2021 ANCDS Annual Scientific Meeting 

"Motor Speech Disorders"

Lecture Recordings Now Available!

Virtual Event
Friday, October 22, 2021
Lectures begin at 9:00 am CDT

Schedule | Session Details | ASHA CEU Information | Registration | Sponsors

Schedule*

All times listed in CDT.

*Subject to change.

Session Details

9:05 am – 10:35 am

Lecture: Neural Modeling and Imaging of Speech Production in Neurotypical and Disordered Populations

Speaker:

Frank Guenther, PhD
Boston University; Picower Institute for Learning and Memory at MIT

Abstract: This presentation will describe computational modeling and neuroimaging studies aimed at identifying the neural basis underlying speech production in neurotypical individuals as well as individuals with communication disorders.

Objectives:
The learner will be able to:

1. Identify the basic brain mechanisms involved in speech articulation.
2. Describe how these brain mechanisms are impaired in several motor speech disorders.
3. Describe the role of neuroimaging and computational modeling in identifying the neural underlying speech production.

Speaker Bio: Frank Guenther is professor of Speech Language and Hearing Sciences and Biomedical Engineering at Boston University and a Research Affiliate at the Picower Institute for Learning and Memory at MIT.  His research combines theoretical modeling with behavioral neuroimaging experiments to characterize the neural computations underlying speech.  He is the originator of the DIVA model, which provides a quantitative account of the neural computations underlying speech motor control and their breakdown in communication disorders such as stuttering and apraxia of speech.  He also develops brain-machine interfaces to restore speech communication to individuals suffering from locked-in syndrome, characterized by complete paralysis with intact cognition.

Speaker Disclosures:
Financial: Dr. Guenther receives royalties from MIT Press.
Non-Financial: Dr. Guenther has no relevant non-financial conflicts to disclose.

10:45 am – 12:15 pm

Lecture: Assessment and Treatment of Articulatory Impairments in Dysarthria: Current Insights, Remaining Challenges, and Future Directions

Speakers:

Antje Mefferd, PhD, CCC-SLP
Vanderbilt University Medical Center

Kris Tjaden, PhD, CCC-SLP
University at Buffalo

Abstract: Dysarthria is one of the most commonly occurring communication disorders.  Impaired articulation is the hallmark of dysarthria and plays a major role for speech intelligibility loss and recovery in dysarthria.  However, the assessment and treatment of articulatory impairments remains challenging.  After a brief general introduction (part 1), we will specifically focus on the assessment of articulatory impairments (part 2) and the treatment of articulatory impairments in dysarthria (part 3).  That is, we will discuss traditional assessment approaches of articulatory performance in talkers with dysarthria and highlight their strengths and weaknesses.  In addition, we will introduce new assessment approaches and present recent findings from speech kinematic studies.  These new approaches were designed to improve the detection of articulatory impairments in neurogenerative diseases.  We will specifically focus on a) fixed­ target tasks and b) phonetic complexity effects.  In part 3, we will provide general information on commonly used speech behavioral approaches for the treatment of dysarthria and explain how these approaches impact articulatory performance, the speech acoustic properties, and perceptual measures of speech in talkers with dysarthria.  Specifically, we will share findings from kinematic, acoustic, and perceptual studies that serve as a scientific basis and provide empirical evidence for the use of these behavioral cueing approaches in dysarthria treatment.  Finally, we will discuss new insights in speech acoustic properties that are particularly important to elicit changes in speech intelligibility in dysarthria.

Objectives:
The learner will be able to:

1. List at least two perceptual speech characteristics that are frequently shared across talkers with dysarthria regardless of their underlying etiology.
2. Explain strengths and weaknesses of currently used assessment approaches for articulatory impairments in talkers with dysarthria.
3. Describe two new assessment approaches that can be used to identify articulatory impairment patterns in talkers with dysarthria.
4. Explain benefits and drawbacks of slow, loud, and clear speech cues as therapeutic intervention strategies for talkers with mild to moderate dysarthria.
5. List at least two speech acoustic properties that underlie intelligibility changes in talkers with dysarthria.

Speaker Bios: Antje Mefferd, PhD, SLP-CCC, is an assistant professor in the Department of Hearing and Speech Sciences at Vanderbilt University Medical Center.  She is also a board-certified speech language pathologist in Germany and the United States with work experience primarily in adult acute care.  She completed her doctoral training at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln under the direction of Dr. Jordan Green and held a faculty position at Wichita State University prior to joining the department at Vanderbilt in 2014.  Funded by the ASHFoundation and NIH, her lab has investigated the articulatory mechanisms that underlie speech intelligibility loss and recovery of talkers with dysarthria. 

Kris Tjaden, PhD, CCC-SLP, is a Professor in the Department of Communicative Disorders and Sciences at the University at Buffalo and Director of the Motor Speech Disorders Laboratory.  Her research is funded by the National Institutes of Health and focuses on the acoustic and perceptual consequences of dysarthria.

Speaker Disclosures:
Antje Mefferd, PhD, CCC-SLP
Financial: Dr. Mefferd receives a salary from Vanderbilt University Medical Center. She also receives grant funding from NIH-NIDCD.
Non-Financial: Dr. Mefferd is a member of ASHA.

Kris Tjaden, PhD, CCC-SLP
Financial: Dr. Tjaden receives a salary from University at Buffalo. She also receives grant funding from NIH-NIDCD.
Non-Financial: Dr. Tjaden is a member of ASHA.

1:15 pm – 2:15 pm

Lecture: Auditory-Motor Control of Voice and Articulation in Parkinson’s Disease

Speaker:

Defne Abur, BS
PhD Student, Boston University

Abstract: Over 90% of persons with Parkinson’s disease develop hypokinetic dysarthria, involving impairments for both vocal and articulatory features of speech.  Recent findings implicate disruptions to auditory-motor processing in Parkinson’s disease, which may contribute to these observed speech deficits.  Here, auditory-motor function in Parkinson’s disease will be discussed for these two speech subsystems together with measures of functional speech outcomes.

Objectives:
The learner will be able to:

1. Describe voice and articulation symptoms in Parkinson’s disease.
2. Interpret measures of auditory-motor control for voice and articulation.
3. Explain the relationship between measures of auditory-motor control and functional speech outcomes in Parkinson’s disease.

Speaker Bio: Defne Abur is a Ph.D. student in Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences at Boston University.  She received a B.S. in Engineering Science with a concentration in Biomathematics from Smith College, where she performed research in hearing sciences and middle ear acoustics.  Her doctoral work focuses on sensorimotor, acoustic, and functional speech outcome measures in individuals with and without motor speech disorders.

Speaker Disclosures:
Financial: Defne does not have any relevant financial conflicts to disclose.
Non-Financial: Defne does not have any relevant non-financial conflicts to disclose.

2:30 pm – 4:00 pm

Lecture: Primary Progressive Apraxia of Speech

Speaker: 

Heather M. Clark, PhD, BC-ANCDS
Mayo Clinic

Abstract: This course provides a comprehensive review of the current knowledge base about Primary Progressive Apraxia of Speech (PPAOS).  It considers the history of PPAOS as a recognized syndrome, its relationship to agrammatic/nonfluent primary progressive aphasia, its subtypes, and related perceptual, acoustic, and neuroimaging correlates.  Principles and methods for evaluation and management are presented.

Objectives:
The learner will be able to:

1. List perceptual features of PPAOS.
2. Describe the typical clinical course of patients experiencing PPAOS.
3. Identify methods for assessment and treatment of AOS in the context of neurodegenerative disease.

Speaker Bio: Dr. Heather Clark is Chair of Speech Pathology in the Department of Neurology and Associate Professor in the College of Medicine at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota.  She is board-certified by ANCDS and a Fellow of ASHA.  She serves as co-investigator in projects examining the nature of speech, language, and swallowing impairment in neurodegenerative disease.

Speaker Disclosures:
Financial: Dr. Clark receives a salary from Mayo Clinic. She also receives royalties from Pro-Ed and grant funding from NIH.
Non-Financial: Dr. Clark is a member of ASHA and ANCDS.

4:15 pm – 4:45 pm

DEI Discussion: ANCDS & Race, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (RDEI) – What’s the Big-Picture?

Speakers: 
Ramani Voleti, MS, CCC-SLP, BC-ANCDS 
Gebbie Clinic

Sucheta Kamath, MA, CCC-SLP, BC-ANCDS
ExQ; GSHA Gives!

Ana Rivera, PhD, CCC-SLP
University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences

Alaina S. Davis, PhD, CCC-SLP/L, CBIST
Howard University

Abstract: The ANCDS Ad Hoc Committee on Diversity and Inclusion serves to support race, diversity, equity, and inclusion (RDEI) in ANCDS and encourage translation of the principles of RDEI into research, clinical practice, and clinical training.  This lecture will describe the RDEI framework, define the role of ANCDS members in the context of RDEI as well as beyond the practice of speech-language pathology, and discuss effective ways to promote introspection of personal, intrapersonal, and institutional racism.

Objectives:
The learner will be able to:

1. Describe the race, diversity, equity, and inclusion (RDEI) framework.
2. Define the role of ANCDS members in the context of RDEI as well as beyond the SLP practice.
3. Discuss effective ways to promote introspection on personal, intrapersonal, and institutional racism.

Speaker Bios: Ramani Voleti, MS, CCC-SLP, BC-ANCDS, is an associate teaching professor and speech-language pathologist at the Gebbie Clinic at Syracuse University.  Her clinical and research interests include acquired neurogenic speech/language disorders, dysphagia, and voice disorders in adults.  She teaches courses in neurogenic communication disorders and professional issues in medical settings.  She is board-certified in neurogenic communication disorders in adults.

Sucheta Kamath, MA, CCC-SLP, BC-ANCDS is a celebrated motivational speaker, an award-winning speech-language pathologist, a TEDx speaker, and a tech-entrepreneur who has created ExQ®, a cloud-based digital curriculum for middle and high school students designed to directly personalize learning and build Executive Function skills through games, error analysis, and metacognitive lessons.  She is the host of the podcast Full PreFrontal®: Exposing the Mysteries of Executive Function, where her invited guests range from neuroscientists, researchers, educators, learning specialists, journalists, and leaders.  Finally, Sucheta serves on many non-profit boards and is deeply committed to racial healing and interfaith community dialogue.  For the past four years, she founded and currently runs (along with her GSHA colleagues) GSHA Gives!, a free communication and Executive Function job-readiness training program for previously homeless, incarcerated, and disenfranchised men in inner-city Atlanta.

Ana Rivera, PhD, CCC-SLP, is an assistant Professor at the University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences, Dallas campus.  In 2017, she successfully completed her PhD in Speech Language and Hearing Sciences from the University of Florida.  She teaches courses in clinical neuroscience, adult neurogenic communication disorders, and cultural responsiveness.  Her research interests are neurogenic communication disorders and bilingualism.  Dr. Rivera has a passion for assessment of linguistically diverse populations.  She collaborates with other professionals to provide the best services for bilingual/multilingual individuals across the lifespan.

Alaina S. Davis, PhD, CCC-SLP/L, CBIST, is an assistant professor at Howard University and a Certified Brain Injury Specialist Trainer.  She has expertise in cognitive-communication disorders associated with TBI.  Her research focuses on adolescents and adults with sport-related concussion and return-to-learn/play/activity.  Dr. Davis’ work also addresses cognitive and communication styles of adolescents and adults from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds.  Dr. Davis co-hosts a podcast called "Sunday Dinner with Drs. Stanford and Davis", in which she leads a series called Brain Injury Chronicles with Dr. D., telling the stories of persons with concussion and its effect on their lives.

Speaker Disclosures:
Ramani Voleti, MS, CCC-SLP/BC-ANCDS
Financial: Ramani receives a salary from Syracuse University and is a board-certified member and chair of the Certification Committee of the ANCDS.
Non-Financial: Ramani does not have any relevant non-financial conflicts to disclose.

Sucheta Kamath, MA, CCC-SLP/BC-ANCDS
Financial: Sucheta receives a salary from ExQ and private practice, Cerebral Matters.
Non-Financial: Sucheta does not have any relevant non-financial conflicts to disclose.

Ana Rivera, PhD, CCC-SLP
Financial: Dr. Rivera receives a salary from the University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences.
Non-Financial: Dr. Rivera does not have any relevant non-financial conflicts to disclose.

Alaina S. Davis, PhD, CCC-SLP/L, CBIST
Financial: Dr. Davis receives a salary from Howard University and her private practice, Overall Neuro Rehab, LLC.
Non-Financial: Dr. Davis does not have any relevant non-financial conflicts to disclose.

 ASHA CEUs

Live Program Completion Requirements: Variable/partial credit is available.  You must attend the entirety of a lecture for it to be counted towards your ASHA CEU total.  Attendance will be verified before you are recommended for ASHA CEUs.

If you would like to receive ASHA CEUs, please complete and submit the program evaluation form indicating which lectures you attended.  Your evaluation form must be submitted by October 29, 2021 at 11:59 PM (CDT).

If you have any questions about ASHA CEUs or encounter difficulty submitting your survey, please contact [email protected].

Recorded Lecture Sessions: For those who were unable to attend the live event, an archived version of lectures are now available to order for on-demand viewing!  Click here to order the recordings.

Registration

• ANCDS Members: $75
• ANCDS Student Members: $35
• Non-Members: $100 (Save $25 on your registration by becoming a member today! Complete the New Member Application to receive the discount and get access to all the ANCDS member benefits!)

Registration is now closed.

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