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Background: Hearing impairment (HI) is a common barrier to communication which impacts the HI in achieving higher educational goals, impacts them at work and leisure and can result in social exclusion. Objective: To developed Urdu Spondee Words List for establishing Speech Recognition Threshold in Urdu speaking hearing impaired population. Methods: This descriptive study was conducted in twin cities of Rawalpindi & Islamabad from July 2018 to January 2019. Study involved development of a tool called Urdu Spondee Word list (USWL) and familiarity judgement utilizing a sample of N=50 Urdu speaking participants of both genders aged 10-16 years utilizing convenience sampling, and finally voice analysis on PRATT software. SPSS version 21 was used for data analysis. Results: The results revealed that the final selected list of 18 spondee words has equally stressed syllables, with the accomplishment of the criteria of familiarity judgment for the participants. The recorded list shows minimum and maximum intensity variation of 3db to 8db in the homogenous audibility of the words making it suitable for speech recognition threshold measures. Conclusion: The developed 18 item Urdu Spondee Word list (USWL) with criteria of familiarity and homogenous audibility of words is suitable for speech recognition threshold measurement for Urdu speaking population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background • It is estimated that 25% of the patients in Pakistan experience stroke resulting in problems with language. Among many of the conditions, problem with verbal expressive production (Broca’s Aphasia) is one of the main problem faced by people having stoke. Many traditional therapies are incorporated to treat symptoms of Aphasia including fluent and non- fluent Aphasia. Objectives • The primary objective of the current study was to determine the effectiveness of Verbal Expressive Skill Management Program in Urdu (VESMP-U) with convention speech therapy, Melodic Intonation therapy (MIT) in enhancing the verbal expressive skills in patients with severe Broca’s Aphasia. Another objective of this study was to compare the efficacy of Verbal Expressive Skill Management Program in Urdu (VESMP-U) with traditional therapy, as well as the quality of life of patients with severe Broca’s Aphasia. Methods • A randomized control trial (NCT03699605, clinicaltrials.gov) was conducted from November 2018 – June 2019 in Pakistan railway Hospital (PRH). Patients having a three-month history of severe Broca’s Aphasia, aged between 40-60 years, bilingual (Urdu and English language) and having the ability to use a smart phone were included in the study. Patients with cognitive impairments were excluded. Total of 77 patients were evaluated for eligibility criteria according to the G Power software for sample size. Out of 77, 54 individuals fulfilled the inclusion criteria. The participants were divided into 2 groups (27 each) through sealed envelope method. Patients of both groups were assessed pre and post intervention using the Boston Diagnostic Aphasia Examination (BADE) battery (Primary outcome measure). Experimental group n = 25 received VESMP-U therapy and control group n = 25 (2 drop out in each group) received MIT for 16 weeks i.e. 4 days per week having 64 sessions altogether. Each intervention session lasted up to 30-45 minutes for both groups. Results • Within and between group analysis after intervention showed that the VESMP-U group had significantly improved BDAE scores (P = .001; 95% CI) than the MIT group for all variables (articulatory intelligibility, phrase length, grammatical form, prosody/intonation, spontaneous speech, word finding, repetition, and auditory comprehension). The BDAE scores of participants in experimental group having VESMP-U therapy pre- and post-intervention were statistically significant (P = .001; 95% CI), which indicates that participant’s communication skills were enhanced by use of VESMP-U. Conclusion • Android based application VESMP-U has been found to be effective in improving expression and quality of life of patients with severe Broca’s aphasia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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OBJECTIVES: To develop the naming, reading and imitation skills management programme through mobile application of patients with severe Broca's aphasia. METHODS: A pilot study with eight patients was carried out. Purposive nonprobability sampling technique was used to recruit the patients with severe Broca's aphasia who received therapy through mobile application. It contains three domains: naming, reading and imitation. The programme was developed in Urdu language. Study was conducted in Yusra General Hospital, Islamabad and Railway Hospital, Rawalpindi, Pakistan. The inclusion criteria were patients above age of 40 and three months of stroke with diagnosis of chronic Broca's aphasia, while patients with severe cognitive impairment were excluded. The pre and post score of patients was recorded. Treatment protocol included 30- 45 mints sessions, 4 days per week for total of 8 weeks. Data for each patient was analyzed based on their pre and post intervention scores. RESULTS: According to demographic variations 50.0% people lie in the age range 40-50 while 50.0% of people were 51-60 years. The mean age of sample was 49 years and 87% of participants were right handed. The pretest score on repetition was 16.25±6.96 and post-test was 60.5±9.11 (p-value=0.000). The pretest score on naming was 49.75±26.28 and post-test was 111.25±31.38 (pvalue= 0.000). The pretest reading score was 31.75±10.87 and post-test scores was 67.50±17.13 (p-value=0.000). CONCLUSION: It is concluded from the results that the naming, reading and imitation skills improved in patients with severe Broca's aphasia through management applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]