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Nau mai haere mai. Join us for a three-year PhD studentship within the Centre for International Health, University of Otago. The team is a collaboration between researchers in the Waikato [...]

We'd sound cliched if we told you that you deserve a break. But you do. Let us help. For the past six months we've been all over the map, tapping […]

The Children of parents with a Mental Illness National Initiative is a three-year project designed to promote better mental health outcomes for children of parents with a mental illness. It [...]

This study investigated biological factors, which may influence the time taken for children to wean from enteral to oral intake. Retrospective case-note audit of 62 tube-fed children (nasogastric or percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy) aged 6 months to 8 years, participating in an intensive tube weaning program. Program design included family-focused mealtimes, child autonomy, and appetite stimulation. A regression model was developed, which shows the combination of variables with the most predictive power for time taken to wean. Data from 62 children who were highly dependent (minimum 93% of calories provided enterally) on tube feeding for an extended period of time (mean = 2.1 years) were analysed. Children's mean body mass index zscore at time of weaning was -0.47 (standard deviation 1.03) (mean weight = 10.54 kg) and 54 (87%) presented with a range of medical conditions. Forty-four children (71%) remained completely tube free at 3 months postintervention and an additional 5 children (10%) were fully tube weaned within 10 months of program commencement. Type of feeding tube, medical complexity, age, and length of time tube fed all significantly correlated with time taken to wean. Logistic regression modelling indicated that the type of feeding tube in combination with the degree of medical complexity and time tube fed were the strongest predictors of time taken to wean. Biological factors usually considered to impact on successful weaning from tube feeding (volume of oral intake, oral skill, or mealtime behaviours) were not relevant; however, the type of feeding tube in combination with the degree of medical complexity and time tube fed were the strongest predictors. The impact of psychosocial factors should be investigated to identify if these mitigated the effects of the biological variables.

ABSTRACTThe oral language assessment of bilingual children is challenging. The assessment practices and challenges faced by speech-language pathologists (SLPs) in countries where bilingualism is the norm have not been well investigated. This paper summarizes what is known about recommended bilingual assessment measures and their limitations. This leads to the investigation of the assessment measures used and challenges faced by SLPs working in Singapore, an English speaking and predominantly bilingual country. SLPs working with children in Singapore were invited to participate in an online survey that centerd on the themes of assessment practices and challenges via email invitations. A total of 26 responses were analysed. Results indicated that although the majority of the SLPs were bilingual, they too faced many challenges in assessing bilingual children’s language skills. The lack of appropriate local assessment tools, data on the developmental trajectories of local languages and, the lack of practice guidelines on bilingual assessment and alternative measures have resulted in SLPs using standardized assessments that were not designed for use with the population. Despite recommendations from the literature, there was also inadequate use of alternative assessment measures. Given the diversity of bilingual children’s language background and development, alternative assessments should be further explored to evaluate their skills rather than further efforts to modify or re-norm current validated standardized assessments.

Placements provide opportunities for students to develop practice skills in professional settings. Learning in placements may be challenging for culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) students, international students, or those without sufficient English proficiency for professional practice. This study investigated whether these factors, which are hypothesized to influence acculturation, predict poor placement outcome. Placement outcome data were collected for 854 students who completed 2747 placements. Placement outcome was categorized into ‘Pass’ or ‘At risk’ categories. Multilevel binomial regression analysis was used to determine whether being CALD, an international student, speaking ‘English as an additional language’, or a ‘Language other than English at home’ predicted placement outcome. In multiple multilevel analysis speaking English as an additional language and being an international student were significant predictors of ‘at risk’ placements, but other variables tested were not. Effect sizes were small indicating untested factors also influenced placement outcome. These results suggest that students’ English as an additional language or international student status influences success in placements. The extent of acculturation may explain the differences in placement outcome for the groups tested. This suggests that learning needs for placement may differ for students undertaking more acculturative adjustments. Further research is needed to understand this and to identify placement support strategies.

A demographic survey of speech pathologists was conducted in Australia to investigate the use of augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) with adults with acquired neurologic communication disabilities. Questionnaires were distributed to all speech pathologists who were members of the Australian Association of Speech and Hearing and listed themselves as working with an adult or mixed caseload. Questions related to the clinician's background, experience and interest in AAC, knowledge of and expertise with high and low technology systems, and factors related to successful outcomes for clients. Subjective data from the questionnaire were collated and the results and their implications are discussed.

Several letters to the editor are presented in response to the articles in March 2008 issue including "Creature Comfort," by Carol Buckley, "Yoga Shouldn't Hurt," by Roger Cole, and "Museum of Modern Yoga," by Jill Duman.

Looks at the problems associated with cellular telephone call transmission in Los Angeles County, California. Number of cellular phone users in Southern California; Efforts of L.A. Cellular and Airtouch to improve the situation.

Looks at the privileges of residence in the White House.

Presents information on the design by the 1947 engineer A.M. Nash. Description of his design; Reference made to the Harbor and Pasadena freeways in California commonly referred to as the Four Level; Indepth look at the four levels of the design.

Presents several facts about fathers and fatherhood, and other related issues, in the United States. Rank of Father's Day among American card-sending occasions; Cost of a Blood Mary at Dad's Bar & Grill in Bell; Child support collected in Los Angeles County of California in 1966; Life span of `Father Knows Best' in domestic syndicated reruns.

Presents a list of terms and their definitions used in Los Angeles, California. Definition of backdoor, fire pit and others.

Presents facts about cemeteries in Los Angeles (L.A.) County, California. Total number of graves in L.A.; Annual burials; Number of cemeteries in L.A; Average costs of burials; Cost of graves at Westwood Memorial Park; Daily visitors to Marilyn Monroe's crypt at Westwood; Number of bodied legally required to constitute a cemetery; Oldest cemetery in L.A.; Number of Jewish cemeteries; Pet cemeteries in L.A.

Lists several American English colloquial terms and their definitions in Los Angeles, California. Includes work the curb; Slice; Outside belt.

Presents words from massage therapist lingo in Los Angeles, California. Includes `yapper,' `cruise control,' `cardigan,' `lawnmower,' and `boulders.'