Language And Speech Models and Age Changes PPTx

swallowing is the act of…

getting food from the mouth to the stomach

define presbyglutition

• “old swallowing” aka presby dysphagia

• changes in swallowing as we age

• age-related biological and physiological changes that occur with the structures and muscles involved in swallowing

swallowing disorders can result in ___

malnutrition, dehydration, and illness

direct changes in swallowing (5)

• atrophy of laryngeal musculature

• atrophy of oral and laryngeal muscles

• dentition changes

• ossification of cartilages

• slowness and decreased range of the swallowing mechanism

indirect changes in swallowing (3)

• taste changes may impact intake

• decreased salivary flow/dry mouth

• medication side effects

communication

an exchange of information between a sender and a receiver

what are the two tools used for communication

language and speech. these make communication more efficient

language

• a complex and dynamic system of conventional symbols that is used in various modes for thought and communication

• language is RULE-GOVERNED by content, form, and use

what are the three rules of language

1. content or semantics

2. form or syntax

3. use or pragmatics

what is semantics

• aka content

• the meaning of words and the rule systems for combing words into meaningful patterns or sententces

what is syntax

• aka form

• rule system that governs word order and sentence structure

• i.e The dog chased the cat NOT Chased the cat the dog

what is morphology

• the rule system that governs structure of words and construction of word forms, smallest unit of meaning

phonology

• the sound system of language and the rules that govern the sound combinations

• i.e words in english don’t start with sd or tc

what is pragmatics

• aka use

• a system that governs social use, function or purpose of language

• the “how and why” we use language( requests, deny, affirm, what is appropriate etc.)

• pragmatics also includes body language( nonverbal and verbal rules)

speech

the acoustic representation of language

how is speech produced

through sound production created in the larynx

what are the three dimensions of speech

1. voice

   • the quality of the speech sound

2. articulation

   • how sounds are formed into speech

3. fluency

   • the smooth forward flow of speech

voice

the quality of the speech sound

what is articulation? What are the three factors

how sounds are formed into speech

1. place(where)

   • i.e bilabial, velar, lingua-dental etc.

2. manner (how)

   • burst vs long sounds (p vs s)

3. voicing (vocal fold vibration)

   • voiced vs voiceless sounds

fluency

the rhythm and flow of speech. Its smoothness, pauses, and repititions

T or F: Broca’s area is in the temporal lobe

F; its in the frontal lobe

what is broca’s area

• part of the brain responsible for speech and expressive language production

the left temporal lobe is the ___

primary comprehension cortex

T or F: wernicke’s area is in the frontal lobe

• F; located in the left temporal lobe

wernickes area(auditory cortex)

important for language comprehension and adding meaning to what we hear and read

the ___ lobe in the ___hemisphere interacts with auditory cortex in ___ for some langauge comprehension

parietal; left; temporal lobe

the __ cortex is in the frontal lobe

motor; this is responsible for speech production and motor movement

the right temporal lobe is important for processing ___

paralinguistic information like intonation, stress, and rhythm

what is the prefrontal cortex responsible for

aspects of cognition and language (mainly social or pragmatic language)

which subcortical structures are important for cognition and language

thalamus and hippocampus

what does the cerebellum do for speech

assists with control of purposeful muscle movement for speech

brain development and performance are impacted by __

heredity and environment

what do the lungs do for speech

• organ of respiration

• provide breath support for speech

diaphragm

large muscle that seperates the thoracic and abdominal cavities and many other muscles

what is the larynx

• the primary organ of sound production

• composed of cartilages, muscles and other tissue

what are the vocal folds

• muscles in the larynx that produce sound by vibrating

__ means open

abducted; this is for breathing

__ means closed

adducted

__ occur with the vocal folds for speaking

rapid vibrations

what is the resonance system

• it directs airflow for speech and contributes to the quality of speech

• made up of the pharyngeal/nasal cavities and oral cavities

  • pharynx

  • soft palate

  • hard palate

pharynx

muscular tube formed by pharyngeal walls and back of tongue

soft palate

the muscular portion of the roof of mouth( posterior)

hard palate

the boney portion of the roof of the mouth(anterior)

what is the articulatory system? Which structures does it include(7)?

• structures used to produce speech sounds. Structures move via muscles to change shape or oral cavity and shape and position of tongue. This produces speech sounds in a language

• includes

  • mandible

  • hard palate

  • soft palate

  • tongue

  • teeth

  • lips

  • cheeks

communication can be indirectly influenced by which social factors__

• role transition, financies, isolation, and illness

communication can be indirectly influenced by which physical factors ___

• sensory

  • vision

  • hearing

  • touch, taste

  • temperature

  • sensation

• medications

• perceived health status

auditory comprehension

understanding of content, form, and use of language

T or F: Vocabulary comprehension never changes

• F; it tends to be maintained or grows

a slight but consistent decline in language comprehension may be due to__

• slowed processing time.

• can also decline because of added auditory or visual distractions and removing visual cues

Which hemisphere branch of sentences is harder for a senior to understand

• left branch sentences are harder

  LEFT: Although it was difficult, Sally was able to finish the test on time

  RIGHT: Sally was able to finish the test on time, although it was difficult

Name five factors that negatively impact comprehension

1. Hearing loss

2. Poor acoustics/noise

3. Multiple speakers at once

4. Rapid topic shift

5. Unfamiliar context

6. Rapid speech rate

7. Unfamiliar accent

Name five factors that positively impact comprehension

1. Quiet environments

2. Good acoustics

3. Speaker uses appropriate rate

4. Repeat, rephrase, summarize

5. One speaker at a time

6. Clear transitions

__ changes affect reading comprehension

visual. important to note that previous experience with reading affects reading comprehension as you get older

what are the two types of written expression. Which one is easier for seniors?

1. narrative

2. expository

• Expository is easier

what does narrative mean when it comes to reading comprehension

• someone’s personal story

• creative

• contains abstract language

• no definite chronology of events, flashbacks etc.

what does expository mean when it comes to reading comprehension

• factual

• organized

• concise

• doesn’t include information that isn’t strictly necessary

name five factors that negatively impact reading comprehension

• Visual changes/presbyopia

• Medium

• Type of text

• Organization/style of text

• Distractions

name five factors that enhance reading comprehension

• Allow time for reading

• Consider visual needs

• Good organization

• Reduce distractions

• Baseline interests and levels should be considered

T or F: verbal naming abilities decline, even while vocabulary comprehension continues to grow

T; changes in naming abilities may be due to retrieval problems

what are common retrieval problems (verbal expression)

• tip of tongue study

• recall of proper names is most difficult

• less fluency more circumlocutions on naming tasks

• story recall

T or F: when it comes to verbal expression, phonology and morphology experience changes as we age

F; no there are no significant changes or frank errors

what happens to our command of syntax as we age

• some decrease in complexity with increase in sentence length

• may use less grammatical forms

• NO FRANK ERRORS

what is verbal fragmentation

an increase in pauses, increase in length of pauses, increase in interjections and revisions

name a cohesion problem that increases with age

use of ambiguous pronouns increases

Grandchild: “What’s new grandpa?”

Grandpa: “Oh yesterday he had to go to the store to get   some, then we went to lunch.”

what are some declines in written expression

• may be some decline in sentence complexity( syntax)

• decline in spelling accuracy for irregularly spelled words

• slower at typing

• slower at editing

what are the physical changes to the respiratory system as we age? What does this mean functionally?

• the lungs adapt well to the aging process

• increased stiffness in the cartilage and muscles used for respiration

• illness may cause decline( lung cancer etc.)

Functionally this may result in changes in the loudness and timing parameters of the voice.

What are the functionality changes of the respiratory system that occur with aging

• fewer syllables per breath group

• decreased maximum phonation time

• increased starting volume

physical age related changes in the larynx include

• bowing or gap in vocal folds

  • more in males

• edema or swelling

  • more in females

• atrophy of larynx

  • more in males

what are the functional age-related changes to the larynx

• SPEECH PRODUCTION DOES NOT CHANGE

• increased breathiness or hoarseness

• decrease in pitch in females and increase in pitch in males

• pitch range across both genders decreases

• tremors in both sexes

what are the three physical age related changes in the articulatory system

1. compromised dentition: the arrangement or condition of the teeth in an individual

2. muscle atrophy

3. degeneration of nerves and sensory receptors

what are the three functional age related changes in the articulatory system

• decrease in speed of articulatory movements

• loss of precision in articulatory contacts

• change in articulation “slutty perception”

T or F: there are no speech changes as a result of an aging articulatory system

T; no significant changes unless system is stressed until 85+