OzTREKK - Speech Pathology School in Australia

OzTREKK is an application and information centre for Canadian students considering studying at select Australian universities. We offer a wide range of services, and it’s all free for you—we’re paid by the Australian universities, because they recognize that we’re experts in matching what they offer with what Canadian students need. If you apply to an Australian university through OzTREKK, you’ll benefit from insider knowledge, save time researching, and get all your questions answered.

[speechpathologyschoolinaustralia]

A Griffith Speech Pathology School student’s story

When most people think about speech pathology, they probably think of the study of helping people who stutter or have a lisp. While it’s true that speech pathologists do help with those issues, their scope of practice is a whole lot broader, including speech delays, fluency, voice and resonance, swallowing and feeding, cognitive-communication, literacy… and much more!

Back in 2016, we chatted with Ritoo, a former OzTREKK and Griffith speech pathology student. Originally from Vancouver, Ritoo first earned a bachelor’s degree in linguistics and psychology with a focus on child language development at Simon Fraser University.

Here’s her story about studying speech path Down Under!

[speechpathologyschoolinaustralia]

Virtual reality helps speech pathologists

How can virtual reality help speech pathology researchers?

According to University of Queensland researchers, immersive virtual reality (VR) technology is helping to treat communication disorders. Dr Atiyeh Vaezipour from the RECOVER Injury Research Centre said the results provided a foundation to inform the design, development and implementation of a VR system to be used in the rehabilitation of people with acquired communication disorders.

“Communication disorders can result in significant barriers to everyday life activities, and commonly require long-term rehabilitation.” Dr Vaezipour said.

“Traditionally, speech pathologists deliver therapy in places such as hospitals and health centres, where there are limited opportunities for real-life interaction. VR applications could simulate social communication situations that are difficult to create within the clinic in realistic, personally relevant, and safe environments. VR could be used as a rehabilitation tool in communication environments that mimic the richness, complexity and dynamics of everyday situations.”

Dr Vaezipour interviewed and surveyed speech pathologists following their use of an immersive VR kitchen environment.

“Participants in this study were positive about the usefulness of VR and its potential applications to the management of communication disorders within speech language pathology,” she said.

“Speech pathologists considered VR to be a viable option for observation of communication performance in more life-like environments, bridging the gap between communication in the clinic and communication in external environments where distractions are present, such as background noise or visual complexity. VR could provide valid contexts for people to practice their communication skills, build confidence, and interact with others.”

Ms. Danielle Aldridge, a speech pathologist working with the team at RECOVER, said, “the beauty of a virtual environment is that people can re-enter that same scenario over and over again as many times as they need to, to really nail their communication skills in those contexts and then build up their confidence to apply the skills and strategies that they have, in a real-life context.”

Dr Vaezipour said a human-centred design process was critical in developing virtual reality tools for use in clinical practice.

“Immersive virtual reality applications will require customization and adaptation capabilities that enable tailoring to the specific target goals, and physical, cognitive, and communication needs of the client. Incorporating human factors from the early stages of design and development could enable the successful adoption of novel technologies in rehabilitation.” she said.

The study is published in the journal Disability and Rehabilitation.

[speechpathologyschoolinaustralia]

The one-of-a-kind Health2Go Clinic at Flinders University

Get ready for the one-of-a-kind Health2Go Clinic at Flinders University!

Are you interested in a health-related program at Flinders University?

If so, you can look forward to being a part of, and learning in, Health2Go. This modern health clinic offers a variety of health services, all while combining excellence in care with the latest technology and research. Here, there is a focus on providing individualized care to all patients and training the next generation of health clinicians.

Students in the following programs are quickly integrated into this incredible learning and work environment under careful guidance of skilled practitioners

physiotherapy

speech pathology

audiology

exercise science

nutrition

occupational therapy

Students in Health2Go have access to a variety of state-of-the-art equipment, and many of their consulting rooms have video capture so students can learn remotely as well as in-person.

Face-to-face clinical placements with real patients and clinical simulations with mock scenarios allow students to engage in patient-focused evidence-based learning. These environments provide opportunities to practice their communication skills, learn the values of their profession, and get real hands-on experience that will help them succeed once they graduate.

[speechpathologyschoolinaustralia]

Explore University of Queensland’s impressive rehabilitation sciences facilities

Starting with the establishment of its physiotherapy program in 1938, the University of Queensland’s School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences is a leading Australian institution for teaching and research in audiology, occupational therapy, physiotherapy, and speech pathology. It has a strong focus on scientific endeavors and a long history of high-quality outcomes.

Strength and Conditioning Laboratory As part of the School of Human Movement and Nutrition Sciences, the Strength and Conditioning lab is used by students across all exercise-based programs. Here, students have access to a variety of training and rehabilitation equipment, like squat racks, pull-up bars, plyometric boxes, powerlifting platforms, cable and pin-lifted weight machines, to work with various clients.

Clinical exercise physiology students participate in specialized exercise clinics for clients with medical conditions such as cancer, diabetes, obesity, depression, cardiovascular diseases, while exercise and sport sciences students work healthy populations and athletes to help them meet their specific fitness goals.

Simulation House The Simulation House is used by occupational therapy and physiotherapy students as a space to practice working with patients with ongoing health conditions or those adapting to life at-home or during rehabilitation.

It is designed to replicate the home environment and provide the opportunity to simulate a range of activities and difficulties that clients would face at home. These include such tasks as making the bed or a cup of tea, loading or unloading a dishwasher, or getting in and out of the shower.

No detail is too small, right down to the inclusion of various drawer and cupboard handles, as students need to understand the importance of a patient’s physical environment on their success in navigating daily activities.

Telerehabilitation Clinic Just above the Simulation House is UQ’s Telerehabilitation Clinic. The first of its kind in Australia, this facility was established in 2015 with a donation from the Bowness Family Foundation. It seeks to provide superior care by removing barriers for clients with challenges affecting communication, movement, and participation.

This facility allows students in the various rehabilitative science programs to deliver services to patients in their own homes and communities using technology. Under the supervision of educators who are experts in the field, students interact with and treat real-life patients.

In the clinic, students are exposed to a range of emerging digital health technologies, and gain the knowledge, skills, and experience needed to practice in their field upon graduation. Research demonstrates that the outcomes clients achieve through these telerehabilitation sessions are just as good, if not better, than seeing a therapist in a more traditional clinic.

Want to explore these facilities further? Take a virtual tour!

[speechpathologyschoolinaustralia]

Find out more!

[speechpathologyschoolinaustralia]

UQ celebrates 55 years of speech pathology studies

If you’ve ever wondered what it is like to study speech pathology, and where those studies could take you, pull up a chair.

Professor Liz Ward from the University of Queensland’s School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences currently holds a joint position as a Professor of Speech Pathology at UQ, as well as Professor of the Centre for Functioning Disability and Health Research within the Metro South Hospital and Health Service at Queensland Health.

The university caught up with her for a Q&A—in celebration of 55 years of speech pathology at UQ!

UQ: What inspired you to get into speech pathology?

LW: Unlike some, I was one of those students who was not really certain it was the career for me until I did my first adult placement, then I was hooked! I knew then that I wanted to work with adults in hospital services, and 25 years later that’s the clinical group upon which I have focused my entire career.

UQ: What is your area of expertise/favourite topic within the field?

LW: My main area of expertise is speech and swallowing management of patients with head and neck cancer. I am also very passionate about improving critical and intensive care services and tracheostomy management. It’s the complex medical conditions and the challenge of making a difference to recovery patterns in the hospital and health environment that are a real interest area for me.

In addition to those clinical areas I love health services research in general, and developing new services and models of care, such as telehealth, which are changing practice and improving the patient experience.

UQ: What has been the best moment of your career so far?

LW: I am incredibly fortunate as I have had many. From a research perspective, seeing the many research initiatives I have led become part of routine clinical care is the greatest reward.

From a personal perspective it was the recent honour of presenting the Chris O’Brien Oration at the Australia and New Zealand Head and Neck Cancer Society conference. It was a lovely acknowledgement of the research profile that speech pathology has in this field, and recognition of the important role speech pathology has in head and neck cancer care.

UQ: What would you say to a person considering a career in speech pathology?

LW: Do it! But bring your A-game and always be the best you can, and understand that being a consumer of, and engaging in, clinical research will be an integral part of being a speech pathologist.

UQ: What are some of the lesser known career paths that a qualification in speech pathology could lead to?

LW: I once met a woman who had been a speech pathologist and had then gone on to use her skills in linguistics and phonetics to work as a speech analyst for an international law enforcement agency.

Find out what OzTREKK students think of the UQ speech pathology studies program!

[speechpathologyschoolinaustralia]

Working in the UQ Speech Pathology Simulation Clinic

Speech pathology focuses on the management of communication and/or swallowing difficulties. Communication problems can occur in the areas of speech, language, voice, fluency (stuttering), hearing or literacy.

Within a “typical workplace environment,” UQ speech pathology students get hands-on practice during their time in the speech pathology simulation clinic. Like real life, students can assess patients with communication and swallowing difficulties in a hospital setting. Simulation clinics offer a number of benefits to the students, including learning to practice new skills, the opportunity for repetition of skill development, and the opportunity to gain a broad range of feedback to practice those skills before they need to use them in a real workplace environment.

About the UQ Speech Pathology program

The UQ speech pathology program is an accelerated program for students who have already completed an undergraduate degree. The program 2.5 years in length and will prepare graduates for a career in speech path across any of the diverse areas in which speech pathologists practice, such as education, health or private practice.

Program: Master of Speech Pathology Studies

Location: Brisbane, Queensland

Next Semester intake: July 2018

Duration: 2.5 years

Application deadline: February 27, 2018

[speechpathologyschoolinaustralia]

OzTREKK student Mackenzie enjoyed her time in the UQ speech pathology program... and with the Aussie animals!

 UQ speech pathology ranked number one in Australia by students

The UQ Speech Pathology program has been ranked number one Australia wide by students for teaching quality and educational experience.

More than 178,000 students from Australian universities and non-university higher-education institutions rated their experiences in the 2016 federal Quality Indicators for Learning and Teaching (QILT) survey.

More than 94% of speech pathology students at UQ were satisfied with the quality of their “entire educational experience” and over 97% were satisfied with the “quality of teaching.”

The impressive results continued with students ranking the program number two on the skill development scale (student satisfaction 92.9%), and the learning resources scale (student satisfaction 94.7%).

“I was surprised by the amount of real clinical expertise integrated into the learning environment. Not only does the course offer clinics each semester for the students, but the teachers also use their real clinical experience and expertise to promote learning and to allow students to think through clinical situations they may experience one day.”  ~ OzTREKK student Mackenzie Gunn

UQ Speech Pathology Head Dr Nerina Scarinci said the results were a testament to the hard work and dedication of the entire speech pathology team, including course coordinators, lecturers, tutors, and clinical educators, who all work together to ensure an exceptional experience for students.

“The UQ speech pathology team provide the best of both worlds for students, with expert knowledge and experience in both research and clinical practice,” Dr Scarinci said.

Final-year speech pathology student Monica Gehrke said she has found the lecturers at UQ to be experts in the fields they lecture in and passionate about the content they teach.

“Many lecturers provide insight and examples from their first-hand experiences in an area, so students are assured that the information being taught is highly relevant and applicable,” Ms Gehrke said.

The variety of opportunities provided to students include clinical placements from first semester, simulated learning opportunities in paediatrics, acute care, swallowing, and voice disorders, overseas placements, and interprofessional courses.

Second-year speech pathology student Isabella Loeskow moved from Bundaberg to live in one of the colleges at the St Lucia campus when she began her studies.

“Moving from my family and friends in Bundaberg to study speech pathology in Brisbane was a daunting but exciting move. I’m thoroughly enjoying my studies and in particular the placement opportunities.

“As I’m interested in working with children it was great to be able to do a full day placement at a school last year to get an understanding of what’s involved in this area of speech pathology.

“This year, we work for half a day every week in the UQ clinics. We see patients with a variety of experiences and this provides us with an opportunity to see what it would be like working in the real world as a speech pathologist.”

As one of Australia’s leading health and rehabilitation educators, the school has internationally recognised and award-winning teaching and research staff, inspiring alumni and high-quality students produced every year.

School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences Head Professor Louise Hickson congratulated academic and professional staff on their hard work to deliver quality course structures and exceptional teaching standards.

“We are very lucky to have a team who work closely together and thoroughly enjoy sharing their energy and enthusiasm for speech pathology to the next generation of clinicians.”

About the UQ Speech Pathology program

The UQ speech pathology program is an accelerated program for students who have already completed an undergraduate degree. The program 2.5 years in length and will prepare graduates for a career in speech path across any of the diverse areas in which speech pathologists practice, such as education, health or private practice.

Program: Master of Speech Pathology Studies Location: Brisbane, Queensland Next intake: July 2018 Duration: 2.5 years Application deadline: February 27, 2018

[speechpathologyschoolinaustralia]

University of Sydney speech pathology academics honoured

The Sydney Faculty of Health Sciences is known for world-leading education and research, and recently, three University of Sydney Health Sciences academics received prestigious awards at the annual Speech Pathology Australia National Conference.

Dr Elise Baker and Dr Belinda Kenny have received the Speech Pathology Australia fellowship. This is the highest public professional honour that the Association awards to members who demonstrate outstanding and significant and sustained contribution to the speech pathology profession.

Dr Baker’s fellowship reflects more than 20 years’ experience teaching at university level in which she has consistently contributed to the profession of speech pathology and the care of people with communication disorders. She has provided high-quality submissions to parliament, numerous peer-reviewed journal articles and conference presentations. She has been the lead investigator on five competitive research grants number of successful grant applications.

Dr Baker is an expert in early phonological development and management of children with speech sound disorders.

Dr Belinda Kenny’s fellowship was awarded for her commitment to professional and ethical practice. She is a lecturer and researcher in professional ethics, clinical education and neurogenic communication and swallowing issues.

She has developed a number of training packages for Speech Pathology Australia around ethics education and has been elected as a member of the Ethics Board three times.

Dr Kenny is committed to developing the speech pathology  profession through her teaching and has spent a decade supervising Honours and Higher Degree Research (HDR) students on the subject of ethical practice.

Sydney Health Sciences currently has four other fellows on staff including Leanne Togher, Michelle Lincoln, Sue McAllister and Mark Onslow—more than any other university. The discipline also has a Speech Pathology Australia lifetime member in Lindy McAllister.

Professor Tricia McCabe has been awarded the Elizabeth Usher Memorial Lecture, which she delivered at the Sydney International Convention Centre at the annual Speech Pathology Australia National Conference. The invitation to deliver the Elizabeth Usher Memorial Lecture is one of the highest honours given to speech pathology researchers in Australia.

The highly prestigious lecture is Speech Pathology Australia’s only annual lecture and Professor McCabe spoke on the topic “How do we change practice?”

Professor McCabe is Head of Discipline and Associate Professor in Speech Pathology in the Faculty of Health Sciences. She has published more than 60 peer reviewed journal articles, supervised more than 20 research students, and has had $3.6 million in research grants.

Professor McCabe has spent much of the past 10 years working to improve treatments for children with Childhood Apraxia of Speech (CAS). She has recently developed a self-directed learning package for speech pathologists to learn how to deliver ReST (Rapid Syllable Transition Training) treatment to children with Childhood Apraxia of Speech and Information for parents and the general community.

“It’s wonderful that three of our respected academics from the discipline of speech pathology have been recognised in this way. I wish to congratulate Dr Baker, Dr Kenny and Professor McCabe on their well-deserved achievements” said Health Sciences Deputy Dean Michelle Lincoln.

University of Sydney Speech Pathology School

In common with other departments at the University of Sydney, the discipline of speech pathology promotes students’ development of generic  communication and teamwork skills, as well as discipline-specific knowledge and skills. The course is designed to promote self-direction and encourages the graduates to have a sense of their own individuality and creativity. The university offers a two-year, graduate-entry Master of Speech Language Pathology program, intended for students coming from an undergraduate degree in any field.

Program: Master of Speech Language Pathology Location: Sydney, New South Wales Semester intake: March each year Duration: 2 years Application Deadline:  September 29, 2017

[speechpathologyschoolinaustralia]

Macquarie speech and hearing student Chi Yhun Li gained practical experience while working on a research project with the National Acoustic Laboratories. (Macquarie University)

The Macquarie University audiology and speech pathology student experience

Audiology is a growing discipline in health sciences that deals with the study, diagnosis and rehabilitation of the auditory system of the human body. There are very few Canadian universities that offer a Master of Audiology, and only three audiology schools are taught solely as an English-language program. Consequently, competitive admissions arising from so few spots have made Australian schools an attractive option for Canadians who wish to learn the requisite clinical skills to practice audiology.

Similarly, there are few speech pathology programs offered by Canadian universities, and since admission into these programs are increasingly competitive, graduate-entry speech pathology programs in Australia are a top choice for Canadians seeking to gain qualifications as a speech pathologist.

If you’re passionate about studying audiology or speech pathology, you may wish to consider studying at Macquarie University in New South Wales, Australia. Macquarie is home to the Australian Hearing Hub, a global leader in speech, hearing and language research. The Australian Hearing Hub leverages the university’s extensive international expertise in language sciences and cognitive sciences research, and in clinical research and professional training teams in audiology and speech language pathology.

Macquarie University Audiology and Speech Pathology Student Experience

Speech pathology and audiology students from Macquarie University can gain practical experience working on research projects within the National Acoustic Laboratories. Macquarie’s Professional and Community Engagement (PACE) units take students out of the lecture theatre and place them in the heart of their chosen degrees.

Canadian’s top pick for speech pathology

“Through my research, I found that Macquarie’s program is more established than other Australian universities,” says Master of Speech Pathology student Win Sum Cheung. “It also offers a wider variety of clinical placements, so I can get work experience in pediatric or a hospital or a school, depending on my interests.”

“Being a qualified by the Speech Pathology Association of Australia means I’ll have work opportunities in English-speaking countries like Canada and the US.”

Supportive lecturers

“The lecturers and tutors I’ve met so far at Macquarie University are more than just teachers. They’re more like friends,” says Bachelor of Speech, Hearing and Language Sciences student Moalosi Mapetla from Botswana, who is keen to pursue a Masters in Audiology after his bachelor degree.

“The interaction we have with our lecturers and tutors is amazing. They encourage us to ask questions, which makes the learning environment really interactive. They have been so supportive and it’s obvious they are passionate about seeing students excel in their studies, as well as in their social well-being.”

A strong focus on clinical work

“I particularly appreciated meeting students from varied professional backgrounds and cultures, the high calibre of the teaching staff, the time allotted for each student for individual concerns and the problem-based approach to learning.”

“My clinical placements reflected either the coursework I was taking at the time or had already completed. These experiences were varied and included working with adults and children with various communication and swallowing needs,” says Canadian Madhu who studied the Master of Speech and Language Pathology.

Rural placement experience

“A large part of why I chose this program over other programs in Australia is the strong clinical component,” says Megan, a Master of Speech and Language Pathology student. “As an international student who wanted to study in Australia and also see and learn about its unique culture I chose to undertake a rural placement. This placement was a particular highlight of my experiences in Australia so far.”

Audiology at Macquarie University

Program: Master of Clinical Audiology Location: North Ryde, Sydney, New South Wales Semester intake: February Duration: 2 years Application deadline: October 30 each year; however, candidates are encouraged to apply as early as possible.

Speech Pathology at Macquarie University

Program: Master of Speech and Language Pathology Location: North Ryde, Sydney, New South Wales Semester intake: February Duration: 2 years Application deadline: October 30 each year; however, candidates are encouraged to apply as early as possible.

[speechpathologyschoolinaustralia]

University of Sydney ranks number one in sport, physiotherapy and rehab

The University of Sydney has been ranked first in the world in the recently released 2017 QS subject rankings for the new category that comprises physical therapy, sports therapy and rehabilitation.

The subject areas are encompassed by a range of disciplines within the Sydney Faculty of Health Sciences.

“We are enormously proud to have been recognised in this way by our peers in academia and employers of our graduates,” said Dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences Professor Kathryn Refshauge.

The QS subject rankings score universities around the world on their reputation with employers and academics, as well as measuring the productivity and citation impact of the publications of academics (also called the ‘H-Index’) as an institution and citations per research paper.

“The QS rankings are a particularly rich ranking system because it takes into account all aspects of our work: education, research and employability of our graduates.

“These rankings reflect performance across the whole faculty, from professional staff to academics to students,” said Professor Refshauge.

The Faculty of Health Sciences offers a range of undergraduate and graduate entry courses in the disciplines included in the ranking category, such as exercise and sport science, exercise physiology, physiotherapy, occupational therapy, and speech pathology.

[speechpathologyschoolinaustralia]

[speechpathologyschoolinaustralia]

Sydney speech pathology researchers receive $6.3 million for internet-based stuttering clinic

In their third consecutive NHMRC Program Grant University of Sydney Speech Pathology School’s Professor Mark Onslow, Associate Professor Ann Packman, and Associate Professor Ross Menzies have been awarded $6.3 million to establish the world’s first internet-based clinic for stuttering.

The stuttering e-Clinic will service all the needs of child, adolescent and adult patients affected by stuttering located throughout Australia and eventually the world. The internet-based clinic model will provide economical, scalable and translatable stuttering treatments that will, for the first time, provide a means to adequately manage the public health problem of stuttering.

“The great advantage of this e-Clinic is that it can be accessed by anyone without having to visit a specialist speech pathologist or psychologist,” said Professor Onslow.

“In many cases, standalone internet treatment is effective for children and adults who stutter, and for them, having access to that internet e-Clinic, plus short weekly phone or email contact with a speech pathologist or psychologist, will be enough to treat their stuttering.”

The e-Clinic will mean that only patients who do not respond to this new type of online treatment will need to visit a clinic in person to see a speech pathologist or psychologist.

“The establishment of the e-Clinic will improve the lives of children with speech difficulties all over Australia and is an extremely cost effective way to deal with stuttering.

“We are particularly proud to put have put speech pathology up there in the running with oncology and immunology for this pool of funding” Professor Onslow said.

The funding is part of $125 million in research grants presented by the new Federal Government Health Minister Greg Hunt. The aim of these grants is to provide support for teams of high calibre researchers to pursue broad based, multi-disciplinary and collaborative research addressing complex problems.

University of Sydney Speech Pathology School

In common with other departments at the University of Sydney, the discipline of speech pathology promotes students’ development of generic  communication and teamwork skills, as well as discipline-specific knowledge and skills. The course is designed to promote self-direction and encourages the graduates to have a sense of their own individuality and creativity. The university offers a two-year, graduate-entry Master of Speech Language Pathology program. It is intended for students coming from an undergraduate degree in any field, who wish to gain the requirements to become a speech pathologist.

Program: Master of Speech Language Pathology Location: Sydney, New South Wales Semester intake: March each year Duration: 2 years Application deadline: TBA. Applications for the 2017 intake closed October 14, 2016.

[speechpathologyschoolinaustralia]

Applying to a rehabilitation sciences program? Application deadlines are approaching!

Australia is world-renowned for its leading-edge rehabilitation sciences research and practice, and Canadians enjoy learning from Australian academics who are world leaders in their fields. If you would like to apply to a rehabilitation sciences program at an Australian university, this is a reminder that the application deadlines are approaching for the following programs:

Macquarie University

Doctor of Physiotherapy – February 23, 2017

University of Queensland

Master of Occupational Therapy Studies – February 27, 2017

Master of Speech Pathology Studies – February 27, 2017

Master of Physiotherapy Studies – May 30 each year; however, you are encouraged to apply as early as possible.

Monash University

Master of Occupational Therapy Practice –  March 31, 2017

[speechpathologyschoolinaustralia]

Don’t miss the OzTREKK Rehabilitation Sciences Information Sessions

Australia is world-renowned for its leading-edge rehabilitation sciences research and practice, and Canadians enjoy learning from Australian academics who are world leaders in their fields.

If you’re curious about studying rehab sciences in Australia, don’t miss the upcoming OzTREKK Rehabilitation Sciences Information Sessions. Enjoy refreshments and the opportunity to speak with Australian uni representatives and alumni to learn more about how you can study in Australia and practice in Canada!

[speechpathologyschoolinaustralia]

UQ speech pathology researcher giving critically ill patients a voice wins 3MT

A PhD candidate whose research is giving a voice back to critically ill patients has won the University of Queensland’s Three Minute Thesis (3MT) final.

Anna-Liisa Sutt, a speech pathologist at Prince Charles Hospital and a UQ School of Medicine researcher, won both the overall and people’s choice awards for her presentation “Dying to Talk.”

Runner-up was Thisun Piyasena from the UQ School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, whose presentation was titled “Taming the chimera.”

Ms Sutt said her research was inspired by patients in intensive care units left voiceless by breathing tubes for ventilation.

“These vulnerable patients were desperate to communicate but were unable to talk because there was no air movement through their voice box,” she said.

“A speaking valve existed that could give them back their voice, but was not being widely used due to concerns that it could be harmful to patients’ lungs.

“My research showed that patients who used the speaking valve had better lung function, and it is now being used at Prince Charles Hospital.”

Ms Sutt is supervised by Professor John Fraser from UQ and Dr Petrea Cornwell from Griffith University.

3MT is a globally recognised competition developed by UQ.

[speechpathologyschoolinaustralia]

UQ speech pathology researcher Dr Caitlin Brandenburg; The second version of CommFit is being tested now (Photos: UQ)

UQ speech pathology researcher uses app to help stroke survivors

Dr Caitlin Brandenburg’s award-winning research is certainly something to get people talking.

The UQ speech pathology pioneer will soon begin testing a second version of CommFit, an app-connected device that encourages stroke survivors to speak more frequently.

“By measuring vibration through the collarbone using an accelerometer, we can tell how much the wearer has talked throughout the day,” Dr Brandenburg said.

“It’s essentially a language pedometer that is paired with personalised tasks to assist people to get better at conversation, and also more involved and engaged with their community.

“The idea is based on principles of neuroplasticity, being that as the brain repairs after damage you want to repeatedly practise the skills you want to improve.

“A lot of current speech rehabilitation methods revolve around naming pictures or singular tasks, which isn’t directly transferable to everyday conversation like CommFit is.”

CommFit, short for Communicative Fitness, is primarily targeted at people living with aphasia, an impairment of language production and comprehension that affects 80,000 Australian stroke survivors.

Dr Brandenburg said the refined CommFit pedometer, based on an earlier trial version, was more accurate, easier to wear, had longer battery life, and was more reliable and affordable.

“Our aim is to continue to develop it so it is as small as possible, as simple as possible and as affordable as it can be made.”

Early career researcher Dr Brandenburg, 26, has received encouragement on several fronts. She has won a $15,000 UQ Collaboration and Industry Engagement Fund grant; National Heart Foundation Vanguard and National Stroke Foundation Seed grants to develop the CommFit app; was a top-10 finalist for the Queensland Fresh Science competition; and her abstract on CommFit won the Stroke Society of Australasia Nursing and Allied Health Scientific Award.

UQ Collaborators on the CommFit project are Professor Linda Worrall and Professor Dave Copland.

Dr Emma Power of the University of Sydney and Dr Amy Rodriguez of the Center for Visual and Neurocognitive Rehabilitation (USA) are also involved with CommFit.

UQ Speech Pathology program

The UQ speech pathology program is an accelerated program for students who have already completed an undergraduate degree. The program 2.5 years in length and will prepare graduates for a career in speech path across any of the diverse areas in which speech pathologists practice, such as education, health or private practice.

Program: Master of Speech Pathology Studies Location: Brisbane, Queensland Next intake: July 2017 Duration: 2.5 years Application deadline: February 27, 2017