Alta Kritzinger

University of Pretoria | UP · Department of Communication Pathology

The purpose of the study was to describe the evolution of outcomes among full-term infants with moderate hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE); from their early swallowing and feeding abilities during hospitalization, to their later developmental outcomes at 6 and 12 months. Four participants with moderate HIE were recruited. Early feeding and swal...

Currently, no culturally and linguistically adapted autism screening tools are available in South Africa. The aim was to determine the reliability and concurrent validity of the adapted English and Northern Sotho–translated Modified Checklist for Autism in Toddlers–Revised with Follow-up (M-CHAT-R/F). Reliability was confirmed with near-perfect agr...

Background: Learners with reading and writing difficulties (RWD) are accommodated in Mauritian government schools without formal curriculum adjustment and teacher support. Little is known about their RWD. The aim was to describe the characteristics of Grade 4 learners with RWD. Aim: To describe the characteristics of Grade 4 learners with RWD. Se...

Background: Learners with reading and writing difficulties (RWD) are accommodated in Mauritian government schools without formal curriculum adjustment and teacher support. Little is known about their RWD. The aim was to describe the characteristics of Grade 4 learners with RWD. Aim : To describe the characteristics of Grade 4 learners with RWD. Set...

Purpose: To describe the evolution of swallowing and feeding abilities of neonates with hypoxic-ischaemic encephalopathy (HIE) during hospitalisation. Method: A longitudinal cohort study was used. Twenty-nine participants (median age 39.0 weeks [IQR = 2.0 weeks]) with mild (n = 7), moderate (n = 19) and severe (n = 3) HIE were included. Clinical...

Background: Severe acute malnutrition (SAM) is associated with cognitive and motor deficits. Little is known about the swallowing, feeding and communication characteristics of hospitalised toddlers with SAM, limiting the abilities of speech-language therapists to provide effective early intervention. Objective: To explore the background, swallowin...

Reading and writing difficulties (RWD) in learners pose significant challenges not just for children but also for parents. While there is limited support available for children with RWD and their parents in Mauritian schools, research may reveal areas of parental need that speech-language therapists may address. The aim was to determine parents’ pe...

Background: In recent reviews of autism spectrum disorder screening tools, the Modified Checklist for Autism in Toddlers, Revised with Follow-Up (M-CHAT-R/FTM) has been recommended for use in lower middle-income countries to promote earlier identification. Aim: The study aim was to culturally adapt and translate the M-CHAT-R/FTM into Northern Soth...

Background: In recent reviews of autism spectrum disorder screening tools, the Modified Checklist for Autism in Toddlers, Revised with Follow-Up (M-CHAT-R/F TM ) has been recommended for use in lower middle-income countries to promote earlier identification. Aim: The study aim was to culturally adapt and translate the M-CHAT-R/F TM into Northern So...

Late language emergence (LLE) may result from genetic and environmental factors. Little is known about environmental factors in LLE in South Africa. The study describes the nature of differences in language functioning between toddlers with LLE and without LLE, and which factors were associated with LLE in a middle-income area in South Africa. Todd...

Background: Although Mauritius has adopted an inclusive education policy for learners with special education needs, it has not yet been implemented. Little is known about how teachers support learners experiencing reading and writing difficulties (RWD) in mainstream government primary schools. Aim: The aim of the study was to describe the perspect...

Background: There is a shortage of validated autism screening tests in the 11 official languages of South Africa. The Modified Checklist for Autism in Toddlers, Revised with Follow-Up (M-CHAT-R/FTM), a validated and well-known screening test, had already been adapted (in English) and translated into Northern Sotho for use in South Africa. Objectiv...

Background: Studies indicate that difficulties English second language (ESL) learners experience in the classroom may not be attributed to only listening comprehension of the language of learning and teaching (LoLT). ESL learners’ performance-related difficulties may increase when linguistic complexity is added to auditory comprehension tasks. Limi...

Background: The prevalence of neonatal oropharyngeal dysphagia (OPD) in high-risk infants in lower-middle-income countries is unknown. Objectives: To determine the prevalence and associated risks for OPD in high-risk neonates in order to allow timely intervention for OPD, minimising negative outcomes. Method: A prospective cross-sectional observa...

Background: Normative information on the breastfeeding of term newborns may guide clinicians in early identification of breastfeeding difficulties and oro-pharyngeal dysphagia (OPD), and may support optimal breastfeeding practices. Objective: To describe breastfeeding skills of term newborn infants in a South African hospital, a lower-middle-inc...

Limited research is available about the financial costs incurred by families of children with ASD in low-and-middle-income countries (LMICs). This article describes socio-demographic characteristics of and financial costs encountered by families whose children attend autism-specific government-funded schools in South Africa. Survey questionnaires w...

Background: Despite inclusive education (IE) policies and legislation being introduced in South Africa (SA), learners with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) are still placed in autism-specific public and private schools. Limited data are available on who makes use of the two different types of schools. Results may provide information on the profiles a...

Purpose: To identify symptoms of oropharyngeal dysphagia (OPD) in breastfeeding neonates with hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) on therapeutic hypothermia (TH). Early identification of feeding problems in neonates with HIE by speech-language therapists (SLTs) may prevent secondary complications of OPD such as aspiration pneumonia and death. Ma...

Background: A clinical feeding assessment instrument to assist with early identification of oropharyngeal dysphagia (OPD) in neonates was developed. Objective: To investigate the validity and reliability of the Neonatal Feeding Assessment Scale (NFAS) in comparison to the modified barium swallow study (MBSS) as gold standard. Method: A within-...

Late identification of children with ASD remains a concern. Due to limited research in low and middle-income countries (LMICs) such as South Africa (SA), the early management of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) should be further explored. The aim was to describe the demographic characteristics and early management of ASD that may influence identifica...

Late identification of children with ASD remains a concern. Due to limited research in low and middle-income countries (LMICs) such as South Africa (SA), the early management of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) should be further explored. The aim was to describe the demographic characteristics and early management of ASD that may influence identifica...

Background: Bilingual aphasia forms a significant part of speech-language pathologists’ (SLP) caseload, globally, and specifically in South Africa. Few tools supporting clinical decision-making are available due to limited understanding of typical and disordered cross-linguistic processing (how the languages interact). Speech errors may provide ins...

Background: There is limited description of the feeding characteristics of infants with unrepaired cleft lip and palate, exposed to HIV, but not necessarily infected. Objective: To compare the feeding characteristics of infants with unrepaired cleft lip and palate and HIV-exposure, to infants with unrepaired cleft lip and palate only. Method:...

Background: South Africa presents with high preterm birth (PTB) and low birth weight (LBW) rates (14.17%). Numerous conditions characterised by language impairment are associated with LBW and/or PTB. Speech-language therapists may fail to identify older children whose language impairment may have originated from LBW and/or PTB. Objective: To descr...

Objective: To describe the breastfeeding characteristics of late-preterm infants (LPIs) in a kangaroo mother care (KMC) unit. Materials and methods: In a 20-bed KMC unit, the breastfeeding of 73 purposively-selected LPIs' (mean gestational age: 34.8 weeks) was observed once-off, using the Preterm Infant Breastfeeding Behavior Scale. Participants...

Background: A previous systematic review found limited data regarding social participation in working-age people with aphasia (PWA). A review of recent studies may reveal more information on challenges in reestablishing social roles. Method: The aim was to provide an updated systematic review on social participation in PWA under 65 years of age....

Background. The prevalence of neonatal dysphagia is increasing, as medical advances contribute to the survival of critically ill and preterm infants. Additional factors such as low birth weight (LBW), gastro-oesoephageal reflux disorder, failure-to-thrive (FTT), and HIV may increase the complexity of dysphagia symptoms. Knowledge of context-specifi...

Background Specific breastfeeding and swallowing characteristics in neonates with hypoxic-ischaemic encephalopathy (HIE) have not yet been well described in the literature. Considering the relatively high incidence of HIE in resource-poor settings, speech-language therapists should be cognisant of the feeding difficulties in this population during...

This article examines early developmental histories of learners who attended a government-funded school for children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in South Africa from 1992 to 2014. A total of 141 complete historical admission records of learners were analysed. Frequencies, means and correlations were determined for perinatal conditions and d...

Objective The objective was to determine the preliminary psychometric performance of a new clinical feeding scale to diagnose oropharyngeal dysphagia (OPD) in neonates. Methods Twenty neonates with a median gestational age of 35 weeks were evaluated using the Neonatal Feeding Assessment Scale (NFAS) and modified barium swallow studies (MBSS). The...

Background: There is a need for validated neonatal feeding assessment instruments in South Africa. A locally developed instrument may contribute to standardised evaluation procedures of high-risk neonates and address needs in resource constrained developing settings. Objective: The aim of the study was to develop and validate the content of a cl...

In a previous study Moodley, Kritzinger and Vinck (2014) found that formal English Additional Language (EAL) instruction contributed significantly better to listening and speaking skills in Grade R learners, than did a play-based approach. The finding in multilingual rural Mpumalanga schools was in agreement with numerous studies elsewhere. Additio...

Background. Infants in neonatal intensive care are at risk of swallowing difficulties, in particular oropharyngeal dysphagia (OPD) and oesophageal dysphagia (OD). OPD is treated by speech-language therapists while OD is managed by doctors. Diagnosis of dysphagia is a challenge as equipment for instrumental evaluations is not readily available. Addi...

Background In future, the South African Department of Health aims to purchase services from accredited private service providers. Successful private audiology practices can assist to address issues of access, equity and quality of health services. It is not sufficient to be an excellent clinician, since audiology practices are businesses that must...

Background There appears to be a perception amongst parents and in popular literature that infantile colic is caused by feeding difficulties. Limited support for this perception is found in scientific literature. Whilst there is scientific evidence that suck, swallow and breathing are key components of successful feeding, these components and the c...

Background Language and communication difficulties of young children with visual impairment (VI) are ascribed to intellectual disability, multiple disabilities and autism spectrum disorder (ASD) rather than their sensory impairment. Consequently, the communication difficulties of children with VI may have been underestimated and undertreated. Obje...

Limited research has been published about the demographic characteristics of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) in South Africa. Describing the profiles of learners from a school for children with ASD may contribute to local knowledge in the field. A retrospective comparative design was utilised to compare the demographic characteristics...

Background: There appears to be a perception amongst parents and in popular literature that infantile colic is caused by feeding difficulties. Limited support for this perception is found in scientific literature. Whilst there is scientific evidence that suck, swallow and breathing are key components of successful feeding, these components and the...

Background: In future, the South African Department of Health aims to purchase services from accredited private service providers. Successful private audiology practices can assist to address issues of access, equity and quality of health services. It is not sufficient to be an excellent clinician, since audiology practices are businesses that mus...

Background: Language and communication difficulties of young children with visual impairment (VI) are ascribed to intellectual disability, multiple disabilities and autism spectrum disorder (ASD) rather than their sensory impairment. Consequently, the communication difficulties of children with VI may have been underestimated and undertreated. Ob...

The Early Childhood Development Manager in Mpumalanga is faced with the problem of providing evidence-based guidance of the best facilitation approach in the Grade R context. An investigation on the effect of facilitation, i.e. play-based or formal instruction, on Grade R performance scores in English Additional Language (EAL) learning was conducte...

Due to low-birth-weight, preterm birth, HIV and/or AIDS and poverty-related factors, South Africa presents with an increased prevalence of infants at risk of language delay. A Kangaroo Mother Care (KMC) unit offers unique opportunities for training. The aim of the present study was to determine if formal, neonatal communication-intervention trainin...

Background: Early communication intervention services rendered by speech-language therapists and audiologists to families of infants and young children with feeding difficulties, hearing loss or emerging communication disorders should be implemented throughout South Africa. Early intervention can ameliorate risks, enhance development and may preven...

Objective To determine the age-specific communication functioning of children with cleft lip and palate (CLP) in the age groups of 1 to 11 months, 12 to 23 months, and 24 to 48 months. Design A retrospective, descriptive, cross-sectional survey design was employed. Participants Purposive sampling was implemented as a nonrandomized sampling method...

Neonatal communication intervention is important in South Africa, which has an increased prevalence of infants born with risks for disabilities and where the majority of infants live in poverty. Local literature showed a dearth of information on the current service delivery and roles of speech-language therapists (SLTs) and audiologists in neonatal...

The aim of the article is to describe the communication profiles of five young children with fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) from 4 to 58 months of age. A collective case-study design following a quantitative and descriptive approach was used to describe the communication profiles of the participants. The results are described according to t...

Based on clinical observations, case finding for early communication intervention service delivery in rural areas, such as Ditsobotla sub-district, is limited. The study described the identification process used for infants and young children at risk for communication delay and disorders as part of a proposed incremental implementation of early com...

Key findings of emergent literacy research conclude that emergent literacy experiences correlate with later reading success and that emergent literacy intervention for children with special needs is essential. As a group with special needs, children with Down syndrome require emergent literacy intervention. They may attain functional literacy skill...

An increasing number of infants and toddlers with tracheostomies were identified at a large paediatric referral hospital in South Africa. They are at risk for swallowing and feeding difficulties, however, there is limited literature reporting the incidence and describing the dysphagia in this population, and no literature specific to a developing c...

In order to address the Pretoria Cochlear Implant Programme's (PCIP) need for an in-depth analysis of the variables related to outcomes of children with cochlear implants and their families, a comprehensive postal questionnaire was used in a cross-sectional study employing quantitative methods. The aim was to determine the perceptions of parents/ca...

The aim of the article is to describe the communication development of a child with Fetal Retinoid syndrome (FRS) from six months to seven years of age. Little is known about this rare acquired syndrome and its long-term implications, especially on a child's communication development. A descriptive, ex post facto research design was used to study t...

Motivated by societal challenges, government and university policies, as well as by the advantages of service learning for learners and communities alike, tertiary education facilitators are encouraged to create opportunities for the integration of theoretical knowledge and practical experiences by means of service learning in community projects. I...

Since preterm and low birth weight infants display a high-risk for communication disorders or delays, the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) provides the earliest opportunity where family-centered early communication intervention (ECI) services can be initiated. Extensive knowledge about high-risk neonates exists, but there appears to be limited k...

Although feeding difficulties in infants with Down syndrome are described in the literature, the experiences of parents regarding the feeding problems of their infants are largely omitted. In order to promote closer collaboration with families and speech-language therapists in early communication intervention, the study investigated some experience...

The high prevalence and serious sequelae of the pediatric human immunodeficiency virus (HIV/AIDS) in South Africa pose great challenges for clinicians involved in early intervention to develop appropriate interdisciplinary programmes for primary prevention of transmission of the virus as well as secondary interventions directed at the early managem...

Developing an undergraduate clinical training module in Early Communication Intervention (ECI) that provides sufficient opportunity for students' learning experiences, and that allows contextually relevant and ethically accountable services to clients, as well as the dissemination of the latest scientific findings to both students and clients, pose...

Background: Delayed communication development is the most common symptom of developmental disability in children under three. Recurrent otitis media is an important contributing factor to a developmental communication delay. Young children under the age of three years who have a communication delay due to biological risk factors, for example premat...

The early identification of infants with communication disorders or at risk for communication delays is still one of the biggest challenges of early communication intervention (ECI) and threatens to compromise its efficacy. Current approaches to the early identification of young children at risk for communication disorders involve strategies aimed...

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the use of a clinical tool that was developed to determine the listening behavior of young children who are at risk for developmental communication delays. Practical experience indicates a lack of clinical evaluation procedures for the evaluation of listening behavior. An evaluation procedure was developed...

Practical experience indicates a lack of clinical evaluation procedures for the evaluation of the listening behaviour of children with Down syndrome. This is especially important because these children are at risk for developmental communication delays concomitant to the high prevalence of recurrent otitis media and resultant auditory processing di...

This study investigated the early communication functioning and hearing abilities of 44 infants with cleft lip and palate, ages 3 to 31 months old. The results revealed that 64% of the subjects had a history of recurrent otitis media with effusion and 33% displayed associated anomalies. 26% of the subjects had mild hearing losses and middle ear pat...

Early communication intervention has advanced to include neonatal assessment and management. Currently, however, there are limited diagnostic tools developed from a speech-language pathology and audiology perspective. The purpose of the study was to design a comprehensive neonatal communication assessment protocol and use it to describe the communi...

Children with Down syndrome are particularly at risk for language learning problems for reasons beyond the associated cognitive deficits. An early intervention programme and the application thereof on three Down syndrome infants aged 10 months at the initiation of the programme, is described. The subjects were individually assessed prior to the tre...

This study aimed to develop speech assessment material in local languages applicable for pre-school children with cleft lip and/or palate (CL/P) in Mauritius. A mixed methods research approach with a varying method of collecting functional data (interview schedules, observations, focus group discussion) was used. A list of words with pictures, and...