A programmed training task based on the token test was designed and administered to 24 adult aphasics. The point at which the patient failed the token test determined where he began the program and how many training sessions he would receive, provided he did not exceed the error rate before he finished the program. Improvement and errors within the program were analyzed to evaluate this training. Mildly or mild to moderately impaired patients showed significant improvement, while moderately and severely handicapped aphasics did not. This training, however, did not generalize to other “direction-following” tasks for any group of subjects. Within the program, generalization items were the most difficult for all aphasics. Neither in- versus outpatient status nor frequency of training sessions were significantly related to success with this program. This training procedure appeared effective for mildly impaired aphasics. The only overlap between the two groups which emerged in this study involved the youngest subject whose aphasia was the result of a recent traumatic injury.

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Velopharyngeal closure may be observed directly with a laryngeal telescope 6 mm in diameter. The speech sample used during the endoscopic examination should include several repetitions of a plosive consonant to insure sustained closure. Thirty-four normal subjects were observed, and the percentage of occurrence in four categories of velar and lateral wall approximation was calculated and categorized. To confirm the observations, cineradiographic (lateral and submentovertical projections) and telescopic observations were compared. Parallel observations were made for both methods. The procedure for using the telescope is explained, and issues relating to interpretation of telescopic observations are discussed.

A wireless intraoral electrolarynx for laryngectomy patients has been developed. The instrument consists of an earphone receiver and a pickup coil housed in the patient's denture. A separate transmitter with hand switch, worn under the patient's clothing, activates the receiver. Intelligibility testing revealed that this device was comparable to the Verbalizer Electrolarynx, a transoral instrument similar to the Cooper-Rand Electrolarynx. If the long-term endurance study now in progress proves that the device can meet the communicative needs of the laryngectomee, and if the favorable results obtained in this study can be duplicated with subsequent instruments, this electrolarynx may be a viable alternative to others now available.