School Updates

Fall 2025

Faculty and Staff are bolded; current students and alumni are noted with an asterisk * 

WELCOME 

Ashland Johnson, clinical assistant professor in Speech-Language Pathology, will be developing small group programs for young children in the Memphis Speech and Hearing Center.  

Dr. Laura Patterson, clinical assistant professor in Audiology, will be establishing a pediatric cochlear implant program as well as providing other pediatric audiology services. 

 

GRANTS  

Dr. Raghav H. Jha, assistant professor of Audiology, received a New Investigators Research Grant from the American Speech-Language Hearing Foundation for his project, “Effects of Age on the Frequency Tuning of Bone-Conduction Vestibular Evoked Myogenic Potentials”. 

 

AWARDS  

On December 8, all third-year audiology students presented Audiology Capstone Projects at the 11th Annual Robyn Cox Research Symposium. Special recognition was awarded to two projects:  

Outstanding Research Award: 

“Individual Measures of Signal-to-Noise Ratios Using Cortical Auditory Evoked Potentials” Presented by Eden Landry (Faculty Supervisor: Dr. Thierry Morlet) 

 Clinical or Community Impact Award: 

“Suffering in Silence: Perceptions of Hearing Loss and Cochlear Implants among Faith-Based Leaders; Preliminary Findings from the Memphis SOUND Project” Presented by Isabelle Yap (Faculty Supervisor: Dr. Sarah Warren) 

 

PUBLICATIONS  

Courbon, G., Lugnier, L., *Bass, J.K., Merchant, T.E., Morlet, T., Richard, C. A critical review of hearing rehabilitation in pediatric oncology: population-specific considerations and barriers. Current Oncology. In Press.  

*Durant, K., *Oddo, M., Harrell-Williams, L.M., and Jarmulowicz, L. (2025). From cotenyou to continue: Modeling the contributions of phonological and morphological awareness to spelling accuracy in young Spanish-English dual-language learners. Frontiers in Education, 10. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/feduc.2025.1591142   

Jha, R. H., Piker, E. G., & Gomez, J. D. (2025). Feasibility in Recording Vestibular Evoked Myogenic Potentials from the Gastrocnemius Muscles Using Acoustic Stimulation. Journal of the American Academy of Audiology. 

Mankel, K., Comstock, D.C., Bormann, B.M., Das, S., Sagiv, D., Brodie, H., Miller, L.M. (2025) Auditory brainstem responses to speech-in-noise reflect selective attention, comprehension, and subjective listening effort. bioRxiv [preprint]. 

Mendel, L.L. (2025). Speech Audiometry. In S. R. Atcherson (Ed.), Audiology Diagnosis (3rd Edition). Thieme Medical Publishers, Inc. 

Milstein, C.F. and van Mersbergen, M. (2025). Breathing pattern disorder. A new kid on the block. Perspectives of the ASHA Special Interest Groups, 10(6), 1744-1752. 

Oller, D. K., Bene, E. R., *Yoo, H., Su, P. L., *Long, H., Klaiman, C., Pulver, S. L., Richardson, S., Pileggi, M. L., Brane, N., Ramsay, G. (2025). The robustness of speech-like vocalization in typically developing infants and infants with autism. Research in Developmental Disabilities. 159.  

*Poursoroush, Z., Ramsay, G., Yang, C-C., Buder, E. H., Bene, E. R., Su, P. L., Oller, D. K. (2025). Timing of Intervals Between Utterances in Typically Developing Infants and Infants Later Diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder. Brain Sciences, 15(8), 819.  

*Sarangi, L., Johnson, J.A., Bidelman, G.M. (2025). Effects of Digital Noise Reduction Processing on Subjective and Objective (Pupillometry) Assays of Listening Effort. Audiology Research, 15(5), 122.  

Su, P. L., Ramsay, G., Bene, E. R., *Yoo, H., *Long, H., Klaiman, C., Pulver, S. L., Richardson, S., Pileggi, M. L., Brane, N., Oller, D. K. (2025). Parentese Elicits Infant Speech-Like Vocalizations in Typically Developing and Autistic Infants. Infancy. 

van Mersbergen, M. (2025). An Introduction to Breath Pattern Disorders and Clinical Considerations for Treatment. Perspectives of the ASHA Special Interest Groups, 10(6), 1697-1699. 

Warren, S.E., Coco, L., Allen, I., Coffelt, J.A., *Flinner, G.N., *Holloway, C.A., *Brewer, A.T., *Crawford, E., & Yawn, R.J. (in press). The Key Word is Trust: Hearing Healthcare Experiences Among Black Adults Who Meet Audiometric Candidacy Criteria for Cochlear Implantation. Ear and Hearing (Published online ahead of print).

 

PRESENTATIONS 

Perez, G., Marshall, J. and Givens, A. (2025, November 12). NSA Connects Shaping Speech Therapy Journeys: Age, Experience, & Identity | NSA. National Stuttering Association Webinar.   

Lancaster, S. & Haddix, V. (2025). The SETT framework for assistive technology assessment and implementation. Keynote presentation at the Tennessee Association for Assistive Technology, Murfreesboro, TN. 

Haddix, V. & Lancaster, S. (2025). Using switches to facilitate engagement: An OT/SLP crossover. Presented at the Tennessee Association for Assistive Technology, Murfreesboro, TN.  

 

2025 ASHA PRESENTATIONS  

Dunkin, A. M. & Spangler, C. (2025, November). Beyond Legal Compliance: Reimagining Inclusive Workplaces for SLPs and Audiologists with Disabilities. American Speech-Language Hearing Association National Convention, Washington, D.C. 

Spangler, C. & Dunkin, A. M. (2025, November). Breaking Barriers: Enhancing Accessibility and Support for Students with Disabilities in College and Clinic. American Speech-Language Hearing Association National Convention, Washington, D.C. 

Eichorn, N. (2025, Nov). Attention Bias and Stuttering: Research Updates from Children and Adults Who Stutter. Oral seminar at American Speech-Language Hearing Association Annual Convention, Washington DC. 

Eichorn, N., Allen, S., Ray, M., & Suni, M. (2025, Nov). Word Valence Ratings Predict Stuttering Impact in Adults Who Stutter. Poster presentation at American Speech-Language Hearing Association Annual Convention, Washington DC.  

Jameson, M. (2025, November 21). Overlooked pragmatic strengths? Meta-communication strategies used by autistic and non-autistic adults [poster presentation]. American Speech-Language-Hearing Association Convention, 2025, Washington, D.C. 

Hoelbinger G., Ayala, M., Morlet, T., Morini, G. (2025) Exercising to Listen: Examining the Role of Aerobic Exercise on Auditory Processing of Speech Sounds. ASHA Convention. Washington, D.C. November 20–22. 

Warren, S.E. & Anthony, T. (2025, Nov 20). Envisioning the Next Generation of Clinicians: Integrating Public Health into the CSD Curriculum. American Speech Language Hearing Association Convention. Washington, DC. 

Warren, S.E., Lopez, L., Anthony, T., & Coco, L. (2025, Nov 20). Envisioning the Future: Communication Public Health. American Speech Language Hearing Association Convention. Washington, DC. 

Su, P. L., Ramsay, G., Bene, E. R., *Yoo, H., *Long, H. L., Klaiman, C., Pulver, S. L., Richardson, S., Pileggi, M., Brane, N., & Oller, D. K. (2025). Parentese in Autism and Typical Development: Early Input and Links to Infant Vocalization. Presented paper for Part 1, Seminar for the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, titled Vocal Communication and Early Detection of Various Emergent Conditions in Infants and Young Children. Organizer, D.K. Oller, Washington, DC. 

Gipson, T. T., Bene, E. R., Yang, C-C., Perry, L. K., Messinger, D. M., Oller, D. K. (2025). Vocal development in Tuberous Sclerosis Complex, a key genetic factor associated with autism and language delay. Presented paper for Part 1, Seminar for the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, titled Vocal Communication and Early Detection of Various Emergent Conditions in Infants and Young Children. Organizer, D.K. Oller, Washington, DC. 

*Long, H., Hustad, K. (2025). Vocal development in infants and children with or at risk for cerebral palsy. Presented paper for Part 1, Seminar for the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, titled Vocal Communication and Early Detection of Various Emergent Conditions in Infants and Young Children. Organizer, D.K. Oller, Washington, DC. 

*Yoo, H., Ramsay, G., Bene, E.R., Pumpki, L. S., *Long, H. L., Pileggi, M. L., Brane, N. & Oller, D. K.  (2025). Vocal expressions of negativity in typical development and autism. Presented paper for Part 2, Seminar for the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, titled Vocal Communication and Early Detection of Various Emergent Conditions in Infants and Young Children. Organizer, D.K. Oller, Washington, DC. 

Poursoroush, Z., Ramsay, G., Yang, C-C., Bene, E.R., Pumpki, L. S., *Long, H. L., Pileggi, M. L., Brane, N. & Oller, D. K.  (2025). The temporal spacing of infant vocalizations in typical development and autism. Presented paper for Part 2, Seminar for the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, titled Vocal Communication and Early Detection of Various Emergent Conditions in Infants and Young Children. Organizer, D.K. Oller, Washington, DC. 

Oller, D. K., Griebel, U., Ramsay, G., *Long, H. L., *Yoo., H., Bene, E. R., Nathani Iyer, S.  (2025). The infant as an agent of vocal development: Special evidence on vocal play from various disorders, especially profound congenital hearing impairment. Presented paper for Part 2, Seminar for the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, titled Vocal Communication and Early Detection of Various Emergent Conditions in Infants and Young Children. Organizer, D.K. Oller, Washington, DC. 

 

CONGRATULATIONS  

Director of Clinical Education in Audiology, Dr. Jordan Alyse Coffelt, announced that 13 third-year AuD students officially accepted their fourth-year externships for the 2026–2027 academic year. This was the earliest that all students had secured placements in the AuD’s history. Students and their placements are as follows:

Katla Anderson Hannah Bearson Brittany Cham-Smith Amy Cox Parks Flynt Courtney Harbaugh Eden Landry Sydni McAtee Mira Milman Julia Nadeau Ruth Ann Ramsey Emma Kate Thompson Isabelle Yap

Froedtert & Medical College Wisconsin BayCare Clinic Ohio ENT & Allergy Physicians Le Bonheur Children's Hospital Joe DiMaggio Children's Hospital Univ. of Pittsburgh Med Centyer Eye & Ear Institute Manning Family Children's Hospital  St. Louis Children's Hospital  Lt. Col. Luke Weathers, Jr. VA Medical Center Mid-South Ear, Nose, and Throat UNC Hospitals, Adult Audiology Program Nemours Children's Clinic Mayo Clinic

Milwaukee, WI Green Bay, WI Columbus, OH Memphis, TN Hollywood, FL Pittsburgh, PA New Orleans, LA St. Louis, MO Memphis, TN Germantown, TN Chapel Hill, NC Orlando, FL Scottsdale, AZ

 

Congratulations to all the AuD students! Special thanks to Dr. Jordan Alyse Coffelt and the administrative team of Mr. Nicholas Anderson and Mrs. Frances Breland.  

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In Memorium

It is with great sadness that we share the news that our dear friend and colleague, Dr. Matthew Hollis, passed away on September 16, 2025. Matt was a Clinical Assistant Professor of audiology, who was much beloved by his patients and students. He ran the clinical program in vestibular/balance testing as well as provided hearing healthcare to many in the midsouth. Matt will be missed for his sense of humor, his dedication, and his chocolate chip cookies. His family has suggested honoring his memory through a donation to the Memphis Speech and Hearing Center, Client Assistance Program or the West Cancer Foundation. 

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Other

 

AuD students (standing) and faculty (seated) at the UofM recruitment table at ASHA 2025, Washington DC

 

ASL faculty for the Halloween win!

 

4th Annual baby goats and bubbles!

 

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