Professionals in the speech and hearing sciences must be equipped with the physiology of the speech and hearing mechanisms, with knowledge of the latest technology in hearing aids and AAC devices, the resources available for rehabilitation, as well as the psychology of hearing and communication.
Clinical Associate Professor
I have a passion for researching the early sounds that infants produce and the interventions intended to promote their development. I believe that I have the best job in that I get to help students gain the knowledge they need to be as effective as possible in this challenging field.
Today’s therapies are rapidly changing with the introduction of new technology. The field of audiology, which is my specialty, faces many challenges nonetheless. As technology gets better and better, each of us must learn to incorporate new ideas, new theories, and new practices into how we treat those with hearing, balance, and communication disorders.
I’ve made studying these issues and teaching others in this field my mission. That’s been true since I was a professor at the University of Iowa, and it remains my mission today. Some of the areas of audiology I’ve focused on in particular include cochlear implants, canonical babble, and early speech development.
I began publishing papers on early speech development and cochlear implantation back in 2002. It’s a research field that has fascinated me for some time. Working with students at UGA, and helping them to understand communication, is an honor for me. I also feel that this is an absolutely great time to teach, and for my students to learn about speech, language, and hearing related disorders. Not many people go into this field of science, as such, there is a shortage of professionals who are prepared to serve these populations.