[Intonation and duration curve in Persian interrogative sentences]

Prosody is a very important factor in communication and includes such parameters as: duration, intonation, pitch, stress, rhythm etc. Intonation is the pitch variation in one sentence. Duration is the time taken to utter a voice. The aim of the present study was to evaluate some parameters of prosody such as duration and intonation curve in interrogative sentences among normal Farsi speaking adults in order to determine the characteristics of this aspect of language with an emphasis on laboratory testing. This study was performed as a cross-sectional one. The participants included 134 male and female Farsi speaking individuals aging between 18-30 years. In this study two interrogative sentences with open and closed answers were used. The voice samples were analyzed by Dr. speech -real analysis software. Data analysis incorporated unilateral analysis of variance and an intonation curve was drawn for each sentence. The parameter of duration among men and women was significantly different [p

[Comparing of two Farsi passages in laboratory evaluation of mean and fundamental frequency variations range]

Voice disorders assess with the help of laboratory equipments and perceptual evaluation. Voice samples involve vowel prolongation, text-reading or conversational speech. In Iran, Rainbow text and Grandfather text, were developed for assessing voice. This study was cross-sectional and descriptive-analytical. Mean and fundamental frequency variations range in 120 normal males and females aging from 20-59 years old were studied. Voice samples of reading both texts were gathered and compared. Mean fundamental frequency in males in Grandfather text was 137.93 with SD 1.2 and in Rainbow text was 135.09 with SD 1.1 [p>0.05], in females Grandfather and Rainbow texts were 206.07 with SD 0.9 and 204.23 with SD 2.1, respectively [p>0.05]. Fundamental frequency variations range in Grandfather text in males was 88.10 with SD 0.8 and in females was 116.77 with SD 1.3 and in Rainbow text in males was 90.92 with SD 1.1, in females was 116.08 with SD 1.2 [p>0.05]. Mean fundamental frequency of males in each text didn't show significant difference in age groups and just in 50-59 age group of the female population showed significant difference. Fundamental frequency variations range didn't show significant difference in males and females in both texts. These two texts were the same in measurement of average and fundamental frequency variations range in adults. Significant difference showed between 50-59 age group of the female population and other groups

[ perception and expression of nouns in 2.5 to 4 year-old normal Persian-speaking children in Arak, Central Iran]

The words are the symbolic tools for communication. Nouns are the initial and the most frequent components of language that children acquire and use during the procedure of language development. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the noun perception and expression abilities in Persian-speaking children, as well as gathering the normative data for two picture-pointing and picture-naming tests. In this cross-sectional study, 110 normal Persian-speaking children [54 girls and 56 boys], 2.5 to 4 year-old in four groups, were selected randomly throughout Arak kindergartens. Two pictorial perception and expression tests were performed in this study. Mean scores of perception and expression was statistically different between all age groups, except 3 and 3.5 year-old groups [p<0.05]. There was no statistically difference between mean scores of girls and boys. In addition, a significant positive correlation between mean scores of perception and expression was shown [p=0.001, r=0.896]. The perception and expression abilities are different in 4 age groups. The two picture pointing and picture-naming tests can show these differences. Regardless of rapid development of perception, perception and expression abilities develop in parallel, and the ability of girls and boys shows similar trends

Effects of phoneme type on pronouncing the initial phoneme of a word in normal 5-6 year-old Persian-speaking children

Pronouncing phonemes is one of phoneme awareness skills that influences on reading and writing skills. The development of this skill stats in ages 5-6, but doesn't evolve in these ages. Many variables [the number of phonemes, the position of phonemes in word and the type of phonemes] may influence on this skill. In this study, the ability of pronouncing initial phonemes and the effects of type of phoneme on this skill were evaluated. This analytic-descriptive study was performed on 100 normal and 5-6 year-old Persian-speaking children [50 girls and 50 boys] who were randomly selected. The tool of this study was pronouncing initial phonemes task. This task was included of 6 questions. The responses of children were recorded and registered and analyzed using paired sample t-test. The comparison of data between girls and boys was assessed by independent t-test the ability of pronouncing initial phonemes in 5-6 year-old Persian-Speaking children was 0.68. The effects of the manner of articulation was significantly more than those of articulation position and voiced and voiceless [p=0.000]. The ability of children in pronouncing fricative phonemes was significantly more than other phonemes [p=0.000]. Mean scores of girls and boys was not significantly different [p=0.57]. The ability of pronouncing initial phonemes develops in early 5-6 ages. The type of phoneme influences on the ability of pronouncing initial phonemes in 5 to 6 year-old children. It seems that the effects of manner of articulation is more than the position of articulation and voiced and voiceless. The ability of pronouncing initial fricative phonemes was significantly more than other phonemes in 5-6 year-old children. In this task, the skills of girls and boys were the same

[Content validity of Tavana: a test for evaluation of auditory skills of 3-4 year-old hearing-impaired Persian children]

Evaluation of hearing-impaired children's auditory skills by a valid test is very important before starting auditory training. There are many different tests available for languages other than Persian, and some limited Persian tests for children above 5 year of age as well. Accordingly considering the importance of early intervention, we aimed to design a test for evaluating auditory skill of 3-4 year-old hearing-impaired Persian [Farsi] children, which is not available to date. The study method was test [scale] construction. The test named Tavana includes four subtests: detection, discrimination, identification and sentence comprehension. For determining content validity of the test, the vocabulary of 3-4 year-old normal-hearing and hearing-impaired children and also the comments of seven specialists were applied. We classified 10, 10, 8 and 6 sub skills for 1[st] to 4[th] subtests, respectively. The content validity of Tavana test's subskills were 100%, 83%, 96% and 95%, respectively [mean=94%]. Mean time for test performance was 82 minutes. Content validity of Tavana test was 94% which was statistically valid compared to Modarres test [97%] and Mazaheryazdi test [88%]

[Syllabic elision ability in 5 to 6 year-old normal Persian-speaking children of Tehran kindergarten, Iran]

Phonological awareness skill is an integrated ability that is manifested in 4 skills including syllable, rhyme, and phoneme awareness and alliteration. The aim of the present study is to explore development of syllabic elision skill as an aspect of syllabic awareness. It was descriptive-analytic cross-sectional study. Thirty normal Persian-speaking children, 15 girls and 15 boys, were randomly selected throughout Tehran kindergarten. The participants were monolingual. Children should eliminate a syllable from any word presented, and to state the remaining section of the word. The responses were analyzed using SPSS software. Ability of 5 to 6 year-old children in eliminating a syllable in two syllabic words was significantly higher than those of three and four syllabic words and syllabic elision of three and four syllabic words as significantly different [p=0.000]. Two, three and four syllabic task correlations were statistically significant and the correlation between syllabic elision ability and the syllabic construct and the positioning of elision syllable was significant [p<0.05]. Syllabic elision skill blossoms in 5 to 6 year-old Persian-speaking children. The maximum ability of syllabic elision evolves after phonological recording and after learning reading and writing skills. Syllabic elision ability is also influenced by the syllabic construct and the positioning of elision syllable

Designing a Farsi text for the assessment of adult voice features and determining its validity and reliability in measuring the fundamental frequency and intensity of speech

The every possible attempt in voice disorders assessment is to gather samples which represent individuals' actual voice in the daily speech. The researchers have found that voice characteristics in reading a passage are closer to daily speech. Making texts has been started since early 20th century. The lack of suitable text in Farsi language makes it difficult to conduct requisite researches and present documentary results of interventions. Researchers believe that Sara lip reading test which had been used for voice studies in Farsi language is not appropriate. The goal of this study is to make an appropriate text for assessing the voice characteristics which is also effective for both research and clinical goals. The required text was made by the study of the characteristics of used texts in other languages, considering the Dr. Speech software limitations in analyzing duration of stimuli and the results from investigations used Sara lip reading test. The content validity of this text was assessed. Its reliability was determined by test-retest method. The content validity of the text was confirmed by the university professors. In examining the reliability, it was indicated that measuring the studied characteristics has a high reliability. There was a general consensus among university professors about the text validity. In examining the reliability, Cronbach?s alpha was more than 0.7 in studied variables. Considering the confirmed validity and reliability, it can be concluded that this text can be used for assessing voice characteristics in voice studies in normal samples

[Development and comparison of tasks for assessment of first phoneme of word in normal 5 to 6 year-old Persian-speaking children]

Phonological awareness skills are referred to awareness and manipulation of linguistic phonemes without semantics. One of important phonological awareness subtest is [phoneme awareness] that is evaluated by many tasks. The aim of this study was to development two sections of phoneme awareness [diagnosis of a word with different first phoneme and expressing word with same first phoneme] and then comparison of them in 5 to 6 year-old Persian-speaking in Tehran. In this study, 100 normal 5 to 6 year-old Persian-speaking children [50 girls and 50 boys] were selected randomly. Children were mono linguistic and normal. Diagnosis of a word with different first phoneme and expressing word with same first phoneme was selected as a tool. The results showed that both sections have appropriate validity and reliability. Mean of two sections was significantly different [diagnosis of a word with different first phoneme= 1.09 and expressing word with same first phoneme= 4.67] [P=0.000]. In addition, the mean scores of girls and boys were not statistically different. Both sections for assessment of first phoneme of word have good validity and reliability and the ability of children were different in two tasks, but girls and boys were same in performing of these tasks

[ effect of new modified foot orthosis on improving the quality of daily life, sport and recreational activities in patients with plantar fasciitis]

Plantar fasciitis is due to irritation and inflammation of the plantar fascia, which may occur in patients aged 30-60 years old. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of new modified foot arthosis on improving the quality of daily life, sport and recreational activities in patients with plantar fasciitis. This clinical trial study was done at orthotics and prosthetics clinics in Tehran during Aug 2007 to May 2008. 15 patients with plantar fasciitis including 4 male and 11 female with ranging age 25-45 yrs old [35 +/- 5.02] were selected by non probability sampling. Patients used new modified foot orthosis. FAOS questionnaire was used for evaluating the activity daily life and sport and recreational activities. 2 stages included: once before intervention and the second stage after 4 weeks after intervention. Data analysis has been done with paired T-Test, Smironov-Kolomogrov by SPSS-13. Quality of daily life was 44.30 +/- 10.16 before interventional treatment and 61.08 +/- 16.26 after intervention and difference between two stages was not statistically significant. The results for sport and recreational activity were 26.50 +/- 10.09 before interventional treatment and 52.50 +/- 12.23 after intervention and difference between two stages was statistically significant [P<0.05]. This study showed that the new modified foot orthosis was no effective on improving of activity daily life but, was effective in sport and recreational activities in patients with plantar fasciitis

[Auditory site of lesion in infants suffering from hyperbilirubinemia by using ABR and TEOAE]

Hyperbilirubinemia is one of the most common abnormalities during the neonatal period. Approximately 60% full-term and 80% preterm neonates suffer from hyperbilirubinemia. Hearing loss is one of the most prevalent side-effects of hyperbilirubinemia. This happens when the serum concentration of indirect bilirubin increases dramatically. The main purpose of this study is to evaluate the hearing status and to diagnose the probable site of lesion in affected children. In this cross-sectional study, 33 newborn to two year old subjects suffering from hyperbilirubinemia were evaluated using auditory brainstem response [ABR] and transient evoked otoacoustic emissions [TEOAE] tests In the Audiology department of the Faculty of Rehabilitation Sciences Iran University of Medical Sciences sampling method was accessible. 21% of the subjects had severe to profound hearing loss and 9% of subjects had mild to moderate hearing loss. In 15% of the subjects there was no response to ABR and TEOAE tests indicating cochlear and/or retrocochlear lesion. The other 15% manifest only abnormal ABR test indicating the presence of the auditory neuropathy. TEOAE test has its own limitations in these subjects, that is the hearing status of such patients can not be completely evaluated by using just TEOAE test. Therefore, to detect hearing loss both ABR and TEOAE tests must be performed in these subjects