Advanced Communication Systems for Hearing Impairment

Enhancing Communication for Deaf Individuals

The PC System: Visualizing Speech

The PC system is a visual aid for speechreading, designed to eliminate potential confusion points that may arise due to similar articulation. For instance, distinct phonemes like /m/, /p/, and /b/ have the same articulation point and are therefore perceived as identical through lip-reading alone. Furthermore, some phonemes are “invisible” (e.g., velar phonemes /k/, /g/, /x/).

The PC system allows phonemes that appear similar

Read More

Hookworm and Toxocara Infections

Hookworm (Cutaneous Larva Migrans)

Larvae of animal hookworms cause this condition in humans. Found in animal feces and contaminated soil, they penetrate human skin causing a crawling eruption. Humans are not the definitive host; larvae migrate aimlessly in tissues and do not complete their life cycle.

Causative Agents

  • Ancylostoma caninum (dogs): More common in tropical and subtropical countries. Potential zoonosis: cutaneous larva migrans.
  • Uncinaria stenocephala (dogs): Increased prevalence in Chile
Read More

Parasite Evasion Mechanisms, Key Terms, and Examples

Parasitology Essentials

Parasite Evasion Mechanisms

  • Antigenic VariationTrypanosoma, Plasmodium, Giardia, Toxoplasma gondii
  • Inhibition of Macrophage Phagolysosome FusionLeishmania
  • Evasion of Toxic MoleculesTrypanosoma sp.
  • Modulation of Phagocytic Function (SCAP to Cytoplasm)Leishmania
  • Adsorption of Host AntigensSchistosoma sp., Plasmodium, Cysticercus
  • Antigenic MimicrySchistosoma mansoni
  • Shedding of AntigensTrichinella sp., Schistosoma sp.
  • Intrinsic Membrane ChangesSchistosoma sp.
  • Cleavage
Read More

Understanding Visual and Auditory Deficits: Early Detection and Intervention

Visual Deficit

1.1. Sight:

  1. Sense that allows us to keep in touch with the world and integrate information.
  2. Roles/Functions:
    • Geographical orientation
    • Knowledge of the world (object perception)
    • Social relations (face perception)
      • Face and body = Signs of identity
      • Non-verbal communication (body language, facial expressions)
      • Lip-reading (visual sign for speech)
  3. Route:

Eyes à Optic nerve à Optic chiasm à Optic tract à Thalamus à Visual cortex

There are persons who see and hear all but they have a cerebral damage

Read More

Understanding Key Concepts in Linguistics

vowelquad

There is no intrinsic or logical connection between a sound form (signal) and its meaning. Whatever name a human language attributes to an object is purely arbitrary. Discreteness: Linguistic representations can be broken down into small discrete units that combine with each other in rule-governed ways. They are perceived categorically, not continuously. For example, English marks number with the plural morpheme /s/, which can be added to the end of any noun. The plural morpheme is perceived categorically,

Read More

Key Components of Communicative Language Ability

Understanding Communicative Language Ability

1. Linguistic Competence

Linguistic competence concerns the knowledge of the language itself, its form, and meaning. It encompasses grammar, spelling, pronunciation, vocabulary, sentence structure, and linguistic semantics (thanks to which the learner acquires a second language). Linguistic competence is a crucial part of communication because it teaches students to use the language rules correctly and be aware of potential errors. Grammar is often considered

Read More