Question

II. A speech-language pathologist measures the average intensity of a patient’s /m/ productions at the start of therapy and finds it to be 2 x 10-6 W/cm2. The clinician decides to use this power as a reference against which to measure progress in therapy.

After 3 weeks of therapy, the patient produced /m/ at an average intensity of ​

8 x 10-6 W/cm2. After 8 weeks of therapy, the patient produced /m/ at an ​

average intensity of 18 x 10-6 W/cm2 (THIS REALLY SHOULD READ 1.8 X

10-5 W/cm2 BECAUSE THE CHARACTERISTIC IS NEVER GREATER

THAN 10, BUT FOR THE SAKE OF SIMPLICITY ….)

A. Determine the intensity of each of the patient’s /m/ productions after 3 weeks and 8 weeks of therapy (Show all work).

​After 3 weeks: _______________

​After 8 weeks: _______________

​ B.​Based on the intensity of /m/ observed at therapy onset, what power level ​would be required to raise the intensity of this patient’s /m/ by 10 dB?

​______________________

​

Answer 1

Answer A:)

To calculate the intensity per month, use the following formula:

Intensity per month = Intensity x Duration/ 30

The duration is in days. Therefore, 3 weeks are 21 days.

Intensity per month = 8 x 10-6 x 21/30

Intensity per month = 5.6 x 10-6 W/cm2

After 8 weeks,

Duration = 8 x 7 days

Duration = 56 days

Intensity per month = Intensity x Duration/ 30

Intensity per month = 18 x 10-6 x 56/30

Intensity per month = 18 x 10-6 x 1.87

Intensity per month = 33.7 x 10-6 W/cm2

Answer B:)

To reach the intensity of 10 dB, use the following formula:

Power level = Required range / Maximum intensity

Required range = 10 dB

1 dB = 10-4 W/cm2

Required range = 10 x 10-4 W/cm2

Maximum intensity = 5.6 x 10-6 W/cm2

Power level = 10 x 10-4 / 5.6 x 10-6

Power level = 1.78 x 102 W/cm2

Therefore, a power level of 1.78 x 102 W/cm2 is required to reach the 10 dB speech.