This critical review examines the specific psychosocial effects that the diagnosis and treatment of cleft lip and palate has on individuals of all ages. Study designs include a systematic review, a case-control study and a retrospective chart review. Overall, the literature reviewed provides variable evidence regarding the topic of interest. It is thought that the diagnosis and treatment may ha...

This critical review examines the inter-rater reliability of two clinical feeding assessments of infant oral sensorimotor function, the Neonatal Oral-Motor Scale (NOMAS) and the Preterm Infant Breastfeeding Behaviour Scale (PIBBS). Study designs include four diagnostic test studies and one systematic review. Tests of inter-rater reliability for the PIBBS resulted in acceptable agreement between...

This critical review examines whether videonasopharyngoscopy biofeedback is an effective therapy tool in improving velopharyngeal closure in patients with cleft palate. Study designs in this review include: randomized clinical trial, single subject ‘n-of-1’, single group or case series pre-posttest study, and systematic review. Results of these studies provide suggestive evidence for the clinic...

The aim of this critical review is to examine the effectiveness of using robot-assisted therapy to improve social interaction skills in children with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD). All literature search was completed and yielded the following study designs: two single group (post) tests, one single group (pre-post) test, one between-groups study, one case study and one longitudinal study. Ove...

This critical review examines the possible interventions available for remediation of word-finding difficulties in school-age children. Study designs include: single subject, non-randomized clinical trials, case control and expert opinion. Overall, research supports a number of intervention methods including elaboration and/or retrieval training as well as new discourse and computer based progr...

This review critically evaluates the existing literature examining two possible characteristics of EVA, an audiometric air-bone gap and a low resonant frequency of the middle ear. Study designs include a cohort study and case-control studies. Overall, the evidence gathered provides consistent support that EVA should be suspected whenever there is a low frequency air-bone gap and low resonant fr...

This critical review examined the effects of laryngeal manual therapies on the voice outcomes of patients with muscle tension dysphonia in four studies. Study designs included: three single group pre-posttest studies and one within group repeated measures study. The evidence from this review provides support for the beneficial effects of laryngeal manual therapies on the voice outcomes of patie...

The use of enteral feeding in individuals with advanced dementia has been a subject of much debate. In North America, it is estimated that one-third of nursing home residents with advanced cognitive impairment are tube fed. Despite the documentation of the burden of care associated with feeding tubes in this population, the number of feeding tubes placed in older individuals continues to increa...

The purpose of this critical review is to compare the subjective and objective rehabilitative benefit of contralateral routing of signal (CROS) hearing aids with bone-anchored implantable hearing devices (BAHAs) in adults with single-sided deafness. Study designs include: single group with repeated measures (5), meta-analysis (1), and systematic review (1). Overall, the current literature provi...

A recently immigrated 7 year old Filipino female, in her usual state of health, was referred for evaluation of an asymptomatic heart murmur. A previous history of rheumatic fever could not be elicited. Physical exam was significant only for a heart murmur consistent with mitral insufficiency. Laboratory values included: sodium 138; potassium 3.7; chloride 102; bicarbonate 28; hemoglobin 12.4; h...