Center for Speech, Language, and Hearing Research
Description
The Center for Speech, Language, and Hearing Research (CSLHR) is embedded within the school of Allied Health Sciences, and is administered through the Department of Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center (TTUHSC).
The primary mission of the CSLHR is to promote education, research, and clinical practice in the areas of speech, language, and hearing. The Center's goal is to facilitate a collaborative effort among faculty in the programs of audiology, speech-language pathology, and rehabilitation sciences within the School of Allied Health Sciences and faculty from other programs within TTUHSC and Texas Tech University (TTU) who have interest and expertise in processing and production of auditory information, including linguistic stimuli.
Research Laboratories
The CSLR laboratories are located on the 3rd floor of the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center building in Lubbock, Texas (3B-302). Each research laboratory is run by a full-time, doctoral level faculty member in the Department of Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences. The research laboratories are listed below.
Adult Neurogenic Language Disorders Laboratory
Melinda Corwin, Ph.D., CCC-SLP (Director, Center for Speech, Language, and Hearing Research)
Associate Professor
phone: (806) 743-5660
email: melinda.corwin@ttuhsc.edu
Auditory Electrophysiology Laboratory
Steven Zupancic, Au.D., Ph.D., CCC-A
Assistant Professor
phone: (806) 743-5678
email: steven.zupancic@ttuhsc.edu
Auditory Perception Laboratory
Associate Professor
phone: (806) 743-5660
email: dwayne.paschall@ttuhsc.edu
Auditory Processes Laboratory
Associate Professor
phone: (806) 743-5660
Augmentative and Alternative Communication Laboratory
Professor and Associate Dean (Research)
phone: (806) 743-5660
email:rajinder.koul@ttuhsc.edu
Child Phonology Laboratory
Selective Auditory Attention Laboratory
Leigh Ann Reel, Au.D., Ph.D., CCC-A
Assistant Professor
phone: (806) 743-5660
email: leigh.reel@ttuhsc.edu
Speech Science Laboratory
James Dembowski, Ph.D., CCC-SLP
Assistant Professor
phone: (806) 743-5660
email: james.dembowski@ttuhsc.edu
Pediatric Audiometric Science Laboratory
Associate Professor
phone: (806) 743-5660
email: candace.hicks@ttuhsc.edu
Psycholinguistics Laboratory
Associate Professor
phone: (806) 743-5660
email: katsura.aoyama@ttuhsc.edu
Clinical Services
Much of the research conducted through the CSLHR is clinically based. The CSLHR operates in partnership with the Speech-Language and Hearing Clinics, which are located on the 2nd floor (2A-300) of TTUHSC in Lubbock, Texas. Clinical services which are currently available include the following:
Audiological evaluation and treatment for children and adults in the following areas:
- hearing loss requiring hearing aids and/or aural rehabilitation
- auditory processing disorder (APD)
- cochlear implants
- balance or dizziness problems
Speech-language evaluation and treatment for children and adults in the following areas:
- speech sound problems, including apraxia of speech, cerebral palsy, dysarthria, hearing loss, phonlological disorders, and/or the need for augmentative/alternative forms of communication
- language-learning problems, including autism, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), Down syndrome, learning disability, specific language impairment, developmental language disorder, dyslexia, and dysgraphia
- stuttering
- voice problems, including hoarseness or breathiness
- swallowing problems
- acquired language problems, including traumatic brain injury and aphasia
- memory problems, including traumatic brain injury and dementia
Research Mentoring
Research and clinical faculty members work closely with students pursuing degrees in the following areas:
Master of Science (M.S.) in Speech-Language Pathology
Doctorate of Audiology (Au.D.)
Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Communication Sciences and Disorders
Recent Accomplishments
1. Faculty members/CSLHR personnel published 30 peer-reviewed publications and/or book chapters and completed approximately 95 research and professional presentations from 2008-2010. Ph.D. students completed approximately 15 peer-reviewed presentations and publications from 2008-2010.
2. Faculty members/CSLHR personnel were awarded federal research grants as well as state grants and grants from private foundations. The two federal research grants that were funded are as follows:
a. Phonetic Category Formation in Korean-English Bilingual Children (NIH-NIDCD)
b. Do Animations Facilitate Symbol Understanding in Children with Autism? (NIDRR-US, Department of Education; Collaborative project with Northeastern University)
Private foundations supported the following clinical initiatives:
c. Stroke Recovery Family Services Endowment (CH and Davidson Foundations)
d. Autism Family Services Endowment (Davidson Foundation)
3. The Speech-Language-Hearing Clinic served a total of 4,478 patients with speech, language, and/or hearing disorders from 2008-2010.
4. The South Plains Autism Network (SPAN) serves approximately 15 families with autistic children every month.
5. The newly established Cochlear Implant Group is expanding its clinical outreach.
6. The Stroke/Aphasia Recovery (STAR) Program became a non-profit 501(c) 3 nonprofit corporation in 2010. The Program serves approximately 60 stroke survivors and caregivers weekly each semester.
Contact Information
CSLHR Director: Melinda Corwin, Ph.D. CCC-SLP
Phone: 806-743-5660 ext. 223
Fax: 806-743-5670
Email:melinda.corwin@ttuhsc.edu
Mailing Address: 3701 4th St. Stop 6073, Lubbock, TX 79430