Author: Carrie Wyatt

Communication Sciences and Disorders (CSD) undergraduate and graduate students joined Katharine Fitzharris, associate clinical professor, to provide free hearing screenings in Hays, Kansas March 22 for a Special Olympics Healthy Hearing Event.

The event was held during the Hays State Basketball Tournament from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Gross Memorial Coliseum for a day dedicated to improving athletes’ health and wellness. They served over 50 participants at the event.

Are you interested in an career that also supports individuals with communication disorders? Join Communication Sciences and Disorders (CSD) faculty from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 8 for a virtual open house on its speech-language pathology (SLP) and audiology (AuD) graduate programs.

For further information on the graduate programs, and to view virtual clinic tours, visit the program links below. If you have specific questions or would like to request an in-person clinic tour, fill out the CSD program information/campus visit request form

Program links:

• MA-SLP program webpage
• AuD program webpage

Help congratulate five Wichita State communication sciences and disorders (CSD) graduate students from the college of health professions who were selected for 2024 Margaret Byrne Sarricks Student Scholarships from the Kansas Speech-Language-Hearing Association (KSHA).

MA-CSD speech-language-pathology recipients are Isabelle Wolters, Gabrielle Winter, Kenzie Craig and Jenna Gochenauer. Project research mentors are Imran Musaji and Erin O’Bryan, assistant professors, and Aaron Bowen, University Libraries.

The Doctor of Audiology recipient is Edie Reese. Her research mentor is Xiao-Ming Sun, audiology professor.

Students will present their research at the 2024 KSHA Convention at the Hyatt Regency Sept. 26 and 27. Wichita State students were selected for two out of the top three awards given. Additionally, WSU will be presenting 13 student research posters (out of a total of 30 from universities across Kansas), which approaches numbers not seen since pre-COVID.

Hungry and want to support a good cause? The WSU Student Speech-Language-Hearing Association’s (WSUSSLHA) annual fundraiser can satisfy both cravings.

Learn more about the fundraiser on the WSUSSLHA Instagram.

Corri Newman, first year SLP student in the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders (CSD), was recently awarded the Kansas Speech-Hearing Association’s (KSHA) Dixie Heinrich Servant Leadership Award.

Susie Ternes, KSHA’s executive director, surprised Newman before a class to present her certificate and award check. CSD faculty, staff and students joined in the celebration of a well-deserved recognition. In October, Newman was also selected as one of the winners of KSHA’s Margaret Byrne Sarricks Scholarship.

“I’m overwhelmed with gratitude to be selected for such a prestigious award,” Newman said. “I’m proud to be part of the CSD program and appreciate our wonderful staff.”

Melissa Vagts, associate clinical professor in the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders (CSD), was an invited presenter on the “Making Sense of Myo: Using Orofacial Myology To Support Differential Diagnosis” episode of the SLP Learning Series podcast on SpeechTherapyPD.com.

The episode explored how knowledge of orofacial myology allows speech pathologists to effectively use differential diagnosis to determine the best plan of care for patients. Melissa explained when a myofunctional approach would not be appropriate and the qualifications a patient needs to effectively participate in a myofunctional program. She also shared ways knowledge of typical oromyofunction can allow speech pathologists to modify treatment approaches and include myofunctional concepts to support speech and swallowing skills.

Vagts has worked in outpatient clinical settings, public schools and university clinics. She currently teaches and supervises speech-language pathology graduate students. She developed the Orofacial Myofunctional Disorders (OMD) graduate course and co-developed a Pediatric Feeding Group to provide students with applied learning opportunities.

Corri Newman, MA-CSD (SLP) student in the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders, was selected as second place winner for the Kansas Speech-Hearing Association’s Margaret Byrne Sarricks Scholarship. Her award-winning virtual poster presentation was entitled, “Supported Conversation Training Outcomes for Future Healthcare Professionals: A Pilot Study.”

Her pilot study, completed with faculty mentor, Dr. Erin O’Bryan, is in preparation for a larger study they will be conducting at the Robert J. Dole VA Medical Center. This affiliation is part of a collaboration between the VA and the College of Health Professions.

This pilot study examined learning outcomes from six students to measure effects of a self-paced online learning module about effective communication with patients with communication disorders. The results will be used for a larger comprehensive study investigating whether future healthcare professionals can improve skills for communication with aphasic patients.

Interested in a career while supporting individuals with communication disorders? Join faculty from the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders (CSD) from 4 to 5 p.m. Monday, Nov. 6 for a virtual open house on the audiology and speech-language pathology graduate programs.

For more information on the graduate programs, and to view virtual clinic tours, visit the links below or email csd@wichita.edu.

• Master of Arts Speech-Language Pathology program page
• Doctor of Audiology program page

The Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders (CSD) congratulates Dr. Trisha Self, associate professor; Terese Conrad, clinical professor; Dr. Cynthia Richburg, professor; Dr. Karissa Marble-Flint, associate professor; and emerita faculty Dr. Kathy Strattman and Dr. Barbara Hodson, on their recent authorship of three chapters in the second edition of “The Communication Disorders Casebook” by Dr. Shelly Chabon, Dr. Ellen Cohn and Dr. Dorian Lee-Wilkerson.

Dr. Self and Conrad wrote a chapter in the infant/toddler cases section. Their chapter highlights how to develop a communication assessment and treatment plan for a toddler with a diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder. Dr. McCormick Richburg cowrote a chapter in the hearing section of the book. Her case highlighted the move from identification to implantation for a child with progressive sensorineural hearing loss caused by a Connexin 26 mutation. Dr. Marble-Flint along with Dr. Strattman and Dr. Hodson wrote a chapter regarding literacy/phonology. Their case was about twins who had highly unintelligible speech and are working on enhancing phonological and literacy skills.

The casebook helps students and practitioners have a comprehensive resource showcasing the steps of evaluation, diagnosis, treatment and follow-up of individuals with speech, language, swallowing and hearing challenges and their families.

Abigail Moss, speech-language pathology graduate student in Communication Sciences and Disorders (CSD), was recently selected for participation in a national Minority Student Leadership Program.

The program’s focus is to recruit and retain racial/ethnic minorities that have been historically under-represented in the professions of audiology and speech-language pathology. It is part of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA), which is the national professional, scientific and credentialing association for audiologists, speech-language pathologists and students within those disciplines.

Abigail is one of 40 students chosen from approximately 200 nationwide applicants. The participants will engage in leadership-focused educational activities at the 2023 ASHA Convention, which will take place November 13–18 in Boston, Massachusetts. The program helps students build and enhance their leadership skills and allows them to network with leaders in the professions of audiology, speech-language pathology, and speech, language and hearing sciences.