Abstract

Many of the tests used in speech and language evaluations involve visual stimuli. It is assumed that the child being tested has adequate vision to perform these tests. The present study examined the prevalence of vision problems in speech and language delayed children to determine if a routine vision screening is necessary. The study also investigated whether student speech pathologists' screening results were significantly different from an optometrist's results.

Prior to actual testing, the student speech pathologists were taught how to administer and score a vision screening composed of tests from the Modified Clinical Technique. The children were initially screened by their own clinicians and then re-screened by an optometrist. The sample population consisted of 25 children, ages three to eight years old, who were receiving therapy at the La Sierra Hearing, Language and Speech Center.

Statistical analysis found that the prevalence of visual disorders in the sample population was not significantly greater than the incidence found in the general population. Analysis of the screenings indicated that there was no significant difference between the student speech pathologists' and optometrist's results. However, when each test was compared, there was a significant difference in the results obtained for visual acuity and ocular motility dysfunction. These differences were due to over referral by the student speech pathologists.

Although results indicate that there is no significant difference between a general population and the sample population, the finding that 28 percent of the speech and language delayed children have possible visual disorders indicates that it may be beneficial to train student speech pathologists to conduct effective vision screenings as part of a complete speech and language evaluation.

LLU Discipline

Speech Pathology

Department

Speech-Language Pathology

School

Graduate School

First Advisor

Melvin S. Cohen

Second Advisor

E. Evelyn Britt

Third Advisor

J. Philip Martin

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Degree Level

M.S.

Year Degree Awarded

1981

Date (Title Page)

8-1981

Language

English

Library of Congress/MESH Subject Headings

Vision Disorders -- in infancy & childhood; Speech Disorders -- in infancy & childhood; Language Disorders -- in infancy & childhood.

Type

Thesis

Page Count

vi; 47

Digital Format

PDF

Digital Publisher

Loma Linda University Libraries

Usage Rights

This title appears here courtesy of the author, who has granted Loma Linda University a limited, non-exclusive right to make this publication available to the public. The author retains all other copyrights.

Collection

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Collection Website

http://scholarsrepository.llu.edu/etd/

Repository

Loma Linda University. Del E. Webb Memorial Library. University Archives

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