Division of Speech and Hearing Sciences (GRAD)
The Division of Speech and Hearing Sciences in the School of Medicine's Department of Health Sciences provides academic and professional education for speech-language pathologists and audiologists. Programs of study are available at the master's level in speech-language pathology. Programs of study at the doctoral level are available in clinical audiology (Au.D.) and in research (Ph.D.). The study of speech and hearing requires knowledge in both normal and atypical speech, language, and hearing. The speech and hearing sciences curriculum provides a multifaceted learning environment, including classroom, laboratory, research, and clinical experiences. Three major tracks of study are possible within the curriculum: audiology, speech-language pathology, and speech and hearing sciences. There are three academic degree programs:
- A master's degree (M.S.) for entry-level clinical practice of speech-language pathology
- A professional doctorate in clinical audiology (Au.D.)
- A Ph.D. in speech and hearing sciences for students with a background in speech-language pathology or audiology and related areas who desire a research degree
All of these programs are interdisciplinary in nature, involving clinical and research activities with other University departments and centers in addition to the Division of Speech and Hearing Sciences.
The entrance, academic, and residency requirements for the M.S. and Ph.D. degrees correspond to those of The Graduate School. Applicants to the Au.D. program follow the guidelines established by the School of Medicine for that degree program. Students enrolled in clinical degree programs (M.S. and Au.D.) are prepared to meet licensure and certification requirements necessary for the practice of speech-language pathology or audiology. Additional information describing the graduate programs in speech and hearing can be obtained on the division's website.
Following the faculty member's name is a section number that students should use when registering for independent studies, reading, research, and thesis and dissertation courses with that particular professor.
Professors
Elizabeth R. Crais (048), Communication Disorders in Infants, Identification/Intervention with Young Children with Autism
Karen Erickson (045), Assessment of Reading and Writing, Literacy Instruction
John Grose (050), Psychoacoustics, Auditory Evoked Potentials
Katarina L. Haley (072), Speech Perception and Production, Neurogenic Communication Disorders
Melody Harrison , Early Speech, Language, and Auditory Development in Children with Hearing Loss (Emeritus)
Lee McLean, Early Intervention and Language Development in Children (Emeritus)
Jackson Roush (058), Pediatric Audiology, Newborn Hearing Screening
Stephanie Sjoblad (082), Aural Rehabilitation, Hearing Aids and Assistive Devices
Linda R. Watson, Language Disorders in Young Children, Autism, Emerging Literacy (Part-time)
David Yoder, Center for Literacy and Disability Studies (Emeritus)
Associate Professors
Lisa Domby (025), Phonology, Bilingual Learning
Adam Jacks (085), Aphasia Neurogenic Communication Disorders, Speech Science
Cara McComish (077), Early Identification of Autism and Pediatric Feeding
Brenda Mitchell, Speech and Language Disorders, Mentorship
Nancy McKenna (062), Genetics, Hearing Disorders
Martha Mundy (053), Educational and Pediatric Audiology
Jessica Steinbrenner (093), Autism Research
Sharon W. Williams (074), Gerontology, Communication Disorders of Older Adults, Multicultural Issues, Counseling
Assistant Professors
Lindsey Byom (095), Traumatic Brain Injury
Philip Griffin (099), Adult Hearing Aids, Balance and Vestibular Assessment
Penelope Hatch (090), Literacy, Augmentative and Alternative Communication
Patricia Johnson (076), Hearing Aids and Assistive Devices
Hannah Siburt (096), Hearing Assistive Devices, Audiologic Rehabilitation
Instructors
Jamelle Salomon, Clinical Education
Caitlyn Whitson, Adult Hearing Health
Adjunct Professors
Emily Buss (009), Psychoacoustic Research
David Zajac (063), Speech Aerodynamics, Developmental Aspects of Speech
Adjunct Associate Professors
Margaret Dillon (092), Adult Cochlear Implants
Douglas Fitzpatrick, Anatomy and Physiology of the Auditory System
Debra R. Reinhartsen, Augmentative Communication, Low-Incidence Disabilities
Adjunct Assistant Professors
Clare Harrop, Neurodevelopmental Disorders
Jessica Kinard, Early Parent-Child Interactions and Communication Outcomes
Adjunct Instructors
Kristen Brackett, Pediatric Dysphagia
Jamie Daut, Hearing Conservation
Andrea Dunn, Pediatric Audiology
Hannah Eskridge, Pediatric Aural Rehabilitation
Lynn Fox, Fluency Disorders
Brian Kanapkey, Dysphagia, Neurogenic Speech Disorders
English King, Adult Cochlear Implants
Lisa Woods Markley, Medical Speech-Language Pathology
Stephanie McAdams, Medical Speech-Language Pathology
Lisa Park, Pediatric Cochlear Implants
Marcia Rodriguez, Adult Neurogenic Disorders
Gina Vess, Voice and Voice Disorders
SPHS
Advanced Undergraduate and Graduate-level Courses
Students have 30 hours of service-learning with individuals with autism at community partner sites. Class discussions introduce students to diverse topics related to autism spectrum disorder. This is an APPLES course.
This American Sign Language (ASL) course includes topics on linguistic features, cultural protocols, and core vocabulary for students to function in basic ASL conversations on a variety of topics. All instructions and discussions in the classroom will be conducted in ASL. Students minoring in Speech and Hearing Sciences have priority in registering.
Students in the Speech and Hearing Minor have priority in registering. The American Sign Language (ASL) course focuses on developing conversational skills on a variety of topics. All instructions and discussions in the classroom will be conducted in ASL.
Introductory overview of communication disorders, including the nature of communication across the lifespan; cultural and linguistic issues that impact communication; communication modalities; speech disorders; language disorders; hearing disorders; swallowing disorders.
Development of human communication processes across the lifespan, including linguistic and cultural bases of communication.
Development of human communication processes across the lifespan, including linguistic and cultural bases of communication. Includes a minimum of 30 service hours related to human communication. 12 spaces reserved for Juniors in Speech and Hearing Sciences Minor.
A detailed study of the International Phonetic Alphabet with emphasis on the sound system of American English. Application of phonetics to problems of pronunciation and articulation. Includes broad and narrow phonetic transcription.
Introduction to the science of speech, including production, acoustics, and perception.
Anatomy and physiology of the speech producing and aural mechanisms.
Theory and practice of the measurement of hearing, causative factors in hearing loss, evaluation of audiometric results, and demonstration of clinical procedures.
Introduction to diagnosis and treatment of communication disorders, including articulation, fluency, voice, and language, and those resulting from autism and hearing loss.
Graduate-level Courses
Required preparation, statistics course. Experimental and descriptive research designs in speech and hearing sciences, including both group and single subject.
Supervised clinical experience. May be repeated for credit.
Examines fundamentals of cochlear implants, candidacy, evaluation, equipment, programming, and performance outcomes.
Clinical Audiology assessment including pure-tone audiometry, immittance measures, and other measures commonly employed in the standard diagnostic battery.
Laboratory exercises in threshold determination, clinical masking and speech recognition testing, all concepts introduced in SPHS 710, Audiologic Assessment.
Amplification options for the hearing-impaired; specifically, hearing aid, electroacoustics, and earmold technologies. Additionally, hearing aid selection procedures are presented.
Laboratory activities related to earmolds, hearing aids, and ANSI electroacoustic verification.
This course will cover anatomy and physiology of the peripheral hearing system (outer, middle, and inner ear) as well as relevant central pathways.
To provide the student with information about current issues facing professionals. Issues include changing delivery systems, leadership, treatment efficacy and quality, reimbursement, and ethics.
This course provides an overview of psychoacoustics - the psychology of hearing. Content includes introductory acoustics, normal sound perception, and the perceptual consequences of impaired hearing.
Diseases and disorders of the auditory system and their management.
Online course covering universal precautions, privacy regulations, clinical practice with diverse cultural groups, report writing, and other aspects of audiology practice.
Principles of instrumentation relevant to clinical practice including study of electronics, filters, and analog and digital processing.
Instruction and application of a variety of topics demonstrating the use of auditory techniques, and strategies to promote the use of spoken language in children with hearing loss.
Principles and methods of prevention, assessment, and intervention for people with communication and swallowing disorders, including consideration of anatomical/physiological, psychological, developmental, and linguistic and cultural correlates of the disorders.
A survey of neurological anatomy in relation to clinical speech-language pathology. Topics considered include organization of the CNS, neuroanatomy, neurophysiology, and neurochemistry.
Discussion of adult aphasia and its clinical management, including assessment, diagnosis, prognosis, counseling, and treatment. Combined lectures and laboratories.
Identification and differential diagnosis of delayed and disordered speech development; associated body structures and functions; intervention approaches focused on improving speech intelligibility, fluency, and participation in communication activities.
Assessment and treatment of adults with disorders of motor speech control (i.e. dysarthria, anarthria, fluency, and apraxia of speech).
An advanced course on cognitive bases of human communication and cognitive-communication disorders. Topics covered include theoretical models of cognitive communication across the lifespan, cognitive processes thought to underlie communication, and common clinical presentations of cognitive communication disorders associated with traumatic brain injury, right hemisphere injury, left hemisphere stroke and dementia. The goal of this course is to improve students abilities to apply theoretical models of communication and current research literature to assessment and practice. Restricted to: Speech-Language Pathology Graduate students in the MS-SLP program.
Assessment and management of a range of laryngeal and aerodigestive disorders across the lifespan. Students admitted to the Master of Science in Speech and Hearing Sciences/Speech-language pathology program only.
In-depth analysis of the embryologic and physiologic bases of oral-facial anomalies and the team approach to assessment and habilitation. Particular emphasis placed upon the following specialties: genetics, plastic surgery, prosthodontics, orthodontics, otolaryngology, and speech-language pathology.
Examination and discussion of issues related to international practices in communication sciences and disorders, including effective global engagement. Restricted to: MS/SLP Graduate students and advanced undergraduates in the Minor with permission of instructor.
Discussion of normal aging and language. Assessment and treatment of cognitive and linguistic problems in persons with dementing conditions, right hemisphere dysfunction, and traumatic brain injury.
Discussion of the development of the normal swallow, anatomy and physiology of the swallowing mechanism, and assessment and team management of swallowing disorders.
Overview of communication disorders commonly seen in adult populations. These include disorders of language, cognition, speech and motor control, voice, and fluency.
Disorders of child speech and language development, as a prerequisite for advanced specialized coursework and supervised clinical practicum.
Assessment and intervention methods for receptive and expressive language (phonology, morphology, syntax, semantics, pragmatics, prelinguistic communication, and paralinguistic communication) in speaking, listening, reading, and writing.
Introduction to Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) systems for individuals with complex communication impairments; processes involved in selecting, representing, and organizing vocabulary; strategies to support development of communicative competence in AAC.
Supervised clinical experience in Speech-Language Pathology scope of practice.
Supervised clinical experience in Speech-Language Pathology scope of practice.
Supervised clinical experience in Speech-Language Pathology scope of practice.
Supervised clinical experience in Speech-Language Pathology scope of practice.
Supervised clinical experience in Speech-Language Pathology scope of practice.
Academic program accreditation standards; standards of ethical conduct; practice policies and guidelines; prevention of communication disorders; role of the speech-language pathologist.
Principles and rules of the current ASHA Code of Ethics; technical reports, diagnostic and treatment reports; treatment plans, and professional correspondence.
Cultural and linguistic diversity, its influence on human communication and the infusion of this knowledge into clinical practice, recognizing the needs, values, preferred mode of communication, and cultural/linguistic background of the client/patient, family, caregivers, and relevant others.
Cultural competence; conflict management; effective clinical and professional interaction with clients/patients and relevant others.
This course will cover content on the specialty area of pediatric dysphagia assessment and intervention. The course will cover normal development of feeding skills, explore underlying etiologies of feeding disorders, current methods and philosophies of providing evaluation and intervention, existing and ongoing research in these areas, and special populations such as infants with craniofacial anomalies.
May be repeated for credit.
Covers speech perception and the effects of hearing loss on perception and production of speech as background for understanding assessment and treatment, with an auditory-verbal emphasis. Pediatric assessment and amplification are reviewed.
Theoretical bases and history of audiologic rehabilitation of adults. Also, practical approaches to assessment and therapeutic intervention are presented. The roles of assistive technology and family-based counseling are included.
Stages of communication development of children from birth to five years old; clinical issues related to the assessment tools and intervention and planning for children with disabilities and their families.
Audiologic rehabilitation including counseling, visual speech perception, auditory training, special needs of older adults and psychosocial aspects of hearing loss will be addressed. Review of technology to enhance communication included.
Introductory information regarding cochlear implant candidacy, an overview of implant components, the evaluation process, surgery, device programming, and initiation of post implantation therapy. Class meets three hours for five weeks.
Clinical procedures used in the identification and management of hearing loss in young children.
This course covers prescriptive formulas, verification and fitting of hearing aids and FM systems, and suggested monitoring of progress when working with young children with hearing loss and their families.
Theoretical and practical approaches to fitting amplification systems and the procedures for dispensing amplification systems to the hearing-impaired.
Laboratory experiences related to the selection, programming, and fitting of amplification devices to hearing impaired individuals.
This course explores the field of auditory evoked responses. The primary focus is on responses from the auditory periphery including otoacoustic emissions (OAEs), electrocochleography (ECochG), and the auditory brainstem response (ABR).
Elecrophysiologic laboratory exercises to accompany Auditory Evoked Potentials I course.
Advanced principles of pediatric audiology and intervention strategies for hearing-impaired children. Procedures for counseling and case management.
Military and industrial audiology and hearing conservation, including physiological and psychological factors.
Principles of vestibular function and dysfunction, clinical assessment, and management.
Laboratory exercises to accompany Balance Assessment course. To include case history, bedside examination, and objective measurements.
Examines the provision of services to school-age children, with special focus on eligibility determination and assessment of central auditory perception.
Examine healthcare and business models that impact audiology practice. Personnel management, marketing, quality assurance, and service reimbursement for audiology practices will be covered.
Examines clinical cases from the perspective of presenting symptoms, test results, and clinical outcomes.
Genetics related to developing hearing and balance structures as well as syndromic and nonsyndromic hearing loss and deafness.
Advanced audiology course that provides fundamental knowledge about pharmacological mechanisms and their impact on hearing and balance, as well as evaluation and management of patients with persistent tinnitus.
This course gives enrolled graduate students in the curriculum an opportunity to pursue research supervised by one or more faculty members, culminating in a written document or special project.
This course will provide information regarding advanced signal processing utilized in digital amplification and cochlear implants.
This course provides information on the fundamentals of speech production, including the acoustic characteristics of normal and disordered speech.
This is the foundation course in a series related to providing services to children with hearing loss. Six units focus on working with families, speech acoustics, audiological interpretation, instrumentation, foundations of speech and language, and early literacy.
This course provides a broad overview of contemporary counseling issues in communication disorders. The impact of subject age, life course, and cultural background on interviewing and counseling is included.
This course focuses on behavioral and physiologic assessment of hearing in children and how these measures are used in aural habilitation. Fundamentals of hearing instrument technology including the selection and fitting of hearing aids and cochlear implants are addressed.
This course focuses on medical, psychological, and social theories and aspects of aging as they relate to communication processes and disorders.
Special topics and significant literature in the field of speech pathology.
Course participants will develop an understanding of evaluation and treatment of acquired and developmental fluency disorders in children and adults through lecture and hands-on practice.
Students will learn about four areas of language disorders affecting children and adults (receptive and expressive language disorders, communication modalities, social aspects of communication, and cognitive aspects of communication) through readings, posted videos, and online quizzes. This is an asynchronous online course.
Students will learn about speech disorders (fluency, voice, articulation, and craniofacial anomalies) through readings, posted videos, and online quizzes. This is an online asynchronous course.
Students will select two topics from speech disorders (fluency, voice, articulation, and craniofacial anomalies) and two topics from language disorders (receptive and expressive language disorders, communication modalities, social aspects of communication, and cognitive aspects of communication). This is an online asynchronous course with readings, videos, and quizzes.
Special topics and significant literature in the field of language and language disorders. May be repeated for credit.
The course focuses on typical development, impact of hearing loss on listening and spoken language acquisition, assessment, strategies/techniques, and intervention for children birth-5 years who are deaf/hard of hearing.
Seminar course exploring categorical classifications of young children and the impact of these categories on assessment and intervention. Common topics include autism, visual impairments, fragile X syndrome, and Down syndrome.
Individual work by a student (supervised by faculty) to explore an area of interest in a research paper or guided research experience.
Course regarding teaching of skills and supervision of individuals conducting screening programs. Introduction to teaching and development of assessment tools provides a background for the teaching lab associated with this course.
Experience developing and delivering training module, instructional module, and supervising new trainees.
The purpose of this course is to develop a familiarity and understanding of topics related to Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD). Issues related to characteristics, etiologies, theories, assessment, and intervention will be discussed.
Advanced special topics and current research in speech science. May be repeated for credit.
Students will acquire knowledge related to screening, diagnosis, and intervention for children who have autism and/or other developmental disabilities in addition to hearing loss.
Students and faculty will examine challenges and solutions related to screening, diagnosis, and intervention for children who have autism and/or other developmental disabilities in addition to hearing loss.
Interdisciplinary learning experience focused on examining social determinants of health while performing service activities in collaboration with community partners.
Participants develop knowledge of the major neuropsychological theories of autism and methodological issues in autism research through reading and discussion of literature; participate in developing and presenting autism research projects individually or in groups.
This course provides an overview of literacy development for children birth to eight years old. It will also address the impact of hearing loss on the development of literacy.
Doctoral seminar that introduces the student to principles of quantitative research methodology.
Doctoral student seminar that introduces the student to principles of single subject and survey research methodology.
Overview of the evidence-based practice (EBP) movement in early intervention (EI), definitions of EBP, systems for appraising evidence quality, examination of evidence base for current practices in EI.
Division of Speech and Hearing Sciences