Oct. 14, 2025 | Ethan Simmons Speech and Hearing Science Assistant Professor Mariana Mendes Bahia, Ph.D. and CCC-SLP, is an expert on swallowing physiology, respiratory-swallowing coordination, and therapeutic strategies to alleviate swallowing disorders, called dysphagia. She joined the College of Applied Health Sciences at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign in fall of 2024, and leads […]
Category: Speech and Hearing Science
Announcing our faculty promotions for 2025-26
Aug. 14, 2025 | AHS Staff Seven AHS faculty received promotions for the 2025-26 academic year Seven faculty at the College of Applied Health Sciences received promotions prior to the 2025-26 Academic Year. Here are their new faculty titles. Professor Nicholas Burd, Health and Kinesiology Andiara Schwingel, Health and Kinesiology Associate Professor Susan Aguiñaga, Health […]
Illinois researchers aim to develop more realistic hearing tests to improve clinical outcomes
July 14, 2025 | Adelyn Mui Imagine sitting in a busy café, struggling to follow a conversation as voices and background clatter blend together. For many people with hearing loss, this is a daily challenge—yet traditional hearing tests, conducted in silent rooms with isolated tones, fail to reflect these real-world difficulties. At the University of […]
SHS researchers bridge research and real life
May 20, 2025 | Vince Lara-Cinisomo The work at the College of Applied Health Sciences doesn’t stay in the lab—it transforms lives. Faculty such as Meaghan McKenna and Laura Mattie exemplify the college’s commitment to bridging research with community impact. Whether developing interventions for literacy in schools or building relationships with families of children with disabilities, they show how […]
Fogerty-led research team tackles hearing health disparities with innovative at-home assessment
May 20, 2025 | Adelyn Mui Research for a gap in treatment for hearing in noisy environments has been active for decades Approximately 37.5 million adults in the United States experience hearing loss. A team from the University of Illinois is working to alleviate barriers in accessibility and affordability to hearing health care. Dan Fogerty, an […]
The science of sound: Understanding how the brain helps us hear in noise
May 20, 2025 | Vince Lara-Cinisomo A new study aims to deepen our understanding of how the brain influences our ability to distinguish speech amid background noise For millions of people worldwide, hearing loss is not simply a matter of volume but clarity—especially in noisy environments. Struggling to distinguish a single voice in a crowded […]
Message from Department Head Pamela Hadley
May 20, 2025 | Dear Students, Faculty, Alumni and Friends of the Department of Speech and Hearing Science, As we step into the energy of spring 2025, I’m excited to share the latest updates from our department. It’s been a remarkable year, and we have so much to celebrate! Our commitment to advancing the field […]
New SHS faculty member advancing communication for individuals with disabilities
May 20, 2025 | Adelyn Mui AAC refers to a range of methods that people use to communicate, other than spoken language By ADELYN MUI Savanna Brittlebank has dedicated her academic career to improving communication for individuals with complex needs. As a new faculty member in the Department of Speech and Hearing Science in the College of Applied […]
AHS students present diverse projects for Undergrad Research Week
May 01, 2024 | Ethan Simmons Students, faculty and staff got a taste of the findings from AHS’ budding student researchers during the AHS Undergraduate Research Expo For a freshman at the College of Applied Health Sciences, Saiesha Bollapragada’s research portfolio is impressive. At last week’s Undergraduate Research Symposium, the I-Health major got to present […]
Three SHS doctoral students have plans to make an impact on their fields
May 21, 2024 | Anna Flanagan By ANNA FLANAGAN Under the mentorship of world-renowned scholars, doctoral students make significant contributions to the advancement of theory and practice in speech and hearing science through their dissertation research, as they prepare to assume leadership roles in clinical, industrial and academic settings. Below, three of our outstanding SHS […]