ASP 2020 Newsletter

The Department of Audiology & Speech Pathology 2020 Newsletter

6 REASONS TO GET EXCITED ABOUT ASP’S NEW HOME Phase one of the UT Conference Center renovation is slated for completion at the end of this year, and much of ASP can begin our long-anticipated move. Here’s why we can’t wait to transition into our new space. #1 DREAM TEAM Over 30 professionals are designing and renovating our space, including members of the UT system, UTHSC, UTK, Threshold Acoustics & AV Consultants, Lindsay & Maples Architects, Johnson & Galyon Construction, ETS Lindgren Acoustic Systems, Lauderdale Design Group, all working on one thing….our new home.

#2 LOCATION IS EVERYTHING Nestled between UTK’s beautiful campus and thriving Downtown Knoxville, our students, faculty, and patients will enjoy our convenient location, just off Interstates 75 and 40 and across the street from the World’s Fair Park.

Dr. Ashley Harkrider Professor and Chair

#3 TOP NOTCH TECHNOLOGY AND DESIGN This professional space will afford ASP faculty, staff, and students with the newest generation of information technology, audio-visual capability, “smart” classrooms, and accessible facilities, specifically suited to our interwoven scientific, educational, and clinical endeavors.

#4 SO LONG SOCIAL DISTANCING ASP students will inhabit an interactive breakroom, work spaces, and study areas that encourage interprofessional collaboration and socialization.

#5 SWEET SUITES Eight audiology testing and counseling suites, a three-room balance center, a shielded auditory electrophysiology test area, a cochlear implant mapping space, a hearing aid repair laboratory and individual and group aural habilitation and SLP therapy rooms are planned for phase one of the renovation.

#6 A WELCOME SIGHT Next time you visit, we will have distinct waiting areas for our clients and guests. The clinic waiting room will include check- in and check-out carrels and the Sydney Sloan Pediatric Playroom for our youngest patients. The academic lobby will welcome perspective students, visiting faculty, and others with digital and pictorial displays of ASP’s rich history and achievements.

Contact Us

Phone: (865) 974-5019 Email: asp@uthsc.edu Website: www.uthsc.edu/asp Social Media: @uthscaudspeech

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Across the Lifespan Accolades Outreach ASP in Pictures

IMPROVING LIFE’S CONNECTIONS

ACROSS THE LIFESPAN

CATCHING UP WITH ELISE College Student Improves Conversational Skills While at ASP Elise McDaniel is a busy young lady. Recently, the 22 year-old interned at UT President Randy Boyd’s office as part of her work training duties with UTK’s FUTURE Program. President Boyd noted, “Elise served as my intern every Monday during the fall semester of 2019. She always brightened my day and was eager to help in any way she could.” Since turning 17, Elise has been seen by ASP faculty and graduate students to enhance her communication skills for academic, social, and employment settings.

Elise has Down Syndrome and was homeschooled by her mother since she was very young. She is a well-traveled (China, Switzerland, Haiti, etc.), interesting young woman who performs with a local dance company, goes on mission trips, and participates in various summer camp experiences. Elise now resides independently on campus in her own apartment. “I have to plan for dinner, do laundry, take the bus, clean, and go to Zumba classes on my own,” Elise stated. “It’s nice to have some freedom.” Elise’s mother, Chris McDaniel remarked, “Over the past several years, the Hearing and Speech Center has been instrumental in helping Elise with strategies to increase her conversational abilities.” President Boyd would agree. “Elise accompanied me on various speaking engagements, which I greatly enjoyed. I always encouraged her to laugh at my jokes, even when they weren’t that funny, and she tried her best!”

NEVER TOO YOUNG Vestibular Screening for Children with Hearing Loss Imagine being a young child and unable to describe the feeling of dizziness.

According to Dr. Steven Doettl, there are more children who experience balance and dizziness problems than we realize, and the incidence of vestibular issues in children with hearing loss is significantly higher than children with normal hearing. The Audiology Clinic is now screening all children birth to age three for underlying vestibular problems. Dr. Doettl, together with Drs. Erin Plyler, Kelly Yeager and Mary Easterday, is now routinely tracking motor milestones for children seen at the Clinic, as delays in these areas can be a red flag for vestibular issues. The key is early identification to help families identify issues quickly and begin necessary intervention. Dr. Doettl has partnered with physical therapists at East Tennessee Children’s Hospital Rehabilitation Center to serve his patients who need physical therapy for ongoing vestibular challenges. Doettl notes, “Families are comforted when they realize these issues are responsive to treatment.”

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SUPPORTING SENIORS Expanded Services to Senior Adults Can Detect Early-Onset Cognitive and Hearing Issues UTHSC’s SLP faculty and graduate students are participating in new off-campus experiences through a collaborative initiative spearheaded by Dr. Nola Radford, with support from the American Speech-LanguageHearing Association (ASHA). Dr. Radford was selected to participate in ASHA’s Interprofessional Faculty Development Institute; whose objective is to advance interprofessional education and collaborative practice by promoting, encouraging, and supporting preparation of future health professionals for entry into the workforce. As part of UTHSC’s initiative, SLP graduate students participated in memory and hearing screenings for seniors at two off-campus centers and trained one nursing student for participation in future screenings. Dr. Radford’s objectives for the program are to increase these student experiences both on and offcampus and train more nursing students.

“The screenings provide an opportunity to tap into the synergy of nursing and speech-language-hearing to serve adults as they age and to promote provision of competent and thoughtful care by professionals."

-Dr. Nola Radford

KEEPING VOICES STRONG

gram combines patient education, individual speech theraGrant Sparks Intervention Program for Individuals py, and ongoing group sessions. Research has shown that the Parkinson Voice Project’s therapy, called the SPEAK with Parkinson’s Disease OUT!® & LOUD Crowd®, is an effective program in preservASP recently enhanced ing vocal function in individuals with Parkinson’s Disease, as its speech services for they are at risk of developing a weak voice that can lead to patients with Parkinserious speech and swallowing difficulties. Ms. Orr notes, son’s Disease through a “This disease can be isolating and affects our patients’ everygrant from the Parkinday lives at home and in the community. This treatment son Voice Project, a program gives them confidence and helps them to be in national nonprofit organization. Angie Orr, who received greater control of their health. “ Orr went on to note that the grant in July and completed the program in Dallas, the SLP students have been anxious to learn how to effecreturned from her certification to train her clinical coltively treat an individual with Parkinson's disease. Anyone leagues, Drs. Nola Radford and Sue Hume, so they may also who wishes to learn more about the program is encouraged support student education efforts with this special popula- to contact Ms. Orr at 865-974-5451. tion. This specialized evidenced-based intervention pro3

IMPROVING LIFE’S CONNECTIONS

ACCOLADES

IMPRESSIVE TRAINING GRANT Advancing Students’ Knowledge and Skills about Children with Hearing Loss Professor Emerita Dr. Ilsa Schwarz and Dr. Jillian McCarthy recently received a U.S. Department of Education interdisciplinary training grant for a 5-year, $1,060,000 project entitled, “Interdisciplinary Preparation of Speech -Language Pathologists and Educators of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing to Improve Early Language and PreLiteracy Outcomes for Young Children who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing.” This project will train graduate students, 16 speech-language pathology and 16 teacher of the deaf/hard of hearing, to work with children who have hearing loss, regardless of their preferred mode of communication, in order to improve the early language and code-based pre-literacy skills. Drs. Dave Smith and Kimberly Wolbers of UTK’s Center on Deafness are also co-directing the project, with the assistance of ASP’s Julie Beeler. In addition, a host of departmental faculty will serve as campus-based supervisors, as well several community-based speech-language pathologists and teachers of the deaf/hard of hearing.

Dr. Patti Johnstone was elected by her peers across the United States to serve on the Audiology Advisory Council for the American-SpeechLanguage-Hearing Association (ASHA).

The Council identifies critical issues of concern to the professions and advises the ASHA Board of Directors regarding programs and services that should be provided for members and supported by Association resources. Dr. Johnstone has an impressive background in research, teaching, service delivery, and practice management. Her 3-year term on the Council began in January,

Donguk Lee received the ASHA Audiology/Hearing Science Research Travel Award (ARTA) in November. Mr. Lee, a PhD student, received a stipend to travel to the ASHA Convention in Orlando where he acquired new knowledge about the latest research in audiology, made connections with leaders in the hearing sciences profession, established a new network of peers, and learned new strategies to further his research interests.

Amanda Simmons won UTHSC’s Three Minute Thesis (3MT®) Competition held in November at UTHSC in Memphis. The 3MT® was founded by the University of Queensland and competitions, held worldwide, are aimed at improving students’ academic, presentation, and research communication skills. Presenting in a 3MT® competition allows students to fine tune their skills at effectively explaining their research in three minutes to a non-specialist audience. By winning the 3MT® at UTHSC, Simmons received a paid trip to the regional competition in Birmingham.

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INNOVATION AWARDS CEREMONY FILLED WITH ASP FACULTY HONORS Several ASP faculty received a 2020 Maturation Grant from the UT Research Foundation at the Innovation Awards Ceremony in December. The Foundation recognizes “researchers whose innovations better society.” Each of the teams shown here was awarded the grant. Drs. Patti Johnstone, Kelly Yeager, and Molly Erickson and Ms. Emily Noss received the award for their “Pediatric Auditory Recognition Test”, which is designed to enhance collaborative service provision between a child’s speech-language pathologist and audiologist by assessing the advancement of auditory skills. Drs. Jillian McCarthy and Michael Berry, from UTK’s Electrical Engineering and Computer Science program, received the award for “Vocabulary Coordinator (VocaCoord): A Speech to Text Solution to Accessing Academic Vocabulary.” VocaCoord is a speech-to-text software developed by Drs. McCarthy and Berry to help children with and without disabilities learn and engage with target vocabulary words during classroom lessons. Funding from this grant will be used to gain feedback from teachers and students, as well as pilot the software in the classroom setting.

(L to R) Drs. Erickson, Johnstone, and Yeager.

Not pictured Ms.Noss.

(L to R) Drs. McCarthy and Berry

TWO NEW BOARD-CERTIFIED SPECIALISTS ASP has a rich history of superior performance among its faculty. Tricia Hedinger and Jennifer Wilson have continued this tradition with their most recent accomplishments. Both are now Board-Certified Specialists in their respective specialty areas: Hedinger in Fluency and Fluency Disorders and Wilson in Swallowing and Swallowing Disorders. Becoming board-certified in each of these areas is an exceedingly difficult task that requires extensive documentation of excellence, and the status is only awarded to the upper stratum in the field. In addition, Ms. Hedinger was nominated to serve on the Board of Directors of the National Stuttering Association, another honor in the discipline.

Ms. Hedinger (front) is surrounded by SLP graduate students who volunteer at the UT ASP Volunteer Your Voice Summer Camp, which Hedinger has directed for the past six years.

Ms. Wilson shows SLP graduate students the finer details of the laryngeal tract.

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IMPROVING LIFE’S CONNECTIONS

OUTREACH

TELEHEALTH WITH A NEW TWIST Professional Development for Rural Educators For many years, school systems across the East Tennessee Region have contacted ASP clinical faculty to request in-service trainings. When those requests come from school systems as far as two hours from Knoxville, providing face-to-face trainings is difficult to achieve, given that schools have to support travel and time off for their personnel. ASP recently expanded its implementation of telehealth services to provide interactive videoconferencing for professional development with rural educators. By advancing the knowledge of educators who serve children with hearing loss, it is hoped that more children with hearing challenges will feel increased support in their educational placements. Prior to the professional development series, educators were surveyed to learn their specific topics of interest, which included: the basics of amplification; hearing assistive technology; auditory processing; classroom modifications; and teaching strategies specific to this population. The distance learning experience has been a collaborative effort among both disciplines within the department. Graduate students in both audiology and speech-language pathology developed the in-service curriculum under the supervision of clinical faculty. UTHSC hopes to continue to offer this interactive learning opportunity for other school systems and educators across East Tennessee.

“I loved having the opportunity to work with the educators.

Developing the in-services helped me learn how to teach professionals of different disciplines and to also advocate for kids with hearing loss. This was a great experience and very different than our typical clinic setting! “

“Interacting with the educators and informing them on hearing loss and amplification was an incredible learning opportunity for me . My partner and I had to think outside of the box to create presentations that would benefit adult learners who needed to apply their knowledge in a school setting.”

Blaire Barnhart, 3rd Year AuD Student

Savanah DiPasquantonio, 3rd Year AuD Student

GIVING AND RECEIVING

Catchings Amplification Assistance Fund Helps UTK PhD Candidate Amie Sankoh became deaf at age three as a result of malaria. Born in Sierra Leone, West Africa, Ms. Sankoh was a math whiz from an early age and, today, is a PhD student in UTK’s Biochemistry, Cellular and Molecular Biology program. She will be introducing Tamika Catchings at ASP’s upcoming breakfast event in August. Shown here (far left) with Dr. Beth Humphrey and two AuD graduate students, Ms. Sankoh noted, “I got my new hearing aids before I took the most grueling exam ever. I passed and moved a huge step closer to becoming Dr. Fornah Sankoh! Thanks to the Tamika Catchings Fund for contributing to my overall success.”

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WORDS AND ACTIONS MATTER Speech-Language Pathologist Begins Anti-Bully Program

Studies indicate that pro-social approaches and bystander intervention programs that involve entire schools are among the most effective methods for bully prevention. This fall, Tricia Hedinger aimed to address the ever-growing issues of school bullying by collaborating with Carol Slatas, an elementary school counselor with Knox County Schools to develop and implement the “Daily Habits of the Anti Bully” curriculum for 4th graders at Farragut Intermediate School (FIS). Beginning in August, Ms. Hedinger led 14 interactive lessons that encouraged students to generate specific words and actions to include others, such as saying “Come sit with me!” or walking with someone who is alone. After brainstorming, the students illustrated their ideas and submitted them for a poster contest. Winners had their drawings converted into magnets that were placed on all FIS school buses, a location where the number of bullying reports can be high. Dairy Queen sponsored the event and provided free ice cream to all 1,200 FIS students who participated. Slatas noted, ”FIS was thankful for the opportunity to partner with UT to bring this program to our school, as it aligns with our mission to promote being honorable, courageous, and steadfast in all that we do. It provided practical strategies students could implement to make a positive impact in our school and beyond!”

I HEARD THAT! Department Continues Long Tradition of Conducting Hearing Screens in Local Schools SLP graduate students conduct hearing screens throughout the year at local schools. Allison Wegman organizes this outreach effort and finds schools to be very appreciative of the support. Above, students are being screened at St. John Newmann Catholic School (left) and Lenoir City Elementary School (right).

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2019 IN REVIEW APRIL: Former Lady Vol star and WNBA record setter, Tamika Catchings, returned to partner with ASP for a second year to host a free youth basketball clinic at the Boys & Girls Club Regal Teen Center. More than 50 children attended, many of whom are served at our clinics.

MARCH: 4th Year AuD students Mary Alice Cox and Micaela Capps had one of the highest rated reviewed posters at the American Academy of Audiology in Columbus, Ohio. They were invited to give a 5-minute podium presentation about their research. Their faculty mentors were Drs. Jennifer Hausladen and Patrick Plyler.

out a busy spring semester. 3rd Year AuD students presented findings from their extensive research projects. All posters were judged.

APRIL: The 25th Annual Sol Adler Memorial Conference had more than

MAY: Graduation! Shown here

MAY: Jennifer Wilson

200 participants. Keynote speaker, Dr. Kerry Proctor-Williams (center) from East Tennessee State University, presented on speech-language and academic outcomes of children who are prenatally exposed to drugs. We also had a panel of local experts on the topic: Patricia Zetterberg from East Tennessee Children’s Hospital, Caleb Corwin with Cherokee Health Systems, Teresa Stafford from Tennessee Department of Child Services, Jeffrey Wright with Knox County Schools, Tiffani Dixon with Emory Valley Center, and Sarah Brewer from UT Medical Center.

at their undergraduate ceremony, Tyler Coldiron and Abigail Seal are now in their first year at ASP for their MS-SLP degree and are engaged !

became President-Elect of the Tennessee Academy of Audiologists and Speech – Language Pathologists.

MAY: Dr. Nola Radford (left) and Ms. Kandace Turner, an SLP with the Tennessee Department of Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, were invited to present and participate in ASHA’s Interprofessional Educational Development Institute in Washington, D.C.

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APRIL: AuD Research Day closed

MAY: Dr. Beth Humphrey (right), along with fellow ASHA SIG 7 member Jani Johnson, spent the day on Capitol Hill.

She had the opportunity to speak with Congressman Tim Burchett and other legislators about hearing health matters and advocate for Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology on behalf of ASHA members.

JUNE: The 2019 Volunteer Your Voice Summer Camp drew another enthusiastic group of campers who spent June 3-7 practicing their communication skills in a variety of settings, including the Great Smoky Mountains. The camp is staffed entirely by volunteers from ASP’s faculty and graduate students.

JUNE: Drs. Ashley Harkrider and

JULY: 4-H High School Tour

Tim Saltuklaroglu presented in Hveragerði, Iceland and are shown here with Guðni Th. Jóhannesson, the President of Iceland, at the opening ceremonies of the International Stuttering Association World Congress of People Who Stutter.

SEPTEMBER: Dr. Christine Yoshinaga-Itano

AUGUST: Beginner’s Bash

(far left) from University of Colorado Boulder and Dr. Myriam DeLa Asunción and Mr. Michael Douglas from Med-El were our featured presenters at the 7th Annual Tom Davidson Conference. Their presentations focused on cultural and linguistic diversity in our patient populations. ASP’s Drs. Patti Johnstone and Nola Radford also spoke to the group about clinical ethics and multiculturalism.

OCTOBER: ASP’s Open House, sponsored by the National Student Speech, Language, and Hearing Association, drew large crowds into the department for free hearing, swallowing, voice, and memory screenings.

Even some employees from the UT Police Department were among the 289 people in attendance.

NOVEMBER: The cooler weather did not keep students from enjoying the Cruze Farm Ice Cream Social. This year, we even relaxed with some cuddly visitors from the UT College of Vet Med’s HABIT Program.

DECEMBER: UTK’s School of Music (SOM) students attended video viewing sessions to learn more about noiseinduced hearing loss and tinnitus as part of ASP’s hearing conservation project with the SOM.

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Rocky Top you’ll always be home sweet home to me

At ASP, we strive to make our department feel like home to our students. During their time here, our goal is to leave such an indelible and positive impression that, even once they’ve moved away, they want to return to Knoxville for years to come. We are so proud of our students, as they continue to demonstrate excellence that exceeds our expectations.

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1) Madi Pennington, a 3rd Year AuD student, returned to Neyland Stadium in November to celebrate Homecoming. During her undergraduate years, Madi was a majorette in the Pride of the Southland Marching Band. 2) Lauren Armstrong, a 1st Year AuD student, is accompanied to class and clinic each day by her hearing service dog, Elroy. The pair was featured in a Parade Magazine article, which highlighted some of El roy’s amazing skills and the special bond between the two. 3) ASP’s 2019 graduation ceremonies included the hooding of two PhD students, David Thornton and Karen Martin. 4) At orientation, AuD student, Caelan Pacelli (left), and SLP student, Katie Macon (right) received the Dr. Bernie Silverstein 1st Year Clinician Award for outstanding achievement in clinical activities. 5) Dressed for success, the 4th Year AuD students are shown here before leaving for their year-long extern placements. 6) Elissa Doll, then an undergraduate and now a 1st Year SLP student, presented about voice disorders at the 2019 Exhibition of Undergraduate Research & Achievement event last spring. Her faculty mentors were Drs. Sue Hume and Mark Hedrick. 7) SLP graduate students took a break from class to express why they love their discipline during May is Better Hearing and Speech Month. 8) Alaina Eck and Dr. Erinn Finke were among a troupe of ASP students and faculty who presented at ASHA’s National Convention. Eck, a PhD student, partnered with Finke to discuss conversational findings related to individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder. 9) Erin Kinney, a 1st Year AuD student, began as the student representative on ASP’s Community Development Board. 10) Sertoma’s annual Celebrate Sound Run/Walk had fantastic representation from ASP, including a host of student volunteers who assisted participants. 11) ASP’s NSSLHA students shone brightly at the annual TAASLP Convention, including a first place finish in the College Bowl! 12) With graduate students and faculty as their leaders, children who attended ASP’s Volunteer Your Voice Summer Camp played games that encouraged good communication. 13) SLP students learned about stimulating language skills with diverse populations as they led several bilingual children and their families in group therapy sessions.

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Department of Audiology and Speech Pathology University of Tennessee Health Science Center 578 South Stadium Hall Knoxville, Tennessee 37996

MARK YOUR CALENDARS Tom Davidson Memorial Audiology Conference September 25, 2020 UT Conference Center Featured Speaker: Gus Mueller, PhD Topic: Establishing an evidence-based hearing aid fitting procedure: what you can't buy over the counter!

Tea with Tamika (Breakfast Event)

August 8, 2020 9:00—11:00 am Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame

Free Youth Basketball Clinic August 8, 2020 1:00—3:00 pm Boys & Girls Club Regal Teen Center PAN: E07-3740-004-20

Celebrate Sound Walk September 27, 2020 2:00 pm UT Gardens Sertoma hosts this annual event to support community groups serving those who are deaf or hard-of-hearing. A portion of funds raised goes to ASP. To register: www.celebratesound.org The University of Tennessee is an EEO/AA. Title VI/ Title IX/Section 504/ADA/ADEA Institution in the provision of its education and employment programs and services.

Parent Weekend November 6-7, 2020 Open House & Dessert Reception—Friday Tailgate at UT vs KY Game —Saturday For more details about any ASP event, visit www.uthsc.edu/asp/news/events Photography credits: Many within the department have submitted pictures for this newsletter, but special acknowledgement goes to Shawn Poynter for several contributions.