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Biomedical subjects

J M Schear

Publications and source records attributed to J M Schear.

8 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1989

Simulated hearing loss and phrase dictation.

The effect of simulated high frequency hearing loss in young adult speakers was examined. Subjects were native English speakers with normal hearing sensitivity. There were three listening conditions, two filtered conditions simulating high frequency hearing losses similar to those often occurring in the geriatric population and one unfiltered, or normal condition. Subjects listened to the Phrase Repetition subtest of the Boston Diagnostic Aphasia Examination. There were significant differences in the number of errors across the three conditions, with the most errors occurring during the greater simulated hearing loss. Such errors may be attributed to expressive language impairments when errors may instead be the result of a high frequency hearing loss.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

Effects of visual acuity and visual motor speed and dexterity on cognitive test performance.

This study examined the hypothesis that near visual acuity and visual motor speed and dexterity contribute significantly to performance on cognitive tests that place a premium on these functions. Near visual acuity for both eyes, Finger Tapping Test - average taps with dominant hand, and Grooved Pegboard Test - dominant hand time, served as the independent variables. The dependent variables were Trail Making Test-Part B and the Performance subtests of the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale. Results indicated that while visual acuity was significantly correlated with all six test variables, it did not contribute to the regression model as well as Pegboard time or Tapping speed. Pegboard time and Tapping speed contributed to the regression model, but in different ways depending upon which test was examined.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1988

Estimating WAIS IQ from the Shipley Institute of Living Scale: a replication.

This study represents a replication of the linear regression techniques and continuous norming used to estimate age-adjusted WAIS IQ from the Shipley Institute of Living Scale. The sample was composed of 125 male, right-handed, psychiatric patients, who represented five age decades between 20 and 70. The overall correlation coefficient between observed and estimated IQs was .79. The data suggest that the prediction formula is robust across all five age groups. The data also show the Shipley estimated WAIS Full Scale IQ to be somewhat better when compared with the continuously normed WAIS IQ than when compared with the WAIS tabled norms. Thus, the present results provide support for the utility of the continuous norming procedure for predicting WAIS IQ from the Shipley and argue for its use.

Adult↗
PubMed1988

Effect of simulated hearing loss on speech sounds perception.

This study examined the effect of simulated hearing loss on the Speech-Sounds Perception Test (SSPT) performance of a sample of 24 young volunteers with normal hearing sensitivity. Bilateral air conduction thresholds were obtained on all participants. The SSPT was recorded on tape by a professional radio announcer. The tape-recorded stimuli were filtered through a calibrated audiometer and spectrum shaper to simulate two high-frequency losses. Results show a significant effect of simulated high-frequency hearing loss on SSPT performance. Clinicians are advised to exercise caution in attributing poor SSPT performance of their patients with suspected hearing loss solely to a central auditory processing deficit.

Adult↗
PubMed1987

Utility of cluster analysis in classification of mixed neuropsychiatric patients.

This study examines the hypothesis that reliable neuropsychologically-based subgroups can be found in a mixed neuropsychiatric patient sample (N = 600) and that the subtype membership will be associated with external diagnostic and case history variables. A modified Halstead-Reitan Neuropsychological Test Battery was employed. The sample was randomly divided into two groups of 300 each. Results show three reliable cluster analytically-based groups that differ as a function of level, but not pattern of performance. External validation failed to show the cluster groups to be significantly related to any of the neurodiagnostic or case history variables, except that the severely impaired group had a greater preponderance of organic diagnoses and a longer history of hospitalisation. Caution is warranted in using configural analysis of standard neuropsychological test batteries in an effort to identify subtypes in a mixed neuropsychiatric patient population.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1986

Utility of half-credit scoring of Russell's revision of the Wechsler Memory Scale.

This study examined interrater reliability of Russell's revision of the Wechsler Memory Scale logical memory using an explicit scoring method in a male medical/psychiatric population. Secondly, it examined whether the ratio of full to half-credit scores can be used to differentiate unimpaired patients from patients with documented cerebral dysfunction. Twenty-five unimpaired and 25 brain-impaired patients matched for age and education were used. Pearson correlations indicate excellent interrater reliability. t-tests indicate that the groups were not significantly different from the ratio of full- to half-credit responses on immediate memory, but were significantly different on delayed memory. A posteriori analyses indicated that a small ratio score (less than 3) on delayed recall classified patients with modest success. Results indicated that brain-impaired and unimpaired patients not only differ in regard to level of recall performance, but also differ in regard to pattern of recall performance. Cross-validation of these results is suggested.

Adult↗
PubMed1980

Memory for verbal and spatial information as a function of age.

The present study investigated whether there is a differential decline with age in verbal and spatial memory, by measuring the ability of 24 young (mean age = 18.8) and 24 elderly (mean age = 69.5) subjects to remember verbal and spatial information under identical task conditions. Subjects recalled either the identities or spatial locations of seven letters arranged randomly within a 5 x 5 grid. To determine whether subjects actually encoded the verbal and spatial characteristics of the array differently, verbal and spatial interference tasks were administered during the retention interval. Results showed that the memory decrement in the elderly was not greater for the spatial aspects of the stimulus array than for its verbal aspects. Thus, there was no evidence for a greater decline with age in spatial memory than in verbal memory. Limited support was found for the utility of the selective interference paradigm to demonstrate separate and independent verbal and spatial memory codes.

Adolescent↗