ORCID Profile
0000-0002-5857-9460
Current Organisations
Cyprus University of Technology
,
University of South Australia
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Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 2013
Publisher: Walter de Gruyter GmbH
Date: 12-2020
Abstract: Variation involving a switch between pre- and post-verbal placement of pronominal object clitics in a single syntactic environment within a language is unexpected. The rationale why this would not be expected is clear: Languages pattern as either proclitic or enclitic with respect to object clitic placement, possibly allowing one or the other option across different syntactic environments. We provide an overview of our research from data collected in Cyprus, related to the development and use of pronominal object clitics for child populations and adult speakers that are bilectal in Cypriot and Standard Modern Greek. While it has been shown that the tested bilectal populations receive exposure to more than one distinct grammar, including mixed grammars with optional choices for clitic placement, an important question remains unaddressed: Is variation really “free” across all speakers or are there universally reliable predictors (such as gender, age, or level of education) that mediate a consistent use of either the standard or the dialect? Combining insights from targeted elicitation tasks administered to different groups, a corpus of spontaneous speech, and an extensive literature review, we show the weakness of such purported predictors and support a claim of free variation.
Publisher: Informa UK Limited
Date: 04-03-2011
Publisher: Cambridge University Press (CUP)
Date: 03-2013
DOI: 10.1017/S1366728913000035
Abstract: We report on object and action picture-naming accuracy in two groups of bilectal speakers in Cyprus, children with typical language development (TLD) and children with specific language impairment (SLI). Object names were overall better retrieved than action names by both groups. Given that comprehension for action names was relatively intact for all children, this finding is taken to be the result of a breakdown at the interface of the semantic lexicon and phonological representations, or access to them. The results complement similar research on English, a minimally inflected language in contrast to Greek. Overall, cross-linguistic word class effects provide strong evidence for the hypothesis that grammatical category is an organizing principle shared across languages. Finally, our results suggest that bilectal children with SLI present with general lexical delay rather than a deficit in verb naming per se.
Publisher: Informa UK Limited
Date: 24-07-2009
Publisher: Frontiers Media SA
Date: 08-10-2021
DOI: 10.3389/FPSYG.2021.717449
Abstract: This study investigates the acquisition of grammatical gender in Heritage Greek as acquired by children (6–8 years of age) and adolescents (15–18 years) growing up in Adelaide, South Australia. The determiner elicitation task from Varlokosta (2005) was employed to assess the role of morphological and semantic cues when it comes to gender assignment for real and novel nouns. Ralli’s (1994) inflectional classes for Greek nouns and Anastasiadi-Symeonidi and Cheila-Markopoulou’s (2003) categories of prototypicality were employed in the analysis of the collected data. The performance of heritage speakers was compared to that of monolingual speakers from Greece ( Varlokosta, 2011 ). The results indicate that–beyond age differences in the two groups–a formal phonological rule guides gender assignment in the production of heritage speakers which departs from initial expectations.
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 04-2016
DOI: 10.1016/J.COGNITION.2015.12.002
Abstract: Several investigations report a positive effect of childhood bilingualism on executive control (EC). An issue that has remained largely unexamined is the role of the typological distance between the languages spoken by bilinguals. In the present study we focus on children who grow up with Cypriot Greek and Standard Modern Greek, two closely related varieties that differ from each other on all levels of language analysis (vocabulary, pronunciation, grammar). We compare the EC performance of such bilectal children to that of English-Greek multilingual children in Cyprus and Standard Modern Greek-speaking monolingual children in Greece. A principal component analysis on six indicators of EC revealed two distinct factors, which we interpreted as representing working memory and inhibition. Multilingual and bilectal children exhibited an advantage over monolinguals that was evident across EC factors and emerged only after statistically controlling for their lower language proficiency. These results demonstrate that similar EC advantages as previously reported for 'true' bilingual speakers can be found in bilectal children, which suggests that minimal typological distance between the varieties spoken by a child suffices to give rise to advantages in EC. They further indicate that the effect of speaking more than one language or dialect on EC performance is located across the EC system without a particular component being selectively affected. This has implications for models of the locus of the bilingual advantage in EC performance. Finally, they show that the emergence of EC advantages in bilinguals is moderated by the level of their language proficiency.
Publisher: Informa UK Limited
Date: 02-2013
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 08-2020
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 2012
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 07-2009
DOI: 10.1016/J.BANDL.2009.01.004
Abstract: Verb production in sentences was investigated in two groups of late bilingual Greek-English speakers: in iduals with anomic aphasia and a control group. Verb retrieval in sentences was significantly impaired in both languages for the in iduals with anomic aphasia. Additional results revealed no effect of instrumentality on action naming in sentences in either language. However, there was a negative effect of verb-noun name relation on instrumental verb production in English only. Results confirm intact verb lemma retrieval for this group of bilingual in iduals with anomic aphasia, but a breakdown at the level of accessing the phonological or lexical form.
Publisher: Informa UK Limited
Date: 27-06-2021
Publisher: Equinox Publishing
Date: 22-06-2022
DOI: 10.1558/JMBS.20329
Abstract: The term developmental language disorder (DLD) refers to the condition in which a child fails to achieve the speech and language milestones that are expected for his/her chronological age. The disorder is often linked to a series of add-on effects such as learning difficulties, trouble with socializing, problematic behaviour and low self-esteem. According to the international literature, DLD affects approximately 7% of school children in mainstream education. This paper reports on research conducted in Cyprus aiming to map the services provided by speech and language therapists (SLTs) to children with DLD. A questionnaire containing key areas of enquiry was developed and distributed to professionals working with DLD in Cyprus. A total of 44 responses were submitted by SLTs who provide services to in iduals with DLD. The findings showed that the majority of children with DLD are diagnosed with a mixed receptive/expressive language disorder and are, on average, 7 years of age. The speech therapy interventions provided by professionals were twice a week and were most often on an in idual basis. The maximum number of sessions was not pre-determined. Findings underscored the need for further research in defining service provision issues for children with DLD in Cyprus.
Publisher: Frontiers Media SA
Date: 13-10-2017
Publisher: Walter de Gruyter GmbH
Date: 21-12-2016
Abstract: This cross-sectional study evaluated the relationship between dysphagia post-total laryngectomy (TL) and quality of life (QoL) of people who reside in Greece. This is the first such report to be undertaken on the topic. Speech and language therapists typically use patient judgement to identify difficulties with swallowing. The Greek adaptations of the M.D. Anderson Dysphagia Inventory (MDADI) and the Eating Assessment Tool (EAT-10) were completed by members of the Hellenic Association of Laryngectomees (HAL). More than 400 questionnaires were sent, but only 23 were returned (18 males and 5 females). The results revealed that dysphagia has a negative impact on the QoL of people who have undergone TL for treatment of laryngeal cancer. It appears that not only treatment (i.e. TL) of the primary disease, but also secondary problems as a result of the treatment, such as dysphagia, have a significant impact on the QoL of patients and must be taken into consideration when therapeutic decisions for laryngeal cancer are made. The qualitative measures used here provide a starting point to objectively describe QoL as perceived by TL patients. This is particularly pertinent in Greece where access to delivery and quality of health services has been challenging because of recent fiscal constraints.
Publisher: MDPI AG
Date: 08-04-2022
DOI: 10.3390/NU14081559
Abstract: The study aims to explore the lifestyle profile of adult in iduals with cardiovascular and endocrine diseases in Cyprus. Age and sex-specific analyses were applied. A representative s le of the general adult population was recruited during 2018–2019 using stratified s ling among the five government-controlled municipalities of the Republic of Cyprus. Data on Mediterranean diet adherence, quality of sleep, smoking status, physical activity, Body Mass Index, and the presence of cardiovascular and endocrine diseases were collected using a validated questionnaire. Diseases were classified according to the International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision (ICD-10). A total of 1140 men and women over 18 years old (range: 18–94) participated in the study. The prevalence of cardiovascular and endocrine diseases among the adult general population of Cyprus was 24.8% and 17.2%, respectively, with a higher prevalence of cardiovascular diseases in men, and a higher prevalence of endocrine diseases in women. Among in iduals with cardiovascular disease, 23.3% were aged between 18–44 years old, while the corresponding percentage among endocrine disease in iduals was 48%. The prevalence of smoking, physical activity, a low adherence to the Mediterranean diet, poor quality of sleep and obesity among the study population was 35.5%, 48.0%, 32.9%, 39.0% and 13.6%, respectively. In iduals with cardiovascular and endocrine diseases were characterized by poor quality of sleep, inadequate physical activity, and a higher BMI. This is the first study in Cyprus exploring the profile of in iduals with cardiovascular and endocrine diseases in Cyprus. Health promotion and educational programs focusing on the importance of sleep quality, healthier dietary habits, physical activity, and lower BMIs among people with cardiovascular and endocrine diseases should be developed.
Publisher: Brill
Date: 2015
DOI: 10.1163/15699846-01501003
Abstract: The MacArthur-Bates Communicative Development Inventory ( CDI ) has been widely used to study children’s word production in both monolingual and bilingual contexts, in typical and atypical populations, and for the study of different aspects of language development, such as the use of mutual exclusivity. In this study, an adaptation of the CDI in Cypriot Greek is used to collect production data for post-vocabulary spurt children growing up in a bilectal community, where two different varieties of a language are used. Parents report that their children use translation equivalents for a single concept, and these increase as their total word production increases. Also girls seem to produce more translation equivalents than boys overall. This suggests that lexical development in bilectal communities might be more similar to bilingual rather than monolingual development, and that mutual exclusivity does not constrain word usage in such populations even during early word production.
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 05-09-2022
DOI: 10.1186/S40900-022-00379-1
Abstract: Patient and Public Involvement (PPI) is the active partnership between researchers, patients and laypeople in the process of creating research. PPI in stroke aphasia research aims to ensure equal opportunities for informed decision-making and guarantee democratic representation of patient partners within the research team. Yet, little is known about the factors that hinder and/or promote the autonomous involvement of people with aphasia in stroke and aphasia PPI projects. This study aimed to explore the views and perspectives of people who live with chronic stroke, with and without aphasia, with experience in research prior to stroke, on their potential involvement as research partners. The research team included a PPI partner with chronic stroke-induced aphasia. Semi-structured interviews were conducted online with people with chronic stroke (n = 8), four with aphasia and four without. Interviews were subject to thematic analysis. Inductive thematic analysis generated four themes: (1) the kinds of Restrictions that make involvement in research difficult, (2) the preferred levels and ways of Involvement during the research process, (3) the Support required for active and collaborative involvement , and (4) the Impact of their involvement and how it benefits the study’s outcomes. People experiencing chronic stroke and aphasia are willing to be involved as PPI partners if the research team provides the necessary support. Recommendations for researchers to consider before commencing co-produced research with people with stroke and aphasia are provided.
Publisher: Informa UK Limited
Date: 07-03-2016
Publisher: Informa UK Limited
Date: 19-07-2018
DOI: 10.1080/02699206.2018.1495766
Abstract: The language abilities of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) are highly variable. More insight is needed into the mechanisms that underlie co-morbid language impairments (LI) in children with ASD (henceforth, ASD-LI) across complex lexical and/or grammatical phenomena, particularly for languages beyond English. The present study tested the comprehension and production of two-constituent compound words at the single-word level for Greek (e.g.,
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 2008
DOI: 10.1016/J.JCOMDIS.2007.02.001
Abstract: In the past verb retrieval problems were associated primarily with agrammatism and noun retrieval difficulties with fluent aphasia. With regards to fluent aphasia, so far in the literature, three distinct patterns of verb/noun dissociations have been described for in iduals with fluent anomic aphasia in languages with different underlying forms better verb retrieval, poorer verb retrieval and equal retrieval difficulties for verbs and nouns. Verbs and nouns in Greek are considered of similar morphological complexity thus it was predicted that anomic aphasic in iduals would suffer from a non-dissociated impairment of verbs and nouns. Problems with verbs and/or nouns may arise at any stage in the process of lexical retrieval, i.e. lexical-semantic, lemma, lexeme or articulation. The aim of this research was to investigate verb and noun retrieval using a picture-naming task to explore any possible selective noun and/or verb comprehension or retrieval deficits in Greek in iduals with anomic aphasia. The results revealed a significant verb/noun dichotomy with verbs significantly more difficult to retrieve than nouns. These findings lend support for the growing body of evidence showing a specific verb impairment in fluent anomic in iduals as well as Broca's patients. Given the prevailing view, that anomic patients experience difficulty retrieving the morpho-phonological form of the target word, the results show that specific information of the grammatical category is also important during word form retrieval. LEARNER OUTCOMES: The reader will become familiar with (i) studies investigating grammatical word class breakdown in in iduals with aphasia who speak different languages, (ii) the application of the serial model to word production breakdown in aphasia and (iii) the characteristics of verbs and nouns in Greek. It will be concluded that successful verb retrieval for fluent aphasic in iduals who speak Greek is dependant on the retrieval of the morpho-phonological information of the target verb.
Publisher: National Institute for Health and Care Research
Date: 09-2022
DOI: 10.3310/RTLH7522
Abstract: People with language problems following stroke (aphasia) benefit from speech and language therapy. Optimising speech and language therapy for aphasia recovery is a research priority. The objectives were to explore patterns and predictors of language and communication recovery, optimum speech and language therapy intervention provision, and whether or not effectiveness varies by participant subgroup or language domain. This research comprised a systematic review, a meta-analysis and a network meta-analysis of in idual participant data. Participant data were collected in research and clinical settings. The intervention under investigation was speech and language therapy for aphasia after stroke. The main outcome measures were absolute changes in language scores from baseline on overall language ability, auditory comprehension, spoken language, reading comprehension, writing and functional communication. Electronic databases were systematically searched, including MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature, Linguistic and Language Behavior Abstracts and SpeechBITE (searched from inception to 2015). The results were screened for eligibility, and published and unpublished data sets (randomised controlled trials, non-randomised controlled trials, cohort studies, case series, registries) with at least 10 in idual participant data reporting aphasia duration and severity were identified. Existing collaborators and primary researchers named in identified records were invited to contribute electronic data sets. In idual participant data in the public domain were extracted. Data on demographics, speech and language therapy interventions, outcomes and quality criteria were independently extracted by two reviewers, or available as in idual participant data data sets. Meta-analysis and network meta-analysis were used to generate hypotheses. We retrieved 5928 in idual participant data from 174 data sets across 28 countries, comprising 75 electronic (3940 in idual participant data), 47 randomised controlled trial (1778 in idual participant data) and 91 speech and language therapy intervention (2746 in idual participant data) data sets. The median participant age was 63 years (interquartile range 53–72 years). We identified 53 unavailable, but potentially eligible, randomised controlled trials (46 of these appeared to include speech and language therapy). Relevant in idual participant data were filtered into each analysis. Statistically significant predictors of recovery included age (functional communication, in idual participant data: 532, n = 14 randomised controlled trials) and sex (overall language ability, in idual participant data: 482, n = 11 randomised controlled trials functional communication, in idual participant data: 532, n = 14 randomised controlled trials). Older age and being a longer time since aphasia onset predicted poorer recovery. A negative relationship between baseline severity score and change from baseline ( p 0.0001) may reflect the reduced improvement possible from high baseline scores. The frequency, duration, intensity and dosage of speech and language therapy were variously associated with auditory comprehension, naming and functional communication recovery. There were insufficient data to examine spontaneous recovery. The greatest overall gains in language ability [14.95 points (95% confidence interval 8.7 to 21.2 points) on the Western Aphasia Battery-Aphasia Quotient] and functional communication [0.78 points (95% confidence interval 0.48 to 1.1 points) on the Aachen Aphasia Test-Spontaneous Communication] were associated with receiving speech and language therapy 4 to 5 days weekly for auditory comprehension [5.86 points (95% confidence interval 1.6 to 10.0 points) on the Aachen Aphasia Test-Token Test], the greatest gains were associated with receiving speech and language therapy 3 to 4 days weekly. The greatest overall gains in language ability [15.9 points (95% confidence interval 8.0 to 23.6 points) on the Western Aphasia Battery-Aphasia Quotient] and functional communication [0.77 points (95% confidence interval 0.36 to 1.2 points) on the Aachen Aphasia Test-Spontaneous Communication] were associated with speech and language therapy participation from 2 to 4 (and more than 9) hours weekly, whereas the highest auditory comprehension gains [7.3 points (95% confidence interval 4.1 to 10.5 points) on the Aachen Aphasia Test-Token Test] were associated with speech and language therapy participation in excess of 9 hours weekly (with similar gains notes for 4 hours weekly). While clinically similar gains were made alongside different speech and language therapy intensities, the greatest overall gains in language ability [18.37 points (95% confidence interval 10.58 to 26.16 points) on the Western Aphasia Battery-Aphasia Quotient] and auditory comprehension [5.23 points (95% confidence interval 1.51 to 8.95 points) on the Aachen Aphasia Test-Token Test] were associated with 20–50 hours of speech and language therapy. Network meta-analyses on naming and the duration of speech and language therapy interventions across language outcomes were unstable. Relative variance was acceptable ( 30%). Subgroups may benefit from specific interventions. Data sets were graded as being at a low risk of bias but were predominantly based on highly selected research participants, assessments and interventions, thereby limiting generalisability. Frequency, intensity and dosage were associated with language gains from baseline, but varied by domain and subgroup. These exploratory findings require confirmatory study designs to test the hypotheses generated and to develop more tailored speech and language therapy interventions. This study is registered as PROSPERO CRD42018110947. This project was funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Health and Social Care Delivery Research programme and will be published in full in Health and Social Care Delivery Research Vol. 10, No. 28. See the NIHR Journals Library website for further project information. Funding was also provided by The Tavistock Trust for Aphasia.
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 11-2012
Publisher: SAGE Publications
Date: 18-05-2022
DOI: 10.1177/17474930221097477
Abstract: Stroke rehabilitation interventions are routinely personalized to address in iduals’ needs, goals, and challenges based on evidence from aggregated randomized controlled trials (RCT) data and meta-syntheses. In idual participant data (IPD) meta-analyses may better inform the development of precision rehabilitation approaches, quantifying treatment responses while adjusting for confounders and reducing ecological bias. We explored associations between speech and language therapy (SLT) interventions frequency (days/week), intensity (h/week), and dosage (total SLT-hours) and language outcomes for different age, sex, aphasia severity, and chronicity subgroups by undertaking prespecified subgroup network meta-analyses of the RELEASE database. MEDLINE, EMBASE, and trial registrations were systematically searched (inception-Sept2015) for RCTs, including ⩾ 10 IPD on stroke-related aphasia. We extracted demographic, stroke, aphasia, SLT, and risk of bias data. Overall-language ability, auditory comprehension, and functional communication outcomes were standardized. A one-stage, random effects, network meta-analysis approach filtered IPD into a single optimal model, examining SLT regimen and language recovery from baseline to first post-intervention follow-up, adjusting for covariates identified a-priori. Data were dichotomized by age (⩽/ 65 years), aphasia severity (mild–moderate/ moderate–severe based on language outcomes’ median value), chronicity (⩽/ 3 months), and sex subgroups. We reported estimates of means and 95% confidence intervals. Where relative variance was high ( 50%), results were reported for completeness. 959 IPD (25 RCTs) were analyzed. For working-age participants, greatest language gains from baseline occurred alongside moderate to high-intensity SLT (functional communication 3-to-4 h/week overall-language and comprehension 9 h/week) older participants’ greatest gains occurred alongside low-intensity SLT (⩽ 2 h/week) except for auditory comprehension ( 9 h/week). For both age-groups, SLT-frequency and dosage associated with best language gains were similar. Participants ⩽ 3 months post-onset demonstrated greatest overall-language gains for SLT at low intensity/moderate dosage (⩽ 2 SLT-h/week 20-to-50 h) for those 3 months, post-stroke greatest gains were associated with moderate-intensity/high-dosage SLT (3–4 SLT-h/week ⩾ 50 hours). For moderate–severe participants, 4 SLT-days/week conferred the greatest language gains across outcomes, with auditory comprehension gains only observed for ⩾ 4 SLT-days/week mild–moderate participants’ greatest functional communication gains were associated with similar frequency (⩾ 4 SLT-days/week) and greatest overall-language gains with higher frequency SLT (⩾ 6 days/weekly). Males’ greatest gains were associated with SLT of moderate (functional communication 3-to-4 h/weekly) or high intensity (overall-language and auditory comprehension ( 9 h/weekly) compared to females for whom the greatest gains were associated with lower-intensity SLT ( 2 SLT-h/weekly). Consistencies across subgroups were also evident greatest overall-language gains were associated with 20-to-50 SLT-h in total auditory comprehension gains were generally observed when SLT 9 h over ⩾ 4 days/week. We observed a treatment response in most subgroups’ overall-language, auditory comprehension, and functional communication language gains. For some, the maximum treatment response varied in association with different SLT-frequency, intensity, and dosage. Where differences were observed, working-aged, chronic, mild–moderate, and male subgroups experienced their greatest language gains alongside high-frequency/intensity SLT. In contrast, older, moderate–severely impaired, and female subgroups within 3 months of aphasia onset made their greatest gains for lower-intensity SLT. The acceptability, clinical, and cost effectiveness of precision aphasia rehabilitation approaches based on age, sex, aphasia severity, and chronicity should be evaluated in future clinical RCTs.
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 13-07-2017
DOI: 10.3758/S13428-017-0936-0
Abstract: Imageability is a psycholinguistic variable that indicates how well a word gives rise to a mental image or sensory experience. Imageability ratings are used extensively in psycholinguistic, neuropsychological, and aphasiological studies. However, little formal knowledge exists about whether and how these ratings are associated between and within languages. Fifteen imageability databases were cross-correlated using nonparametric statistics. Some of these corresponded to unpublished data collected within a European research network-the Collaboration of Aphasia Trialists (COST IS1208). All but four of the correlations were significant. The average strength of the correlations (rho = .68) and the variance explained (R
Publisher: Informa UK Limited
Date: 08-10-2021
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 09-05-2023
DOI: 10.1002/CDT3.70
Abstract: Noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) are the leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of NCDs among the population of Cyprus and to identify the distribution of the socioeconomic and demographic determinants among in iduals with the most frequent NCDs. A cross‐sectional study was conducted using stratified s ling. Socioeconomic and demographic characteristics and the presence of NCDs were collected through a standardized questionnaire. The diseases were classified using the 10th revision of the International Classification of Diseases (ICD‐10). In total, 1140 in iduals participated in the study, among whom 590 (51.7%) had at least one chronic disease. The most prevalent NCDs were hyperlipidemia (17.4%), hypertension (12.9%), and thyroid diseases (8.4%). We identified more males than females with hyperlipidemia aged 25–44 years old and years old ( p = 0.024), more males compared to females with hypertension ( p = 0.001) and more females compared to males with thyroid diseases ( p 0.001). In iduals with hypertension and hyperlipidemia were more likely to be married, to have completed a higher education, and to have a high annual income. In Cyprus, the majority of the general population had at least one NCD. Hyperlipidemia, hypertension, and thyroid disease are relatively common, even at younger ages, highlighting the need for the development of public health programs aimed at addressing and preventing NCDs.
Publisher: Frontiers Media SA
Date: 06-12-2017
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 09-2023
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 2010
Publisher: Ovid Technologies (Wolters Kluwer Health)
Date: 03-2022
DOI: 10.1161/STROKEAHA.121.035216
Abstract: Optimizing speech and language therapy (SLT) regimens for maximal aphasia recovery is a clinical research priority. We examined associations between SLT intensity (hours/week), dosage (total hours), frequency (days/week), duration (weeks), delivery (face to face, computer supported, in idual tailoring, and home practice), content, and language outcomes for people with aphasia. Databases including MEDLINE and Embase were searched (inception to September 2015). Published, unpublished, and emerging trials including SLT and ≥10 in idual participant data on aphasia, language outcomes, and time post-onset were selected. Patient-level data on stroke, language, SLT, and trial risk of bias were independently extracted. Outcome measurement scores were standardized. A statistical inferencing, one-stage, random effects, network meta-analysis approach filtered in idual participant data into an optimal model examining SLT regimen for overall language, auditory comprehension, naming, and functional communication pre-post intervention gains, adjusting for a priori–defined covariates (age, sex, time poststroke, and baseline aphasia severity), reporting estimates of mean change scores (95% CI). Data from 959 in idual participant data (25 trials) were included. Greatest gains in overall language and comprehension were associated with to 50 hours SLT dosage (18.37 [10.58–26.16] Western Aphasia Battery–Aphasia Quotient 5.23 [1.51–8.95] Aachen Aphasia Test–Token Test). Greatest clinical overall language, functional communication, and comprehension gains were associated with 2 to 4 and 9+ SLT hours/week. Greatest clinical gains were associated with frequent SLT for overall language, functional communication (3–5+ days/week), and comprehension (4–5 days/week). Evidence of comprehension gains was absent for SLT ≤20 hours, hours/week, and ≤3 days/week. Mixed receptive-expressive therapy, functionally tailored, with prescribed home practice was associated with the greatest overall gains. Relative variance was %. Risk of trial bias was low to moderate low for meta-biases. Greatest language recovery was associated with frequent, functionally tailored, receptive-expressive SLT, with prescribed home practice at a greater intensity and duration than reports of usual clinical services internationally. These exploratory findings suggest critical therapeutic ranges, informing hypothesis-testing trials and tailoring of clinical services. URL: www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/ Unique identifier: CRD42018110947.
Publisher: Frontiers Media SA
Date: 17-11-2015
Publisher: SAGE Publications
Date: 21-03-2013
Abstract: Previous evidence shows that nouns are easier for many language users to retrieve than verbs, but scant research has been conducted with children in bilectal environments (where both standard and non-standard forms of a language are spoken). This study investigates object and action naming in children who are native speakers of a non-standard variety, Cypriot Greek (CG), but instructed scholastically in the official variety, Standard Modern Greek (SMG). Participants were typically developing Greek Cypriot preschoolers and early school-aged children who completed the Cypriot Object and Action Test (COAT). Results revealed a significant grammatical word class effect favoring nouns over verbs in Modern Greek, with a developmental change in the size of the noun–verb gap. Both age groups showed similar error patterns for both object and action targets. For action names, children produced more semantic descriptions or circumlocutions (e.g., hitting the nail for hammering), whereas omissions were the prominent error type for object names. The findings are discussed in relation to cross-linguistic evidence of grammatical word class differences using the picture naming paradigm for monolingual (pre)school-aged children.
Publisher: Informa UK Limited
Date: 05-05-2014
DOI: 10.3109/02699206.2014.911962
Abstract: A handful of studies have shown that verbs are more vulnerable than nouns to retrieval deficits on picture-based naming tasks for children with specific language impairment (SLI). The aim of this study was to examine if the disproportionate verb as opposed to noun production deficit reported for naming is also found in connected speech. Sixteen children participated in the study: eight children diagnosed with SLI (mean age: 6:3 years) and eight typically language developing (TLD, mean age: 5:9 years) controls. Verb and noun production was measured in connected speech and compared to picture confrontation naming. Both groups of children showed a significant difficulty naming verbs compared to nouns. In contrast, they did not differ on the total number of both verb tokens and verb types produced in connected speech. The findings indicate that the previously reported verb retrieval difficulties in SLI are a product of the confrontation naming task demands rather than a true verb deficit.
Publisher: Bentham Science Publishers Ltd.
Date: 30-09-2019
DOI: 10.2174/1874205X01913010107
Abstract: Given the underlying frontal-basal ganglia circuit neuropathogenesis of HIV-infected in iduals, it is surprising that little is reported about potential language deficits as part of their higher cognitive dysfunctional profile. This study aims to elucidate whether HIV-positive in iduals have linguistic impairments that may originate from or be intensified by deficits in cognitive functions. The research questions address (i) quantitative differences in sentence repetition abilities involving complex syntactic phenomena between adults with HIV and non-HIV healthy controls (ii) correlations of sentence repetition scores with neurocognitive measures and (iii) correlation of sentence repetition performance with duration and severity of HIV. A battery of neuropsychological tests were administered to 40 HIV - seropositive males and 40 demographically matched healthy controls to assess verbal learning/episodic memory, psychomotor speed, executive functions and visuospatial abilities. Language abilities were evaluated using a repetition task that screened specific complex syntactic operations at the sentence-level. A significant difference was noted between the two groups regarding correct repetition of the sentence repetition task with the control group outperforming the HIV-seropositive group. For the HIV group, significant correlations were found for correct sentence repetition with years of education, duration of illness, Mini-Mental State Examination, semantic and phonemic fluency, symbol digit modality test scores, and the Trail Making Test (parts A and B). Speech-language pathologists and neuropsychologists should screen for language deficits associated with the different clinical syndromes in HIV patients as part of their routine clinical care.
Publisher: AIP Publishing
Date: 03-12-2012
DOI: 10.1063/1.4769216
Abstract: We present evidence that the level of the applied stress plays a critical role in deformation twinning in face-centred cubic alloys. While conventional cold rolling of a face-centred cubic structure produces a microstructure with a high-density of extended dislocations, increasing the applied stress using high-pressure torsion gives a nano-twinned coarse-grained structure. This suggests the existence of a critical stress for deformation twinning which thereby delineates an approach for the production of nano-twinned microstructures in coarse-grained materials with superior mechanical properties.
Publisher: Frontiers Media SA
Date: 20-02-2017
Publisher: Springer International Publishing
Date: 2016
Publisher: S. Karger AG
Date: 2019
DOI: 10.1159/000493126
Abstract: b i Objective: /i /b For people with aphasia (PWA) and their significant others, narratives are intricately intertwined with quality of life, culture, and social participation. This paper reports stories told by bilingual people with aphasia (bPWA), describing the events or consequences of a stroke on their lives. b i Patients and Methods: /i /b Six participants with chronic mild-moderate anomia (mean age 70 years) spontaneously produced a narrative recounting their personal experience of stroke in their native language (Greek) and in their second language (English). All bPWA had learned English in early adulthood upon migration from Greece to Australia, not through formal teaching but on the job (e.g., in the factory). The bPWA had lived in Australia for 46 years (average) and were less than 4 years post-stroke. b i Results: /i /b Narratives in the two languages underwent quantitative (number of propositions, noun/verb tokens) and qualitative analyses (ratings of coherence, ratings of clarity). Most bPWA produced coherent “tellable” stories despite disruptions in language because of aphasia. Overall, stories were better told (length, complexity of content, temporal-causal sequencing, reference) in Greek – their native language. b i Conclusion: /i /b The results have implications for policy-makers providing health and welfare services to ageing immigrant populations. The findings are also relevant to other countries that have large immigrant populations of stroke survivors.
Publisher: Informa UK Limited
Date: 26-05-2015
Publisher: Informa UK Limited
Date: 31-03-2011
DOI: 10.3109/02699206.2011.563899
Abstract: The Greek and the English versions of the Bilingual Aphasia Test (BAT) were used to assess the linguistic abilities of a premorbidly highly proficient late bilingual female after a haemorrhagic cerebrovascular accident involving the left temporo-parietal lobe. The BAT was administered in the two languages on separate occasions by the first author, a bilingual English-Greek speech pathologist. The results revealed a non-parallel recovery in the two languages. This information will be used not only to guide clinical intervention for the patient but also to provide the first report on the manifestations of aphasia in Greek. Moreover, the use of the (Standard Modern) Greek version of the BAT to investigate Greek Cypriot aphasics has implications for the use of the BAT on underspecified languages or dialects. Such studies may help with the development of assessment measures and therapy strategies that focus on specific characteristics of one or multiple languages.
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 03-2013
Publisher: Informa UK Limited
Date: 24-06-2019
Publisher: Springer International Publishing
Date: 2016
Publisher: Informa UK Limited
Date: 12-2020
Publisher: Frontiers Media SA
Date: 29-10-2021
DOI: 10.3389/FPUBH.2021.693332
Abstract: Poor sleep is a relatively common condition with possibly serious adverse health consequences. Lack of sleep affects the endocrine, immune, and nervous systems. In Cyprus, there is no information about the quality of sleep in the population. The goal of this study was to assess the quality of sleep in the Cypriot population and evaluate its association with multimorbidity. A representative s le of the adult population of Cyprus was selected in 2018–2019 among the five government-controlled municipalities of the Republic of Cyprus using stratified s ling. Data on sleep quality as well as on the presence of chronic, clinical, and mental health conditions were collected using a validated questionnaire. Diseases were classified according to the International Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision (ICD-10). A total of 1,140 Cypriot men and women over 18-years of age (range: 18–94) participated in the study. The median Pittsburgh sleep quality index score of the participants was 5 (first quartile = 3, third quartile = 7) with the maximum score being 17, which suggests that the Cypriot population has a relatively good quality of sleep overall, although, almost one-third of the study population had a poor quality of sleep. Women, residents of Paphos, and married people had a poorer quality of sleep ( p & 0.05). Having a poor quality of sleep was associated with higher odds of multimorbidity (OR = 2.21, 95% CI: 1.55, 3.16), even after adjusting for demographics, socioeconomic, and lifestyle factors. Adopting good sleep habits could be beneficial and would potentially help reduce the risk of multimorbidity. Public health guidelines regarding the importance of sleep and its association with multimorbidity should be considered.
Publisher: Informa UK Limited
Date: 21-12-2020
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 15-08-2015
DOI: 10.3758/S13428-015-0636-6
Abstract: We present a new set of subjective age-of-acquisition (AoA) ratings for 299 words (158 nouns, 141 verbs) in 25 languages from five language families (Afro-Asiatic: Semitic languages Altaic: one Turkic language: Indo-European: Baltic, Celtic, Germanic, Hellenic, Slavic, and Romance languages Niger-Congo: one Bantu language Uralic: Finnic and Ugric languages). Adult native speakers reported the age at which they had learned each word. We present a comparison of the AoA ratings across all languages by contrasting them in pairs. This comparison shows a consistency in the orders of ratings across the 25 languages. The data were then analyzed (1) to ascertain how the demographic characteristics of the participants influenced AoA estimations and (2) to assess differences caused by the exact form of the target question (when did you learn vs. when do children learn this word) (3) to compare the ratings obtained in our study to those of previous studies and (4) to assess the validity of our study by comparison with quasi-objective AoA norms derived from the MacArthur-Bates Communicative Development Inventories (MB-CDI). All 299 words were judged as being acquired early (mostly before the age of 6 years). AoA ratings were associated with the raters' social or language status, but not with the raters' age or education. Parents reported words as being learned earlier, and bilinguals reported learning them later. Estimations of the age at which children learn the words revealed significantly lower ratings of AoA. Finally, comparisons with previous AoA and MB-CDI norms support the validity of the present estimations. Our AoA ratings are available for research or other purposes.
Publisher: Multilingual Matters
Date: 31-12-2013
Publisher: Informa UK Limited
Date: 2013
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 05-2015
Publisher: Informa UK Limited
Date: 15-07-2014
Publisher: Hindawi Limited
Date: 25-11-2021
DOI: 10.1155/2021/9164543
Abstract: Background. Traditionally, people with aphasia (PWA) are treated with impairment-based language therapy to improve receptive and expressive language skills. In addition to language deficits, PWA are often affected by some level of working memory (WM) impairments. Both language and working memory impairments combined have a negative impact on PWA’s quality of life. The aim of this study was to investigate whether the application of intermittent theta-burst stimulation (iTBS) combined with computerized WM training will result in near-ransfer effects (i.e., trained WM) and far-transfer effects (i.e., untrained language tasks) and have a positive effect on the quality of life of PWA. Methods. The participant was a 63-year-old Greek-Cypriot male who presented with mild receptive aphasia and short-term memory difficulties. Treatment was carried out using a multiple baseline (MB) design composed of a pretherapy or baseline testing phase, a therapy phase, and a posttherapy/follow-up phase. The treatment program involved iTBS application to the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC), an area responsible for WM, for 10 consecutive sessions. The participant received a 3-minute iTBS application followed by 30-minute computer-assisted WM training. Outcome measures included a WM screening test, a standardized aphasia test, a nonverbal intelligence test, story-telling speech s les, a procedural discourse task, and a questionnaire addressing quality of life. These measures were performed three times before the treatment, immediately upon completion of the treatment, and once during follow-up testing at 3 months posttreatment. Results. We found a beneficial effect of iTBS and WM training on naming, reading, WM, reasoning, narrative, communication efficiency, and quality of life (QoL). Implications for Rehabilitation. Noninvasive brain stimulation combined with computerized WM training may be used in aphasia rehabilitation to improve WM and generalize to language improvement.
Publisher: Multilingual Matters
Date: 31-12-2017
DOI: 10.21832/BABATS9085
Publisher: Informa UK Limited
Date: 12-11-2017
Publisher: Cambridge University Press (CUP)
Date: 17-03-2014
DOI: 10.1017/S0142716414000034
Abstract: This paper addresses verbal performance and overuse of “not fully lexical verbs” by children with specific language impairment (SLI) and peers with typical language development (TLD). Experimental data come from picture-naming and retell narratives. Fourteen school-aged children with SLI (mean age = 6 years, 9 months) participated alongside 50 language- and age-matched peers with TLD. The results revealed that children with SLI do not use light verb constructions but only general all-purpose (GAP) verbs when unable to produce single-word, specific lexical verbs. Moreover, they do not differ from language-matched TLD children in this respect. As such, GAP verbs should be viewed as symptoms of immature language or absent representations rather than impaired language. Consequently, when discussing not fully lexical verbs productions in (a)typical development, researchers should make the fundamental distinction between GAP verbs and light verbs, and focus on GAP verbs as the relevant category in SLI.
Publisher: Informa UK Limited
Date: 17-06-2016
DOI: 10.1080/02699206.2016.1182591
Abstract: Very little is known about diagnosing specific language impairment (SLI) in children who are exposed daily to a dialect (community language) and a standard variety (school instruction). The research reported here examines the specificity and sensitivity of language tests used so far to evaluate language performance in the context of diglossia (Cyprus). Sixteen children with SLI aged 5-9 years and 22 age-matched typically developing children were examined on a range of language tests modified to include dialectal differences. Properties of each test were evaluated through logistic regression analysis in order to identify children with SLI. The analysis revealed that many of the tests used are sufficiently accurate concerning sensitivity and specificity levels. Furthermore, a combination of tests is proposed as a good tool for diagnostic purposes. Speech and language therapists as well as researchers can now rely on an accurate diagnostic procedure within a practice-based evidence framework.
Publisher: Informa UK Limited
Date: 24-01-2019
DOI: 10.1080/02699206.2018.1562496
Abstract: The present study reports the findings of a 10-day neuronavigated continuous theta burst stimulation (cTBS) over the right pars triangularis for two in iduals with chronic aphasia after a single left hemispheric stroke. Baseline language and quality of life measures were collected prior to the treatment study, post-treatment and at 3-month follow up. Therapy was tolerated well by both participants and no side effects were noticed during and after treatment. Results from one in idual showed potential for positive change in performance in comprehension and expressive language both post-treatment and at the follow-up stage. Also, a trend towards improvement post-treatment was noticed in discourse and sentence productivity, and grammatical accuracy. In the follow up stage, grammatical accuracy showed a trend towards improvement discourse productivity decreased and sentence productivity skills showed mixed results. Results from the other participant showed potential for positive change in comprehension post-treatment, that was maintained at the follow-up stage. However, a decline in expressive language post-treatment and at follow-up, stronger post-treatment, was noticed. Regarding quality of life measurements, participant one appeared to have improved as his performance increased in the overall, physical and communication domains, but decreased slightly in the psychosocial domain. The second participant improved in the physical and communication domains and declined overall and in the psychosocial domains. Findings from this study indicate that cTBS over the right pars triangularis may have the potential to improve various language skills in patients suffering from chronic aphasia post-stroke. However, the potential benefits of this fast, non-invasive brain stimulation protocol on improvement of language abilities post-stroke need further exploration.
Publisher: MDPI AG
Date: 29-09-2020
Abstract: Background: Quality of Life (QoL) questionnaires are used to describe the impact of aphasia on stroke survivors’ life. People with aphasia (PWA) are traditionally excluded from research, potentially leading to a mismatch between the factors chosen in the tools and the realistic needs of PWA. The purpose of this review was to determine the direct involvement of PWA in the creation of QoL and aphasia impact-related questionnaires (AIR-Qs). Methods: A scoping review methodology was conducted by an expert librarian and two independent reviewers on health sciences based on the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Metanalyses extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR) protocol, through a literature search in five databases: Medline Complete, PubMed, PsychINFO, Scopus, and Google Scholar. Search terms included ‘stroke’, ‘people with aphasia’, ‘communication’, ‘well-being’, and ‘quality of life’. Results: Of 952 results, 20 studies met the eligibility criteria. Of these, only four AIR-Qs studies (20%) were found reporting the direct involvement of PWA, while no QoL tools did so. Evidence showed involvement in the creation phase of AIR-Q, mainly in a consultation role. Conclusions: There is an absence of a framework for conducting and reporting the involvement of PWA in qualitative participatory research studies, which limits effectiveness to promote equitable best practice in aphasia rehabilitation.
Publisher: Informa UK Limited
Date: 27-04-2017
DOI: 10.1080/02699206.2017.1310299
Abstract: Comparative research on aphasia and aphasia rehabilitation is challenged by the lack of comparable assessment tools across different languages. In English, a large array of tools is available, while in most other languages, the selection is more limited. Importantly, assessment tools are often simple translations and do not take into consideration specific linguistic and psycholinguistic parameters of the target languages. As a first step in meeting the needs for comparable assessment tools, the Comprehensive Aphasia Test is currently being adapted into a number of languages spoken in Europe. In this article, some key challenges encountered in the adaptation process and the solutions to ensure that the resulting assessment tools are linguistically and culturally equivalent, are proposed. Specifically, we focus on challenges and solutions related to the use of imageability, frequency, word length, spelling-to-sound regularity and sentence length and complexity as underlying properties in the selection of the testing material.
Publisher: Walter de Gruyter GmbH
Date: 2016
Abstract: The cognitive benefits of bilingualism have an impact on the processing mechanisms that are active during the acquisition process in a way that results in language variation. Within bilingual populations, the notion of “language proximity” is also of key importance for deriving variation. Certain sociolinguistic factors can invest the process of language development and its outcome with an additional layer of complexity that results from the emergence of mesolectal varieties which blur the boundaries of grammatical variants. We report data on the acquisition and development of object clitic placement in the two varieties of Greek spoken in Cyprus, and on performance in executive control tasks by monolingual, bilectal, and bi-/multilingual children. Comparing findings across experiments, the present study identifies the different factors that define “bilectalism” within the greater context of multilingualism, merging sociolinguistic and neurocognitive insights about language variation and how they inform development in diglossic contexts that involve closely related varieties—a study in comparative linguality.
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 08-2013
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 05-07-2016
Abstract: Clinicians globally recognize as exceptionally challenging the development of effective intervention practices for bi- or multilingual children with specific language impairment (SLI). Therapy in both or all of an impaired child's languages is rarely possible. An alternative is to develop treatment protocols that facilitate the transfer of therapy effects from a treated language to an untreated language. To explore whether cognates, words that share meaning and phonological features across languages, could be used to boost lexical retrieval in the context of multilingual SLI. This is dependent on exploiting the phonological information in the one, trained language as a mechanism for (phonological) language transfer to the other, untrained languages. The participant is an 8.5-year-old girl diagnosed with SLI who showed a severe naming deficit in her three spoken languages (Bulgarian, English and Greek). She received training on cognates (n = 20) using a picture-based naming task in English only, three times a week, over a 4-week period for 20 min each time. Phonological-based naming therapy was carried out using form-based strategies. There was a significant improvement during therapy and immediately after intervention on cognate performance in English which was maintained 1 month after intervention. Cognate production in Bulgarian and Greek also improved during all stages of the intervention. Improvement in the non-treated languages was slightly more than half of the improvement recorded in English. The findings reflected some degree of cross-linguistic transfer effects. Cross-linguistic transfer effects were evident during therapy and after therapy had finished and the effects were maintained 1 month post-treatment. Both the native language (Bulgarian) and the dominant language (Greek) benefitted equally from the treatment of cognates in English. Generalization to non-treatment words was evident, predominantly for English. The results suggest that cognates can indeed be used successfully as a WFD intervention strategy for multilingual children with SLI with lasting effects.
Publisher: Informa UK Limited
Date: 07-2010
DOI: 10.3109/17549507.2010.485331
Abstract: Post-termination relationships are complex because the client may need additional services and it may be difficult to determine when the speech-language pathologist-client relationship is truly terminated. In my contribution to this scientific forum, discharge experiences from speech-language pathologists working in Cyprus and Greece will be explored in search of commonalities and differences in the way in which pathologists end therapy from different cultural perspectives. Within this context the personal impact on speech-language pathologists of the discharge process will be highlighted. Inherent in this process is how speech-language pathologists learn to hold their feelings, anxieties and reactions when communicating discharge to clients. Overall speech-language pathologists working in Cyprus and Greece experience similar emotional responses to positive and negative therapy endings as speech-language pathologists working in Australia. The major difference is that Cypriot and Greek therapists face serious limitations in moving their clients on after therapy has ended.
No related grants have been discovered for MARIA KAMBANAROS.