We congratulate the 2019 Speech-Language Pathology Student Grant Recipients!
We are extremely pleased to announce the two winners of the $1500 student treatment research grants for speech-language pathology: Ann Finnimore, PhD Candidate from The University of Queensland and Gabriella Reynolds, PhD Candidate from The University of South Carolina. These grants are designed to support and promote treatment research in people with neurological conditions. The grants are non-restrictive, provided the treatment being researched is in a neurological population. Grants are awarded based on an independent peer-review process led by Dr. Geralyn Schulz, PhD, CCC-SLP, LSVT Global’s grant manager.
This year’s winners represent a range of diversity from improving maintenance post intensive speech therapy in people with PD via telehealth to using FM systems to improve outcomes in children with dyslexia.
Read on to learn more about our winners and their projects.
Our 2020 grants program is open now. To learn more, please download our Speech Pathology Grant Handout 2020.
Speech-Language Pathology Awardees
Gabriella Reynolds
Speech Language Pathologist
PhD Candidate
University of South Carolina
“Effects of Personal FM Use During Literacy Intervention for Students with Dyslexia”
Developmental dyslexia is a neurobiological based disorder characterized by slow and inaccurate word decoding which results from deficits in phonological awareness, a sound- based skill. It is well established that degrees of hearing loss of moderate and worse are associated with impairment in literacy skills; however, preliminary evidence indicates there is also a relationship between minimal hearing loss and reading impairment. FM systems are devices that enhance the signal-to-noise ratio in noisy environments with high amounts of background noise and are often used in the classroom setting. The use of the FM system allows the student/listener clear access to the teacher’s voice without also amplifying background noise. Provision of FM systems to students with dyslexia results in increased teacher rating and objective measurement of reading skills in a classroom setting, but the specific effects of FM system use on phonological awareness skills has not been evaluated. This study will examine the effects of an FM system during phonological awareness-based intervention for students with dyslexia and minimal hearing loss that have previously received phonological awareness-based intervention and are non-responders to treatment.
Anne Finnimore
Speech Language Pathologist
PhD Candidate
University of Queensland
“Check-In: Supporting people with Parkinson’s disease in self-managed maintenance of communication following intensive speech treatment.”
The impact of the speech impairment on the person with Parkinson’s Disease (PD) is loss of speech intelligibility which leads to social isolation and a diminished quality of life for the person with PD and for their families and carers. The Lee Silverman Voice Treatment (LSVT LOUD®) has proven to be efficacious for hypokinetic dysarthria. On conclusion of the treatment, participants are advised to practice their LSVT LOUD skills daily using the recommended home program. The speech pathology follow-up of patients after completion of LSVT LOUD is variable and there is a paucity of evidence for an effective model for supporting the maintenance of speech and communication gains made in treatment. Drawing on principles of self-management and the Social Cognitive Theory of Self-regulation, a proposed model for maintenance aims to be responsive to the chronic, progressive nature of PD and the concerns of people with PD regarding access to speech pathology services as their needs change over time. The aim of this research is to explore the impact of a speech pathology supported self-management model (PD Check-In) on the maintenance of speech and communication and quality of life, in people with PD, over two years.