 86-92% and between 58% and 83% of the children had VPC (VPC-Sum). Only 50-73% of the participants had a consonant proficiency level with their peers. Girls performed better throughout. Long delay of the hard palate repair (Arm B) indicated lower PCC and simultaneous hard and soft palate closure higher (Arm C). However, the proportion of participants with primary VPC (not including velopharyngeal surgeries) was highest in Arm B (68%) and lowest in Arm C (47%). The speech outcome in terms of PCC and VPC was low across the trials. The different protocols had their pros and cons and there is no obvious evidence to recommend any of the protocols as superior. Aspects other than primary surgical method, such as time after velopharyngeal surgery, surgical experience, hearing level, language difficulties and speech therapy, need to be thoroughly reviewed for a better understanding of what has affected speech outcome at 10years. What is already known on the subject Speech outcomes at 10years of age in children treated for UCLP are sparse and contradictory. Previous studies have examined speech outcomes and the relationship with surgical intervention in 5-year-olds. What this study adds to the existing knowledge Speech outcomes based on standardized assessment in a large group of 10-year-old children born with UCLP and surgically treated according to different protocols are presented. While speech therapy had been provided, a large proportion of the children across treatment protocols still needed further speech therapy. What are the potential or actual clinical implications of this work? Aspects other than surgery and speech function might add to the understanding of what affects speech outcome. Effective speech therapy should be available for children in addition to primary surgical repair of the cleft and secondary surgeries if needed.

Cochlear Implants or Hearing Aids: Speech Perception, Language, and Executive Function Outcomes.

We aimed to determine whether children with severe hearing loss (HL) who use hearing aids (HAs) may experience added value in the perception of speech, language development, and executive function (EF) compared to children who are hard of hearing (HH) or children who are deaf and who use cochlear implants (CIs) and would benefit from CIs over HAs. The results contribute to the ongoing debate concerning CI criteria. We addressed the following research question to achieve this aim: Do children who are HH or deaf with CIs perform better than children with severe HL with HAs with respect to auditory speech perception, and receptive vocabulary and/or EF? We compared two groups of children with severe HL, profound HL or deafness, with CIs or HAs, matched for gender, test age (range, 8 to 15 years), socioeconomic status, and nonverbal intelligence quotient. Forty-three children had CIs (pure-tone average at 2000 and 4000 Hz >85 dB HL), and 27 children had HAs (mean pure-tone average: 69 dB HL). We measured speech perception at the conversational level (65 dB SPL) and the soft speech perception level (45 dB SPL). We established receptive vocabulary using the Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test-III-NL. We tested EF using the Delis Kaplan Executive Function System battery and the Dutch Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test. We employed the Mann-Whitney U test to compare data between the CI and HA groups. We used Chi-square goodness of fit tests to contrast the CI and HA group distributions with the norm data of children who are typically developing (TD). We harnessed Kendall's Tau-b to investigate relationships between the study variables. Both groups of children, with CIs and Has, obtained ceiling scores for perception of speech on a conversational level. However, the HA group exhibited significantly lower perception on a soft speech level scores (68 %) than the CI group (87%). No difference was present between the receptive vocabulary distributions of the CI and HA groups. The median receptive vocabulary standard scores for both groups were well within the normal range (CI group: 93; HA group: 96). In addition, we did not find any difference in EF between the CI and HA groups. For planning and verbal memory, the distributions of observed scores for children with CIs were different from the expected distributions of children who are TD. In both groups, a large proportion of children obtained below-average scores for planning (CI: 44%; HA: 33%) and for long-term verbal memory (CI: 44%; HA: 35%). In the HA group, perception at a soft speech level was associated with receptive vocabulary and planning. In the CI group, we did not find any associations. Both groups of children with severe and profound HL with HAs exhibit less favorable auditory perception on the soft speech level, but not at a conversational level, compared to children who are HH or deaf with CIs. Both groups, children with CIs and HAs, only exhibit more problems in planning and verbal memory than the norm groups of children who are TD. The results indicate that to obtain age-appropriate levels of receptive vocabulary and EF, the perception at the soft speech level is a necessary but not sufficient prerequisite.

Design of a Virtual Reality-Based Learning System for Spoken English

Virtual reality is an important technology that is fast gaining global attention in different spheres of life particularly in the education sector. In view of this, this study designs a distance learning system for spoken English based on virtual reality, firstly, the overall design of the teaching system and the hardware and software of the system are designed, then a double-supervised signal convolutional neural network algorithm is proposed for the speech data recognition function of the system, and finally the testing of the system performance and the simulation analysis of the algorithm are carried out. The results show that the step response curve of the system designed in this study is gradually stabilized after 11s of operation, although there are certain fluctuations in the initial stage; the speaking scoring function of the system is more influenced by the sampling period T. When T is at 3 and 4, the speaking scoring speed of the teaching system is 33s~42s, which is significantly better than other intervals. The number of information submission and feedback was approximately the same and the interaction activity was very high after students used the system designed in this study, reflecting that student were more motivated to learn spoken English after using the system. The final loss rate using Goog Le Net is smaller and more convergent compared to the loss rate of the other three CNN models trained. The convolutional neural network algorithm constructed in this study has a very high accuracy rate in the recognition of English speech data, which is significantly better than other recognition models. To a certain extent, this study can provide guidance for the construction of English-speaking distance learning system, and more needs of users can be considered in future research.

Vers la compréhension des demandes d’aide à mourir de résidents d’EHPAD. Une étude qualitative multicentrique

ContextMoving into a nursing home is the cause of considerable upheaval for the elderly. The end of life is a reality in these establishments and residents are regularly confronted with it. Death is part of life in a nursing home and at the same time, it is one of the least discussed subjects due to avoidance strategies. The desire to die can take many forms, from suicide to refusal of care, and it is studied in particular through an analysis of requests for euthanasia and assisted suicide. The studies conducted on this subject show that the wish to die is a request expressed by a significant number of patients at the end of their life, regardless of the legislation adopted by the countries. Few studies have analyzed the demand for euthanasia or assisted suicide in a country where it is prohibited. ObjectivesA qualitative study is needed to provide an in-depth analysis of the expressions used by residents who make a request for euthanasia or assisted suicide, in the specific context of nursing homes. The DESAGE study (Demandes d’Euthanasie et de Suicide Assisté des personnes Âgées) is a multi-centric qualitative study which aims to describe, analyze, and understand, through semi-directive interviews, the determinants of requests for euthanasia and assisted suicide among residents of these facilities. This research is part of a comprehensive approach to these requests based on the residents’ verbatim statements. Patients, materials and methodsThe data collection was carried out in several nursing homes in a region of eastern France near Switzerland. For inclusion in the study to be effective, explicit requests for assistance in dying had to be made to health professionals. Following inclusion, an initial semi-directive interview of the resident was conducted. A second interview took place several weeks later to understand the timing of such a request. The analysis of the data followed the logic of thematic content analysis. ResultsData collection took place from May 2019 to July 2021 in seven nursing homes in France. Seven situations were explored. These testimonies shed light on the reality of a little-investigated field and highlight meaningful life pathways. The testimonies of these individual inform us about the requests for euthanasia and assisted suicide that are made, and undeniably place them in a singular context. Suffering, whether physical or psychological, is present in the statements and death is perceived as the only solution to relieve this suffering. Multiple factors underlie it: dependence, the difficulty of finding meaning in one's current life, loneliness, the feeling of boredom, the impression of being a burden on one's loved ones. It is also linked to the fear of a deterioration of the physical state and the apprehension of the conditions at the end of life. It is rooted in an experience marked by successive, sometimes brutal, losses: physical losses linked to ageing, the loss of autonomy, the loss of reference points in the initial environment when entering a nursing home, and in some cases the loss of a spouse or main caregiver. ConclusionIt would be relevant to introduce into the daily practice of caregivers the implementation of more tools that promote, for example, the deployment of the function of restraint. Focusing on taking care of the body could be an illustration of this, because when we enhance the body, we also enhance the psyche. Moreover, the analysis of the discourse makes it possible to provide the caregivers with keys to understanding. It is an assignment to find common issues in the exchange. It is in this space of speech that the answers can be found and that an importance is given to the understanding of a common construct. The speech of a person who asks to die is an attempt to express the unspeakable, an attempt to express a singular suffering. It is essential to question the function of speech, what is at stake, and to train caregivers to confront these issues.

Teacher talk in primary school science: a focus on the exploration phase

Abstract In this article, we narrow our investigation to the talk provided by one teacher in the exploration phase of a primary school science project. The exploration phase warrants attention given its role in providing students with a common base of science activities that draws on their prior knowledge. We examine lesson excerpts from a grant-winning primary years science teacher who sets up her Year 3 students to explore garden ecosystems. The study’s analytic framework is derived from Systemic Functional Linguistics and focuses on the way the teacher uses certain aspects of ideational, interpersonal and textual functions to mediate between the instructional and regulative discourses. Our findings show that the teacher orientated to the regulative discourse to provide students with access to an instructional discourse. Additionally, the teacher used a significant number of pronouns for signalling, and sequencing connectives that flowed on to a significant number of complex noun groups. We draw attention to the range of speech functions and comment on their role in school science lessons.

DYSARTHRIA SPEECH DISORDER ANALYSIS AS SEEN IN THE THEORY OF EVERYTHING FILM BY JAMES MARSH

Dysarthria is a type of motor speech disorder such as slurred speech and sometimes difficult to understand due to problem in articulation. ALS influence speech ability through every nerve that was controlling to the complex of speech organ problems. The researcher used three theories to analyze the data, dysarthria from Joseph R. Duffy (2013), articulation from George Yule (2010), and speech impairments from William Lee Heward (1996). The researcher used qualitative research by Ranjit Kumar (2011). Meanwhile, in data collection techniques, the researcher used documentation techniques by Sudaryono (2006). In the process of analyzing data, the researcher used descriptive analysis method from Creswell (2009). The researcher aim to represent valid data based on the findings that has analyzed. The results in dysarthria research, the researcher had found out thirteen data from five kinds of dysarthria experienced in main character is Stephen as a sufferer of ALS, they were; two flaccid, three spastic, two ataxicg, four hyperkinetic, and two mixed. The dominant problem of dysarthria is hyperkinetic that affected by speech organ functions of ALS disease. The researcher had found seven data to identify the articulation influence to speech impairments associated with dysarthria, they were; five speech sound disorders influenced by failures in the articulation that affect in loss/weakness of sound with difficulty to speech movements, and slurred speech. Two fluency disorders that influenced by abnormalities in speech motoric like as uncontrolled/broken and excessive tension in speech

Assertive Action in Indonesian Debate Competition 2019

Students must be directed to express themselves positively, especially in expressing opinions and ideas, because they have a wide range of positive potential and bright pictures that can be used as alternative suggestions, especially regarding the problems currently experienced by Indonesia. This study analyzes assertive speech acts, forms, and functions in the 2019 Indonesian Debate Competition. This research is descriptive qualitative research using content analysis methods. The research subject under study was a debate competition video with the data object in the form of utterances showing the structure of assertive speech acts. This study's data collection techniques and procedures are documentation, recordings, and transcripts. The technique used to analyze the data is descriptive qualitative analysis. The findings show that news sentences as assertive speech acts have the highest intensity at 77.85%, imperative sentences at 12.14%, and interrogative sentences at 10%. Then states as a function of influential speech acts, which has the highest power of 26.42%, shows 22.14%, informs 17.14%, suggests 10.71%, and confirms 10.71%. This research is recommended to add to the general public's insight as a consideration of teaching materials for assertive speech acts at the tertiary and secondary levels.

Therapeutic effect of alendronate in an experimental temporomandibular joint osteoarthritis.

Temporomandibular joint osteoarthritis is a common degenerative joint disease. This disease negatively affects the daily life, speech and chewing functions of patients. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of intra-articular injection of alendronate to osteoarthritis, which has a protective effect on bone and cartilage tissue and helps reduce inflammation in temporomandibular joint osteoarthritis. A total of 24 Wistar albino rats were used in the study. Rats were divided into four groups: study, saline, control and sham. In both saline and control groups, monosodium iodoacetate was injected intra-articularly to induce osteoarthritis. Alendronate was administered intra-articularly to the study group weekly for 4 weeks. In the saline group, saline was administered by intra-articular injection. At the end of the 12th week, all groups were sacrificed. Mandibular condyle tissues were examined histopathologically. According to the results, osteoarthritic changes in the control group were higher than those in the study group (p < .05). No significant reduction in osteoarthritic changes was observed in the saline group (p > .05). Significant osteoarthritis findings were observed in all groups compared with the sham group (p < .05). Intra-articular injection of alendronate was found to have positive results on TMJ osteoarthritis. In addition, it was seen that alendronate has effects on reducing cartilage tissue degeneration and loss of matrix proteins.