News

From combating the opioid crisis to helping children overcome speech difficulties, Syracuse University researchers are harnessing technology to solve some of society’s most pressing challenges. Meet the faculty, students and alumni developing innovative solutions in opioid addiction recovery, speech therapy and accessible technology for people with disabilities. Discover how their work is making real-world impact and creating a more inclusive future. Featured research:

• Opioid use disorder and stress monitoring
• Speech therapy innovation using ultrasound and AI
• Accessible technology design with and for people with disabilities

Dr. Preston’s recent recognition as an ASHA Fellow was featured in the A&S News feed. He was featured as an “Innovator(s) in the Classroom.” Click here to read more about what this recognition means and how the lab contributes to the knowledge base surrounding effective treatments for speech sound disorders.  

Thank you to everyone who joined us at this year’s ASHA Convention! Our lab was thrilled to participate in multiple sessions, sharing our latest research, clinical insights, and innovative tools. For those who couldn’t attend or want to revisit the highlights, we’ve compiled all our presentation materials and supplemental resources in one place.

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Our Presentations Link

Below are handouts, slides, and additional materials from the sessions we led:

1. Incorporating Principles of Motor Learning in Therapy for SSD with Speech Motor Chaining
   • Description: This session summarized Speech Motor Chaining, a therapy designed to help kids with ongoing speech sound disorders or challenges linked to childhood apraxia of speech. We reviewed how the therapy works, the session structure, and tools that support motor learning. We also discussed who this approach is best suited for and recent research showing how effective it is.
   • Resources:
     • Handout
     • Presentation slides
     • Speech Motor Chaining link
     • Articulatory GIFs
2. Level Up Your Crtitical Thinking around AI for Speech Sound Disorders (2 parts)
   • Description: This session focused on helping speech-language pathologists (SLPs) understand how to critically assess AI and machine learning tools designed to assist with evaluating and treating speech sound disorders (SSD) in children with normal hearing. It aimed to equip SLPs with the knowledge to judge the accuracy, reliability, and ethical implications of these tools. In Part 1, SLPs learned key concepts and terminology needed to evaluate claims made by clinical speech technologies. Part 2 emphasized analyzing research to determine how effective these tools are in real-world clinical settings.
   • Resources:
     • Handout – Part 1
     • Handout – Part 2

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Additional Resources Link

Here are some related tools and materials we believe you’ll find valuable:

• Resource 1: Speech Motor Chaining Tutorial (Open access at PubMed)
• Resource 2: Nina’s Dissertation on AI-Assisted Speech Therapy (JSLHR, open access)
• Resource 3: NYU lab page with Visual-Acoustic Biofeedback talk/resources
• Resource 4: Infographic accompanying the Motor-Based /ɹ/ Tutorial

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We’d Love Your Feedback! Link

Did you attend one of our sessions? Have thoughts or questions? Please reach out to us at speechproductionlab@syr.edu. We’d also love to hear how you’re using these resources in your practice or research.

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Stay connected with our lab for updates on future events and resources!

PhD candidate Nina R. Benway (Cornell ’08, The College of St. Rose, ’11) was awarded the Graduate Dean’s Award for Excellence in Research and Creative Work. Her dissertation focuses on the development and validation of clinical AI tools for individuals with speech disorders. Nina has previously participated in research to improve treatment outcomes in children with speech sound disorders using biofeedback approaches. You can learn more about Nina’s work on her website. 

She and the other award winners will make a presentation at a symposium on March 25, 2022 in Lyman Hall Room 132. 

More information on this award, including names of other winners, can be found here.

Claire Cooke, a first year M.S.-SLP student, was one of three students in the ACC who was awarded the Jim & Pat Thacker Scholarship for postgraduate students. According to the scholarship announcement the scholarship is designed to honor students who will pursue postgraduate work who “…have performed with distinction in both the classroom and their respective sport, while demonstrating exemplary conduct in the community.” Claire earned her undergraduate degree at Syracuse University through the Falk College of Sport & Human Dynamics in Human Development & Family Science in 2021.

More information, including other scholarship winners, can be found on the ACC Postgraduate Scholarship announcement.

Dr. Preston spoke with A&S Communication Specialist Dan Bernardi about the current NIH-funded projects. Both our in-person study for children with errors on the R sound and our telepractice study are featured. We have partnered with Dr. McAllister at New York University and Dr. Hitchcock at Montclair State University on both projects.

Speech Production Lab member Nicole Caballero was recently featured on Spectrum News in a profile of a child with childhood apraxia of speech for Apraxia Awareness Month.