DiSimoni, Frank G.

Phoneme duration control in utterances of various lengths was investigated in one apractic subject. Results indicate a loss of segment duration control and a speeding of intrasyllabic articulatory rates in apraxia. Findings are related to a theory of apractic speech dysfunction.

Twenty-seven schizophrenic patients free of any known neurologic deficit were tested with an aphasia test battery. The objective of the research was to derive a profile of schizophrenic language performance to permit its comparison with the profiles characteristic of aphasia, apraxia of speech, generalized intellectual impairment, and confused language. Results indicate that schizophrenic patients exhibit a profile of language performance distinctive from those found in aphasia, apraxia of speech, confusion, or generalized intellectual impairment and demonstrate that the disruption of language in schizophrenia is not aphasic in nature.

This study investigated the practicality of developing short forms of the Porch Index of Communicative Ability (PICA). Stepwise regression procedures were performed using data from 222 complete administrations of the PICA to determine the accuracy of prediction of overall scores on the basis of data from either fewer subtests or fewer items. Results indicated that the PICA is highly redundant and that it may be possible to develop useful shorter forms of it.

Two short versions (SPICAs) of the Porch Index of Communicative Ability (PICA)were developed and investigated, with specific attention to their ability to predict standard PICA overall scores of patients with aphasia. Ninety-three patients were administered three versions of the test in randomized order. Results indicate that SPICAs predict overall scores by standard administration at acceptable confidence levels in approximately one-third of the time required for the administration of the standard PICA.