Invited speaker - ASHFoundation inaugural international symposium

I was invited to be a speaker at the inaugural international symposium at American Speech-Language-Hearing Association in New Orleans by Dr. Lesley Olswang and Dr. Holly Storkel:

"On behalf of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Foundation (ASHFoundation), in conjunction with the 2022 ASHA Convention Program Committee, thank you for accepting our invitation to present at the ASHA Annual Convention, November 17-19, 2022. This session, Building Research to Close the Science-Practice Gap in Communication Sciences and Disorders, is an inaugural international symposium supported by the ASHFoundation through its endowed Max D. and Ruth Steer Fund."

• Session Title: MC06 Building Research to Close the Science-Practice Gap in Communication Sciences and Disorders: A Global Perspective
• Day: Thursday, November 17, 2022 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM 
• Session Format: 2-Hour Master Class (In-Person)

It was an excellent session with presentations from Pamela Enderby, Danielle Glista, Sharynne McLeod, and Holly Storkel 

Lesley Olswang, Pam Enderby and Sharynne McLeod

Nancy Minghetti and Holly Storkel opening the session

ACU Vice-Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Stewardship - Congratulations

Congratulations to Dr Kerry Ttofari Eecen, A/Prof Jane McCormack and the team from Australian Catholic University who have won the ACU Vice-Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Stewardship!

Details are here and copied below from the ACU website

Stewardship through knowledge sharing 15 November 2022 

The Speech Pathology Speed Sessions team has been awarded the Vice-Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Stewardship.

The team, comprised of Senior Lecturer (Speech Pathology) Dr Kerry Ttofari Eecen, Senior Lecturer (Speech Pathology) Dr Kieran Flanagan, Head of Discipline (Speech Pathology) and Deputy Head (Interim), School of Allied Health NSW Associate Professor Jane McCormack and Administrative Officer Anita Drakulic, were recognised for their work coordinating a free, evidence-based and sustainable professional development program for practising speech pathologists, ACU alumni and students.

The Speed Session program was originally started as a teleconference program in 2015 by Dr Simone Arnott. Since that time, it has transformed into a series of monthly pre-recorded 30-minute web-based lectures by experts in speech-language pathology and related fields. The sessions are shared with a distribution list that has grown to more than 1800 subscribers.

Volunteers at the heart of the program Dr Kerry Ttofari Eecen is the Speed Sessions program coordinator. She said the program is made possible by the generosity of volunteer presenters.

“All the presenters are volunteers. They’re mainly from the Speech Pathology discipline at ACU, but we have also asked academics from other disciplines within ACU to present, as well as ACU Counselling and the Research Impact office. We invite external speakers from other universities and the community to present as well,” she said. Kerry said volunteer presenters are just one of the factors that make the program a strong example of stewardship. “It’s a sustainable program because we’ve set up the processes, we've set up the infrastructure and it can be used by other disciplines or departments at ACU.”

Sharing knowledge to benefit stakeholders and their clients The feedback from stakeholders has shown the program’s impact both for speech pathologists and their clients. “We receive a lot of emails and verbal feedback to our professional practice coordinators from speech pathologists in the community about how useful they find this program,” Kerry said. “They’re happy that it’s free and also that the sessions are quick so they don’t have to spend a lot of time accessing them – they’re bite sized sessions that can be accessed any time, so people can view them at their convenience.” For speech-language pathology consumers and clients, the program is also valuable, as each session is based on up-to-date research that can inform effective service provision. “Speech pathologists using evidence-based practice benefits the clients,” said Kerry.

She said the team was honoured to receive the Excellence in Stewardship Award. “The program was originally founded on the belief that, as academics, we are in a privileged position to have access to so many resources that a lot of people out there don’t have,” she said. “The founding principle was that it’s our duty as academics to share knowledge with people in the community. That’s consistent with ACU’s commitment to community service, so it’s a real honour to be recognised in this way.” Future plans to expand The monthly Speed Sessions are currently focused on speech pathology, but plans are in place to expand the program to the other allied health disciplines. “We're planning to extend the program to the whole of the School of Allied Health from next year, using the same processes,” said Kerry. If you would like to join the Speed Sessions mailing list, please contact professional.practice@acu.edu.au. 

 

Kerry kindly wrote to me:

Dear Sharynne, Since you are my mentor (and  Jane's unofficial mentor too), I thought you would be proud of the speech pathology team for getting a VC award this week. This is the program that you contributed to this year, so you are a winner too! 

Presentations at American Speech-Language-Hearing Association Convention in New Orleans

At the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association Convention in New Orleans, LA I am presenting two invited sessions and am co-author on a technical session: 

MC06: Building Research to Close the Science-Practice Gap in Communication Sciences and Disorders: A Global Perspective - Holly Storkel, Sharynne McLeod, Pamela Enderby, Danielle Glista

Location: CC/R7 Date: Thursday, Nov 17 1:00 PM Duration: 2 hours Format: 2-Hour Master Class (In-Person) Code: MC06 PDH(s): 2 Hrs

This session is developed by, and presenters invited by the ASHFoundation. This master class is FREE and not ticketed, and will focus on a global perspective to improve evidence-based practices in Communication Sciences and Disorders through research. A panel of international scholars will share their ideas about closing the science-practice gap. Panel members will present the state of evidence-based practice in their countries and discuss the need for research that addresses closing the science-practice gap. They will share challenges and solutions they have encountered in building this research capacity. Further, in light of the current global health crisis, panel members will consider how research efforts in this area might change in the future. The session will include an opportunity for discussion among panel members and the audience to problem solve the state of the art in CSD. This inaugural international symposium is supported by the American-Speech-Language-Hearing Foundation through its endowed Max D. and Ruth Steer Fund. 

Lesley Olswang, Pam Enderby, Sharynne McLeod

1469L: Children's Speech Development: An Update - Sharynne McLeod

Location: CC/275-277 Date: Friday, Nov 18 1:15 PM Duration: 1 hour Format: 1-Hour Seminar (In-Person) Code: 1469L PDH(s): 1 Hr

This session is developed by, and presenters invited by, Speech Sound Disorders and Motor Speech Disorder in Children, to provide an update of research evidence related to children’s speech development. Typical development of General American English will be compared with typical development of other English dialects and languages. SLPs will be guided to consider perspectives relating to “correct” production and to implement knowledge of typical speech development in assessment and intervention for children with speech sound disorders.

Kate Crowe, Lisa Furlong, Sharynne McLeod

4638L: Addressing Tension in the Eligibility Process: Findings from Focus Group Discussions - Marie Ireland, Sarah Verdon, Sharynne McLeod

Location: CC/342 Date: Friday, Nov 18 11:00 AM Duration: 30 minutes Format: Technical Research (Live) Code: 4638L PDH(s): 30 Minutes

In order for students to receive SLP services in U.S. schools, they must be found eligible. Three focus groups of school-based SLPs discussed the complex nature of evaluation practices and decision making in schools. Qualitative analysis using the Cultural Historical Activity Theory (CHAT) framework revealed nine tensions: SLPs’ concerns regarding eligibility decision outcomes; Concerns about evaluation data used for decision making; Documentation of educational impact; Complexities of students learning English as an additional language; Overuse of SLI for students who do not qualify; Parents’ intervention in decision making; Rule bending by administration; Disagreement between team members; Need for greater SLP empowerment and advocacy. SLPs and leaders may use the CHAT framework to reduce obstacles and as a catalyst for change.

Sharynne McLeod and Marie Ireland

 

ECV2022 - Next steps

This week we have over 1500 registrations from 70 countries and 120 drawings (we want more!). We have 

• received the pre-recorded presentations from the speakers and have begun to upload them to YouTube
• worked on uploading the abstracts to the website
• organised gifts for the keynote speakers
• almost finalised the abstract book
• begun creating the global online gallery for the children's drawings (and chose accompanying music)
• said goodbye to Nicole Longhurst from the Faculty Office who has been an amazing champion and worker for ECV2020 and ECV2022.
• etc etc etc
• 
  
   

Back on campus

Today marks the first day I have arrived to begin my workday on campus since the COVID-19 pandemic began in 2020. The university has encouraged staff to spend 60% of time on campus beginning in October. I have delayed my return while I waited for my health outcomes. Once I return from the ASHA convention, I am looking forward to spending more time back on campus.

My computer is enjoying being linked back into the system.

IJSLP special issue - getting closer

Last night Julie Marshall and I met to keep working on our special issue of the Q1 journal - International Journal of Speech-language Pathology on "Commuication, Swallowing and the Sustainable Development Goals". We have finalised almost all papers, and have even completed page proofing for 16 of the papers. It is going to be an amazing special issue.

Julie Marshall at MMU in UK and Sharynne at CSU in Australia

Speech Pathology Australia early career reference group

Congratulations to Holly McAlister who has been appointed to the Speech Pathology Australia early career reference group. I know that they will learn alot from Holly's insights into being a rural clinician, PhD student, and researcher.

Fellow of the Academy of the Social Sciences in Australia

I have been elected a Fellow of the Academy of the Social Sciences in Australia https://socialsciences.org.au/. 

Here is my citation: "For outstanding contributions to research on child speech development and advocacy for communication rights for children across language and cultures."

I am in Panel D: Education, Psychology and Public Health and I am grateful to my nominators Prof Lyndsey Nickels, Prof Sheena Reilly, and Prof Denis Burnham. 

Here is the ASSA announcement of the 34 new Fellows for 2022: https://socialsciences.org.au/news/34-leading-social-scientists-elected-to-the-academy/

‘These new Fellows represent the best and brightest minds from around the country. They are at the forefront of social science research and public policy,’ said Academy President Professor Richard Holden. ‘I congratulate the new Fellows on their election. It is one of the most prestigious forms of recognition of their enormous contribution to our society. ‘For 50 years, research and advice from Fellows of the Academy of the Social Sciences in Australia have helped shape the nation. In troubled times and in boom times Fellows are called on by Australia’s leaders to advise on government policy and apply themselves to the most challenging problems facing society. Their work helps all of us to better understand what it is to be human and to participate in our society and shape its institutions.’ ‘We welcome the new Fellows and are honoured to have them join the Academy.’

The CSU news story is here: https://news.csu.edu.au/latest-news/national-honour-for-world-leading-speech-language-academic

Here is the link to my 3 minute presentation to introduce myself to the Academy:

ASSA YouTube (start at 1:10:53): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lmHP_3uSAU8

Link to my pre-recorded presentation: https://charlessturt.zoom.us/rec/share/4ua1SJkvojlDejtcKC7vYjmryO-HGS9veYpyXtvgOtgSp6-NTE1iobdTh87C-B1r.5HnkaMkr9pvRVLPl?startTime=1668147857000

Here is the description of ASSA from their website:

Established in 1971, the Academy of the Social Sciences in Australia is an elected body of over 700 leading researchers and professionals across the social science disciplines. We are both a peak body for the social sciences and a distinguished, independent membership organisation, gathering the best and brightest social science minds from universities, research institutes and policy agencies across the country. These are the people whose research shapes government decision-making, whose advice is called on by Australia’s leaders, and whose expertise has long played a key role in shaping our nation. The breadth of the social sciences means that our elected members, known as “Fellows”, are experts in diverse fields from economics, history, education and law, through to psychology, linguistics, anthropology and statistics. The Academy works with a diverse range of academic, private, public and not-for-profit organisations to develop and advance shared agendas. We have a commitment to reconciliation (including through the election of Australia’s leading indigenous researchers), supporting early and mid-career researchers, and building strong international research linkages in the social sciences. Above all, we are focused on drawing on our experts and partnering with other organisations to advance and promote the conduct, awareness, translation, and uptake of social science research in ways that improve the lives of people and society, now and in the future. https://socialsciences.org.au/the-academy/

The Academy consists of an elected Fellowship of almost 700 distinguished Australian social science researchers and professionals who work together to: 

• Provide advice to governments on issues of national importance
  
• Promote understanding and awareness of the social sciences
  
• Coordinate international cooperation and collaboration in the social sciences. 

The five learned Academies in Australia are: 

• Academy of the Social Sciences in Australia (ASSA)
• Australian Academy of Science (AAS)
• Academy of Humanities (AAH)
•  Academy of Technology and Engineering (ATSE)
• Academy of Health and Medical Sciences (AAHMS)

The Academies cooperate through the Australian Council of Learned Academies (ACOLA).

International Association of Communication Sciences and Disorders Board Meeting

Tonight (9-10:30pm) I attended the International Association of Communication Sciences and Disorders Board Meeting as the Chair of the Child Speech Commitee. 

IALP Board

I also presented the information from the World Health Organization's 73rd session of the World Health Organization Regional Committee for the Western Pacific.

Australia’s Research Field Leader in Audiology, Speech and Language Pathology

For the past five years, The Australian Newspaper has annually profiled 250 individual fields of research and announces the Field Leader and Lead Institution for each field. The League of Scholars analyses data from 77,000 Australian researchersand calculate the top researchers in each field:

The Australian, 9 November, 2022, RESEARCH, p. 9

I have been identified as Australia’s Research Field Leader in Audiology, Speech and Language Pathology now for 4 of 5 years (2018, 2019, 2020, 2022). I was identified World Leader in Audiology, Speech and Language Pathology in 2019. I am very pleased to see this recognition of our team who work hard to undertake research that makes a difference in children's lives.

https://www.theaustralian.com.au/special-reports/sydney-unis-edward-holmes-made-the-critical-move-as-covid-hit/news-story/fb7a93a7aaf7e20cc93f517c6921cf79

https://misc.pagesuite.com/pdfdownload/0503e85f-38ee-45c3-9cd1-df07cb48828b.pdf

CSU Research Integrity Unit

Today at the Faculty of Arts and Education Research and Graduate Studies meeting Prof Catherine Allen spoke about the CSU Research Integrity Unit and how people can make an appointment with a Research Integrity Advisor https://research.csu.edu.au/integrity-ethics-compliance

ECV2022 - Hardworking Faculty of Arts and Education team

Thanks to the Faculty of Arts and Education team members who are working hard behind the scenes on ECV2022:

• Carolyn Gregoric (ECV2022 conference secretary)
• Nicole Longhurst
• Patrick McKenzie
• Michelle Egan
• Bethany Brightmore 
• Kevin Ng
  

and also to Cassandra Dray from CSU Brand

Nicole Longhurst, Sharynne, Michelle Egan, Carolyn Gregoric, Patrick McKenzie

2023 Editorial Board Member of Journal of Speech, Language, and Hearing Research (JSLHR)- Speech Section

I have been invited to join the 2023 editorial board of Journal of Speech, Language, and Hearing Research (JSLHR) - Speech Section as an Editorial Board Member (EBM) from January 1, 2023, to December 31, 2023. What a great honor. I look forward to this role.

https://pubs.asha.org/jslhr/edboard

Visiting Dr Caroline Bowen

Today I had the opportunity to pop in and visit my friend and colleague Dr Caroline Bowen. We had so much to chat about. It was great to see her.

Caroline's website is such a fantastic resource for the world: https://www.speech-language-therapy.com/https://www.speech-language-therapy.com/

She is about the submit the next edition of her book Children's Speech Sound Disorders. https://www.wiley.com/en-gb/Children%27s+Speech+Sound+Disorders%2C+2nd+Edition-p-9781118634028

Congratulations Caroline!

Health

Our health is important. All aspects of our lives (including our work) are impacted when we are unwell or family members are unwell. These impacts can be short-term -- but also can be long term, especially for researchers like me. There are many years between planning research, writing grant or book proposals, receiving funding, undertaking research and writing it up. Research that involves multiple collaborators can also be impacted by ill health and other circumstances (including happy circumstances such as maternity leave). 

The past few years with the COVID-19 pandemic have impacted the world and have slowed down the research cycle. Additionally, I have been impacted by cancer since 2018. Many times, the impact has limited my capacity to think, plan and work. At other times, I have been well and have really enjoyed my work as a distraction from my treatments. During 2022 I have had a number of unanticipated treatments that have significantly reduced my capacity to work - and also my reliability to meet deadlines - and particularly to answer emails. I have appreciated the patience and encouragement from my colleagues.

This week I have had really great news about my health. I am hoping that 2023 will see a healthier year.

ECV2022 this week's registration and presentation statistics

Participants: 1454 from 70 countries 

Accepted abstracts: 99 from 24 countries 

Participating countries: Argentina, Armenia (Армения), Australia, Argentina, Armenia, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Belgium (Belgique), Brazil, Cambodia , Canada, Chile, China, Cook Islands, Costa Rica , Croatia, Cyprus, Denmark, Dubai , England, Ethiopia, Fiji, Germany, Ghana, Granada (España), Hong Kong, Hungary, Iceland, India, indonesia, Iraq, Iran, Ireland, Italy , Jamica, Korea, Latvia (Латвия, Riga), Luxembourg, Malta, Mexico, Moldova, Myanmar , Netherlands, New Zealand, Northern Ireland, Oman, Philippines , Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Réunion, Rwanda, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Thailand, the Netherlands, Tonga, Turkey, United Kingdom (includes England, Northern Ireland, Scotland), United States, Vanuatu, Vietnam, Zambia, Zimbabwe 

WOW! 

Drawings: 36 (we really really need more!)

Planning with A/Prof Jane McCormack at ACU

A/Prof Jane McCormack is the head of the speech pathology program at the Australian Catholic University. I am currently an Honorary Professor at ACU and am enjoying collaborating with Jane and her staff. I popped into visit Jane this week after a medical appointment. We had the opportunity to discuss the MANY projects we have together. We have enjoyed working together for over 20 years - and when we get together our brainstorming is exciting.

Sharynne and Jane at ACU North Sydney

Reviewing abstracts for the 2023 Speech Pathology Australia Conference

Tonight I have been reviewing abstracts for the 2023 Speech Pathology Australia Conference. It is exciting to see research before everyone else does.

Presentations at the Asia Pacific Society of Speech, Language and Hearing Online Symposium

This year we have three presentations at the Asia Pacific Society of Speech, Language and Hearing Online Symposium. https://sites.google.com/view/apsslhsym2022/home

The symposium is presented in association with the Hong Kong Association of Speech Therapists (HKAST) and Thai Speech-Language and Hearing Association (TSHA).  

Presentation 1: VietSpeech: Learning about bilingual speech acquisition and language maintenance from a large-scale Australian study

Sharynne McLeod, Sarah Verdon, Kate Margetson, Van Tran, Cen Wang, Ben Pham

View the presentation here

Presentation 2:  Considering dialect for speech sound disorder diagnosis: A Fiji English case study

Holly McAlister, Suzanne C. Hopf, Sharynne McLeod

View the presentation here

Presentation 3: Predicting who will normalize without intervention for speech sound disorders. 

Carol K. S. To, Sharynne McLeod, Sam Ka Lam Sam, Thomas Law 

 

Intervention about Agenda Item 14 Reaching the unreached @ World Health Organization RCM73

I prepared an intervention about Agenda Item 14 Reaching the unreached at the 73rd session of the World Health Organization Regional Committee for the Western Pacific. 

The intervention was on behalf of International Association of Communication Sciences and Disorders (IALP).

Here is the link to my recorded version

Here is my speech

Honourable Chair, Distinguished Delegates of States Parties, and Civil Society

My name is Professor Sharynne McLeod from Charles Sturt University in Australia. I am a speech-language pathologist and am speaking as the representative of the International Association of Communication Sciences and Disorders (IALP).

The mission of the IALP is to improve the quality of life of individuals with disorders of communication, speech, language, voice, hearing, and swallowing.

Communication disability is an invisible disability. However, there is a high prevalence. • 7.6% of children start school with a developmental language disorder. A further 2% start school with language disorder associated with another condition such as speech sound disorder, cerebral palsy or autism. • 5% of individuals will stutter sometime in their life. 1% will stutter most of their lives. • 33% of those who have a stroke will have long-term difficulty with communicating and some will have difficulty swallowing. • More than 50% of people with neurological difficulties (e.g., multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's disease) are likely to become unintelligible which is often mistaken as being drunk and restricts many aspects of life.

The International Association of Communication Sciences and Disorders is committed to the World Health Organization’s goal of reaching the unreached. In fact, to celebrate its 100th anniversary, IALP has published a book titled “The Unserved – Addressing the needs of those with communication disorders”. This 142-page book is free on the IALP website (https://ialpasoc.info/publication/)

“Many of the unserved and underserved have disorders of speech, language, voice, hearing and communication. They include those in low- and middle-income countries who lack essential health and education services as well as migrants, refugees and others … in high-income countries.” (Levey & Enderby, 2022, p. 5)

The book “The Unserved” offers strategies to address communication and swallowing disability that affects many areas of everyday life and which are exacerbated by lack of adequate health, education and social services. The book includes examples from across the world for supporting people with communication and swallowing disabilities, including from countries in the Western Pacific (Vietnam, Fiji, China, USA, and Australia).

Members of IALP stand with the World Health Organization in Agenda Item 14 - Reaching the unreached – particularly for those with communication and swallowing disability in order to support and enhance their participation in society.