Three theories of deafness and cognition are summarized, and the problem of deaf children's lagging cognitive development in concrete nonverbal logical problems is considered. It is suggested that this delay may be caused by the difficulty hearing people have communicating to the deaf, and educational implications of this speculation are noted.…

Notes that communication problems arise because of differences in world experience, in the amount of common knowledge shared within cultures, in the structure of societies and the workplace, in culturally specific rhetorical strategies, and even in differences in processing graphics. Suggests technical writing teachers find ways to incorporate…

Discusses communicative acts involving at least two persons, whereby a relationship is established between them, based on the use of language in a given context. The purpose of this study is to clarify the notions that such a relationship is often considered to require or contain some measure of understanding between the persons engaged in it. (19…

This study examined reactions of 23 hearing young adults to skits depicting conversation between a hearing actor and a hearing-impaired actor. Results revealed that subjects' reactions were more favorable when the hearing-impaired actor used specific rather than nonspecific requests for clarifications, and when a lower proportion of communication…

Develops a typology of strategies people use to cope with public speaking anxiety. Assesses the influences of anxiety level on strategy use. Finds 65 basic tactics in 6 strategy types (Relaxation, Preparation, Positive Thinking, Audience Depreciation, Concentration, and Resignation). Finds high anxious persons more likely to report Relaxation and…

Comparison of process and outcome variables for in-class teams (80 students) with interuniversity teams using computer-mediated communication (36 students) revealed that electronic groups may negate some benefits of collaborative learning (e.g., they were less satisfied with group process). However, electronic groups achieved higher overall level…

Reports on Senator Arlen Spector's interview of Anita Hill during hearings on Supreme Court nominee Clarence Thomas and her allegations of sexual harassment. Examines the social structures and argumentative strategies Spector invoked to place Hill in a position of "powerlessness." Argues that the key resource contributing to the…

To prepare for the future, professors will have to develop community, collegiality, and diversity. At present, college faculty's priorities and perversities may keep them from facilitating this triadic set of values. A radical tolerance for disagreeable, distasteful, even dangerous differences must occur for faculty to communicate honestly and…

Instead of avoiding, eliminating, or managing interpersonal conflict, school leaders should explore its transformational uses. A Consensual, no-conflict approach to decision making is impossible. Conflict can serve transformational purposes by helping to organize motives; broadening, strengthening, and clarifying values; and detecting and…

Nominal group technique was used with 7 groups of older adults (n=36) and 2 groups of professionals (n=10). Older people thought their primary communication problems were hearing and memory loss and word retrieval. Professionals named hearing difficulties, lack of conversational skills, and personality factors. Nominal group technique proved a…

Recognition of prior learning (RPL) information on 38 Australian universities' websites was analyzed, with the following results: (1) research on universities' use of technology for student-institution interaction was lacking; (2) terms and definitions used for RPL were inconsistent, hard to find, or required a high level of knowledge; and (3)…

The purpose of the study was to examine what parents find as acceptable treatment options for children with behavior problems in a communication disorders population. Parents' acceptability of seven treatment options, including positive reinforcement, time-out, response cost, spanking, overcorrection, differential attention, and medication were…

Background: A number of disorders are associated with pragmatic difficulties. Instruments that can make subdivisions within the larger construct of pragmatics could be important tools for disentangling profiles of pragmatic difficulty in different disorders. The deficits underlying the observed pragmatic difficulties may be different for different…

The study examines the relationship between Asperger's Disorder (AD) and Schizotypal Personality Disorder (SPD), mutually exclusive but similar diagnoses ["DSM-IV-TR;" American Psychiatric Association (2000). "Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders." Washington, DC: Author]. The literature and comparison of…

Purpose: This study provides preliminary reference data for speech and articulatory rates of school-age children in conversational and narrative speaking contexts. Method: Participants included 36 typically developing children in 3 groups of 12 participants at ages 7, 9, and 11 years. Conversational and narrative speech rates were measured in…