Speech pathology
Our research investigates the prevalence, causes, natural history and effective treatments of a wide range of communication and swallowing disorders
Rehabilitation of adults and children with speech, language, voice, fluency, or swallowing problems is the research focus of staff in Human Communication Sciences (HCS). As a site for the Centre for Clinical Research Excellence (CCRE) in adult aphasia rehabilitation (aphasia is a language disorder following a brain injury), Drs Jacinta Douglas, Miranda Rose, and Robyn O’Halloran direct clinical trials to compare novel and potent treatments for aphasia. Improving communication, social participation and activity in adults who have profound language difficulties is a key research goal for this Team.
Dr Susan Block co-ordinates a large program of clinical research into stuttering across the lifespan at the La Trobe Communication Clinic, in collaboration with the Australian Stuttering Research Centre at Sydney University.
Rehabilitation of voice, speech and swallowing for adults with head and neck cancers and managing vocal problems in professional voice users (singers, actors, teachers) involves two further specialised research program led, respectively, by Professor Alison Perry and Dr Jenni Oates, with their research partners at Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre and the Eye and Ear Hospital, Melbourne.
Potential PhD topics
The Department will consider any research topic that interests potential PhD students; however, students will benefit from researching in areas that align with the Faculty’s research strengths. Please find a relevant supervisor to discuss your PhD topic.
Alternatively you may contact one of our academics below to discuss your area of interest.
- Adult and paediatric swallowing disorders - Dr Bernice Mathisen
- adults swallowing, speech problems in adults - Professor Alison Perry
- Augmentative and Alternative Communication - Professor Teresa Iacono
- Child and adolescent mental health - Dr Diane Jacobs
- Children's readiness for school entry - Dr Tanya Serry
- Communication Disability - Dr Miranda Rose
- High-function Autism Spectrum Disorders (HFASD) - Dr Diane Jacobs
- Language and its relationship with learning to read - Dr Tanya Serry
- Qualitative methodology - Dr Tanya Serry
- Relationship between language and literacy in children with SLI, HFASD, or SRD - Dr Diane Jacobs
- Specific Language Impairment (SLI) - Dr Diane Jacobs
- speech pathology - Dr Susan Block
- Stuttering - Dr Shane Erickson
- transdisciplinary, conceptual and creative approaches to research in human communication - Dr David Azul
- Understanding the role of communication in forming relationships following acquired brain injury - Dr Jacinta Douglas
- Voice science and voice disorders - Dr Jennifer Oates
